Has anyone had Lap Band weight loss surgery or know anyone who has?

[tuckerkeys]

I am currently in my 6 month mandatory insurance wait for Lap Band surgery. I am curious if anyone on here has had weight loss surgery, either gastric bypass or lap band and how was it for you? So far my surgery date is set for April 3. I have been down every road for weight loss. Atkins diet, weight watchers, low calorie diet etc etc.....I always gain the weight back & it always brings friends!!!
Please, no bashing or letting me know i am crazy for choosing weight loss surgery! I'd just like to know any stories, good or bad, from peoples experiences!

 

[Disney Ella]

I am bumping for you because I know there are some people who have had this surgery or know someone who has had it.

 

[Mellie2162]

Sent you a PM.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

My SIL had hers done in Mexico about 3 years ago. She lost around 150 pounds and got her weight down to about 140. She uses a local doctor to do the adjustments to the band. She has had some issues like acid reflux and they were afraid for a while that her band had slipped. She has told me that it doesn't make you stop being hungry or wanting to eat - you just can't. She had been exercising doing pilates about 5 or 6 times a week and quit that about 3 months ago. Since then she said she had gained about 40 pounds back. She asked her local doc for an appetite surpressent but he told her there was no such thing. She said the other night that her doctor told her about 70% of those that get the band eventually gain all of their weight back. She bought some excersize equipment and is going to start working out again in hopes of getting her weight back down...

 

[rie'smom]

My niece had it done for my great niece at 15 years old! My gn was put into the hospital last summer because she couldn't eat or drink and hadn't urinated in 4 days. Then last week her band slipped and she had to have the procedure redone. She has lost weight but IMO, it isn't worth the hospitalizations for her. GN doesn't exercise. It's taking the easy way. She doesn't follow the doctor's instructons. Hopefully, she won't end up back in the hospital. When I think about it, I want to slap her mother.
I'm sure it's a good thing for people mature enough to handle it but there can complications.
ETA-I don't mean that it's the easy way for everyone.

 

[CocozMom]

I had it done in December and have been very pleased. In 2 months I have lost 30 lbs. I stil have 100 to go, but am hompeful that it will all be gone in the next year. I have started excercising and really get full quickly. Then am not hungry for another 4 hours at least. I disagree with the PP saying that 70% of people with lap band re-gain the weight. That is not what I have learned at all. It actually has the same 5 year success rate as the gastric bypass. And you would have to take in the majority of your calories via liquid as the opening ot the stomach remains restricted to regain weight.
The recovery time after the procedure was harder for me. 1 week off of work and then another 2 weeks before I felt up to anything energetic.
Good luck!

 

[intheworks]

My DH is in the process of being worked up for this procedure as well. Here is a useful website someone gave me:
www.lapbandtalk.com

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I worked with a woman who had the lap band procedure. She was very pleased.

She tried for years to get pregnant with no success and eventually just gave up on the idea of having her own children. She then had the lap band done and was pregnant within a year! I'm not sure she was supposed to at that point but it was not intentional, she had been told several times she would not be able to have kids so they never used protection.

I don't work with her anymore but I know that she has had 2 beautiful healthy children since her procedure a few years ago and she has also managed to keep off the approx. 100 pounds she lost. She should be the poster woman for the lap band

 

[monkey68]

One of the secretary's in my dad's office had gastric bypass a few years ago (before lap band came out). She lost a lot of weight, I think at her lowest, she had lost 180 pounds from her former weight. She did gain some of the weight back, but maybe around 30 pounds, so that's still 150 pounds off her old weight. She looks great, she's very happy she had it done.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I had gastric bypass surgery 15 months ago. If you'd like more info on it please PM me. I have been very successful.

 

[lil mermaid]

The only person I know who had it died from it.

My OB/GYN, Dr. Leslie Parks, died from an infection after Lap Band surgery. She left behind two year old twins. She was only 38.

 

[arminnie]

I don't mean to be a downer - but my cousin died about a year after gastric bypass surgery. Her meds for epilepsy were no longer processed properly after the bypass. She had to stop driving. She passed out on her balcony, hit her head, and was found dead.

A doctor that I used for some other surgery also did this procedure. I met several of his patients in the waiting room. They were very happy with the outcome. Gaining all the weight back - while not impossible - was still pretty infrequent.

 

[Maridw]

A friend that I used to work with had lap band surgery. This was in Oct 2007. She is doing great. She was going to have gastric bypass surgery, but had a panic attack the day of the surgery. Since it would not be covered by insurance after the 1st of the following year, this was her last chance.

When she decided to have the lap band surgery, she was able to find insurance to cover it. Once she looses a certain amount, she will be able to have knee replacement surgery.

She also had tried other methods, from weight watchers to hypnosis. She was able to lose the weight, but if there was a crisis in her life (family, personal etc) she would put the weight back on. She was up to 465 lbs when she finally had her surgery and was having serious knee problems.

She is keeping with her eating plan and has recently plateaued her weight loss. But she is keeping with it and knows that she wil reach her goal weight. She is so much happier and looks great.

I think if you have looked at every option, and found that this might be the best for you, then go for it. Good Luck!!!!

 

[Cinerbelle]

I had gastric bypass surgery in March of 2006. I have lost 140lbs. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I have had no complications (knock on wood) and would do it again in a heart beat.

Good Luck!!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

A doctor that I used for some other surgery also did this procedure. I met several of his patients in the waiting room. They were very happy with the outcome. Gaining all the weight back - while not impossible - was still pretty infrequent.

First, I'm very sorry to hear about your cousin. That's horrible.

Second, this is part of the problem with WLS (and I'm addressing this in general and not to you even though I quoted you). WLS has become very popular. It is pre-approved before the surgeon touches you and the money is pretty good. I know my WLS surgeon got about 6 times the amount my regular surgeon got to remove my gallbladder. Surgery wasn't that much longer.
So a lot of general surgeons are now doing WLS. To me this is asking for trouble. WLS is serious business that requires expertise and follow-up care. I had to see a gastro doc for sign-off and he refused to sign off until he was comfortable that I was getting a full staff to back me up.
I'm 15 months out and see a nutritionist and an RN on a regular basis. The RN is WLS patient herself. They work right in the surgeon's office and I have access to him whenever I need it. I have my blood checked regularly to ensure I'm getting enough vitamins, etc. This is serious business and should not be entered into lightly.

OP I'm glad you're asking questions but please make sure you do all of your homework.

 

[bettyann29]

I had lapband on March 17th last year.. so my 1 year bandiversary is coming up and I am down almost 85-90 pounds.. I will reach my personal goal in 10-15 pounds, but honestly if I didnt lose another pound I would be super happy..

It has been a learning experience along the way, but by far the best thing I have ever done for myself.. I certainly didnt do it for DH as he loved me when I was bigger.. He never knew me when I was smaller, only bigger.

The only regret I have is that I didnt have it done sooner..

Pm me if you have any specific questions..

 

[PirateMaiden]

I just had my surgery on 2/10/09. So far I have lost 28 lbs. I wasn't able to get in a lot of protein the first 2 weeks but the doc said as long as I stayed hydrated I'd be fine. I'm now on a soft diet and it is much easier to get my protein, but after 2 ounces of food I feel like I've eaten the whole Thanksgiving turkey! I'm very glad that I made the decision to do it. Can't wait to do simple things like tie my shoes without fighting my belly to do it! Best of luck!

 

[catherine]

A patient of ours had a lap band fitted and was doing quite well. However the band slipped and went into his stomach. He ended up having all kinds of medical problems as a result. I met him on the Endoscopy unit were he had to come every month for various procedures. He told me if he could have his time over he would never have the band fitted. Unfortunately he ended up passing away due to complications as a result of having the lap band fitted!

 

[Duchie]

My sister had the lap band surgery done several years ago. I'd say her results have been mixed. Prior to and shortly after the surgery, she was on a restricted liquid diet and she did well. She lost a lot of weight immediately after the surgery. However, in her case, she never really changed her habits. She still ate fried foods, drank regular Coke, etc. At first she was eating smaller portions so she did lose weight. But now she's back to eating regular-sized portions of food. I've heard you can stretch things back out, and I think she may have done that. She was exercising for a while, but I don't think she does that any more either. In her case, I don't think she ever delt with the emotional issues that made her eat to begin with. She thought surgery would be the magic answer but it's not. Until she faces her problems and deals with them, she's still going to struggle.

If you decide to go ahead with the surgery, please make sure you consider all of your issues, not just the physical ones. I wish you nothing but the best of luck!

 

[allie_to_you]

I am headed to see the Dr. about starting the lap band process. I'll have to do the 6-month wait/dr. approved diet thing so that my insurance will approve me, but I am hoping to get it done about the beginning of the year.