Question:
HAS ANYONE HAD LAP-BAND SURGERY?

HAS ANYONE HAD LAP-BAND SURGERY, HOW MUCH WEIGHT WAS LOST. I WAS TOLD THAT YOU DON'T LOSE AS MUCH WEIGHT WITH THIS SURGERY AS YOU DO THE RNY SURGERY. HOW IS THE PAIN AFTERWARDS. HOW LONG BEFORE YOU RETURN TO WORK. HOW LONG IS THE HOSPITAL STAY. PLEASE ANY INFO YOU CAN GIVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS, CHERYL EDDINGS    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on April 23, 2003)

April 23, 2003
From what I was told about the Lap Band is you don't loose as fast as with gastric bypass.Plus, the chance of re-gaining the weight is higher. You can still eat sugar with it. My insurance won't pay for Lap Band surgery. There's a website you can go to. Don't know the address, but look up INAMED. That's the company that makes it. They can also give you a list of doctors in your area that are trained in this procedure.
   — Debbie W.

April 23, 2003
My sister had the lap band 10/03 and she has lost 21 lbs (all in the first 3 weeks) she has not lost a thing since then and is very frustrated - she is now looking into getting it removed to get the RNY.
   — Becky F.

April 23, 2003
I had AGB on September 30th, 2002 and have lost 50 pounds so far. Yes, the weight loss is slower than RNY but at the two year mark compairing the AGB to RNY the results are very simular. Please look at my profile on here. Also go to Yahoo, groups, and search bandsters, you will get all the information you could ever want about the band. Please research more than this site, it tends to be a bit "band negitive". Good luck to you.
   — Genn2973

April 23, 2003
There is a support group for lap banders at www.spotlighthealth.com. Click on morbid obesity to find it.
   — Cindy R.

April 23, 2003
I started off wanting the band but ended up with the RNY. I LOVED milkshakes pre op. A SURE disaster for ME with the band that lacks dumping and that icky feeling from high calorie liquids.
   — bob-haller

April 23, 2003
I had my lap band done 4 weeks ago and I have lost 11 lbs. No complications, back to work within one week. I am so glad I had this surgery. I would recommend it to anyone. You loose weight slower but can still loose as much as the RNY patients.
   — tfennel

April 23, 2003
I was banded on 2/17/03. I've lost 25 pounds at this point. I was in the hospital less than 24 hours. I had severe chest pain right after my surgery, but they promptly gave me meds for it. The rest of the time the pain was tolerable. I was back to my regular self within days. I don't believe you can really compare the band to the bypass. They are 2 completely different procedures. One has very few side effects, very few complications, usually only requires an overnight hospital stay, and is reversible. The other can have numerous side effects, several SERIOUS complications, is NOT reversible, changes the landscape of the insides of your body, and requires several days in the hospital. Yes, weight loss is slower with the band, but what have we been told all of our lives when it comes to weight loss? SLOWER IS BETTER! There is no reason why a person with the band shouldn't be able to reach their goal. It's not a miracle cure, but it's a darn good tool! Your chances of regaining weight after you reach goal are actually lower with the band than with bypass. Since the band is adjustable, your window of opportunity doesn't close like it does with the bypass. I don't know your situation. Yes, the bypass is the best option for some people. However, the band has been proven to work for many people and I hope you'll continue your research. You will find helpful message boards on Yahoo if you search for "lap band". Best of luck to you!
   — TMF

April 25, 2003
YES, the band works. I have lost 100 lbs. since March of '02 and have maintained for over three months. No complications at all. Recovery was really easy. Traveled 8 hours less than 24 hours after my surgery and was feeling fine within a week. My advise would be pick the most experienced surgeon in banding that you can find, even if it costs you a little extra money.
   — Linda H.