What do you know about lap-band surgery?

[bertha katzenengel]

http://www.lap-band.com/surgery.html

An alternative to gastric bypass/stapling.

Heard of it? What do you hear?

[auntAgonist]

1. I would strongly advise

against Lap Band surgery. Having researched Bariatric surgery for 3 years or more. There are a few different types of surgeries available. This link will give you much more information.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/information/wlsjourney/surgery+types.php

A co-worker's wife had the lap band done and has had nothing but trouble. She hasn't done well in weight loss because she finds she can eat around the band. (her words). She is often very nauseated and seems to have to return for adjustments on a regular basis.

I had the Biliopancreatic Diversion with a Duodenal Switch. That particular surgery is outlined on that page I linked as well as the RNY.

I would suggest you check out http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/duodenalswitch/ it's an email group that will answer ANY and ALL your questions regarding LapBand or any other procedure.

There is also a LapBand Forum http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/

I know I haven't been much help and probably haven't given you any information that you didn't already have.

PLEASE research carefully. Feel free to PM if you like

:hug:
kesha.

All the best to you and MrsV!!

[bertha katzenengel]

2. Thank you, Kesha.

I considered this briefly because it doesn't seem as drastic as the other methods, and it is reversible. I don't want surgery at all. I've had enough surgery for five lifetimes. Besides, there is nothing wrong with me physically that should keep me from taking it of with diet and exercise. (Note I said "physically.")

Thanks, my friend :hug:

[auntAgonist]

3. You're welcome!!

I tried a lifetime of dieting. Up and down, then up some more. I just couldn't do it anymore. Surgery is DRASTIC. I wish you much success in getting the weight off. I'm down 134 lbs so far and finally getting back some energy. Now if ONLY my hair would come back as thick as it used to be :(


:hug:

kesha

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bertha katzenengel]

5. thanks for the note

and the pm

Jessicazi, what i want to do changes day to day. I don't know if i'm still considering this.

(may i suggest you ask the mods to remove your email address from your post? you might get a lot of spam from this one post otherwise)

[flordehinojos]

6. one of the things that they stress before doing any type of weight

reduction surgery is whether or not people who opt for it are really, really, psychologically really ready to undergoe a life altering procedure...and one of the questions they ask is, are you ready to stop eating, because, if you are not ... they don't recommend the surgery.

the one advantage to the lap-band surgery is that i think i have heard that it can be reversed. gastric bypass cannot.

[MissMillie]

7. What I do know....

The procedure is used to control how much food you can eat. It has no malabsorptive qualities (the gastric bypass and the duodenal switch typically bypass a section of the small intestine, which means you absorb fewer of the calories--and nutrients--than you eat).

It is reversable, but it's not meant to be. The same is true of the gastric bypass.

One of the risks involves slippage or erosion of the band and that would require a revision.

Bariatric surgeons usually recommend this procedure for individuals who have less weight to lose (with a BMI of 35 to 45), and usually recommend gastric bypass for those with a BMI of 40 or more.

Good surgeons don't just cut into anyone. The program I was in made me go to psychological screenings, classes on emotional and compulsive eating, a class on post-surgery nutrition, and (from what I have heard) now requires people to take exercise classes before they even see the surgeon.

Of course, you should do your own research, and while obesityhelp.com is a wonderful resource (I am a member), it tends to be very pro-surgery. Read as much as you can from both sides of the argument.

I recently had a hernia repair and when I was at the surgeon's (mind you, this surgeon doesn't do bariatric surgery) for a follow-up he asked me if I would speak to someone about gastric bypass.

When I got into the room, the woman was in tears. Getting this recommendation from the doctor seemed like a death sentence to her.

Of course, the only thing she had heard about this surgery is that people die from it. Truth be told, thousands are people every year are given a new chance at life because of bariatric surgery.

It's not for everyone, and I would NEVER tell anyone that they SHOULD have it done. What I can tell you is that my experience has been overwhelmingly positive. My life is very different now that I'm not lugging around the 100 lbs. that I have lost. I'm at the gym 5 days a week, have boundless energy, have fewer aches and pains in my body, I am off anti-depressants and blood pressure meds, my sleep apnea has all but disappeared, and I can now shop in regular stores.

I still need to lose a few more lbs. and I am making the push to do that. Between the nutrition classes I had to take, the exercise I now feel I can do (it's hard to move when you're severely obese), and the bypass itself, I have no doubts that I will lose the last of the weight I want to lose.

Good luck to you in making your decision, and in whatever path you take to reach your goals.