Considering Lap-Band - Please share your experiences

[TravelinGal]

I want to preface this with this...

I do not want to hear horror stories about people who had gastric bypass surgery. Lap-Band is NOT the same proceedure. It's risk is much lower than gastric bypass surgery etc.

I would like to know what kinds of foods you eat after surgery (when you're able to be back on true solids) and if you have problems with specific foods. I know there are issue with certain foods with gastric bypass, but I am assuming it is from the bypass part. Is there any of the 'dumping' that I've heard about with the bypass surgery? (and just what IS dumping? - I assume it's food moving very rapidly 'toward either exit', but I don't actually know) Again, I'm ASSUMING that this is not a side effect of lap-band, but don't know for sure - hence my questions!

As far as WDW goes, are you then limited on what rides you can go on? I enjoy M:S but could live without it, but I'd be SO sad to not ride Rockin' Roller Coaster ever again. (although it would be worth it, but I'd still be sad)

I'm 41, have a 2 1/2 yr old DS and at 5'4" weigh about 270. Dieting is NOT working for me. (Been on a healthy weight loss plan since January and have not lost a single pound - and no, I'm not cheating) Thyroid is not the problem either. Dr doesn't know why but she did recommend that I look into this.

Thanks for whatever you can share! And, yes, if there was a problem with your (or someone you PERSONALLY know) LAP-BAND surgery, I would like to know that too. Just no Gastric Bypass horror stories please since that's not the route I'm considering.

 

[JMD]

Dieting is NOT working for me.

I've no experience with lap-band surgery, but dieting works for everybody. If your current diet is not working something needs to be changed. If you have not consulted a nutrionist, you should find a good one and get your diet in order.

With a good diet and consistent exercise you WILL lose a significant amount of weight without having surgery.

But good luck to you, I know its a tough decision.

 

[TravelinGal]

Maybe I should restate that - I've been on my CURRENT diet since January and have not lost a single pound.

I have had issues with weight since I was in junior high. My mom even sent me to The Diet Center while I was in junior high, it was that bad. This is not a recent late in life issue. I've never been able to lose much weight (well, phen/fen helped, but we know the risks with those meds!). Any weight I lost came back on - WHILE STAYING ON PLAN. And trust me, I've tried just about everything out there - including plans given by professional nutritioinists.

That said - anyone here have experience with the Lap-Band?

 

[yoopermom]

Hi, first, you might want to post this on the Community Board to get more responses. Second, I had lapband surgery 4/5/07, and am glad I did, but would highly suggest you research the heck out of it first, go to lapbandtalk.com and obesityhelp.com , and check for free informational meetings at your local surgeon. It is not a decision to be made lightly, but I'm v. glad I did. Everyone is different, but here's my (condensed)story: I turned 40 last Xmas, hit 297 on the scales, and completely freaked out. I went for my consult in Jan., my dr. is VERY firm on patients only choosing lapband (vs GB) if they can show a commitment to weight loss and exercise presurgery. Between then and my surgery, I lost about 4 lbs a week through a combination of weight watchers, walking, and constant vigilance(!). LB comes with absolutely no guarantees of quick loss (1-2 lbs a week average), but I chose it because I liked the fact that it was minimally invasive (laproscopic), reversible, and a "tool" towards being healthy (no such thing as a magic bullet!). 5 wks out and I'm finally to "mushies" (after weeks of clear and then creamed liquids), but am committed to the fact that I will have to stick to a 800 calorie, 1/2 cup meal 3X/day diet made up largely of protein/veggies until I reach goal. It is not easy psychologically, but physically it really hasn't been too bad. Just this week I reached my "halfway point", 70 lbs down, 70 to go. I feel GREAT, but remember, the band is only a tool.

I don't expect it to slow me down as far as any ride choices go at WDW, I expect to keep eating healthy until goal (and after, obviously), there's no "dumping" because there is no "cutting" like in BP, but quanitity is extremely limited and good choices have to be made.

Any other ??s feel free to pm me. Good luck whatever you decide!
Terri

 

[ggeorgiagirl]

Hi!

I had the LapBand placed in 2004. I had 6 fills and never lost a pound. It is NOT the easy way out, I can promise you! Make sure that you have an EXCELLENT doctor and a GREAT place to get fills.

I was involved in Support Groups...online and in person! I exercised somewhat...but I give up easily!

I can say that it was WONDERFUL not to gain any weight with my pregnancy!

Good luck!

Beth

 

[TravelinGal]

I do have issues with needles - how bad are the fills?

Terri - you say you're down 70 lbs but you've only had the band in place for 5 weeks...how much have you lost with the band?

Beth - Since it didn't work for you, did you have band removed? Or is it still in place and helping you maintain but not lose?

Thanks for answering my question(s) - it's appreciated. both the good and the bad sides of Lap-band.

 

[ggeorgiagirl]

The fills are not bad at all. Except for the price. Even if the first year of fills are considered "free"...what about the next few years? DON'T DO IT IN MEXICO! That is what happened to me! My fill doctor charges $300 each time.

I still have the band and have gained about 5-10 since i had it placed. That isn't so bad (3 years).

LOVE

Beth

 

[delilah]

Dumping has to do with consuming a high carbohydrate meal after gastric bypass/gastric banding surgery, particularly sugary liquids. Normally, the stomach holds a meal and releases a small quantity at a time so it can mix with the secretions from the exocrine pancreas. After bariatric surgery (and other GI surgeries, as a matter of fact), the capacity of the stomach is much less. The symptoms of dumping are those of malabsorption, in general, such as stomach cramping, loose stools, and excessive gas. With gastric banding, the stomach is made smaller. The risk of dumping is less than with gastric bypass because the GI tract below the level of the stomach is still intact. Nutrients can be absorbed normally. With gastric bypass, the esophagus and a small portion of the stomach is rerouted to skip a part of the small intestine (the duodenum). The duodenum is the portion of the small intestine that is attached to the pancreas, which produces the enzymes needed to digest food. The result is that digestion and absorption of nutrients is much less efficient. So, the risk of dumping is much greater with the rerouting type of bariatric surgery.

 

[TravelinGal]

Delilah - wow! Thanks for such an informative post!

Beth - oh my - $300 each?! and I'm guessing most insurances don't cover the refills, huh?
To ask a very blunt question - why do you think (or know) it didn't work for you?

 

[yoopermom]

Sorry it's taken me a while...

I've lost about 3-4 lbs a week both before and since surgery, due to choice and limiting of calories, exercise, and (post surgery) band restriction. Like I said, takes LOTS of willpower.

My dr. doesn't do fills until you stop losing, and at the rate I'm going I probably won't get one for awhile (hopefully). They can be expensive after the first year, but worth it if it works for you. I'm needlephobic, too, but just trying not to think about it.

Good luck with your decision!

Terri

 

[TravelinGal]

Guess it doesn't matter. Stupid insurance people won't cover it. "We don't do that anymore. Unless you are on a waitlist from last year."



(no way we can afford it OOP)

 

[ggeorgiagirl]

I have never felt restriction! It is WEIRD...my Fill Doctor wasn't very aggressive (he is nice but not a great fill doctor). That, of corse, is not the entire reason. I love sweets (sweet tea, cookies, you name it). Those all slide down really easily!

Everyone that I know has lost weight but me! DEPRESSING!

Let us know how it is going!

 

[yoopermom]

That's really tough about not feeling restriction. I haven't pushed mine yet at all to see how much I could eat, but I doubt I have much, either, yet. The people I know who have had gastric bypass have lost a lot of weight quickly due to stomach size limitation, but I truly believe that lapband only works for those who can limit foot quanitity/quality very strictly. It's not easy, at all. Oh, for a quick fix!

Terri

 

[christmaseve70]

I've no experience with lap-band surgery, but dieting works for everybody. If your current diet is not working something needs to be changed. If you have not consulted a nutrionist, you should find a good one and get your diet in order.

With a good diet and consistent exercise you WILL lose a significant amount of weight without having surgery.

But good luck to you, I know its a tough decision.

Regarding this quote, I have to say that this person obviously has absolutely no qualifications in the medical field to say such a thing, because if they did, they would realize there are medical conditions out there where you have a stagnate metabolism, amongst many other conditions that can cause resistance to weight loss. To say that dieting works for everyone is a joke. I have been through 27 years of nothing but repetitive diets, pills, physician supervised weight loss programs, nutritional counseling....basically anything you can think of, and my weight does NOT budge! I've researched lap banding and gastric bypass for over five years now, and it's always been named as my "absolute last resort". It's finally come to that, now, because of my health deteriorating rapidly. Basically, my point is, before making such a vague, blanket statement such as that one, please do some research first!

 

[christmaseve70]

Guess it doesn't matter. Stupid insurance people won't cover it. "We don't do that anymore. Unless you are on a waitlist from last year."



(no way we can afford it OOP)

Depends on who your insurance carrier is. We have Pennsylvania Capital Blue Cross and they cover it.

 

[JMD]

Regarding this quote, I have to say that this person obviously has absolutely no qualifications in the medical field to say such a thing, because if they did, they would realize there are medical conditions out there where you have a stagnate metabolism, amongst many other conditions that can cause resistance to weight loss. To say that dieting works for everyone is a joke. I have been through 27 years of nothing but repetitive diets, pills, physician supervised weight loss programs, nutritional counseling....basically anything you can think of, and my weight does NOT budge! I've researched lap banding and gastric bypass for over five years now, and it's always been named as my "absolute last resort". It's finally come to that, now, because of my health deteriorating rapidly. Basically, my point is, before making such a vague, blanket statement such as that one, please do some research first!

You dug up a thread from over a year ago to tell me to do some research.

I still stand by my statements. Everybody can lose weight with proper diet and exercise. You may not lose it as fast, or you may not lose as much, but you can lose it. Surgery is not your only option.

 

[catherine]

I've deleted the post. I didn't realise that this thread is a year old!!!