downtownjulibrown

The studies show that lap band and bypass have have the same amount of weight loss at 5 years. The only difference is bypass is faster. I think I would also add, that unlike bypass and the sleeve, with lap band you "keep" all the nutrition you eat, so the band requires you to have more accountability about what goes into your mouth. With that said, all of the available options have their complications and set backs. I began my journey at 347, lost 20 preop, and 13 lbs since banding last week.

Good luck and make a choice that is best for you.

You "keep" all the nutrition that you eat with the SLEEVE too. You will probably want one when you get sick of your band.

My dr told me the realize band is no better than the other one. He said it hasn't been out as long and that's why the stats are better. Smaller #'s equals smaller problems reported. He also said it's better to let the surgeon choose for you while he's in there because they go by the size of your preop stomach when deciding for you. I went with the VSG because I was afraid of slippage, erosion etc.

That's so great!

How nice of you to feed skinny people.

I just find it so humorous because cutting the grelin out CAN really make you forget to eat. That's probably the only memory loss loss I've had but it's still early.:lol0:

Please do not delay in getting yourself help. If Dr makes you feel bad address it with him. You have a right to treatment and a right to feel like you are being treated humanely. I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks so much Wasa. Your story saved me from getting the band. I was to be banded on 06-18-09. I changed my mind about the band 2 weeks before my band surgery. I will be sleeved tomorrow morning at 7:30 am. Sheesh that was a close call!!!!

From what I hear locally he is one of the 2 best bariatric surgeons in North Texas. The other one is Dr. David Kim. Dr Kim's office says Dr Wade Barker is a fantastic surgeon. If I wasn't going w/Kim I would have chosen Barker. You can also go on OH and search Dr Wade Barker's name. There you can easily find past patients to talk to. Good Luck

The Protein starts breaking down as soon as you mix up the shake, blender or no blender. This why you shouldn't mix up your shakes ahead of time and put them in the fridge. But you can blend them just fine. Just drink them right after.

Ok I don't doubt this to be true. What about the already premixed/bottled/ready-to-drink shakes? Do they have broken down protien? Just curious.

Taking that 1st big step is often the hardest. Congratulations on your decision to start a brand new life. I'm right behind you with a surgery date of 06-15 just across from Medical City @ Forest Park Medical Center. I know just how you feel right now as my excitement builds each day and I'm 1 day closer to the new me.:thumbup:

Show 'em how it's done!!!!! Congratulations!:confused1:

I need advice from you all. I'm sorry if this is long. I have been struggling with this issue right now and it's weighing me down (LOL). I have been banded for 1 year 4 months. I chose only to tell my closest family and friends. I thought people would be critical, give their negative opinion, watch what i EAT, how I eat, how much I lose, why I'm not losing, etc. etc.

I also thought they'd think I was a loser for not being able to do it on my own.

I think I felt a little bit like that about myself. I was embarrassed and ashamed that I should have been able to do it "on my own" (dieting, exercising, will-power) you know.

Meanwhile, I lied to people throughout these 16 months about how I'm losing the weight. Now I say I took diet pills because I think people are suspicious that I've lost weight so fast. I think some people think I'm lying and that I had WLS. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I get this feeling from others somtimnes.

Anyway, I'm now a liar and do not feel good about this. The lying is getting harder and harder and I don't remember who I told what to. I'm thinking about just telling others the truth about how I lost the weight, but am so fearful of their reactions.

I think people will react even more critical that I was lying all along, and will talk about me which is what I wanted to avoid in the beginning. If you were me, what would you do. Thank you all for your support.

Wow, it sounds like you got yourself in pretty deep. I don't think you should be ashamed though. You've lost alot of weight. And you DID do it all by youself. Even with the band you have done so well without any moral or emotional support.

I do think you should tell the truth even though I'm not sure how. Maybe you can tell the one person you trust more than anyone else and see how they take it. Telling just one person could lift alot of weight off your heart/conscience.

Or you might want to seek the guidance of a therapist.

Let me just say that just because you lied doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you a survivor! You are a STRONG person! You did what you knew you had to do to make it through this.

Maybe it's not totally your fault that you didn't reveal your secret sooner. It sounds like you haven't had much support from those close to you in your life in the past and that's out of your control. It could be partly thier fault that you could not trust them enough to share.

So don't be so hard on yourself now. You should be proud of yourself. I'm proud of you! I wish you the best and I know this will turn out for you. Feel free to update me in the future if you feel comfortable doing so.

That's wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! Mine's June 18th and I'm counting down!

I have lost weight and gained back more (alot more) on every diet I went on. I started off at a very good weight of around 150 in my 20s and 30s. Then proceeded to diet my way up to gain over 100 pounds. You dont need phentermine to do that. All you need to do is diet often enough which screws up your metabolism. Most yoyo dieters are not phen phen users. Any yo yo dieter will tell you that they have gained more weight each time they lost and regained. Its not a phen phen issue. Its a metabolism issue. Not to say that you didnt have problems with phen phen. My best friend had heart damage done by phen phen so I am aware that it was bad. However that weight loss and gain has happened to probably 100% of the people here and without the help of diet pills of any kind.

Then I have this ? 4 you. That if you are already a yo-yo dieter, you've already been banded, do you think you really want to add an amphetamine now. Phentermine is just legal meth. You said yourself you can yo-yo without it so why add drugs

to your problems? It's no fun after the new wears off and they don't work anymore. You are right back where you started. I'm asking this not to offend you but just to give you something to think about. Where do you go after banding & diet pills don't work? What's gonna be your next option?

Drink alot of Water. Here's how-

1 glass of Water when you wake up

30 min b4 Breakfast drink a glass of water.

1 glass Between Breakfast & lunch

30 min b4 lunch drink 1 glass

between lunch & dinner drink 1 glass

30 min b4 dinner drink 1 glass

between dinner & bedtime drink 1 glass

1 glass at bedtime

THAT'S 8 GLASSES OF WATER PER DAY AS RECOMMENDED. PS YOU WON"T BE HUNGRY!

I haven't told anyone but DH. People sometime can be hurtful without really meaning to be. They don't understand that we still have lots of hard work ahead of us and that the LB is only a tool to help us along the way not a magic cure all

I am sure after the surgery and I am losing the lbs. I will be so excited that I won't be able to keep it a secret anymore but for now, I just get that little smile on my face in anticipation!

Count down to June 25!!!!

You are so right! We've had enough pain already & unless they've been there then they don't know what they're talking about. Just keep Smiling. :thumbup: I'm counting down with you. I just got my surgery date today! June 18th is coming faster than I know it and I start Pre-op diet of Optifast 800 on May 28th. 3 weeks of drinking 5 shakes a day and then I'm off on my journey to a new me! I know we can do this! We didn't gain this weight overnight & it's not gonna be easy but we're going in a new direction. This time it's gonna be different. I'm happy for you and when they start seeing the new you, it's no secret anymore. So just keep smiling on the inside and know where you're headed!:mad:

Be careful with that PHENTERMINE!! Phentermine is the same drug that was the first ingredient in what they called PHEN/FEN years ago. Phentermine is still considered safe by the FDA even though the Fenfluramine is what caused problems and is no longer on the market. I started taking those RX only diet pills in 1992 weighing 287. I lost 75 lbs. As soon as I stopped taking them I gained it back up to 311. I have yo-yo'd on those pills for 17 years now. Last year got up to 320, took Adipex again. I lost 40 lbs, stopped and 4 months later I was back up to my current 320 again. MY lap band surgery date is 06-18-09. I can't tell you how many of those pills I've taken over the last 17 years or how many lbs I've lost & gained back each time. YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT ON PHENTERMINE. YOU WILL GAIN IT BACK + MORE WHEN YOU STOP. I promise you this. I am a self pay lap band patient who is using my PHEN/FEN settlement from the drug maufacturing companies to pay for my surgery. It took me 7 years to get this money and I'm using it to fix what diet pills did to destroy my mind, body, emotional state. Those pills are a crutch , gave me a false sense of security and they are very addictive. I was never addicted physically, just emotionally dependant. It's easy to do because they are effective,but it's temporary and will not bring any permanent/sustained success. I have to do 3 weeks of Optifast starting 05-28-09. I just found out today. For about 30 minutes I considered using Phentermine to get me through because my dr said I could. Then I stopped and thought. Hey, this is my chance to start over so I'm not going backwards. It's worth suffering through 3 weeks of 800 calories a day shakes to change my life and move forward & that's what I'm gonna do. I will not tell you not to take RX diet drugs to help you with the band. That's your choice. I can only tell you what could happen if you do from my own experience and wish you well. I will say if you've never done them---It's like having that very 1st drink/smoke. Something thats really great right now! Something you might really regret later. Good luck in your decision. I think if/when I get stuck after banding & can't lose weight I will definately try getting another fill before I resort to RX diet pills again. I hope this helps someone.

I am going through the same thing kinda of. I have been wanting this band ever since I gave birth to my son in Nov-06. I told everyone I was going to try and get it but then I found out my Ins.Policy had it blocked out. My sister got her band OCT-08 and has already lost 80 lbs. At 1st I was jealous because I wanted it before she did but I had to let it go and be happy for her because she's my sis & I love her. Not to mention that she is diabetic and I have no health issues even though I weigh 317.

Anyways, I came up with the money to Self Pay & my 1st appt. with the surgeon is tomorrow. I will probably be banded within 2 weeks. My sis, husband, & mom know. I haven't told any of my friends because I'm afraid it will jinx me. I probably won't tell anyone else until I've lost quite a bit of weight because I don't want anyone elses input, envy or opinions.

In my opinion -Keep it to yourself until you are ready to share. But it's good you have a couple of close allies to support you along with this forum. I just joined it today & that was one of the major reasons I did it. So I can have support & also share while keeping my secret. GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS YOU!!!!:thumbup: