Hi everyone!

I am so happy I found this forum. I hope that I can get some insight from all that have had the lap band.

I am 35 years old and I weigh 203 pounds and am 5'0. I am looking to get the lap band. I considered gastric bypass but my husband is really against it.

But, after reading the boards I am really afraid. I am terrified of needles! I have heard that it hurts to get fills. I have also read that every time after a fill it can be unbearable. I have 2 small children, 5 & 3 and feeling horrible all the time would be difficult with them. Mommy's aren't allowed to feel bad. :-(

I just want to make sure I make an informed decision. I eat from anxiety and am always hungry. I need help. But, I am afraid.

I have so many questions.. Is it painful after the procedure? Do fills hurt? Do you always have a bad feeling in your gut? How long has it taken to get used to it? I'd love to hear more...:scared2:

Hi

So I will tell you a little about me. I have had my band for a year. I am 5'0 and weighted 198 on my day of surgery. I now weight 140. I also have two kids 7 and 5. But were 6 and 4 at the time. After the procedure I was uncomfortable but not really in pain. Where I get my fill the use a numbing medication so it has never really hurt and I have a hard port to find. I have been in the red zone a few times and this is uncomfortable but where I go they always get it taken care of. You have to know this is a tool and not a fix because until you understand that it can be really frustrating. With the ups and downs I would do this again because I want to be around long term for my children and for them to have an active mother. Make sure you look into where you are having it done and get feedback. May be check out a couple different places. After care is so so important. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi everyone!

I am so happy I found this forum. I hope that I can get some insight from all that have had the LAP-BAND®.

I am 35 years old and I weigh 203 pounds and am 5'0. I am looking to get the LAP-BAND®. I considered gastric bypass but my husband is really against it.

But, after reading the boards I am really afraid. I am terrified of needles! I have heard that it hurts to get fills. I have also read that every time after a fill it can be unbearable. I have 2 small children, 5 & 3 and feeling horrible all the time would be difficult with them. Mommy's aren't allowed to feel bad. :-(

I just want to make sure I make an informed decision. I eat from anxiety and am always hungry. I need help. But, I am afraid.

I have so many questions.. Is it painful after the procedure? Do fills hurt? Do you always have a bad feeling in your gut? How long has it taken to get used to it? I'd love to hear more...:scared2:

Lap-Band surgery is much much less invasive than gastric bypass which makes it less painful, less complications and there's a much quicker recovery time. With the fills, some surgeons use a numbing spray or a local anesthia before giving you a fill. Im sure if yours didnt normally you could request it. And I havent had a fill yet but from what I've read most people dont feel bad after a fill. I don't think it's normal to feel bad afterwards, anyway. If they do then something isn't right.

Lots of luck with your decision!

Hi there...

I chose the lap band because I felt that my organs were ok where they were!! I had the surgery in October 2009 and have really had not problems at all. I was up walking around that night!!

My doctor has the fills done in the radiology dept under fluoroscopy. He feels that it's better to be able to see everything and make sure when you take a drink it goes down and it's not overfilled. The actual injection does not hurt at all. They do use a numbing agent, but you can't see them do it anyway becaue you're going to be laying down.

If there is one thing I've learned...is that each and every person is different. Just because someone had pain it does not mean you will!! You just have to make the decision to change your life. The lap band is a tool.... if you choose not to use it you will not lose weight. It's been 7 months since my surgery and I've lost 72 pounds!! My doctor is thrilled!! I have a long way to go...but I've recommended this surgery to anyone and everyone that inquires!!

Good Luck!!

I definiltely know that it is not a fix but I need something to help me lose weight. I want to be around for my two little ones and be able to do stuff with them. Now, I am either too embarrassed or too tired.

What do you mean by red zone?

I have gotten several recommendations and today I am going to a seminar for Dr. De La Cruz. He is suppose to be one of the best in Miami, Florida. I have a friend who had his gastric bypass with him and he looks great.

I am just scared of feeling like I have to throw up all the time. Thankfully when I was pregnant, I never had those issues because throwing up is one of those things that I really don't tolerate. :-)

Hi

So I will tell you a little about me. I have had my band for a year. I am 5'0 and weighted 198 on my day of surgery. I now weight 140. I also have two kids 7 and 5. But were 6 and 4 at the time. After the procedure I was uncomfortable but not really in pain. Where I get my fill the use a numbing medication so it has never really hurt and I have a hard port to find. I have been in the red zone a few times and this is uncomfortable but where I go they always get it taken care of. You have to know this is a tool and not a fix because until you understand that it can be really frustrating. With the ups and downs I would do this again because I want to be around long term for my children and for them to have an active mother. Make sure you look into where you are having it done and get feedback. May be check out a couple different places. After care is so so important. Hope this helps. Good luck!

So, does everyone get a "fill" often? How long has it been that you'd had yours and no fill?

Lap-Band® surgery is much much less invasive than gastric bypass which makes it less painful' date=' less complications and there's a much quicker recovery time. With the fills, some surgeons use a numbing spray or a local anesthia before giving you a fill. Im sure if yours didnt normally you could request it. And I havent had a fill yet but from what I've read most people dont feel bad after a fill. I don't think it's normal to feel bad afterwards, anyway. If they do then something isn't right.

Lots of luck with your decision![/quote']

What is fluroscopy? I am glad to hear that you haven't had any problems. I guess that is the problem with researching -- is that you find the good with the bad and you just have to balance them out and make an informed decision.

I am trying to do that. I know that I need to do something for myself. I am not happy. I don't go out -- I hate shopping. I know that I need to do something... I just want to make sure I am doing the "RIGHT" thing.

Hi there...

I chose the LAP-BAND® because I felt that my organs were ok where they were!! I had the surgery in October 2009 and have really had not problems at all. I was up walking around that night!!

My doctor has the fills done in the radiology dept under fluoroscopy. He feels that it's better to be able to see everything and make sure when you take a drink it goes down and it's not overfilled. The actual injection does not hurt at all. They do use a numbing agent, but you can't see them do it anyway becaue you're going to be laying down.

If there is one thing I've learned...is that each and every person is different. Just because someone had pain it does not mean you will!! You just have to make the decision to change your life. The LAP-BAND® is a tool.... if you choose not to use it you will not lose weight. It's been 7 months since my surgery and I've lost 72 pounds!! My doctor is thrilled!! I have a long way to go...but I've recommended this surgery to anyone and everyone that inquires!!

Good Luck!!

So, does everyone get a "fill" often? How long has it been that you'd had yours and no fill?

Most people get a fill. Most surgeons wait 6 weeks after surgery to do the 1st one and then after that it depends on you and your surgeon. Some surgeons are non negotiable when it comes to fills. They will only do them once every 4 weeks where as others will let you be the judge. Most surgeons do that because sometimes it could take a couple weeks for a fill to kick in. I did read of one person on here who has never had a fill and has lost a lot of weight but that's not the norm.

I am one month and one week post op. I get my very first fill next Friday! :scared2:

What is fluroscopy? I am glad to hear that you haven't had any problems. I guess that is the problem with researching -- is that you find the good with the bad and you just have to balance them out and make an informed decision.

I am trying to do that. I know that I need to do something for myself. I am not happy. I don't go out -- I hate shopping. I know that I need to do something... I just want to make sure I am doing the "RIGHT" thing.

Fluoroscopy is the use of X-rays. It is like live TV. Doctors use it so that they can access the port to do fills. It is just a way of seeing everything. Good luck on your decision. It is a hard one to make. do your research. I work in radiology and see bypass surgery patients all the time. I work with 6 people that have had it done. Some look great some don't. It is all in how you want to live your life after surgery. If you don't mind taking lots of pills everyday because of malabsorbtion, the bypass, if you don't mind messing with natural anatomy...bypass.....if you eat sugar and don't mind going to the toilet ofter, then, bypass....Just my two cents. I feel that a slower weight loss is healthier, you look better, and it make YOU work at it....That's what I needed...My date is May 3rd for banding. I am so excited. Yes I have fears and reservations, but I know in the end, it is everything I need. Good luck!

I have a question that I am curious about and don't know if the dr's have addressed..

What happends when you reach your goal weight? Do they remove the band? Do you not have to fill it anymore?

I have a question that I am curious about and don't know if the dr's have addressed..

What happends when you reach your goal weight? Do they remove the band? Do you not have to fill it anymore?

it is there for life. once you hit your goal weight, it becomes a maintenance life goal rather than a weight loss. Once it's in it's in unless there is a need to remove it.

I have a question that I am curious about and don't know if the dr's have addressed..

What happends when you reach your goal weight? Do they remove the band? Do you not have to fill it anymore?

The consensus on this issue has changed a couple of times since the introduction of the Lap Band concept. At one time, it was thought to be a temporary device that would be utilized for a period of time during which the patient would lose weight, and then be removed. Over time, that evolved into a semi-permanent installation.

Because of increasing problems and complications with the Lap Band (such as erosion), many Doctors are beginning to consider the Band as a temporary 3 to 5 year solution, during which time the patient will be strongly encouraged to use the band to help them modify their behavior and attitude toward food, rather than simply as a weight-loss device that will remain in place forever. Again, this does vary among Physicians. But, there are complications that can require removal, and it happens more often than you might think. The unfortunate part is that once the band is removed, the vast majority of patients DO, in fact, regain a significant portion of their weight, if not all of it. This is because they have not utilized the time spent with the band in changing their habits and attitudes toward food; they simply let the band restrict what they eat.

For many people requiring a restrictive mode of Weight Loss Surgery, the Gastric Sleeve is often a better choice…no maintenance, and the elimination of the Fundus Gland, which is a producer of the appetite hormone Grehlin. But, it has its down-side as well.

And do not eliminate the option of a Gastric Bypass. It is a proven, successful surgery that has benefited many people over half a century.

ALL of the various Weight Loss Surgeries are meant for different people, with different metabolic, eating, and emotional issues. One size does NOT fit all. You need to do a LOT of research and get opinions from multiple Bariatric Specialists to be able to make an informed choice. Some people make the WRONG decision about their WLS, and they end having to do it all over…..you do NOT want to have to go through that.

S.

Fluoroscopy is the use of X-rays. It is like live TV. Doctors use it so that they can access the port to do fills. It is just a way of seeing everything. Good luck on your decision. It is a hard one to make. do your research. I work in radiology and see bypass surgery patients all the time. I work with 6 people that have had it done. Some look great some don't. It is all in how you want to live your life after surgery. If you don't mind taking lots of pills everyday because of malabsorbtion, the bypass, if you don't mind messing with natural anatomy...bypass.....if you eat sugar and don't mind going to the toilet ofter, then, bypass....Just my two cents. I feel that a slower weight loss is healthier, you look better, and it make YOU work at it....That's what I needed...My date is May 3rd for banding. I am so excited. Yes I have fears and reservations, but I know in the end, it is everything I need. Good luck!

I always get a little annoyed when people mischaracterize ANY of the various Weight Loss Surgery procedures. People always seem to know more about the surgery they DIDN’T have than the one they decide on….and they are, more often then not, quite wrong.

Here’s a few comments on a previous post:

“Some look great some don't.”

Same with Lap band, DS, FP, and Sleeve patients. No surgery has a monopoly on “looking good” post-op. it’s all what you DO with the surgery that determines how you are going to “look”.

“It is all in how you want to live your life after surgery.”

No, it’s all in how you LIVE after your surgery, not “want to live”. If you are suggesting that Gastric Bypass offers a lower quality of life post-op, you would be wrong. People who have problems with the bypass do so because of their CHOICES after their surgery, and NOT because OF the Surgery. It is the same with ALL of the Surgeries. You can screw them ALL up by making stupid choices.

“If you don't mind taking lots of pills everyday because of malabsorbtion”

“lots” of pills? A few Vitamins? Huh? If you don’t think you have to take Vitamins Post-Lap band or Sleeve, you would be wrong….again. ANY WLS requires supplementation post-surgery. It is more important to a GB patient that they take Vitamins, but the action is the same….it is simply something you HAVE to do, regardless of the Surgery. It is a non-issue.

“if you don't mind messing with natural anatomy...bypass”

The old “Invasive” argument. It is NO different than many other surgeries and procedures that are performed to correct a deficiency or malfunction in some area. We have appendixes removed, gall Bladders removed, Heart bypass surgeries, joints replaced, and on and on and on….we have TONS of plastic surgeries. I find it amusing that so many of the people who chose LAP-BAND® over Bypass because it’s “less invasive” are planning to have tummy tucks, facelifts, etc….whole big pieces of skin (an organ) removed. Plastic surgery probably carries as much if not MORE risk than a GB. Not to mention all of the piercings and tattoos we have and don’t even think twice about. But a gastric Bypass? An effective surgery that has been successfully performed for nearly half a century and has benefited hundreds of thousands of patients? Oh No! You’re messing with the anatomy!! Roflmao.

“if you eat sugar and don't mind going to the toilet often, then, bypass”

Huh? If you are referring to the “Dumping Syndrome” experienced by SOME Bypass patients, then you are mis-describing the experience. First of all, not every Bypass patient dumps. Not nearly. No solid stats, but the estimation is only 15-30 percent. And, the severity of the syndrome varies quite dramatically. For some patients, it is a mildly uncomfortable sensation. For others, it is more severe. MOST people who experience dumping are grateful for it. But “going to the Toilet??” Sorry, you’ve got that one wrong too….you are referring to the diarrhea that can occur with the Duodenal Switch, an ENTIRELY different procedure…..but one that does have it’s place.

“I feel that a slower weight loss is healthier,”

A slower weight loss IS better. But here’s a news flash for ya….you can CONTROL how fast you lose with the bypass. It’s that simple. You do not HAVE to lose as fast as you are capable of. Again, it all comes down to patient responsibility, and HOW healthy you want to be.

I really don’t care what surgery any one chooses, as long as it is based on FACTS, and not a bunch of Baloney. I hate reading stuff that is INCORRECT (as cited above), because although YOU might have chosen your surgery, your mis-information is influencing others who are still in THEIR information gathering process.

So, to ANYONE out there trying to choose a procedure….get ALL the facts, and get those facts from reliable sources. ALL of the WLS procedures have value, and each one would be the correct choice for SOMEONE. Your job is to take the time to find out which is right for YOU.

S.

Spartan you sound familiar. Have you been here before?

Whoa there...so sorry to offend you. I meant no disrespect, I just know how the differences are and each choice is personal. I based my information on what I know and what I have personally witnessed from my friends that have had both. Clearly I am a fan of the Lap, but I certainly am not against the bypass. On that note, I again apologize and support whatever decision people make. It is THEIR life, THEIR decision, and how THEY choose to live life after surgery is all up to them. Wow, so sorry to all I ticked off. I will be leaving now. Take care all.

Thank you all for the great advice. I went to a seminar today given by one of the dr's and he went through the 3 different approaches.

After a couple of hours and talking to several of his patients -- I know that I don't want the gastric bypass. I am not sure, but it just doesn't feel right to me. I like the concept of the lap-band but am a little weary of the fills (hate needles) :-) and the sleeve sounds like a good option too. They all seem to have their risks and their pro's and con's.

I am going to go visit the dr and talk to him about it. He did say in the seminar that he leaves the decision to the patient as to what they want to do. He said having the lap band is great for those that are good about making sure they go to their appointments, get their fills, go to support groups, etc. Not that the others don't have to do the same things but the lap-band does require fills as the others don't.

I guess I am just going to have to weigh the pro's and con's and figure out what is best. It is such a tough decision. But, believe it or not I felt comforted knowing that the success rate is so high and the risk of complications is so low....