Search the Community

I'm prettt sure she is more like 165 because she said she lost 30 on lapband and 35 on sleeve revision.

glad this was brought up. I am about 15 weeks post op and have already had two fills. I have lost approxamately 40 pounds. I still feel no restriction. I actually felt more restriction after my surgery than i have since having my fills. I am concerned in that my surgeon put a 4 cc band on me and i have already had 2, 1 cc fills. I am HALF FULL and still not feeling restricted !!! WHAT is wrong with me? It is taking sheer will power to push myself away from the table!! My surgeon even did an UPPER GI to assure me that I really am Banded. I feel that the only thing i have to show for from my surgery is 5 small, well-healing scars on my abdomen and huge doctor bills that keep pileing in. I am starting to wonder in my mind if I should have opted for the gastric bypass instead. I am not feeling very encouraged at all.

I've had several friends ask me questions about the band and just thought I'd share it here. I'm about 2 months out with my band. I don't yet have good restriction, but am working on that. I am limited in quantity so far - just not enough. However, things I'm learning: having a band doesn't prevent me from eating junk The band controls hunger - but I need to make sure I don't eat when I'm not hungry I still need to make good food choices - I may only be able to eat a small amount, but I have to choose to make it a healthy small amount I could, if I wanted, eat a greasy meal - just one bite at a time Snacking must still be controlled I still need to eat according to my doctors recommendations (so, yes that means writing things down & tracking calories, carbs, protein & fat) I'm not prevented from eating sweets (never was a big sweet eater but unlike bypass I dont' get dumping) Having a band is a great diet tool! I knew what kind of eater I was going into this - and I knew it was a tool. My doctor explained how with lap-band, much of the success would be contingent upon me! This is one tool I'm going to work to make sure I succeed.

This is coming from someone who has a lap band since the end of 2006. I originally tried to have an RNY at the time the insurance denied it. I have never had real success with my band, lost 40 lbs and that's it. I throw up a lot. I'm now about 25 lbs more then when I had surgery. I wasn't the best patient had a lot of traumatic things after the band happen but regardless I always feel hungry. I'm now in the process of trying to get approved for the RNY. If I could go back I wouldn't of gotten the band I wish I would of fought for the other surgery. But I was only 23. I recently went to my group nutrition meeting their were two other prior lap bands and we were all still obese and having revisions done.

I think you should definitely consider lap band. If you read a lot of the threads here you will find that there are people who have kept weight off for 2, 3 or more years for the first time in their lives. You do not automatically lose weight with the band and you can gain, but what I have gathered from reading this site is that it is much easier to keep the weight off!! I am what bandsters call a low bmi (35) and have had a few people who don't know me say that I am not that heavy and should try dieting. But those who know me no that I have lost weight time and time again just to gain it all back! My family and friends support me because they have seen me struggle over and over. Do not feel guilty about gaining the weight back! Studdies have shown that almost all dieters gain their weight back. The only exception is weight loss surgery patients!!! Studies show that most weight loss surgery patients keep off at least half of the excess weight (both lap band and gastric bypass) I would advise you to read as much as you can on this site and then see about getting that surgery! I have found that very few people on lapbandtalk regret the surgery and many believe it saved their life!

I am opting for the band because the other is so final and invasive. ive heard the weight does come off quicker with the bypass not sure if thats true! but if it is as long as the weight comes off by working together with the band then who cares!! Its up to you at the end of the day! Ive got 150lbs to get rid of and as far as i can work out it should take me beween 1 to 2 years if i work with the band by getting most out of it! I mean by doing all the right things to achieve my goal. I have such a long journey and Im sure there will be good and bad days!!! but from what i can understand from talking to these guys that have already been banded a journey worth taking. My advice to u :)is jump on the chat room and ask as many questions as you can everyone is great and seem really happy to help. all the best

Hey Guys my girlfriend is in town here from PA, we are going to TJ tomorrow for her 2nd fill but I wanted to ask you if any of you knew of any Dr's in the PA area who will do fills on Mexican patients. She has seen Dr. Bonnanni in Redding but was wondering if there were any others. She is having a difficult time finding any other Dr's who do the lap band, most of the Dr's she has found only do the bypass. If you know of any please let me know

I'm on Effexor 150 also and have pending LapBand or Bypass - I can't seem to make up my mind about which procedure. I am concerned about not being able to get down/keep down the Effexor also - Does anyone else get major dizziness if they miss a dose? I'm afraid I'll be a mess after the surgery!

Ok so, I have been totally fine with my band. Never had any huge issues. Last year I went in and had a port revision and tummy tuck. Now about 10-11 months later I go to the gastroenterologist for different problems. But they do an Upper GI Xray and they said the barium won't go down. Well that's weird because I really haven't had any problems. If I eat super fatty food I get a little acid. But prilosec takes care of it. And say if I eat really tough meat or Pasta (which gives us all problems anyway)...then I may get burpy or like I'm stuck. But I have been getting increased burping (really gross ones too, sorry TMI)...that's probably my only symptom. The xray tech and gastro have NO clue about lapbands but after looking online and finding pictures of what a band slippage looks like...mine looked awfully like it. Plus they said that my band looked as though it was placed almost opposite the direction that it usually is placed. Which is something my initial doctor could have done anyway but...the full baggy pouch above the band...make me think slippage. Any opinions? Did any of you have almost no symptoms when your band slipped?

I'm new to these boards and am just starting paperwork for lap-banding. I don't know how it will go with insurance approvals and what not. I'm a short girl 4'10" and weighed in on first visit at 172 BMI of 35.9. I come from a family of heavyweights. My dad had gastric bypass 5 years ago, and my baby sister is needing some medical surgery for weight loss as she's now tipping scales at about 300 lbs. I was told by a doctor, several times, that the dieting I have been doing the last five years has staved off the 250 pound girl in to the 160-170 pound girl I maintain well. I am afraid if I gain any more weight I'll balloon like my sister did. The 170's and beyond are the death trap for us. I tried weight watchers and it never worked, only when I was down to 800 calories a day did I lose... it was sad. I have a bunch of co-morbs; probably sleep apnea as everyone else in my family has it, pre-diabetic, UBER high cholesterol (genetic - average with a good diet is 206 for me was at 265), pretty severe depression and a bad back that my orthopedic said would get better if I could lose weigh. He said about every pound we lose, it's like 5 lbs off your back... Gosh, wouldn't that be lovely? So questions are... Anyone else here have Railroad health benefit coverage through United Health Care? If the 5 year history is overweight and not obese will I be denied given above co morbs? any clue? Why doesn't insurance cover the dietician, but they cover a sleep study? I was told that the doc I am working with has put through people under 35 bmi before... but the co morbs gotta be bad. I've also gotta find a way to lose my 10% weight as is required by my doc before I can have the surgery.... I am at a loss of how to do that minus diuretics and laxitives... Can anyone help? I would be so grateful....

My BMI was 38 when I started with my surgeon. He was willing to do either surgery on me, it was my choice. If I had been diabetic vs. pre-diabetic, this would not have been the case. But with my BMI and health history, he said either procedure would be fine for me. My reasons for choosing the lapband are listed below. There is a list of reasons to pick bypass and also lists of reasons to not choose either. You have to decide which list is more powerful. 1. Hubby did not support gastric bypass, was much more comfy with the idea of the band. 2. That rubbed off on me as well. The bypass re-routes your innards and totally scrambles things up. Lapband doesn't. 3. If food gets stuck, band can be unfilled and food passes. With bypass, they must go down the throat and remove it. 4. Should I become ill and need more nutrition, band can be unfilled. 5. Weight loss is slower at first than bypass. I think this lessens the questions from people about your weight loss. Slow and steady is the way I want it. 6. I am in control of my restriction, if there is too much, I ask for an unfill, too litte, I ask for a fill. With bypass, what you have is what you have. I did not do any research into the Sleeve procedure, thus cannot speak to that. Denise

I didn't get your email. I'll check my spam folder. I'd live to know how you are doing. Bacca? I used a surgeon out of Dallas for my band and revision. He did an excellent job on both.

I have read the 'rules of the pouch' and they mention 'water-loading'. Is this for bypass patients or for lap band patients as well. Does anyone use this technique between meals?

I never knew that you could get an infection so long after surgery. I too think my infection isnt from the port but from the revision and in that area. you've been thru a lot, I wish you the best!

I was told that if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea that you have to start treatment before you have surgery for gastric bypass, I was wondering if anyone knows if that rule holds true for lapband also? Thanks for your help!

I chose lap-band over bypass 1) because of the cost. Bypass is at least twice as much 2) My BMI was also 37, and my Dr. told me my age, along with a lower BMI, made me a better candidate for the lapband rather than the bypass. Plus, bypass and the sleeve just scared the hell out of me.

I selected the lapband because: 1) My husband had gastric bypass in August and has lost 95 lbs, BUT it took him a long time to recover - probably a good six weeks. There were times he was sooo sick. The idea of actually having your parts cut and rerouted just werent for me. 2) The cost of the gastric bypass for my hubby was around $35,000 which was covered by insurance. The cost of my lapband is around $14,000 which is NOT covered by insurance. 3) I do not have 6 - 8 weeks that I can miss for work. 1 - 2 weeks is about all I can take off due to workload. BTW, your BMI is not all that high which would be another reason I would select the lapband. Hope this helps!

I am 3.5 years out and yes my appetite is back. I think that is normal... The whole idea is that the WLS helps us develop new habits, and even all these years later I really CAN'T eat as much as I used to as long as I stick to dense Protein first... everytime. My advice is to go back to basics. Protein first. Don't drink with meals but hydrate really well between meals. Limit carbs - and don't eat junky slider type foods. dont drink your calories (soda, fruit juice, booze etc) and watch out for "healthy sugars" as they can trigger cravings too - examples are fruit and fruit juices. Watch Protein Bars as they are high calorie/high carb. It is a lifelong struggle but I will say I am alot happier fighting it out in the 150s than I was fighting it out in the 300 plus plus range.... Hang in there! Oh I am sorry, I thought you were a sleever like me... it seems you posted in the bypass forums so I assume you had a different surgery. I suspect my advice/comments are similiar though regardless of the WLS type...

I had a hysteretomy in my 30's. I was in a car accident in 1998, broken leg. My weight gain was gradual since the hysterctomy. I love to eat, and I work for cardiologists, so I am aware of good food choices, and made them some of the time. I had periods of regular exercise, and was going to Curves fairly regularly. My PCP had been after me to lose weight, and in my head I understood it. But put a pizza or sub or chips and dip in front of me and I was a goner. I have high blood pressure,high cholesterol, GERD, knee arthritis, sleep apnea (or as my surgeon put it, metabolic syndrome all but the diabetes). When my liver enzymes were elevated on my cholesterol test, my PCP started again about weight loss. My sister had gastric bypass about 2 years ago, but I wasn't sure I wanted to go that route. I checked my insurance (they cover bypass and lapband) and went to a seminar about weight loss surgery. Then I started going to the support group to learn more. I found this site and obesityhelp.com and did a lot of reading, ultimately deciding the band was what I wanted. I had to do a 6 month documented diet for insurance(lost 10 lbs), consult with surgeon, psych eval, and was finally approved in February of this year. Prior to surgery I had to do a pre-op liquid diet for 2 weeks (ended up 3 weeks because I caught a cold and surgery was postponed for a week). I lost 25 lbs on the pre-op diet, so by 3/25/08 I had lost 35 pounds. 2 weeks post op liquids, 2 weeks mushies, then regular food, just a lot less than before. Some foods have a tendency to get stuck, like bread/rice/pasta, so you will be altering your eating habits. I read labels like a maniac, looking for the lowest fat/carb/sugar content. My eyes are still bigger than my pouch, and if I eat too much I feel uncomfortable, but that is getting better. I am also learning to chew more. I used to inhale my food. Sorry to be lengthy, but I think you can benefit from the band. It doesn't affect what you put in your mouth, just how much. And when you start losing, you will tend to make better choices in what you eat. I also bumped up my exercise with walking. I found a lovely park with a 2 mile path. I started walking weekends in January and when daylight savings arrived, I now go almost every day and do 2-4miles. When I lose daylight in the fall, there is a county rec center gym with treadmills near my home, and I still belong to Curves. There is also an aquatic center 5 minutes away with Water aerobics. So it is a package deal. The band is a tool to help with portion control. Since surgery I lost another 35 pounds, so I would say go for it!

I was back to work in a week after my band to sleeve revision and also had gallbladder out. Not a whole lot of pain for me either after the first few days. I work in the office 3 days a week and I work at home 2 days. Also desk job. I could've taken more time but didn't really feel Like I needed it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey you guys, thanks for the additional information. Sorry for the delay in responding - am moving so packing - blah. Kindle - I contacted dr. Ponce de leon a few days ago and someone named Trudi (I think) responded to me. She is travelling right now and will get back to me in a few days. Her picture is on their website so I am assuming that is direct rather than a 3rd company. I really like the OCC from what I have read and seen about it. I filled out their form and they emailed me that it is 6,500. So that is like almost 3 grand more than Dr. Ponce de Leon. From what I can tell, they are both very good surgeons, so I am leaning toward the lower cost. If I thought the lower priced one was a bad set up then I would not consider it. If there is any reason I should NOT go with Dr. PDL then please let me know. Patricia - I just checked specializedbariatrics.com which jenn also mentioned and their price is 4,200. So I am going to compare reps, packages and the like. Thanks for letting me know that they detail extra costs. The worst thing is to be in another country and discover all kinds of hidden costs. I have been there so many times and I have learned to ask the prices and extra possible costs in advance. Learningtotwinkle, please let us know how it goes. I wonder why yours is 5500 and they are quoting 3700 on this forum? Did you schedule a while back? Kitlass - good to hear. I just found that my insurance company MIGHT approve a bypass afterall but not the sleeve. I don't want a bypass. I hear the sleeve is the much better option for quality of life post surgery. I am going to look to see if I can have the sleeve and if it doesn't resolve the diabetes, then get the bypass later. I am contacting Ready4Achange too. (If I skipped over anyone - totally sorry. I read each response and am very grateful for you all taking the time to reply to me with such detailed information).

nope. It varies by clinic, not by surgery. Our clinic has the sleevers and the bypassers on the exact same plan.

Yes to the weight loss and the thrill of it all.... but there is something about the simple victories and the internal feeling of success . Being able to cross your legs comfortably is amazing Take the little victories in too.... they are equally as fulfilling HW 242, SW 236- (Bypass 12/20/17) GW#1- 199 [emoji736] (2/11/18) GW#2- 175 CW 190 5’6”

I thought I was 100 percent set on getting the gastric sleeve as it seemed to e the "least invasive." However, I have been reading up on the mini gastric bypass and I am wondering if that would be better for me. I am 5'5 a little over 300 lbs with a BMI of 51 and wonder if I will be able to get to my goal weight at that size with just the sleeve alone. I have scheduled my surgery or June 14th for the sleeve but now I am wondering if I chose the right surgery. I do not suffer from acide reflux, I don't want it and of course I want the least amount of complications possible. I also dont want to have a second surgery if one doesnt go as planned. Feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

I can't speak to specifics on the MGB, but when my wife and I first started looking seriously at WLS some fourteen years ago, it was an offbeat procedure looking to gain respect and legitmacy. Since then, both the DS and the VSG have gained general acceptance by the ASMBS, the insurance industry and Medicare as routine, mainstream bariatric procedures, while the MGB remains on the fringes. I would focus your research on understanding why this is. Usually the reason lies with some combination of effectiveness and complications. No one goes into this planning to need a revision (excepting the few cases where two step procedures are planned from the outset,), but having a viable "plan B" isn't a bad idea, and some procedures are more flexible in this regard than others.