Wheetsin

I'm not banded yet but a lifelong student. Finishing up my 2nd master's, getting ready to roll into my doctorate program. I am currently debating whether or not to take a semester off (will if I go through with the band, won't otherwise!)

Hi Pam, not through banding obviously (!) but when I lose weight it takes 40+ pounds for it to register in my clothing. Then I will drop sizes like no one's business until things level out a bit. How much total weight did you have to lose? That too will play a big role in how long it takes until you see a difference in clothing. Often when you first start to lose you will lose it in target areas. For example, your neck & shoulders may slim while your torso and waist do not, so any changes in size won't necessarily be reflected in the size tag. Just hang in there, it will happen -- you'll go to try and clothes and *surprise* you're suddenly down 2 or 3 sizes.

Hi sleepyjean, The 60% is an overall statistic that includes people who do not follow proper eating habits after banding. It also includes people who do not exercise, and a variety of other non-ideal conditions. As long as you consume fewer calories than you use, you will lose weight. If, through your band, you only take in 1200 calories, and are sedintary and only burning 1100 calories, you're not going to lose weight. Hope this makes sense.

I think it's a good debate. I was pre-med when I first started in college and had an emphasis in genetics. I dropped the pre-med but followed the genetics for four years. I've read a TON of literature and research about this, but it has been a good 10 years ago. This is all just MHO... I think in a case like this it will be very hard to prove genetics over behavior. Having obese parents and grandparents doesn't prove that obesity is genetic. Obese parents obviously don't have great eating habits, and children model themselves after their parents early in life when physiological habits are forming... but it's also a lifelong activity, and anyone around you can influence it. So basically -- having obese parents might mean you inherited a genetic disposition, but it could just as easily mean "monkey see, monkey do." There are obvious genetic factors (e.g. everyone has a different metabolism, some people are born without stomachs, etc.) but that's a small shadow when compared to eating and mobility habits. Losing the weight and always gaining it back doesn't point to genetic factors, either. That one is almost completely behavioral. Now - if someone lost the weight, and CONTINUED with the exact same lifestyle that caused the weight loss: eating, exercise, whatever - and STILL gained the weight back -- there's a good chance for something medical to be going on. But most of the time we gain our weight back because we revert to old habits, even if we aren't consciously aware of it. A lot of people hope and long for discovery of a fat gene because it absolves them of responsibility. I'm not directing this at anyone here, it's meant completely in general. If anything it's geared more toward the people who don't do anything about their weight. Few people who are obese want to say, "It's because I..." when it's so much easier and feels so much safer to say "It's because they..." "It's not my fault" will always be a safer place then, "I shoved in too many Ho-Hos".

SherriWittler - What is the schedule for meetings at the STJ library?

My mother takes coumadin so I bought her one for xmas. It has the star shape (called the "star of life"), but no snake/staff (called a caduceus). The bracelet is gold and the star is engraved/etched in the gold. There are also options to get the star in red enamel. I stuck with the gold/gold for hers, it looks much better. Hers was around $425, but you can get them cheaper with different sizes, gold hardness, and e,blem options.

I'm still in debate mode, but here's my situation. I don't want this surgery to lose the weight. I can lose the weight on my own. I've done it 4 times already. I want the lapband because I see it as a tool to help me keep the weight off for the rest of my life. Heading into 2004 I was 102# lighter than where I am now, having just lost about 130# with a rigorous low-carb diet. I can't keep losing and gaining the weight. Health issues aside, it's mentally destructive.

Several factors, but two main ones. 1. We want kids, but don't have them yet. I decided a few years ago I wouldn't get pregnant until some of the weight was gone, permanently -- too much added risk and potential for complications. I know people have carried babies with RNY but it's not advisable and I wouldn't want to risk any consequences from malabsorption with an unborn baby. 1 1/2. No cutting or removing of organs. I really like the idea that if something goes very wrong, it can likely be fixed. I know people with lap and with RNY, who have had serious complications, and the lap was by far the easiest to fix. 2. Peace of mind. It's very important to have my family's support going into this. I know they'd support me no matter what, but they're also strongly in favor of the no cutting/rerouting option. DH says that if I was considering anything else, he'd have to put his foot down. How about you?

I'm 29, graduated from Central a year early but I only attended 3 years there, my freshman year was in CA. I'm really not sure what area my mother works in now. I know - bad daughter. She was with the child support enforcement department in Savannah for a while, and just recently moved back downtown... she used to do the same thing before the office moved to Savannah, but she switched departments when she moved back. I think she determines eligibility for welfare programs. Something like that. I have been to one seminar, and am pretty much decided on that doctor - Dr. Hoehn. A really good friend from work (my "second" mom) had RNY about a year and a half ago and strongly recommended him. I trust her 100%, so I went to his information night this month and was very impressed. They have a strong comprehensive program, not just a surgeon. Two surgeons are present in every procedure - I like that, too. They have an outstanding track record. He looks to be in his mid-upper thirties. A lot of reviews I've read are put off by that, but I welcome a younger doctor. Chances are that my insurance will cover it 100%, even fills, but I don't know for sure yet. I have United Healthcare EPO and Dr. Hoehn's staff, as well as several people online, have told me that UHC is one of the top two ir three companies when it comes to covering WLS costs. I know they don't specifically exclude bariatric procedures. I'm going to see if my PCP has any openings this week, and if so I will probably go in for my physical. I hope to have the paperwork parts done in the next few weeks, and look into a preliminary (still debating) date after the first of the year. We *definitely* share the PB thing! My husband asked me tonight what my greatest fear(s) were, I came up with 2: 1) PBing. I am a ONE WAY gal when it comes to food. When I'm nauseous, I fight it like you wouldn't believe. I think I've actually irped twice in... oh, 20 - 25 years. So the aversion therapy aspect will be STRONG with me. 2) The whole surgical experience. I had T&A out when I was 2 y/o, and other than that no surgeries at all. Plenty of local anesthesia - stitches, having bones set, etc, but never an IV, never general anesthesia. Did I miss any questions?

No, I'm from California. I lived in St. Joseph for about 6 years but my mother grew up there. My parents are both state employees. My mother works in Family Services downtown and my father is a manager at the prison on Frederick. I was never very impressed with Heartland. I have several other family members in St. Joseph, and a handful of them are nurses with Heartland. I called them the other day to get my medical records - about $20 just to retrieve the file, and $1 or $3 for each page. For *my own* records. It's not a huge amount of money, but it's the principle... they're *my* records, right? Jeez.

I haven't set a date. I did start on my paperwork yesterday, and made calls to start gething medical records. I still haven't made up my mind "officially", though I'm probably 85 - 90% there. I figure it's better to start and be ready to go if I make the decision to... otherwise I wait and wait, and then if I decide to, I have to even longer. Where in St. Joseph are the support group meetings? Heartland? My parents live in St. Joseph and we're there visiting at least twice a month. I also went to highschool there for two years, and got my undergraduate degree from MWSC. (MWSU...whatever)

Hi Tammy! I just found this site a few days ago. I've only found one other site that's pretty inactive, still looking for more. I have 2 biggest concerns: #1 the whole general anesthesia thing... except for T&A when I was 2, I've never had surgery. I'm mildly needle-phobic, and hate hospital environments. Concern #2: PBing! I have SUCH a strong aversion to food going the wrong way - I fight it and fight it. But what I've been asking myself off and on during the last 4 years that I've been thinking about this -- aren't those relatively small proces to pay considering what I could get out of it? I think so!

shortney - Dr. Hoehn's website is http://www.kcbariatric.com/. That site also has their information night/seminar schedule posted. The address is: Bariatric Center of Kansas City 8901 West 74th Street, Suite #356 Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66204 (913) 677-6319

Is it referring to people who had the band removed and are now getting it replaced? Or is it people who have not been as rigorous as they would like ith their diet, and are starting over w/ good eating habits? I see it in siggys - just wondering. All this terminology is new to me (but I've been studying the list rigorously!)

Is it the weight you were last comfortable at? Is it something you pulled from a medical chart? Is it something your doc told you? Is it a guess? Is it a number you have in your head because that's where you think you want to be? Are you not going by weight, but instead going by size, or "when I feel good", or something a little more arbitrary? Just wondering.

Odd happening of events. A friend of mine had RNY a little over a year ago with Dr. Hoehn and strongly recommended him, so I called yesterday to see when their next information session was and - surprise - it was yesterday night! Short notice but we made it. Good thing I called, because my upcoming work travel & vacation schedules have me out of town for every other session through the end of the year. I was impressed with Dr. Hoehn's personal statistics and their comprehensive treatment team. I'm still in the research phase, but so far I really like everything I've heard and personally observed about him. I've made the decision to go ahead and submit my prelim paperwork, get my physical, etc. That way if/when I decide to go through with this, I'm ready to go (and if I can't get approved for some reason, I'll know it in advance and can let DH know to break out the checkbook!) BTW - I have UHC EPO coverage. Anyone else in the area working through that carrier?

I've seen one episode and will never watch it again. It was the third or fourth episode of the first season. It takes a lot to go on national TV and do the things they do. I believe the people who were on the show then wanted help - you can't write acting that bad. But for ratings, writers tried to sabotage their weight loss (they made people sit in a room surrounded by refrigerators full of their trigger foods). People were voted off even though they came there for help. I remember the previews before it actually hit the air was talking about the "drama and suspense," and then showed a lady sitting at a table literally bawling and crying because "I'm sooo hungry!" Maybe the show has changed since I saw it - that's entirely possible, but I'll never know.

I'm really confused! I hear and read over and over that lapband patients can expect to lose 50% - 75% of their excess weight. Why isn't it 100%? What factors is that including? Is that "given no lifestyle changes other than those caused by the band directly?" I'm sure there's a simple answer, but I'm just not getting it. As long as you're burning more calories than you're consuming, you will lose weight... so why are the lapband stats so relatively low? In other words -- help me see the factors that play into those numbers. It takes an equal amount of 0s and 100s to equal 50%, so what "pulls down" the average? Sorry - I'm way too analytical for my own good, and I must understand completely how everything works.

Thanks, that's what common sense was telling me, but the statistics I saw were surprisingly low. If I do this I will be 110% committed. There's NO WAY I would *volunteer* for the only surgery I've ever had, and live with the consequences, and not take full advantage of it. I suspected it was a behavioral issue, but didn't want to assume. I know sometimes the body can be very resistant to losing weight, and thought maybe that had a bigger influence than I was thinking. BTW - I went to an information seminar lastnight. At the end the doc had some bandsters & RNYers in to talk with the group about their experiences. There were 2 bandsters, and both were talking about how glad they were that they could still eat Cookies, ice cream, and have their chocolate shakes w/o PBing. Great example, huh?

Just got back from "information night" - wow, that all happened quickly! A friend recommended a local doc and I called the office to see when their next info session was. Surprise, it was tonight! Which worked out great because vacation & work travel has me missing all other sessions this year. I'm glad I didn't have to until 2006 just to get more info! If I make the decision to do this, let's hope I can beat the average EWL, because even if I lose 55%, I'm still obese, and not THAT far from morbid obesity! (I know, factors influence averages, it's all subjective, etc.) But that's such a weird thought! This doc mentioned doing sojmething I've never heard of before. During surgery he sews the stomach up around the band to eliminate (or at least very significantly reduce the chances of) slipping and eroding. Is that common practice? I like the sound of it, just hadnt heard of it before.

But I'd rather ask "stupid" questions, than be stupid by not asking them. 1. Ok so... I've never had surgery before. Not that I remember anyway. When I was 2 they took out my tonsils & adenoids, but that's it. Never had so much as an IV - heck, not even a cavity. So I have no idea what the experience of general anesthesia is like. Can someone describe their experience? (I've had tons of broken bones, stitches once... so local, but never general) 2. From my research I've learned that true vomiting (not PB) can cause band slippage. Anything else? How about things like sit-ups? Or "straining" your abdominal area (you know, sometimes you just have to do that...). 3. Can you feel your band? During every day walking around, sitting, whatever - not just while you're eating -- do your insides feel different? Are there any activities you're not supposed to do once fully healed - e.g. situps? Tight bending? 4. I had lunch with a friend who had RNY. I confided in her that I was thinking about lapband (she lost 148 lbs in 7 mos!). She said that now she wishes she had gotten lapband rather than RNY b/c with her procedure there are foods you're simply not allowed to eat, but with lapband you can have anything that your body will tolerate. Is this true, or are there no-no foods? I'd always heard that you couldn't have certain things at all, like carbonated beverages, "scratchy" things like chips, or things that could get gummy like soft break or cheetohs. 5. How big is the opening left by the lapband? I know it gets smaller with each fill, and I'd guess there are different size bands -- but in general, w/o fills, are we talking diameter of a quarter? Nickel? Dime? Smaller, like a pea? I'll limit myself to outbursts of 5 at a time, so that should do me for the night. I'm more and more serious about this the more I think about it -- as unappealing as aspects of it seem, I just can't believe that they're anything but small prices to pay for the lifetime of good. But as I get more serious, I also get more anxious... and I'd so much appreciate any & all input and feedback you guys have to share!

I lied! One more... (obviously I haven't been to an info seminar yet) Assuming no fills yet -- does the band have air space in it, or is it filled with saline, but not full? (Think of a balloon that can have just enough Water in it that it holds its shape, but is nowhere near waterballoon full). I ask b/c I scuba dive. Love it! And I'm wondering if I'd have to give it up. Does the band needs mass to hold its shape, or is the silicone rigid enough to hold its shape when empty? (a balloon full of air will look empty underwater, because it needs the air to keep its shape but the pressure compresses the gas, whereas something with solid structure like a metal tube will keep its shape because it does not rely on the air to keep its walls up). TIA!

New here and wanted to say hi. So what should I share? I'm a 29 y/o female here to research and possibly more if things progress, so I hope you don't mind me as I poke, prod, and pry for any and all information I can get my hands on! I've been struggling with my weight for about 13 years. I can lose the weight, but I can't keep it lost, and it always shows back up & has brought a few friends! In the last year I've seen a high (lifetime) of 360 and a low around 280 -- I'm 5'10. I've had the notion of WLS in the back of my head for about 4 years, but have only recently in the last year or so given it any real thought, and again only in the last 3 or 4 months seriously considered it. I'm now considering it seriously enough to seek out the information, so I guess the downward slope is getting steeper. I've done a lot of logistics research - what it is, how it works, how it fails... but I need to research the human factor - what it's like to LIVE with it, what the impact is, etc., and thus I'm making introductions! I'm as beginner as it gets. I haven't even discussed this with my doc, just DH, my mother, and a few friends that have also had varying types of WLS. From what I've read I may not even be a candidate, so we'll see what happens. So for now just consider me the pesky fly that you can't quite swat away. I'll be asking questions, nosing in on conversations, and sticking my hands into as many cookie jars as I can find!

My husband has been great! I really appreciate the way he has stuck with me this entire time. I had a physical 4 months ago. Cholesterol was fine, blood pressure was right on target, etc. She did tell me I needed to lose weight (really?!?), but that otherwise I had a clean bill of health. So - I think I'm being a big baby now. I spent too many hours on this site yesterday and learned about BPs! I didn't know that was in issue with this procedure! Eek! There are three things in life that can make my blood curdle: spiders, needles, and tossing my cookies! I avoid all of the above at all costs! That's (a small) part of why this procedure appealed to be in the beginning -- I was told that wasn't an issue with lapband! So help calm my nerves -- is that something everyone will experience, period? Is that something some experience, but some never do? Does it depend on your fill & eating habits (chewing, eating slowly, not overeating, etc.)? My skin is crawling at the thought of irping my own saliva.

According to http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ my BMI is 48.1, using a height of 5'10 and a weight of 335 (according to home scale). I am planning to attend an information session, I just need to call a local doc and find out when they are. DH is already insisting on coming with me, so hopefully that could help get some of his questions answered, too - and help him feel a little calmer about it. (He isn't against it, shares a lot of the thoughts & feelings I'm also currently battling, but he wants me to stay healthy & thinks that's worth just about anything...)