simego

Cher, I am thinking about the lap band (since October.) I have vacillated mainly because I am concerned about dealing with "head hunger." I know that the lap band can't take that away. I am very clear on when I'm physically hungry and when I'm just eating for other reasons (most of the time.) In general, in life, I am highly motivated and get things done, except I obsess about food all the time. So my goal with the lap band is that once I cannot physically eat so much, I will just adapt to it, because I have to. I know I am not going to allow myself to eat too much and throw up and I know I won't "eat around it" with soft foods or soda. Those are not challenges for me. My question for you, if you faced this yourself, is that once you simply CANNOT physically overeat, does the head hunger (what I experience as obsessive thoughts about food) lessen? Thank you so much, Simone

I have been considering the lap band for several months and just can't decide. I eat mostly out of "head hunger." I am just concerned that that won't go away even with the band. Did the band make it easier to just deal with the head hunger; i.e. you just have the same desire to eat, but just don't eat as much or as often? In other words DESPITE yourself you can succeed?

I certainly didn't mean to scare you! The medical risk is that the procedure is too difficult to accomplish laparoscopically so the surgeon does something else. Like NOT do the operation. That's the risk. He's not going to do something dangerous. However, that WOULD suck, right? So, just remember, it's only a few days and YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I am a physician, although not a bariatric surgeon, but I can answer that. The enzymes are not related to the size of the liver. The liver enzymes reflect its functioning, and conditions like gallstones or inflammation from meds, infection, alcohol or other problems will raised the enzymes. But you can have a fatty liver, which makes the surgery more technically difficult, with entirely normal enzymes and normal liver functioning. It's just that a fatty liver gets in the surgeon's way. Especially laparoscopically because it's all done through such small incisions. The surgeon can't "lift" the liver away like in an open procedure. Again, I am not a surgeon, so perhaps there are additional issues, but what I have written here is correct.

Thanks so much for your reply! I live in Los Angeles, near UCLA. After everything I've read, Tijuana seems like a really good choice. It seems down to Dr. Ortiz or Dr. Gonzalez. Then I was reading so much about fills, and Dr. Ortiz doesn't do his own fills and it seems like some people feel that for after care they're not that terrific, so I was concerned about that. Because it seems like fills and adjusting and everything is a big deal. I am self-pay, and "only" have 50 pounds or so to lose. I like that Dr. Gonzalez was willing to help you find a local doctor b/c that too seems like a problem for people. Did you get the Inamed band? Thanks,

I am considering Dr. Gonzalez. Any positive or negative things you want to say? And/or is there a thread about him? I am very new to this forum. THanks,