Pending Lap Band and have questions

I am scheduled to have lap band surgery in January and have a few questions I was hoping someone could answer.

First of all I keep wondering "what if it doesn't work?" I've only heard positive results and am not planning on failing, but I don't want to do bypass.  I have about 100lbs to lose.  I'm a little disappointed about the rate of weight loss, although I know it is healthier this way.

Silly question, but will I feel any different after surgery?  Will I feel the band or the port?

I will be starting classes at Kean University two weeks out of surgery.  What was recovery like and is it possible to be ready to take my classes that soon after surgery?

I've read that eventually (years later) the band will dissolve in the body. Has anyone experience this?

Any other words of advice would be greatly appreciated!

Liza MacNamara

Dear Liza,

First of all, remember everyone is different, so results/experiences others had you may not have. .. with that said ...

If the band doesn't work, then you will need to discuss other options with your Doctor. Please remember the BAND isn't a cure all. It's a TOOL - you will need to adhere to rules and a different eating style. If you do this, then it will work.

The band is internal, so you won't feel the band. Think of it as a pacemaker. As far as I know, patients don't feel the actual device. You may feel the port, especially the skinner you get. I still cannot feel mine, but I have felt it on others.

You may feel different after surgery: happier, energetic, better about yourself. Again, this is all personal.

I was up and about 2 days after my band, and back to work in 2 weeks. Others took longer, while some others took shorter.

I haven't heard of a the band "dissolving" in the body. If that was true, I doubt the AMA would allow it to be used.

The only other advice I have is to RELAX. You will have up and downs before and after the operation. But the downs will definitely be less then all the UPS !!

Feel free to write me personally if you have any other questions !!

Good luck !! And Happy Holidays !!

Hi Liza
I had the band in 2005 and I weighed 266lbs when I first got the band. My lowest weight was 217lb and I am presently weighing in at 252lbs. Just remember lie the poster above said the band is a tool only to assist you. I dont like the band I can feel my port in my stomach and I have become a professional pucker. I am constantly throwing up!! It is embarassing to go out on a date and not know what foods will make me throw up. I also have developed acid reflux it is terrible because all it does is restrict your food intake but eventually you will learn how to cheat your band and eat whatever you like......I am going to switch to the bypass I want this damn thing out!!! But there are alot of people who are successful with it. Good Luck with whatever you choose to do...

Hi Lisa.....

I am about 4 months out...I have abided by all of the rules of the band thus far and I have not had any problems whatsoever.....I can still feel some pressure I guess around the port when I am doing crunches or such...(Yes I have made a full life style change and I work out now also.....)  The "difference" you will have is weight loss and change in attitues toward life...and guess what...YOu have to  treat the emotional as well as the physical...Or so I have found....

It isnt  the"easy way out"...But it is an awesome tool....I have not had any problems with pbing except the 3 times I attempted chinese food and well I didnt chew enough....

My best friend had it done 2 weeks before me and doesnt abide by the rules and well..she throws up all the time also....You have to live by the rules...and I have to tell you...It isnt hard FOR ME at this point....I feel like I have had a weight taken off my shoulders and literally I HAVE!  so...Just hang in there....MOST people LOVE their band even years out but they dont post here because they are HAPPY and thrilled with their results....Just remember...YOU have to work the band to your advantage and not EXPECT the band to just to it all...YOU WILL throw up if you dont abide by the rules...YOU will throw up if you eat too much...YOU will throw up if you are too tight...YOU have to control your own tool...If you cant committ to doing that....than the band isnt for you...

Hi Liza,

I had lapband surgery in Oct 2006.  I lost 70 lbs. with about 10 more to go. 

The band is a tool, as the previous posters have said.  The rate of weight loss depends on you and how you work the band.  If you work the band, the band will work for you.  I lost all of my weight in the first 9 months after surgery.  It's not a miracle bullet - you still have to do the right things - eat the right foods, EXERCISE.  My problem was the fact that I never felt full.  I would just eat and eat.  Now, that's pretty much impossible.  I really can't say that I "diet" - I pretty much eat what I want (as long as it's band-friendly).  Its just that now I'm eating only a fraction of what I was eating before.  And I'm enjoying it better because I'm eating slower and tasting everything instead of wolfing it down.  I was not much of a sweet eater, although I do love ice cream.  I was a quantity eater.  I still have an occasional scoop of ice cream but now 1 scoop will do me - I don't have to eat the whole half-gallon to feel satisfied.

Will you feel the band or the port?  You won't physically feel the band, but if you press hard you will feel the port.  As you lose weight you won't have to press as hard, but you really can't see it.  I've noticed that some pants I wear might hit just at the spot were the port is and I can feel it but it becomes a part of you - you'll get used to it.  As far as the band goes, you may experience some tightness in your chest after a band fill, but this shall pass.  If you eat too fast, or take too big a bite and swallow without chewing good you may experience what we call that "stuck" feeling.  It feels like your having a heart attack and the first time it happened it scared me to death.  Again, you'll learn how to deal with this and how to avoid it.  Sometimes I just plain forget I have a band and pop something in my mouth.  As I'm swallowing, I realize OOPS, shouldn't have done that.  Sometimes its OK - sometimes I pay the price.  You'll also learn what foods you can and cannot eat - with everyone it's different.  I can eat bread - some can't.  I cannot for the life of me eat french fries - they just clump in there.  Mashed, baked, even home fries are OK but not french fries (my favorite food of all time, I might add).  Certain pasta shapes work, but spaghetti -forget it.  I just doesn't work for me. 

Recovery.  I had my surgery on a Tuesday and really could've gone back to work the following Monday, but since I had the sick leave I gave it two extra days so I was out of work a total of 10 days.  When I had my surgery they kept me overnight.  Now they do it outpatient.  Three days after surgery I was out getting my haircut and doing some grocery shopping!  You should have no problems attending classes two weeks after surgery.

Dissolving band?  Never heard of this one.  Don't know how it can dissolve - it's a silicone-type substance, I believe.  It can possibly erode into the stomach, but that's rare.

All I know is that I am no longer on high blood pressure meds, my cholesterol is back to normal, and I no longer have sleep apnea.  I still have reflux, but my surgeon and I are working that issue.  I have more energy than ever, I walk every day, I've even completed a couple of 5K runs this past summer and fall.  It was the best 50th birthday present I could have ever given myself.

Do your research, attend some orientation sessions, and ask questions.  Find a surgeon you're comfortable with (you'll be seeing him a good bit).

OK - I've rambled enough!  Best of luck to you no matter what you decide and have a great holiday.

Debbie Joy
 

 

Liza,
As the other replies indicate, everyone is different.  I was banded on 10/13/08 and had the same concerns as you - what if it doesn't work.  My therapist was wonderful in getting me to focus on positive affirmations.  I am now down 26 lbs since surgery.  I follow the rules and do ot find myself feeling hungry, but  I acknowledged on xmas that I am human and enjoyed 3 small cookies.  I haven't vomited at all nor have I had my band filled/adjusted yet.  I was able to return to work less than a week after surgery.  The recovery wasn't bad at all.  I also have a reasonable exercise regimen going - Zumba at least 2x/week, walking almost daily and circuit training at least 1x per week.  I feel great and you will too if you remember the band is a tool.  Keep your professional team (psychologist or therapist, nutritionist, support group) close at hand.  Follow the rules and you'll do fine.  Good luck!