Question:
Has anyone had AGB by lap?

The majority of "losers" on this site have had or are having RNY. Are there any of you out there that have had a lap band done (which is what I am having) and how was it? Can you give me any further info. After researching the two surgeries I have decided ABG is the way for me to go. Would appreciate positive AND negative feedback - thanks, Jacquie    — Jacquie D. (posted on March 1, 2003)

March 1, 2003
Hi Jacquie, Please check out my profile on here and feel free to ask me any questions you might have after that. I am extremly happy with my decision to have the AGB. I've been banded since the end of September and have lost 38 pounds so far. If I could get my lazy butt to the gym more it would be much much more. Hope to hear from you. Gennifer
   — Genn2973

March 1, 2003
According to my doctor that surgery is only approved to be done my lap.
   — ChristineB

March 1, 2003
Hi. You're right that we are in the minority here. Check out my profile and my webpage (address on my profile) for lots of info about my experience with the band. I am so glad I got the band. I've lost 76 pounds in 7 months and am looking forward to losing more!
   — M. B.

March 3, 2003
Jacquie, Hi, I have had the lab band since 12/30/02 and have lost 29lbs and 9 3/4 inches. I am totally happy with my decision. I didn't have any complications. The first few days after surgery were rough. I had to sleep in a recliner, pain, weakness, and I slept alot. They gave me liquid tylenol with vicodin and that really helped with the pain. After the first week I started feeling better and better. Good luck, Janet [email protected]
   — Janet D.

March 7, 2003
I posted a lapband question recently as well. I have to tell you, it really is looking better then RNY to me right now. Safer, slower weight loss (although the "window" of opportunity to lose doesn't seem to close) and no nutritional horror stories. The "fills" and the "port" are the things I will have to become ok with. Good luck and feel free to email me as well! :) Skinny dreams ~ Tracy
   — Tracy J.

March 7, 2003
I nearly got the band but opted for the RNY. I liked high calorie liquids pre op like chocolate milk and shakes. These would be band friendly and are can cause band failure. Oddly enough I dont miss the shakes although I have had parts of a couple in the last year.
   — bob-haller

July 3, 2003
There is strong evidence that a person's sweet eating habits have NO effect on their ability to sucessfully lose weight with the lap band.<BR> Here's the text from 1 Australian study which references 2 other studies (located here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12568183&dopt=Abstract)<BR> <B>Sweet eating is not a predictor of outcome after Lap-Band placement. Can we finally bury the myth? </B>Hudson SM, Dixon JB, O'Brien PE. Monash University Department of Surgery, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3181, Australia. BACKGROUND: It is common belief that sweet eaters will do poorly after gastric restrictive surgery. There is scant evidence for this and significant evidence that sweet eating behavior is not predictive of weight outcome. Preoperative and current sweet eating behavior was assessed in subjects who have had Lap-Band surgery, to find if this influenced weight outcomes. METHOD: 200 unselected patients who had bands inserted for > 1 year completed a questionaire regarding preoperative sweet eating behavior. The last 100 patients also reported current sweet eating behavior. Sweet eating was scored using a standard dietary questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD % excess weight loss at 1 year (% EWL1) for the 100 with the highest preoperative sweet eating scores (SES) was 47.1 +/- 16% compared with a loss of 48.2 +/- 16% by those with the lowest SES (P = 0.64). Analysis showed no significant linear or non-linear correlation between the SES and the % EWL. For the highest quintile of SES, the EWL1 was 47.3 +/- 14% and for the lowest was 46.1 +/- 16% (NS). Sweet eaters were younger (r = -0.21, P = 0.003) and had higher fasting insulin concentrations (r = -0.18, P = 0.03). Preoperative SES had no influence on % EWL1 after controlling for factors known to influence weight loss. % EWL at 2 years (n = 130) and 3 years (n = 88) were not different for sweet eaters and non-sweet eaters. Current sweet eating tendency (n = 100) also had no impact on % EWL. CONCLUSION: Sweet eaters do not have less favorable weight outcomes following Lap-Band surgery. Our study confirms the findings of two other major studies. <B>Sweet eating behavior should not be used as a preoperative selection criterion for bariatric surgery.</B>
   — TMF