Question:
My surgeon is suggesting that I have a Lap Band. I haven't seen any one

their experience withthis proceedure.How much wt do you loose? Was it slow? Did you still crave sugar? How was it over time ? Thanks Mary    — Mary W. (posted on January 9, 2003)

January 8, 2003
I don't know anyone who has had the band, but for me the decision to go with the RNY was that I would have to pay the consequences for eating sugars and fats. My problem is that I didn't only eat because I was hungry, I ate to eat. My surgeon requested the RNY simply because I had a sweet tooth, and he felt that I would benefit more from it. Do you eat sweets 3 or more times a week? If not the band would probably be fine for you. Good luck, but remember, you make the final decision for what's best for you.
   — Dana B.

January 8, 2003
hi. my sister in law just had the lap band done on dec.19,2002. she is doing well. i know for a fact that you do not lose as fast as having gastric bypass. i also know her recovery time is well below what mine was with the gastric bypass. she is already doing all her normal stuff. hope this helps. she has lost 20lbs since surgery. i think she started at around 275.
   — Monica T.

January 9, 2003
I had to respond to Monica's answer. I had lap RNY 3 days before your sister, started at almost the same weight. I have lost about the same amount and I'm also already back to normal activities. It varies person to person I guess. To the original poster - go to http://www.thebandsters.com - I did a lot of research on the band before it was shot down by my insurance.
   — Toni C.

January 9, 2003
there is know way of knowing "for a fact" that you kose less each person is very very different....i was told by everyone herer that i would not lose my weight fast ..because of a VBG ...well i lost 135 lbs in 9 months i am now 15 months PO ben at goal for 6 months and had heerb=nia repair and tummy tuck last month... everyone has to make the very personal choice of what type of surgery will work for them...and the use the tool they chose .......
   — bekka K.

January 9, 2003
I had the lap band on 10/31/02. I am 5'8", started at 265 and am now down to 237. I am a sweet freak but have noticed that I don't really crave them. I get chocolate cravings and either have a chocolate protein shake, diet hot chocolate or a skim pudding. Once in awhile I will have 1 piece of sugar free chocolate candy from Fannie May. I find that I crave carbs more than sugar. Bread is still a big no-no for me but I can handle pretzels, crackers and breadsticks fine. Recovery time was short, I was doing yoga within 2-3 weeks. When I went for my consult, I knew I wanted the bypass. As I talked to my surgon, me BMI wasn't so high that I needed to alter my body so severely. I am considering having another child and can try sooner with the lap band than with the bypass. Follow your heart!
   — Becky S.

January 11, 2003
This is not really the best place for lap band info. Go here and look at some of the links for lots more info: http://www.blkbox.com/~phil/millieslapband/links.htm I've lost 62 pounds in 5 1/2 months with my band. I love my band! I can crave sugar at times but with the band, you really aren't that hungry if you have proper "restriction" with fills. I can eat some chocolate everyday if I want and still lose weight and be satisfied with a small amount. I think it's a complete myth that people who like sweets can't succeed with the band.
   — M. B.

January 11, 2003
1) Who cares how fast you lose the weight? What matters is if you can keep it off or not, correct? Research with the band shows people have kept it off for years-without that rebound weight gain so often seen with RNY. 2) What if you are among the half of RNY people who don't dump? You have chosen a surgery to control your sweets and it won't do that. Also, what if you are like my mother who lost the ability to dump a couple of years after RNY? There is so much misinformation about the band.
   — M. B.