PangeaOne

I am thinking of having my lapband removed. Blame myself for the failure. I have not lost one pound. The procedure was done in 2008. I am so fearful that once the band is removed I will gain even more weight. Does anyone know if this is usually the case? Looking for guidance.

The surgery itself is very brief: 1 1 2/ hours total from prep, recovery and out the door. I did have very, very intense pain in my shoulder that lasted for at least a week and then less so for another week. They give you a prescription for the pain which you will definitely want to fill. Others never experienced this pain which is caused by the gas that is used as part of the surgery. Never had any discomfort from any of the incisions. You will do great. I am reading a lot of these blogs and have come to realize that everyone experiences the surgery and the aftermath in their own individual way.

Protein, protein, protein. that's what keeps me sane, that and being busy and exercising. Why do you have to wait three months for a fill. This is so odd. I quess every bariatric program and every surgeon has there own theory as to how all this works. Some bandster have already had a fill and looking for a second one at two months post-op. Very confusing. Hang in there. BTW: My above theory is a good one but I have to confess that I fall off the wagon on a regular basis, feel like a failure, have no restriction as yet and try to separate what is stomach hunger from head hunger. Hang in there !!

Wow! I can't have a fill until the 29th of June, which is about 6 weeks out from my surgery on the 15th of May. When did you have your first fill? I am envious. I guess to answer your question, I want to believe that the surgeons know best. I have banders report not getting good restriction for 3 to 4 weeks so maybe that's why the wait.

What has helped me is making sure I have enough protein. I use Designer Whey Protein powder and use a scoop and a half which gives me 25 grams of protein. This has helped a lot. But the other side of this is the head hunger which I think is a much harder issue to control. I had my surgery on the 15th of May and don't go a fill until the 29th of June. Now I am battling head hunger with my eating getting out of control. More poor choices rather than high quantity. Which hunger are you dealing with. Sometimes it takes quite a while to figure this out. It's an individual thing.

I am reading all of your experiences with great interest. Was banded on 15th of May. I will have my first fill on the 29th of June. Right now I am (what I've read here) going through "Bandster Hell!" So I am listening very carefully but won't really "get it" until I experience this myself. Right now I am very discouraged due to no weight loss and no restriction.

I had lapband on the 15th of June. Dr. Cobean at Maine Med.

I had lapband on the 15th of May and am scheduled for my first on the 29th of June. I haven't really lost any weight as yet. I only have 70 or so #'s to lose and am older. I have no idea if it's normal. I have no restriction whatsoever since the last few weeks. Very frustrating!! You on the other hand are doing so well!! I am so impressed. Keep up the great work.

Thanks so much for your response. My BMI is 37. The surgeon did mention that he didn't think I would qualify for Gastric Bypass. I really couldn't figure out why he had mention this but you're right on about how effective Gastric Bypass is for Type 2 Diab. I guess I need to research this. Didn't really think I would qualify so I know nothing about Gastric Bypass.

I just saw the surgeon today and he told me that I may not qualify with Medicare since I only weigh 200 #'s and haven't weighed this much for more than 5 years. I have gone through this program for 9 months now and no one has ever mentioned this before. I have gone to a therapist connected to the program since last October and have attended at least 2 groups a week for the past last 9 months. The surgeon also told me that the majority of lap band patients lose only 50 % of their extra weight which would mean that I would only lose 40 #'s. I have severe diabetes and feel losing weigh will improve this. He also told me that he feels that lap band surgery has been highly overrated and gastric bypass gives the best results. I have to say the meeting today was less than inspiring but probably realistic???? Any reaction to this??

Just hearing that someone else is making a decision that really should be yours makes me feel so sad and would make me feel trapped because of someone else's opinion. I am so sorry. I have used Meridia (Reductil) in the past and combined it with Xenical and lost 35 #'s but walked constantly but slowly gained it all back and more. I am determined to have the surgery even though at this point the therapist who did my assessment withheld the results not wanting to send it on to the bariatric center. After a call to the bariatric center who instructed I call her to let her know she needed to send the assessment to the center. Now I'm trying to find a therapist to deal with this food addiction prior to surgery. I think the thing that bothers me the most is that there are so many variables to wade through. Each center and doctor, the clinican who does the assessment and the insurance company all have their own their own criteria. As this isn't enough, each of these entities doesn't inform of each of their criteria. You should research Meridia. While it works, it's reported loss as I recall is not really very significant and once you stop taking it you may be back to where I am now. Good luck. You sound very strong. This will happen. :-) Pangea

This has nothing to do with my insurance since she didn't even know what insurance I had and had forgotten my phone call to her in which she said she didn't take my insurance. I did sound like she was trying to drum up business but again reminded her that she didn't take my insurance. I'm glad to hear that you have never heard of extended therapy to qualify for Lap-Band surgery. I will call the Bariatric Center tomorrow. Thanks so much. Pangea

I just had my psych assessment and was told that she (the therapist would hold onto the assessment until I complete sessions with an eating D/O therapist. She couldn't be the therapist since she doesn't take my insurance. When I called the Bariatric Center they told me to call her back and tell her to send the assessment to them, that she can't "hold" back on this. My question is this: How long to do I have to go to therapy? Three months, six months, etc? I don't know if I will be able to afford this for an extended period. Thanks, Pangea

I am so sorry that this has happened to you. It's very scary to hear this since I am at the beginning of this process. I'm sure you have discussed all of this with your doctor. What explanation do they have for this. There must be some recourse for you to take given that you are still experiencing hunger. Please let me know what the doctor plans to do about this. I will certainly bring up your experience with my medical team before I have the surgery. Let me know how you're doing. Bev:confused:

WOW!! You are so beautiful!! I am so happy for you! I am still awaiting a call from the surgical team.