Question:
Can lap band surgery not work?
I thought I was all set to have lap band surgery then I went to the find out more about it from the doctor. They said that there is a very high percent of people that fail as I have 170 to lose. Now I feel I'm Back to square one. — jennylu0223 (posted on June 3, 2008)
June 3, 2008
The high number of people he is talking about are the people that can't
take direction or listen very well. You just have to remember to follow
what the nutritionist and doctor tell you. Eat your protein, drink your
liquids and EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE and you will do fine.
— Karen M.
June 3, 2008
That's a good question. Something I found out early on, in my quest for
the right surgery for myself, is that Doctor's are either for it or against
it. I hooked up with a Doctor who does both and lets the patient decide.
Now, my Hubby has lost 100 lbs since his surgery 7 months ago and I have
lost 50 lbs since my surgery 6 months ago. My mom-in-law lost 140 lbs in
16 months with the RNY. Just keep doing the research and get the opinion
of other Doctors. Good Luck!
— MySonsMama
June 3, 2008
I started out wanting the lap band as the commercials really made it
appealing. It seemed less invasive...it was reversable.....it was not
restructuring my insides...all of that. I did choose Lap RNY though...and
feel it was the best decision for me. That's what you have to do. Go with
your gut....literally. Get all the information...and look at
yourself...and what you want from this...and what you're willing to do.
With the lap band....you are having to get fills...etc. So you have an
extra committment there...but with any weight loss surgery.... you are the
one that needs to make the changes in how you eat.....how you handle your
emotions....and your addictions with food. Don't rush into this....and
research every aspect of every option. Then go with what you feel the most
comfortable with. I feel my Lap RNY was the best thing I have ever done.
I'm down 90 pounds in 7 months. I can't imagine doing anything else.
That's how you want to feel. Best wishes! Cheryl
— Cheryl K.
June 3, 2008
I have a friend who has lost over 50 pounds with the band and she had her
surgery mid-February. My date is June 10, and I am half-way through the
2-week Optifast, with 12 pounds lost. I think you can succeed with the
band if you believe you can and follow your doctor's orders. Good luck,
whatever you choose.
— angelzhere
June 3, 2008
I thought it depended on your BMI and how much weight you had to loose.
Just reseach and weigh your options...GOOD LUCK!
— CherieB
June 3, 2008
Lap Band (or any Bariatric Surgery) is not a magic bullet. Many people fail
because they believe that it is. If you cannot permenantly adjust your
eating habits to a new, healthy way of eating, then any bariatric surgery
is probably not the way to go. I lost 75 lbs in 18 weeks using the Take
Shape for Life program. My wife lost 122 lbs in about 9 months on the same
program. We felt that surgery was the only answer for us. At this point,
I'm elated that we chose another route. The support makes all the
difference.
— AcadianaLifeChange
June 3, 2008
I had my Lap-Band Sx at the end of December and have lost 62# so far. I
had a very good surgeon who explained everything!! If you are looking for
a magic Sx to fix everthing keep looking, the band is just a tool to aid in
your weight loss. If you listen to your Dr. and have your band adjusted
when you feel it is necessary you will do fine. I think that RNY is a tool
as well, the initial weight loss will be faster but you can still gain the
weight back. I have a friend who had RNY 2.5 yrs. ago, lost over 125 # and
has now put almost 60# back on because she said she stretched her stomach
back out and can eat too much again. Just do your research and do what you
feel is best for you, I don't think either Sx is the magical answer to
weight loss, they are tools to help us, you have to work with both and be
dedicated to a healthier lifestyle. Good luck in choosing what you feel is
right for you!!
— HBSantis
June 3, 2008
I thought I was going to have lapband too. Then, I went to an information
night with my doctor and did a lot of research on my own and decided on
RNY. Why? It's really easy to defeat Lapband, particularly if you're good
at mind games with yourself (ratiionalizing things). I have two friends
that have had lapband and both are struggling with compliance issues
because "they can eat whatever they want". Also, I've read of a
lot of people who had to have the band removed because of band migration,
erosion and other things. I wanted something that nobody could take away
from me. I mean, if you lose weight with the band then the band goes away,
probably you're going to gain it all back eventually right? And who wants
that? So, maybe being "back to square one" isn't a bad thing.
Maybe RNY, DS, or VSG are a better choice for you. Do the research and
remember, if it takes a little time, maybe that's ok because this will make
lifetime changes for the better. Good Luck!!!
— Shirley D.
June 3, 2008
Please do more research on other surgery options available before you
decide on which surgery to have. Have you looked into VSG or DS?
— Kristin B.
June 3, 2008
It absolutely DOES NOT work in some cases. A friend had it done July 2007.
She started off losing weight, than ran into complications. The fills
wouldn't hold & in a short time they would be loose & she'd be
hungry. Then it was overfilled & she vomited EVERYTHING & felt like
she was choking or stranguling. Then they took saline out. Then it was too
loose again. Next they realized the port moved & they couldn't do fills
properly & the saline was going into her abdomen not the port. She had
6 operations in 6 months to correct complications & is now back to her
original weight . Another surgery is next week to have the whole thing
removed. Its been a nightmare!!
— LittleLynn
June 3, 2008
Speaking for myself, I had lapband in Aug 06 and have done great! Just like
any weight loss surgery you have to adjust your whole life style
differently. I was suppose to have the Gastric Bypass and even went into
surgery for it and they found polyps in my stomach and would not do it.
They removed them and my doc said they could come back and he did not think
the bypass would be a safe idea. I thank the lord daily that it worked out
like it did. I got the lapband and I am so happy with it. I have a friend
who had bypass and done great at first and now she is gaining back. I had
no problem in getting to my goal which was a weight loss of 85 pds and I
have had NO problem in maintaining it as well. I have not had a adjustment
in almost 7 most and still maintain. So I would sit down and truly think
out what you think would be best for you. As for the lapband not
working....I would like to know how it couldnt not work myself. Oh well
thats just me......GOOD LUCK in whatever you choose.
— Babbles
June 4, 2008
Another party to hear from- My wife was over 300 lbs had her band on Nov
27,2008 and is down over 65 lbs. if you want it to work and you will go
with the program it can work. The band is a life saver. Educate yourself
and make up your own mind.
— Ira Sansolo
June 4, 2008
Check out the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. It's pretty wonderful!!! There
is a VSG forum on the OH sight.
— corky1057
June 4, 2008
I disagree with the post that the hight number is people that cant follow
direction. Yes that is true but with the band you lose less, and it comes
off slower. You can eat anything you want to that is the problem. I am so
glad I did RNY bypass. I use this tool always. It wont allow you to over
eat or eat bad things. Well you can eat things that are not so great for
you but you can only eat them in moderation.
— Joanc
June 4, 2008
With 170 lbs to lose I would certainly choose lap-rny over lap-band. I know
there is more to being overweight than just overeating but a person doesn't
get to be that much overweight without control and other emotional issues
involvement, rny does more to help control these issues than the band does.
— an_old_fisherman
June 4, 2008
It takes longer than bypass but it can be done. Just like any other surgery
it is not "the easy way out" and requires dedication. At 1 yr I
lost 75#, I continue to lose.
— Donna O.
June 4, 2008
The SHORT answer to your question is YES. The lapBand can NOT work for
certain people for certain reasons. Some people with certain eating
disorders will fail the LapBand. It is not that the LapBand fails THEM but
that they fail to use the LAP-BAND properly. They learn to "Eat
Around the Band." This is not a failure that is solely limited to the
LapBand. EVERY weight loss procedure can be defeated by a person who is
either ignorant or DEDICATED to doing so. The KEY to succeeding with your
weight loss surgery is making sure that you do your RESEARCH before you
make your decision. Being INFORMED is your best defense to insure that you
get the BEST SURGICAL OPTION FOR YOU.
Take this for what it's worth. I am telling you up front that I am NOT an
"Expert" on Weight Loss Surgery. I am just a PATIENT that has
done some research. I encourage EVERYONE to RESEARCH EACH surgical option
FOR THEMSELVES! THIS is the information that I have found in MY research.
I have posted it here for you in an effort to help GUIDE and you help you
START your OWN journey into your OWN research.
There are a LOT of differences in the different types of surgical
procedures. There are a LOT of differences in different SURGEONS. Some
surgeons require more of their patients than others. Some PROCEDURES
require more of the patient than others. You need to do some research and
find the BEST fit for YOU. I just had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy on
March 1, 2008. My surgeon did NOT require me to lose weight. I had a BMI
of 43.6. Now that isn't NEARLY as bad as many people. Had I been HEAVIER,
he may HAVE required it. I don't know. What I CAN tell you is that I was
having problems with arthritis in my knees and my shoulder. That was
almost three months ago. Now it is GONE. There is just a TWINGE every now
and again but NOTHING NEAR the constant agony that I was in before! I was
also a Diabetic 3 months ago. I have had to DROP all of my diabetes
medications on Easter Day because the ONE glucovance pill that I was taking
caused me to have my blood sugar to DROP to 53 POINTS! My sugars are still
a LITTLE high, but under 150 (usually between 114 to 140 after a meal) and
WITHOUT medication! In a FEW weeks with some MORE weight loss, I figure
that my diabetes will be in COMPLETE remission! I have lost 59 pounds in a
little over 2 MONTHS with my surgery (the VSG) and it was done WITHOUT
feeling HUNGRY!
From what I have learned, your MAIN options are the Lap Band, the Vertical
Banded Gastroplasty, the Gastric Bypass, The Duodenal Switch and the
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. There are other options, I am sure, but these
are the most common that I have found. There are also combinations of
these options ALSO available such as the Banded Duodenal Switch, the Banded
Gastric Bypass, and the Banded Sleeve Gastrectomy. The Banded options are
basically the same as the Regular surgeries but they have a Lap Band added
as additional insurance in case of future need.
The Lap Band: (http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/wlsurgery.html#LapBand)
is well known. It basically squeezes the stomach to make it smaller and
creates a pouch with a restriction at the top of the stomach which fills
quickly and empties slowly. The advantages of this surgery are that it is
reversible if needed and it is adjustable if needed. It is a HIGHLY
flexible procedure. This surgery is well known and accepted by many
insurance companies. It may be best for people who have a history of
cancer either themselves or in their family and may need to take
chemo-therapy and for women in childbearing years who may become pregnant.
There are also other reasons for wanting this type of surgery, but I don't
want to spend ALL day writing this. There is an effective Excess body
weight loss over 3 to 5 years of 50% to 60% noted in some studies. The
PROBLEM with this option is that there are sometimes complications with
this device. Some people have a reaction to the foreign object in their
body. People with immune issues should NOT have this device. Lupus and MS
patients for example, can have a reaction to the foreign body and it may
trigger an immune system response. Other issues with the Lap Band are that
it is common for the band to "Slip" on the stomach and cause the
pouch to enlarge thus causing the person with the device to eat more and
negating the purpose of the surgery. Some surgeons have started stitching
the band to the stomach to prevent this from happening. It would be wise
to ask your surgeon if you are considering this option if he does this.
Other times people have learned to "Eat around the Band" and
force the food PAST the band to fill up the rest of the stomach and thus
defeat the purpose of the band. Actually, this is an issue with ALL weight
loss surgeries. All can be defeated by a patient who is either ignorant or
intent on doing so. It seems to be MORE common with the Banded options,
however. Another issue with Banded options is that occasionally the bands
will erode the outside lining of the stomach causing damage to the stomach
that often needs repairs and calls for a removal of the band and or a
revision to some other type of weight loss option. This happens in about
less than 1% of the Lap Band Surgeries but it IS something that needs to be
taken into consideration.
In the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty:
(http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/wlsurgery.html#VBG) (commonly known as
stomach stapling) the surgeon makes a cut into the stomach to create a
pouch. He sews the pouch and places a band at the bottom of the pouch.
This banded option has less chance of the band slipping since the cut in
the stomach holds it into place. It also has the advantage of being
somewhat reversible but is not as easily reversible as the Lap Band. It is
NOT as well known as it's more famous banded cousin, the Lap Band. There
may be difficulties in getting this option with some insurance companies.
It has many of the advantages and disadvantages of the Lap Band surgery
with the exception that the Band does not tend to slip and let the pouch
expand.
The Gastric Bypass: (
http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/wlsurgery.html#RNY) is made when the
surgeon cuts the TOP of the stomach off and creates a pouch. An OLDER
version of this surgery left the stomach intact but had a line of staples
that was used to create the pouch. This method is no longer in use much,
if at all. The surgeon then takes a length of intestine and BYPASSES it.
He takes the LOOSE end that is still attached to the intestines and sews it
to the SIDE of the pouch that was created from the TOP of the stomach. The
BYPASSED intestine is then attached to the side of the intestine that was
connected to the pouch so that BILE from the bile duct can empty bile from
the liver into the intestine. This option is often the DARLING of
insurance companies. Many companies that won't pay for any OTHER Weight
Loss Surgeries will pay for THIS one. THAT makes THIS surgery quite
popular for many surgeons! This surgery has the advantage of being a
HIGHLY effective tool in the arsenal of weapons against the foe obesity!
It has an effective rate of weight loss and maintenance of 60 to 80% in
some studies at 1 to 2 years. The DOWNSIDE of this weight loss option is
that there issues of malabsorption of minerals and vitamins due to the
bypassed intestine. This often leaves the patient reliant on his doctor
for the special supplements required to maintain his or her health. Other
issues are dumping, nausea, and vomiting. Dumping is basically when you
have diarrhea that is caused by the intestine's inability to absorb the
food that was eaten. Along with the diarrhea can come intestinal cramping,
sweating, palpitations and other unpleasant side effects. Some people
experience dumping with sweets. Others experience it with fats. Each
person seems to have their own issues but whatever they are, they cause
them to excrete the food that they ate before it was fully digested.
Nausea and vomiting, while experienced by many in ALL weight loss surgeries
is NOT experienced by ALL. It does seem to be MORE PREVALENT in the
GASTRIC BYPASS and DUODENAL SWITCH patients according to the research that
I have seen. The gas and foul smelling stool are also a result of the
shortened digestive process due to the bypassed intestine in both the
Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal Switch. There is also something called the
"Mini Gastric Bypass" This was quite popular a while back but
there where problems that were soon discovered that KEPT the procedure from
becoming a popular option. You can read MORE about this procedure at this
location:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Mini-Gastric-Bypass---The-Ideal-Weight-Loss-Solution&id=361143
.
This is a direct copy of the entry for the post on the Mini Gastric Bypass
in the section defining the procedure under the Variations of the Gastric
Bypass in WikiPedia. The quote begins here: "Loop Gastric bypass
("Mini-gastric bypass"): The first use of the gastric bypass, in
1967, used a loop of small bowel for re-construction, rather than a
Y-construction as is prevalent today. Although simpler to create, this
approach allowed bile and pancreatic enzymes from the small bowel to enter
the esophagus, sometimes causing severe inflammation and ulceration of
either the stomach or the lower esophagus. If a leak into the abdomen
occurs, this corrosive fluid can cause severe consequences. Numerous
studies show the loop reconstruction (Billroth II gastrojejunostomy) works
more safely when placed low on the stomach, but can be a disaster when
placed adjacent to the esophagus. Thus even today thousands of
"loops" are used for general surgical procedures such as ulcer
surgery, stomach cancer and injury to the stomach, but bariatric surgeons
abandoned use of the construction in the 1970s, when it was recognized that
its risk is not justified for weight management.
The Mini-Gastric Bypass, which uses the loop reconstruction, has been
suggested as an alternative to the Roux en-Y procedure, due to the
simplicity of its construction, which reduced the challenge of laparoscopic
surgery. It is claimed that construction of a long tubular gastric pouch
reduces the risk of inflammatory complications, and renders it as safe as
the RNY technique." While it has been CLAIMED that the change to a
longer tubular Gastric pouch reduces the risk of inflammatory
complications, there is little research that PROVES it. If you are
interested in having this procedure done, keep this in mind. The entry for
Gastric Bypass in WikiPedia can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_bypass_surgery . Here is a short
animation that shows what is done for the Mini Gastric Bypass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFQPLF9IjtI .
The Duodenal Switch: (http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/wlsurgery.html#DS
) is the STRONGEST tool in this arsenal of weapons! Many surgeons think it
shouldn't be used lightly and often only recommend the procedure for people
with a body mass index OVER 50! In the Duodenal Switch, the surgeon
REMOVES approximately 85% of the stomach including MOST of the region of
the stomach that produces the hormone grehlin. Grehlin is one of the
hormones that create HUNGER. Removing the section of the stomach that
creates hunger is a HUGE feature of this procedure. The surgeons then sew
the rest of the stomach back together and create a tube shaped stomach that
resists stretching. The stomach varies in size depending on the surgeon
and the patient but can be anywhere from 2 ounces to 6 ounces, perhaps
more. The next step of this procedure involves bypassing the intestine
just like in the Gastric Bypass. Instead of attaching the intestine to the
SIDE of the stomach, it is attached to the BOTTOM of the stomach where the
intestine used to exit. The bypassed intestine is then sewn at one end
near the liver and the far end of the intestine is sewn to the intestine
that was attached to the stomach to pass bile to the intestines as it does
in the gastric bypass. This procedure is MORE efficient than the Gastric
Bypass in losing weight. This option has an effective rate of weight loss
and maintenance of 70 to 90% in those same studies. The downside when
compared to the Gastric Bypass is that Insurance companies often do not
know of this option and are often reluctant to pay for it. This option has
many of the same issues as the Gastric Bypass. There are some severe
malabsorption issues. There are often issues with dumping, nausea,
vomiting, GERD (acid reflux), gas and foul smelling stools. Many surgeons
have been reluctant to perform this surgery due to the severity of the
complications that can arise. This is why it is often reserved for those
who are considered severely morbidly obese. Many surgeons had looked for
an alternative to this surgery which lead to what was initially considered
a "Half Duodenal Switch" or as it later became known, the
"Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy."
The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy:
(http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/wlsurgery.html#VSG) (if you get the
same picture as the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, just scroll UP) is a
GREAT tool to use in the fight against obesity. While not QUITE as
effective as the Duodenal Switch, it is often JUST as effective as the
Gastric Bypass without the severity of the side effects of EITHER of those
two options. The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy initially started as an
attempt to create a safer Duodenal Switch alternative. While early
attempts were not as successful in weight loss reduction, this was mainly
due to the fact that the surgeons were relying on the larger size stomach
often used for the Duodenal Switch patients who often rely on the
"Switch" part of the surgery for some of the weight loss. Once
the surgeons started reducing the size of the STOMACH, the Vertical Sleeve
Gastrectomy became a much more effective tool at helping the patient loose
weight. In the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, the stomach is cut and
approximately 85% of it is removed. Just like the Duodenal Switch, most of
the cells that produce the hormone grehlin are removed. This eliminates
most of the hunger that the patient used to have, if not all of it. The
stomach that is made from what is left is turned into a tube that is
resistant to stretching. This tube is often designed to hold from 2 to 4
ounces of food or liquid. At this point the surgery is complete. The
surgeons just need to close up and the patient needs to recover. The
upside to this surgery is that it is simple and has one of the LOWEST rates
of complications of all the weight loss surgeries. It also has one of the
HIGHEST rates of excess weight loss with one study in California coming in
starting at 58% to 77.9% loss in a ONE to TWO year study and one doctor in
England reporting that 100% of his patients had a weight loss and
maintenance OVER 70% at 6 YEARS of living with the Sleeve. He also
reported that patients with hypertension, diabetes, impaired glucose
tolerance, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, or arthritis were all cured or
improved after surgery. It has also been said that this is the ONLY
recommended option for people with immune system problems. People with
diseases like Lupus or MS can have this procedure because there is NO
foreign object placed in their body. This also is one of the few
recommended options for people with organ transplants. People with
transplants need their intestines to metabolize their anti rejection
medications. There are possible issues with GERD in this surgery as there
are with the Duodenal Switch There are NO malabsorption issues with this
surgery. There are NO additional foul odors. There is NO additional
intestinal gas. While nausea and vomiting is common in ALL weight loss
surgeries, it is NO MORE PREVALENT in the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy than
in most of the other options. If needed, the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
can be easily converted to a Duodenal Switch should additional Weight Loss
measures need to be taken at a later date. This act is called a
"Revision." Having your Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy converted to
a Duodenal Switch would be said to be having a, "Revision of your
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy to a Duodenal Switch."
The Biggest DOWNSIDE to the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is that it is
considered "Experimental" by many insurance companies. While it
has not been practiced HERE in the US as a weight loss option for very long
(about 5 years or so) it has been done for QUITE a while in Central and
South America and in Europe for quite some time. The surgery has been used
HERE in the US for OTHER reasons for QUITE a while. It has been used QUITE
effectively to treat stomach cancers and ulcers with good effect. These
treatments have been done in the US for quite some time.
There is a NEW option that is being explored for people that have had the
RNY that may be expanded to include OTHER weight loss surgical options and
possibly be used to REPLACE them in the future if it becomes approved for
that use. This new option is called stomaphyX. The stomaphyX surgery
basically takes a post down the INSIDE of the stomach and then FOLDS the
stomach in upon ITSELF and makes the available volume INSIDE the stomach
SMALLER. There is NO CUTTING on the abdomen or anywhere ELSE. All of the
surgery is done through the esophagus. None of the stomach is removed or
cut. At the moment, from what I have been able to find according to MY
research, the device is only approved for use with Gastric Bypass patients
to help make their existing pouches smaller. Permission is being sought to
expand the device's use to other types of weight loss surgeries and for use
on patients that have NOT had weight loss surgery but to be used in PLACE
of traditional weight loss surgery. From what I have been able to find,
this device has not been approved for this use yet. To find out MORE about
this option go to this link:
http://www.themorbidme.com/2007/09/stomaphyx-incis.html .
Options for getting surgeries that are not paid for by insurance can be
found if you are persistent. You can sometimes petition the company and
get them to reconsider with a doctor's explanation. You can also self pay
or take out a loan. Many times, the surgeries are cheaper in Mexico or
other central or South American countries. Do some research to find your
options.
Not every surgery is going to be right for every person. Frankly, for ME,
if I were an obese male with a BMI under 50 (which I am) or an obese woman
NOT of child bearing age, I would choose the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
(which I DID). If I were an obese male with a BMI OVER 50, I would get the
Duodenal Switch. If my insurance company would not COVER it, I would get
the Sleeve. If not THAT, then the Gastric Bypass. I would keep working my
way down the list until I found SOMETHING that I could get. If the
insurance company wouldn't pay, I would try to take out a LOAN (this is
actually what my wife did for me). If I were a WOMAN of child bearing
years or a person facing the possibility of chemotherapy or some other
health issues that would require periods when I would NEED more sustenance,
I would want the flexibility of the Lap Band. The short of it is, Do YOUR
RESEARCH and CHOOSE the right surgical option for YOU! If you can't get
ONE option for a reason, at least get another! For the sake of yourself
and the ones you love, do SOMETHING to fix the problem before it is too
late. If you die due to health problems caused by obesity, it is TOO LATE!
Whatever surgical option you choose, for whatever REASON you choose, we are
ALL here for the same reason. We are here to HELP and BE HELPED. Please,
let's respect each other. There are those on the OH boards that consider
themselves to be "Experts." Most of these folks do not have any
medical experience. They are patients just like me. It is best to take
any advice you get on the OH boards with a grain of salt (if not the whole
cellar). Some folks have a severe bias towards or against certain
surgeries. There are folks who will TELL you that the surgery you are
considering is WRONG and is BOUND to fail! IGNORE these people. Not every
surgery is right for every person! DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH and and CONSULT
with your PHYSICIAN or your SURGEON! I cannot stress the importance of
doing your own research enough.
There is a revised version of this post at my profile page. I have added
some links to some web sites that have some interviews with some surgeons
that perform weight loss surgeries and have videos that actually SHOW the
surgeries. You can watch the surgeries being performed and get many of
your questions answered by the surgeons as they explain what they are
doing. They explain the positives and negatives of each procedure. My
Profile page can be found HERE:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hubarlow/ . Look for a post called
Surgical Comparisons. If you can't find the post on the profile page, look
for the post in the March Archives.
I hope this helps
Hugh.
— hubarlow
June 6, 2008
Jenny,
Lots of us and I am sure you are one of them, have tried all kind of diets
and failed. I never failed at anything but Dieting. What he was trying to
tell you is that you have a choice. Look at and listent to your surgeon.
He wants to suggest an alternative, but you turrned him off when he said
that a lot fail at Lab Bands. He most likely feels that you will suceed
better with RNY WLS. Look at the other options, and let him guide you to
where you will be 100% sescusful. After all if you went to the hospital
tonight and they said have your appendex removed or die by moring, you
would say what are we waiting for. RNY or Lab Band is not any more
complicated, but overweight will bring death eventually. Have you been to
an old folks home? Do you see any fat people there. I didn't so I asked,
and I was told they die before they have a chance to arrive at that ripe
old age. Me, I am 62, and I had the surgery because I only had a few years
left. I raided a friend kids because he died at 45 from diabities. Yes, he
lost his kidneys and at his weight no hospital will put him on a transplant
list. Get well, listent to your doc, and best of success to you.
— William (Bill) wmil
June 10, 2008
I had lap wls done October 2004 and have lost exactly 170 lbs. It took
longer than my friends that had other kinds of operations but I've not had
one problem compared to theirs. I realized early on that as we aalways
read, hear and say the whole process is a tool not a magic bullet and thats
why I believe I've been so successful. As for my friends that went the
other way they have gained most of their weight back mainly by making thier
bodies adjust to the "dumping" and grazing and just stretching
their pouches out in general. I'm in no way saying that I never cheat
because I do but with the band i can always adjust it if it appears that
I'm taking in too much.
— leekenny
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