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LapBandTalk.com is a wealth of weight loss and healthy lifestyle tips, a source of information specific to your situation, and a place where you can locate and connect to the best bariatric surgeons in your are. Despite this abundance of resources, most of our members come here for another reason: the positivity. Our members are supportive, encouraging and empathetic. But among the general population, it’s a different story due to misinformation and hasty judgments. Why Weight Loss Surgery Misinformation is Rampant In the age of digital media, information can be immediately available to millions of people as soon as someone posts it online using a laptop, smartphone or other mobile device. Unfortunately, nothing is automatically censored, so misinformation is just as easy to spread as facts. In the blink of an eye, people can post random thoughts via Twitter, Facebook or other social media platforms without even realizing that their followers may take their intended musings as hard data. How People Choose What to Believe Many people are unable to distinguish between weight loss surgery fact and fiction because they simply do not know enough to make a sound judgment. Some people are cynical by nature, and have a tendency to instinctively believe the worst when they are presented with opposing facts. These people, for example, may automatically believe that weight loss surgery is harmful and ineffective instead of low-risk and healthy for the right patients. Common Myths If you want to combat widespread weight loss surgery information, you should know some of the common myths and how to respond with the truth. These are some common false beliefs surrounding bariatric surgery and their realities. Myth: It’s a quick and easy fix. Reality: It’s not quick, and it’s not easy. Surgery does not make you lose a single pound. You lose the excess weight over the course of years through diet and exercise modifications. Myth: It’s dangerous and invasive. Reality: Complications are rare for lap-band procedures, and they are usually minor, such as needing an adjustment in band location. Roux-n-Y can cause nutrient deficiencies, but you work with a dietitian and have frequent check-ups to lower your risk. The procedures take less than two hours, and full recovery takes a few days to a couple of weeks. Myth: You don’t have to change your diet, or, you can only eat a limited variety of foods. Reality: The truth lies somewhere in between. You are encourage to eat a nutritious diet and avoid high-fat, high-sugar foods as well as liquid calories. What Can You Do? With instantaneous transmission of information, rumors spread like wildfires in the social stratosphere. Worse, rumors can easily because widely accepted as facts. How can you help to combat this harmful gossip? These are a few possibilities. Fight fiction with fact: Social networking platforms, such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter are just as good for spreading truth as they are at spreading lies. Every time you come across an inaccurate or demeaning statement about weight loss surgery, stand up for you and your friends who have had weight loss surgery. Be a good example: Most people tend to base their judgments on what or whom they know. If they know one person (you) with weight loss surgery, they’ll base their judgments on you. Hopefully, they will realize the benefits of bariatric surgery when they see you eating well every day, exercising regularly, being more productive at work and being a happier, healthier person overall. Emphasize that not all bariatric surgery options are the same. Roux-n-Y is irreversible and more drastic than Lap Band procedures, which take less than an hour. Can Celebrities Help? Celebrities can be spokespeople for the cause. If you know of any celebrities who are bariatric surgery pateints, consider contacting them and asking them to be more verbal about the cause. Nobody can get the message across like a celebrity. These are a few examples of famous people with bariatric surgery. Carnie Wilson, television host and singer: Roux-n-Y, 1999; laparoscopic band over bypass, 2012 Star Jones Reynolds, television host: gastric bypass, 2003 Brian Dennehy, actor: Lap-Band, 2008 As a bariatric surgery patient or someone who is considering the procedure, what are your thoughts? How can we change the negative perceptions surrounding aftercare? Does the terminology need to be changed? Can some sort of publicity campaign online or in the offline media be helpful? As an individual, can you be a role model to demonstrate that you have worked hard for every pound that you have lost, and that you are continuing each day to make healthy choices in your diet and exercise? Let us know what you think!

I,too, have issues with meat. I don't think it is uncommon. Just like some others I find soup or sauces work better. Sometimes my body just doesn't want meat I guess. Shrimp too irritates my band. Long simmered meats. Stews. Soups pot roasts. We are all learning and I am revising even 7 years in. Good luck

Does it really matter who gets done first? If he's getting banded and your getting the bypass, you'll probaly pass him in weight loss before a year is up. I assume your speaking of your DH and I can tell you if I were in your shoes I would just be happy for him. You know unselfish Anyway that's the type of marrage I have. And sorry to say this but at your age you should know by now life is not fair. I don't mean to sound harsh but I just hate it when adults say that. There are bigger things in this world that are not fair. but anyway I do wish you the best and try to be happy for him.

Good morning folks, This is my first time posting and right now, I only have some minor questions (I believe). I am in month 3 of my physician monitored 6-month ordeal (waiting period). I'm getting all my tests and procedures wrapped up WAY ahead of time so that there is nothing pending and everything can get sent to the insurance after my 6-month appointment. I am a little nervous about whether I will be approved or not but my surgeon says I am a prime candidate for the Gastric Bypass because I have Diabetes Type 2, Gastroparesis, Macular Degeneration, severe neuropathy throughout my body, and I'm overweight. I am having trouble wrapping my head around the fluid ounces required per day. So, as an example, post-surgery I can have protein shakes and if I had a protein shake today, I would drink around 8-9 ounces and be done. My dietician said I can sip my protein shake over a course of two hours and be ok. Butttttt, my question is, how many ounces am I drinking over that course of two hours? The full 8-9 ounces as usual or less? I know this is probably confusing the way I am presenting it. I understand the whole "sipping an ounce every 10 minutes" thing but does that go for protein shakes as well? My other question is, when I'm in the gym working out now, if I'm hot or need a drink, I can easily chug some water. Post-surgery, how will I do that? I mean, obviously I can't chug a full bottle of water. Just wondering what is safe..... I am sure I will have more questions along this journey of mine, but these are the ones that are nagging me constantly. I appreciate all of you folks here who have been through this ordeal, and are preparing to go through it. I don't know anyone in my personal life that has had the procedure so I am hoping to make some friends here who I can nag all the time...lol! Just kidding.... Thanks y'all!

To be honest, I have to say yes/kinda to whether they were pushing Gastric Bypass. I don't think they would be happy to hear that, but it seems like they are a big fan of it. Let me talk a little bit about my situation first though. When I went in for my consultation, they were kinda like "hey whatever you want." And meanwhile I didn't feel like I was that well versed in either surgery. But I decided to do my homework and I decided on the gastric band. While the bypass sounded tempting (losing like 30lbs a month??? Nice) I just was not comfortable with the whole losing my stomach thing. It wasn't until I actually met with Dr. Shah (at the end of the program) that we discussed the surgery and which one was best for me. She told me straight out that she would do either one. It was up to me. My starting weight was 242 and my BMI was much lower than a lot of other folks in the program. Dr. Shah did say that if I were diabetic she would probably try talking me into the bypass because it pretty much cures Diabetes. But since I was not, she left the choice completely up to me. And I stuck to the band. And I'm very glad that I did. I would say, do your homework. I actually bought the book Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies and read through it. It talks about both surgeries (and a couple of others that are not offered at NEMC). Use the internet to read up on people's good stories, and bad. Again, I just didn't feel comfortable with the bypass surgery and it's not like I had hundreds of pounds to lose. That probably would've "weighed" in on my decision as well. So I hear you about the bias toward the bypass. But maybe that's because they get more money from them?! Who knows? haha. Please send me a private message if you have any questions about the program or the folks involved. I'd be more than happy to answer anything!! And good luck!!

A friend of mine said that she is getting the bypass done instead of the band, because it is too easy to cheat on the band. Is this true?

I know, it doesn't. I think they are in the process of revising their policy or that's what I got from reading other posts last night. I went to Rite Aid and did the little blood pressure test, and it said I was only 124 over something... I don't remember, so that means I don't have high blood pressure.

I joined WW last week. So far it realy seems to be helping me stay on track. I also feel like I really need the weekly weigh in for accountability. My weight control center has monthly eeting but they seem to be targeted to bypass, so I really like having a weekly meeting!

Misinformation about Weight Loss Surgery If you have ever who has discussed weight loss surgery with uninformed individuals, you know that the initial reaction is likely to be negative and backed by false information or no information at all. Many people who have not investigated weight loss surgery believe that the surgery is a quick fix for lazy people. They may think that you can walk in off the street and leave from bariatric surgery a couple hundred pounds lighter; that you chose to ignore your weight for years; and that all bariatric surgery is the same;. Wrong, wrong and wrong. These misperceptions contribute to the stigma associated with weight loss surgery. People may look down on surgery as the “easy way out” for “lazy people,” instead of as a tool for hard-working people to have the opportunity to lead the healthy lives that everyone should have the chance to lead. You already know that you’re not lazy and that bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet; the next time you run across an uninformed, disparaging individual, you can patiently explain to them the steps of the process and the hard work you and every other successful weight loss surgery patient puts in. Not Everyone is Eligible for Weight Loss Surgery You can’t just “go get bariatric surgery,” and this is an important fact to understand to reduce the stigma associated with weight loss surgery. Each weight loss center has strict eligibility requirements that you have to meet before you can become a candidate. In general, patients must be morbidly obese, with a BMI over 40, or have a BMI over 35 and have health complications related to being overweight; for example, you might be eligible if you have a BMI of 35 and already have type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol levels. Most clinics have additional eligibility criteria that you need to meet before being considered as a potential bariatric surgery candidate. You need to have been overweight for several years, usually over five years. You also need to show that you have tried, unsuccessfully, to lose weight multiple times through diet alone. You cannot be a smoker or be an abuser of alcohol or drugs because the additional health risks from surgery will be too great. Pregnant women or women who want to become pregnant soon should not have bariatric surgery because pregnancy is only safe after your weight is constant. The decision to have surgery requires significant consideration and planning. Bariatric Surgery Requires Preparation Bariatric surgery itself does not guarantee permanent weight loss success, and much of the responsibility for losing weight will be up to you. Even after going through the screening process and learning that your clinic agrees that some form of bariatric surgery is right for you, several steps remain before you can undergo the procedure. The steps are in place to ensure that you are likely to succeed with the surgery and are not signing up on a whim. You will meet your bariatric team members, including your surgeon, dietitian and psychologist or psychiatrist. In most cases, you will undergo a psychological interview or series of tests to make sure that you are capable of sticking to the required diet. You may be asked to follow a specific diet for weeks before your scheduled surgery to demonstrate your commitment and ability to succeed after the operation. This step may also be required by your health insurance company for your bariatric procedure to be covered. There are Risks People need to understand that you can’t take bariatric surgery lightly. Each type of surgery has risks, although different processes are riskier than others. The lap band is relatively low-risk, with minor concerns of the band slipping out of place or infections at the incision site. Roux-n-Y gastric bypass carries a higher rate of complications, including ulcers, spleen injuries, leakage through staples and deficiencies of micronutrients, such as vitamin B-12 and iron. Nobody would choose to have a bariatric procedure if they weren’t convinced that they had tried all of their other options to get healthy. It’s a Long Process Bariatric surgery is a crucial milestone, but it is early in your weight loss journey and bariatric care plan. After surgery, you will continue to have follow-up appointments with your surgeon as dictated by your health and type of weight loss surgery. You will also meet with your dietitian regularly to stay on track with your diet. Most clinics have optional or mandatory support groups to motivate you and provide opportunities to ask your surgeon and fellow patients questions in a group setting. The surgery does not take off any weight. It’s a tool to make it easier for the patient to follow the proper diet for the long term. Contrary to what some people may believe, you do not lose any weight during the surgery. All of the weight that you lose is because of changes to your diet. The surgical procedures help you eat less by limiting the size of your stomach and making you feel full faster. Even if you lose 100 pounds in your first year, which is a standard benchmark for success, you may still have more weight to lose. Once you reach your goal weight, you still need to watch your diet and exercise regularly to keep the weight off. In Conclusion You’re already familiar with the intensive efforts required for weight loss surgery, but unfortunately, most people are not. This often leads to negative reactions when you tell them about your procedure. An important step you can take in reducing the stigma is to explain that the procedure is a component of an overall program to improve your health through lifestyle modifications.

EVERYONE does! Everyone across the board. I'm going to go out on a limb and say without exception EVERYONE needs to learn to slow down. It's a learning curve. Those that were banded and revised to a sleeve have advantages that newbie sleeves don't have. We already went through the chewing learning curve. What you are experiencing is completely and totally normal. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Hi, I had my gallballder removed in 2000. Almost a year later developed pancreintitus (sp?) due to either a stone being left when gallbladder was removed or another one formed (unsure of which) It was HORRIBLY painful!!! The pain you described is exactly what I had. Unfortunatly, I have had to be hospitalized 3 more times since then due to having stones in my bile duct. Fortunatly I have not developed panc. again. I was banded in Oct 07. I didn't want the bypass and it was a good thing because my surgeon didn't recommend it in the chance that I formed another stone (he said with the bypass they wouldn't be able to perform the procedure I have to have done to remove the stones) Occasionally I have bouts of the same pain but thankfully they go away. I've done alot of research and found thru that research and thru discussions with different docs that some people who have a history of stones can also have "sludge".. meaning that you may have a blockage that can cause the same pain as a stone but it eventually passes. Angela

I think that's a point a lot of people forget. The way I found it to be was if you want rapid weight loss go with gastric bypass (you will lose more initially than gastric banding), but if you want long term and body adaptable weight loss go with gastric band (where you choose if it works for you or not, and yes I know that could incite a flame war). One to two lbs a week is a calorie deficiency of 3,700-7,400. If you were eating 2,200 calories a day prior to surgery then reduced yourself to 1,500 calories a day that's a loss of 5.28 lbs/month. So those people who are losing 20 lbs/month are both drastically limiting their calories and working out to expend more calories. Unless you do the same, don't expect those results.

^^This^^...and is something that happens with bypass patients as a result of rerouting around their upper intestines. It's not something that happens with banders.

During my initial consultation, I wanted a sleeve. My family was very anti-sleeve because it is permanent. My doctor actually agreed, saying my health was fine and that I didn't need to lose so much weight that I would need a permanent surgery like the sleeve. When I saw my doctor last, I asked about revising to the sleeve as I have concerns about the band longterm. She said again that if I was having no problems, I did not need to revise. Maybe the weight gain since then would change her mind? In the band's defense, despite not being great for actual weight loss, I did not experience many of the horrible complications I have read about online. My gallbladder actually had nothing to do with the band, but with years of extreme high protein/low carb dieting and quick weight loss. Still, I want to lose weight! Maybe I will see what she says. I don't really have time right now for a revision, but I want to be healthy and if that is what it takes... It is hard because she is so glamorous and I can really tell when she is disappointed. Well, I worked up the courage to reschedule the appointment I cancelled this week. I have one in a few weeks. Maybe by then I will have lost a couple pounds from restricting calories? Yeah, that feels right to me! I am shooting for that as I find it difficult to meet Protein requirements (and be a pleasant, functioning human person) at 600-800. If I find that I'm not losing weight, I can restrict down.

Of course it's up to you how much time you feel is necessary to recover, but generally speaking 4 days seems to be the recommended amount. Example: have the surgery on Wednesday, take off Thurs and Fri and have the weekend to recover and be back by Monday. For those have bypass surgery, it may take longer but the lapband surgery is less traumatic to the body than gall bladder surgery.

Thank you all. I work at the same hospital that my PCP works at so I emailed her personally on Friday demanding answers. I think up to that point her nurse was interceding my messages. I also got the Upper GI disc just in case. I tried calling the bariatric team where I work and none of them would take me on because "they don't fix other surgeon's messes." A friend of mine who was bypassed let me vent last week and then sent me a list of about 5 surgeons in my area who may be able to help. I am going to start calling their offices tomorrow to see if other people can take me on. My other problem though at this point I'm disregarding is because I work for a hospital my insurance is geared for that hospital so if I go to any other hospital in my area they will only pay a small portion of what I need. I'm hoping tomorrow I can get some answers tomorrow.

I understand how you feel. I think we go through this surgery and we want to lose the weight as fast as we see some other WLS patients lose it. Those that have the bypass etc. It's just not like that for us, and that might be a good thing given all the complications I have read and witnessed from other alternative surgeries. We chose to do this differently, and we chose the band for whatever our reasons were to choose this path here we are living it. I have been reading a lot posts where people have given up and don't make the life style changes. They go back to old eating habits, and let me tell you it is HARD to make those changes. I am only 2 months post op, and I have had those moments where I am right back to the old eating mentality. I try to catch myself and sometimes I get caught up in it. I want to give up, not be on a diet not care about what I am putting in my mouth, but you know the band doesn't let me give up! I love that about being banded. When I am at my most frustrated, and I just want to say the heck with healthy, the band steps in and says NOPE you're going to have to do it right or I am going to let you know you are doing something wrong and it does! I just had my first fill today 2 months post op. I don't have any discomfort and I am able to drink my Protein shakes just fine. Though I am noticing I am not getting beat up by the hunger demon as much, and that is a welcome relief. Right now I'm fighting with my fatigue and my conviction to do what's right for my body and forcing myself to the gym in the 90 degree heat to walk a bit on the treadmill. As my husband just said it's better than sitting in the car in traffic for an hour in the 90 degree heat. He's right about that..so I will go to the gym and muster up the energy to walk it out. It's a bit of a struggle every day, don't give up your doing great and you're going to keep on doing great! I just know it!

At the end of the day, you have to make the decision that works best for you. But here are some of the things I thought about: Lap Band - reversible, no food was completely off limits (later learned that carbonation is bad), less invasive, less risky ( in terms of # of deaths per surgery) and adjustable. Bypass - not reversible, not adjustable, higher risk of death during surgery, food issues (dumping with sugar). Do what's right for you. Good luck.

I'm in Laplace outside of New Orleans. I was banded in August but had a port revision done at the end of november and my first fill mid December. I am wanting to drop about 50 lbs before July when I go to California...

Yes. Different names, but the same procedure. What makes the sleeve work well is that your digestive tract is left intact. Your stoma and pylorus are not changed. Your intestinal tract is not modified. Basically, everything is left alone, except the stretchy part of the stomach is removed, so you can't eat very much. But if you're experienced eating with a lapband, you already know how to eat small. One of the biggest advantages to sleeve surgery is removing the stretchy part of the stomach also removes the grehlin, which is where hunger pains come from. Imagine a life where you have to remind yourself to eat, because you never feel hungry. And before you ask: I would love to have this surgery for myself, but my insurance won't cover it yet. I don't want to wait, so I'm having band surgery first. If I need further help later on, (and if my insurance will pay for it), I'll have it revised to the sleeve. Good luck! Dave

They are all tools... If one failed for you it wasn't because it wasn't the right surgery for you... It was because you were not ready to make the lifestyle changes you needed to in order for the tool to do it's job. No matter what surgery we have, we all have rules to live by. Don't follow the rules.. Don't get results... They are all tools that will work! If you do your part. If your stuffing cake, soda, chips down your throat being lazy not working out, whatever. It isn't going to work!!!! You are better off asking for a feeding tube than to keep having these revisions thinking that there going to do anything different than the last surgery did... It's what you put into it.. Yes I can go get bypass and definitely lose the weight. But It will alllllll come back if I don't follow the rules. There is no easy way out for us! We have to come to terms and make a life long commitment to change everything about our lifestyle and eating habits. I support every one of the surgery's there are out there... They all will help you... Pick the one you are comfortable with doing... Don't think one is better than the other or one you don't have to work as hard at.. blah blah.. Sure if you have a sweet tooth... I might consider the ones that cause dumping.. But I should know enough by now, to realize I can't eat that crap anymore if I want to be healthy! In moderation.. ha... I wish it were that easy... I sure as heck wouldn't be where I am today If I had the ability to have that kind of stuff in moderation... That's like telling a ex smoker, just one cigarette every now in then is okay... Yeah maybe for a few times, then it's back to the full blown addiction eventually... Food is like drugs... We are addicts.. Oh gosh... I can go on and on.. But.. I just felt like venting a little.. LOL

Dave, the gastric sleeve that you're talking about is the one where they actually remove part of the stomach and suture the rest of it into a tube-like structure, right? I just checked. My insurance company does cover that. And it looks like I won't have to put up much of a fight for it since I've already had two band surgeries. They will cover a different procedure if you've already tried a less invasive method and it didn't work for you. Now just to convince the hubby and find a doctor who'll do the procedure. I'm going to call my doctor's office on Monday to discuss this option, see if they're willing to do the procedure or whether they'll need to refer me to another surgeon. They don't list that as a procedure they do, but I know one of the surgeons has done them in the past. As far as finding another doctor, this surgeon is the best bariatric surgeon in the region as far as his skill in the O.R. There are nurses that come all the way from Columbia University Hospital, a two hour drive just so this guy can do their bypasses. It's his bedside manner that sucks. He does have a new surgeon in his practice that I like a lot. I know the newer patients opting for the band are not being treated with the same disrespect as I have been now that the new doctor is here. I wouldn't mind if the (insert foul word here) does the surgery as long as my post op care is with the other guy. Off on a road trip. Will be back tomorrow to read any further posts! Thanks so much!!

Did your dr say why this happened? And did your insurance pay for both revisions? I didn't even question my insurance because it all happened so fast. Had the 2nd surgery the day after we tried to do my 3rd fill. jazie

Hi Tracy, I am 26,5'5 and was 235 before banding. I have been banded since Aug. I have lost 20lbs. I had a similar sweet tooth. I did notice that once I was banded it wasn't as bad. About a month after surgery I was at the grocery store with hubby and he wanted some ice cream and he asked me what flavor I wanted, well after spending about 10 mins in the ice cream isle I didn't see any flavor that tickled my fancy and he just got a pint of what he wanted. I can't garuntee that your cravings will stop but I do know that for some people their tastes kinda change. I chose the band personally because I have a little one less than a year old and could not afford that much down time. Also I am not done having children and I wanted to have a way to re loose the pregnancy weight. I knew if I got bypass I would most likely be skinny up until I got pregnany then gain alot of weight back. With the band, I can get a fill after pregnancy and start all over again. Not true with bypass. To tell you the truth, I had no recovery time. I was back to normal activity the day after I got back from surgery. I think you would probably only need a week of recovery if that much. I am 100% happy with my band. Only you can make the choice for you. With the band I can still enjoy the things I like to eat, but most of the time 2-3 bites of it satisfies my craving and I am done with it. I know with bypass you have to be careful what you eat and change your eating habits completely other wise your body will start dumping, which doesn't sound fun to me. Only YOU can choose what you think is best for you, do your research though and go into it knowledgable and 100% sure that you have made the right decision. I would encourage you to explore all the threads on this board and maybe find a bypass forum and explore their threads too. Good luck!

nina - thanks alot for the link. i went through and read it and it was very helpful. at first, 6 months ago, I was thinking about RNY. But here in the last month or so, particularly after finding this messageboard, I've been liking the band more and more. But after going to see the surgeon the other day, I starting doubting, and thinking maybe I should go with the bypass. Now, after reading all these posts, I'm leaning towards the band again. I've got 4 months to go before I can get the surgery, so I'll probably change several times again.