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I'm 5'4" and weighed 258 and got banded. I lost 40 lbs when complications were found with the band and once removed I lost another 8. When I told my supervisor I was going to have to have bypass, she wanted to know why I wanted to lose more weight that I had lost enough already. I too proprotion my weight well, and people didn't realize how overweight I was. So I went into bypass only having to lose 61 lbs. I get compliments daily but they also tell me my pants are getting too big and I just bought them a month ago. Don't think they will ever be happy, but who cares, as long as I am happy with myself that is what counts.

Kyethra, Well said. I went with the lap band for all the above stated reasons and because as someone who does not have a lot of weight to lose, it was the only option. I have a family history of obesity and all the related complications. I also have a history of dieting and all the other non surgical techniques and the lapband was the answer to end that madness. Whether you have 50# to lose or 250#, there are health consequences with being overweight, both physically and mentally, and I wanted off that rollercoaster. If for some reason, the band did not work for me or it has to be removed, I would then look into the gastric sleeve. For my situation, the lapband was the obvious first choice.

I've been following the complications forum, and it appears they can happen months out from surgery, not just the first few days. Plus, some people have been in and out of the hospital for months. I also have seen more than one story where if there are complications, they pack you up and head back to the US. I'm not saying complications are common, but you can't ignore the potential no matter how small. The emotional burden of dealing with a complication is huge. I can't imagine dealing with a financial burden on top of that. Don't forget about missing work, etc. I just can't see putting my family through the risk. The exposure is too great. Keep in mind this is also applies if I am self-pay in the states or in Mexico. The risk is the same. This is not about where I have the surgery.

My heart breaks for you. Are you having complications? What's wrong?

fat cells produce estrogen, and having excess estrogen lowers your sex drive (it's actually more complicated than that, but that's the gist of it). Guys who are bigger often have low testosterone levels, which is easily treated by testosterone therapy (it does more than just balance your sex drive, but that's an added bonus). You can get it either through a gel, which you apply to the skin every day, a patch, a weekly injection, or a pellet that you get implanted every 4-6 months. I have low testosterone (not related to being overweight, it's a congenital thing, so i will need to be treated for it even after I lose all the weight)--I took weekly injections for a long time because they are much more affordable, but recently got the pellet implant which my urologist did in-office with a local anesthetic--it was painless and is great because I only have to think about a couple times a year. I have no idea about how higher estrogen levels due to higher percentages of body fat in women effect their sex drive (I just know so much about the male stuff since I've had to deal with it personally--I have heard that higher estrogen levels can increase your risk of breast cancer, but most people know that). You'd have to talk to an endocrinologist, but low sex drive could be related to a hormonal thing. and I do know women are supposed to have some amount of testosterone, which, if it's being drowned out by higher estrogen levels, could be responsible for a lack of sex drive--you can have your PCP do bloodwork to check your hormone levels and if they are abnormal, discuss options to level out your hormones (which could help your sex drive)

Another thing to keep in mind: I've seen several posts between here and other message boards where people have had complications and yet they still make the decision to keep their band or to be re-banded because they still felt the positives outweighed the negatives. It's also important to really evaluate yourself and the issues that have caused you to become overweight. In my case, one reason I have overeaten is that I rarely felt full or even satisfied, no matter how much I ate. I know I will still have to make healthy choices in order to lose weight, but for me making those healthy choices will be a lot easier if I am not feeling hungry ALLTHETIME! The ability to still be able to eat some of the things I love is also important to me, which I can still do with the band, but again the band will help me control and limit my consumption of these items. Unfortunately there are as many different ways of educating patients about the band as there are surgeons, and it's very inconsistent. Couple that with some surgeons who really are mainly out to make a buck and not doing this out of a desire to truly help people get healthy, and you end up with some people being banded with limited and/or poor education and unreasonable expectations, without having been prepared for the changes they'd have to make. I know there's definitely a few people who have issues beyond their control and that's unfortunate, but I've been told by my surgeon that the complication rate is around 1% in those cases. Most of those issues can be corrected but I feel so sorry for people who have to endure that. I'm recently banded (8 days post-op) so I could still be one of those 1%, but I am hoping and praying I won't be. I agree with an earlier comment who said that the best way to make an educated decision about having the surgery is to know the bad and the good, so I don't think you should stop reading.

Thursday, August 13, 2009 Another Ticket! ADHD Strikes Again. I am so sick of ADHD. All of a sudden I'm leaving my lights on in my car. I always drive with my lights on, day or night, and automatically turn them off when I park. I know people see me easier if my lights are on plus I got sick of forgetting to turn my lights on as it turned dusk while I was driving. Doing it all the time made it part of my routine. But this summer, the lapband thing (including this blog) has taken over my mind. So has Facebook. I haven't been driving as much because I'm not teaching, I can't go shopping or places that cost money because I have no money--at least no extra money. So I'm out of my routine, and have developed a new passion that appears to have hijacked my remaining brain cells--at least the ones that involve driving. So far I've been in an accident that got me a ticket, my grandson asked me why the lights were on after we exited the car, some kind neighbors of the school where I work knocked on the door to tell me my lights were on, and I didn't turn the lights all the way off when I went to Borders to read for an afternoon, and had to call my husband to come jump the car. Twice this week I found myself driving south down 394 to my daughter's when that wasn't where I was going. Today, I didn't notice the Do Not Park signs on the trees at work.They post these when the street cleaner is coming by and I got a parking ticket. Aargh! I'm going broke(er)! I need school to start to get me into a routine so my brain starts functioning again. So I'm cutting back on some of the sites I've been visiting. I've cut back on Facebook. I'm actually getting at this blog and finishing it at a reasonable time and going to bed at a reasonable time. Next week I'll be at school several days to get my room ready and attend inservices. The following week school starts on the 26th. I was at school today with my assistant working on the room as well. While I was there I met with a parent. School is slowly taking over my brain again. You'll probably start getting teaching stories from me now. But one thing remains formost--managing my eating disorder. Its not gone. Its lurking. The band makes it manageable. School will bring its own complications. But I will be back in a routine. Routines really help ADHD people. Till they forget their routines and forget to turn their lights off on their cars. I'm trying to establish a food routine. But I am very aware that it doesn't take much for a change in cirumstance to destroy a routine I've had for years--turning my lights on after I start the car, and turning them off immediately after shutting off the engine. But I can do all things, Through him who strengthens me. I'm in his hands, no matter what my lot, no matter what my circumstance. I can get through the good stuff, I can get through the bad stuff. I know the secret to being content is knowing he'll give me the strength to get through multiple ADHD moments, tickets, potential job loss, good food days, and bad food days. I got a ticket today. I didn't overeat.

Excellent questions to ask pre-op. I didn't ask those questins and had some complications but the Doc and hospital were very willing to work with me to get it to something I could afford. Also, my insurance paid for some because I ended up in the ER.

Hi, I am new in the forum and researching the lap band procedures. I am glad you all got in this forum and have comments, strenghts and success stories. Would like to know from some of you done the band few years ago ( may be 5 or more) if were able to lose the weight and reach your goal and able to maintained and for how long. Also, after you "perfect fill", is the port ever needed? will it close and not be use? is there infection or other complication for having a port or tube in your body? thanks Crazycibertalk

Ok - so I have completed all my pre-requisites and now all I need to do is send in my completed packet to the surgeon’s office and then wait for them to call me with a appointment. But before I even get to that, there is a section on their questionnaire that asks which procedure I would prefer: lap band or gastric bypass? When I started this journey I went into it thinking I absolutely wanted the lap band. I liked it for all of the obvious reasons (simple surgery,quick recovery time, adjustable, not permanent). But now as I have had time to think about and learn about everyone else's experiences...I am not so sure I want the lap band any more. I understand that both procedures come with risks but I feel like the lap band has more of a potential to have something go wrong down the road. I have a hard time believing that something I have installed in me at the age of 30 is going to last for the rest of my life with out any complications. I think about the lap band as a car...it needs maintenance (fills)...might need some repairs...what if it a lemon?!?!? So my other option is gastric bypass...and I know I am posting this on a pro-lapband message board so I am not sure I will get much support with this option. But I think my body chemistry might work better with the RNY. I am hypothyroid and although I am on medication for it...i still think my body suffers as a result of a synthetic metabolism. So I think the malabsorbtion of the RNY would actually help me lose the weight. Ugh, this is such a difficult decision...I have been obsessing over it for days!

I had my sleeve done just over a year ago and took no pain meds after the 2d day. Had surgery Friday, stopped pain meds on Sunday. I was able to drink with no problems and moved through the food progression pain and trouble free. I had no problems with reflux or GERD and need not PPI meds at all since surgery. Good luck in your journey and here's to a pain free, complication free, trouble free sugery and recovery.

It has been a long haul since surgery with complications and such but I think I have turned the corner. I am now holding my food and liquid down. Still feel a little nauseas but nothing like before. Not having alot of pain anymore. I actually got on the scale and have lost 4 more pounds. Thats a total of 57 pounds. Still have some work to do to get where I am suppose to be but almost there and I am HUNGRY. Just waiting for the doctor to give me the go ahead on advancing to a normal diet because I will be 6 weeks out this Wednesday.

I know this topic has come up a gazillion times, but here we go again. I met with my surgeon last week, and he gave me the option of doing either surgery. I had assumed RnY because I occasionally have mild reflux and I'm quite large (BMI > 50). The doctor said my reflux is so mild, that it doesn't preclude sleeve surgery. I don't have diabetes, or any of the standard comorbidities that would typically push someone towards RnY. For me, advantages of sleeve are being able to use NSAIDs if needed, maintaining my pyloric valve, no surgery on my intestines, lower complication rate, less malabsorption. Advantages of RnY: greater average weight loss in first year (though it seems to even out by year 3 according to my reading), potential negative reinforcement of eating sweets (dumping syndrome). The Vitamin protocols for both are the same with my program, and our bariatrics specialist says that the risk of malnutrition is very low if you are compliant with Vitamins (<3% for compliant folks, while they typically see closer to 15% of patients with issues). Take your vitamins, folks! For me, it comes down to am I willing to take a higher risk of complications for the possibility of greater weight loss? I'm in this to be healthy and active, not skinny or attractive. It's a tough call to make. Especially when the end result, what happens 3, 5, 15 years down the line, all comes down to how I use the tool that I am given. What were the key things that you thought about when making your choice?

I had no complications, and it was about two week before I could take a shower with out sitting halfway through. Just took a bit to get used to the low calories.

I have a cup of decaf every morning and flavor it with Coffeemate's sugar free french vanilla powder (not the liquid one). YUMMY!! My surgery was on Monday, March 16th and I've had absolutely no complications and losing weight steadily. :thumbup:

Hello I am still looking into having Lapband done, but I want to be prepared for anything so please tell me any complications you had while in surgery or after! Thanks

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forum/70-lap-band-complications/

Success after weight loss surgery is no accident. It is the result of a lot of hard work and careful planning on your part. While of course it depends on a skillful surgeon, your post-op success depends most heavily on you. You can begin to set yourself up for satisfying weight loss and preventing regain long before your surgery date. Here are some ideas for building that solid foundation that will make your weight loss surgery journey smoother and more satisfying. Choose the right surgeon. If weight loss surgery is the tool, your bariatric surgeon is the one who makes the tool and gives it to you. You want a tool that is made precisely, ready to do the job, and built to last. Your surgeon needs to make the right cuts and place the band properly or make a tight, solid sleeve or pouch. So, look for a surgeon who is experienced and has a good track record of successful patients and low complication rates – don’t be afraid to ask! There’s more to choosing a surgeon than technical skills. Also, consider what else the surgeon will do for you. The right surgeon for you is willing to discuss your options and the procedure with you in a way that you can understand. You’re setting yourself up for extra challenges if you’re afraid to talk to your surgeon or your surgeon is unavailable. Get the scoop on the diet. Your diet is central to every part of the weight loss surgery journey. You may be told to lose some weight before surgery as a test to make sure you’ll follow the rules post-op. Then there’s the pre-op liquid diet to shrink your liver for a safer surgery. Next, for faster healing and fewer side effects, you need to follow the post-op progression from liquids to pureed foods to solid foods. Finally, there’s the nutrient-dense, low-calorie diet to help you hit goal weight and stay there. At best, you will have a surgeon or a nutritionist who gives you plenty of information. Since that’s not always the case, you may need to take steps to figure out the diet for yourself. You can look online, and may need to shell out the money for a few appointments with a nutritionist. Not knowing the right foods to eat can set you up for surgery complications and disappointing weight loss. Take responsibility. It’s nice to depend on a stellar surgeon and complete healthcare team to walk you through surgery and beyond step by step. Ideally, your trusted surgeon would explain your options to you and recommend the best surgery for you, whether it’s the sleeve, band, bypass, or another choice. You’d go back for follow-up appointments and ongoing nutritional and psychological counseling. That doesn’t always happen in the real world, but that’s no excuse to give up. You can take responsibility for finding out the information you need to know about what to expect, how to prepare, and what comes next. Be persistent and do your research in all kinds of places, and you’re more likely to succeed. Face the facts. Weight loss surgery isn’t all fun and games. You don’t leave the operating room skinny. Weight loss isn’t steady. It may take you longer to get to goal weight than you hoped. Recognize the real possibilities to avoid being disappointed and possibly even giving up. These are some other possibilities to consider, so you can be prepared if they happen to you. You may still love sugar, salt, fat, and/or starch. You may still be hungry. Others may not notice your weight loss, or may not be impressed. Others may be jealous of your weight loss or say you didn’t earn it. You may have loose skin when you are finished losing weight. Weight loss surgery doesn’t solve psychological problems. Be Open-Minded If you want to lose weight and get healthy, you’ve got to change your diet. Whatever eating habits got you to this point are not going to get you to goal weight! That may mean you need to be open-minded. Maybe you hated vegetables, or can’t stand the thought of downing protein shakes for 2 weeks on the pre-op liquid diet and up to 4 weeks on the post-op liquid and mushies diets. It’s time to re-evaluate. Can you sneak some veggies into your diet? Can you retrain your brain to love them? Can you force down those protein shakes for a few weeks in exchange for a lifetime’s worth of better health? Learn to see the good. There will be disappointments - guaranteed. The scale may not cooperate, or you may make a poor eating choice, or you might skip your morning workout because you didn’t make sleep a priority the night before. Focus on the negative, and you just may talk yourself out of continuing the hard work and good progress. Instead, learn to appreciate yourself and see the positive sides of things. Maybe you didn’t lose weight this week, but did you eat right? Maybe you downed a piece of pepperoni pizza without thinking about it, but did you pass up the breadsticks and soda that you would have had before surgery? Maybe you didn’t work out this morning, but did you make it to the gym more this month than you did last month? See yourself as a strong, powerful person, and you will act like one. You can build on the positive behaviors you see in yourself so they eventually overshadow the mistakes. You have control over your own destiny. Success with weight loss surgery depends on planning and hard work. The more you are involved and the more responsibility you take throughout the process, the better you can do.

Hi! First time posting. I'm scheduled for Aug 20 and initially wanted to go with the band, but now am wavering between that and the sleeve. I've read complication stories for both, and they're shaking me up. I'm also of course worried that the band won't work for me. I know no matter what, it will be hard work on my part - but depending on when you ask me, I could be swaying more toward the band or more toward the sleeve. It's good to know I'm not the only one! What made you feel better about your decision? I'd have to say I'm 90% toward the band: been around longer, adjustable, visits for accountability...

I was banded in 2008 and by 2011 my body pretty much said "screw you I hate this thing" and I had to be completely u filled. I gained back all the weight I lost (about 80lbs over 2 years). I decided to go to gastric bypass and because I wanted it done right away I went to Mexico and paid for it. I was in the hospital for 3 days came home a couple days later and was back to work (desk job) feeling pretty good. I did have some complications from my surgery that was related to the long long travel home and being in birth control which put me at higher risk for a clot and I ended up with a pulmonary embolism. So that wasn't much fun but it was a trifecta of things that ended with me having one. I had my bypass Oct 3, 2014 and now just over 7 months later I have lost 100lbs and I feel fantastic. Despite my complications from it my only regret - not doing it sooner. All the best in your decision. I do not miss that band one bit. Bypass life is much better.

@@CowgirlJane I think a lot of people are like that. That is how they get trapped in serial monogamy. The thing is once you get to a certain age, and you are looking for someone to have children with you don't have that time luxury, to date one buy for a few weeks to find out he isn't the right guy. I also think there is some disconnect on how we are talking because lets face it, meeting strangers, most of them don't make it past that first coffee date. Fewer make it past the 2nd date and so on. So even if you are texting and talking for 3 or 4 guys at a time. you might only get to date 2 with one of them. For women that zero in on one guy early on, the advice that most books have is to date more than one guy. But what qualifies as date now is more like talk to interact with. Dating now involves a lot of texting. *sigh* I'm not looking for marriage or someone to have babies with. I am just looking for a travel and activity partner with a bit of culture. My requirements kind of narrow my pool of men to choose from. I can't afford to text. go on a few casual dates with one guy at a time. What I am looking for is pretty rare in the age range I am looking for and I have to maximize results. I still think the whole dating thing is different with technology. When I was in college, you went out with someone, then that was your boyfriend. It was easy. Grown up life is complicated.

Because I realized all I needed to do was get my head in the right place. Which I guess the band helped me with in the beginning since I had semi restriction just with the band for the first 4 months and it taught me to eat better. After that I basically had no restriction. I did get one fill, but realized I didn't want anymore. I wanted to lose weight normally. I found a love for exercise and kickboxing. And unlike others that I've seen, if I feel a pain, I push through it. Not be like OMG I can't workout due to this pain. I keep messing up my knee in kickboxing, should I let it rest, well probably, but without working out I would be a miserable b***h. So at the advice of my trainer/friend/kickboxing instructor, I've been wearing a brace during class. But I've gone off topic. I have not had any complications from the band, but I do get a stockfish feeling when I eat sometimes (mostly chicken at night when I'm at work, and it doesn't happen very often). But that pisses me off, since my band has like 0.75 mls in it. I now worry about erosion, and stuff and complications down the road. If I could I'd get the band taken out tomorrow.

I heard the same thing from two of my friends (both over weight). One of them said her moms friend had it about a month ago and had to go back in the hospital due to complications (but shes 20 years older than me and smoked for like 30 years). And my coworker says her aunt is a bariatric nurse and told her about all the complications. I just changed the subject bc I don't need to hear that crap 2 weeks pre-op...I'm scared enough. Plus ive done my research. But I'll be interested to hear what they have to say 6 months from now. I won't be surprised if they are asking for my Dr's name and number!

Yes, there can be complications...if and when they present, you will deal with them. I've had some which were weight loss related, but we already know about the complications which arise from being morbidly obese...so loosing the weight is definitely the better choice, IMHO. Oh...don't forget your Chapstick...it was the only item I brought to the hospital with me...and I was so thankful that I had it! Place this journey in God's capable hands...and focus on your goals and the healthier you in the future... Best wishes...

I didn't see if anyone posted this but... You really need to call your surgeon and let him know about what you ate. That was a high calorie, carb and fat meal which means the liver has to work overtime to process it. The purpose of the pre op diet is to shrink the liver so they can reach the stomach easier without your liver becoming damaged in the process. You have already eaten the food and there is no going back so don't beat yourself up. However, you do want to have the safest surgery you can without complications, so I would call the office. Better to be safe than sorry. Life is easier post op than pre op trying to deal with that horrible pre op diet. However, @@Babbs is right, there will be times later down the road that hunger will be a real possibility and learning how to deal with that is a part of the process. I am two years four months post op and I do have hungry times. Sometimes it is difficult to choose what is best for my body rather than what I want to eat. I work hard and have to stay very diligent to maintain my weight. Hang in there and remember you only have one body and this surgery is a wonderful chance to get healthy!! Good luck we are all rooting for you!