Gastric banding

[izzy]

I remember prior to these new boards that there was a thread on gastric bypass and gastric banding. I tried to do a search and could not find the threads. Does anyone know of an easy way I can find it?

 

[Otto's Doll]

Don't know, just bumping for you..

 

[dg39]

Are you talking about the gastric banding for weight loss surgery?

 

[izzy]

Are you talking about the gastric banding for weight loss surgery?

Yep, that's the one. I hear that it is not near as invasive or dangerous as the gastric bypass surgery.

Has anyone had it done?

P.S. Thanks for the bump Otto's Doll!

 

[Otto's Doll]

Most welcome, Izzy!

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Yep, that's the one. I hear that it is not near as invasive or dangerous as the gastric bypass surgery.

Has anyone had it done?

P.S. Thanks for the bump Otto's Doll!

I haven't had it done, but I have two co-workers that had about the same amount of weight to lose (150lbs each) and their surgeries were done within one week of each other. One had the bypass and one had the band.

The one that had the bypass lost her weight a bit faster and has been able to keep it off. The one that had the band found it was easier for her to eat more a lot earlier than the one that had the bypass, so she was having a harder time sticking to the new routine of having smaller portions. She never hit her goal weight. Not to discourage you from it, everyone experiences things differently and I'm sure their weight loss also had to do with genetics and the amount of effort each of them put into it. My friend that had the bypass worked really hard consistently, while the one with the band didn't seem to make as much of an effort. I have talked to a dr. about this and she told me that while the band is a bit easier on your body, there tend to be better results with the bypass. But I also think it's what you make of it, how you will make it work for you. Because realistically, even with the bypass or the band, it's always possible to gain it back.

 

[dg39]

My dh is getting the band done. Its called lapband surgery. I just went with him to NY Presbaterian Hospital for a 3hr. seminar on it. Its the least dangerous of all 3 types of weight loss surgerys. There's no major cutting and its same day surgery. They put a "band" around the top 1/3 part of your stomach, thus, you eat less. With this type of procedure, your able to eat everything you want, but in small quantities. If you find that you are eating too much, you go back for an adjustment of the band. They make the band alittle tighter. The adjustment of the band does not require surgery. They do it in the office. According to what they told us, you can lose between 60-80% of your weight within a 1-2 yr. period. You cannot eat and drink at the same time. You must eat or drink first, then you must wait 1 hr. to to the other. If you eat/drink at the same time, it will come up. With this lap band procedure even though you can eat whatever you want, they do not recommend you eat alot of fat enriched foods, or too much protein, because again, it will come back up. He needs to get all his blood work done, then he will have the procedure done sometime in February. They told us that of all the procedures this is the easiest one to do. They also said that after having it done, your able to eat the equivalent of the size of a baby food jar. For the first 2 weeks he's to eat nothing but pureed foods. After that slowly adding regular foods. He's to do it gradually, because, if the food is too large, it will come back up. Being he wouldn't be able to eat alot of food, they recommend him choosing his foods wisely and to always take vitamins for the rest of his life as he wouldn't be getting all the nutrients from the foods he would normally eat. He will have to see a nutritionist to get the full list of allowed foods. Let me know, if you want to know anything else. We have alot of info they gave us at the seminar and I'd be glad to tell you anything that I can.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had it done. You certainly lose much slower than the bypass patients but the banding has no where near the death rate of the bypass, no "dumping" etc. Even with the banding you have to cut out the sugar and carbs and eat more of a protein rich diet. Even with your meals you start with the protein and then work your way to the other foods to make sure you get a MINIMUM of 60 grams of protein in for the day. During the first weeks after the surgery you live mainly on protein shakes (BLECH!)...even now for breakfast its mainly a protein bar or some chicken. Carbs are a big no no....no white food as my Dr tells me. As far as adjusting it, its pretty simple, you lay in the chair and do sort of a crunch and they locate the port (its usually off to the side of your navel) and stick a needle in it and fill it with a small amount of fluid. After each fill you are back on liquid for a day or 2 then soft and mushy for a day or two and then back to normal food again. As long as you chew your food very well you shouldn't have any problem with it coming back up again....If you have any questions, just ask!

 

[izzy]

Wow DG39 - thank you so much for all of the detailed information! I had only heard it mentioned on TV one time, and they didn't give much information on it. It sounds like this is a newer procedure. I like the idea that it's not as drastic as the gastric bypass and is hopefully much less dangerous. I'm just in the thinking stages of it now. I understand that the best doctor in my area who does the surgery has a 9 month waiting list.

Please wish your DH "good luck" from me!