Did anybody catch the report on 20/20 tonight about the Gastric Pace Maker??? Sounded pretty interesting, it goes to the FDA for approval early next year. The entire program was about different ways people have lost weight. Lapband was not even in the program. Too sad, just another choice that someone may never find out about....

Here is a link for the GP article...

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=5086

I found the gastric pacemaker facinating. Strange it has been in use in Italy for years and not even approved here yet. It would be a great remedy for people whose bands have eroded I think, as it has absolutely no side-effects and the battery lasts for 7 years. It might be an answer for those having trouble with the band. I found it odd they didn't even mention the lap band.

I never knew Wynonna had gastric bypass scheduled and opted against it. She just says her addiction to food is so great she doesn't think she could give it up. As for Carnie Wilson she is proof that the gastric bypass pouch can surely stretch. She is up 40 lbs. from what she originally lost (please no she had a baby that was 7 mo. ago). Carnie was putting on weight before that. She has that recipe book out with 5 cheese macaroni. OMG it looks so good. Why would she torture herself like that.

The whole hour was interesting, but disappointing as the lap band didn't even get a nod in any sense from them. No one knows about us....................except us.

I agree, raise your hand if you think Wynona would have benifited from the lapband...she didn't even really talk about what she was doing to do it on her on or even if she was being successful at it. Didn't even mention Ann Wilson, although I can't pull up Ann's blog anymore or Spotlight Health for that matter....hummmm.

Wynonna may or may not benefit from the lap band. I have a feeling she would be in having it removed. She is plain and simple addicted to food and as she said loves room service (of course she can afford it). She isn't willing to help herself, so how can she be helped by a device. She would make herself sick and in the end have the band removed because she has no willpower over food. She needs to hand herself over to God and ask him to help her make the right decisions. She is a beautifully, talented woman who unfortunately has a beautiful (but bossy) mother and an incredibly beautiful sister in Ashley Judd. Wynonna has said more than once she is the black sheep of the family. She eats for a reason. She just has to dig deep and explore it. Oprah even offered her the personal trainer that helped her and Wynonna said no. She has a loving supportive husband, but not sure a husband should support you being overweight (although he certainly should not pick on you by any means) but he should be encouraging her to seek help to find out what has caused her serious problems with using food for comfort.

Unfortunately I think there are people the lap band cant help, it cant control our heads, we have to do that. Some people are just too unwell to be able to help themselves, its just tragic. It is every bit as horrible as any other addiction, and every bit as deadly.

It was an interesting show, some people are so unhappy with their weight but also unstable enough to have the time to work on it too. I think that is Wynona's problem. It's hard to make the time for yourself, it's even harder to decide to make the time for yourself. I was also wondering why they didn't talk about someone who had the lap-band and think that shocking thing was scary, but I don't think it would be enough for me, even if I feel full I eat, so unless I have my band completely stopping me I would keep on keepin on! HA!

When she sang "I Want To Know What Love Is" on Oprah, standing right up there after all that emotion, I had shivers run through me. Rushed out and bought that album that day. She is an incredible singer, big or not.

Brian

I love Wynonna. I recorded 20/20 last night so I'll get to it sometime today and watch what you all have seen. I'm dissappointed to know that Lap Band wasn't even mentioned. I wonder, too, about Ann Wilson, since her blog thingy isn't on Spotlight Health anymore. Heart and Wynonna did a Crossroads special on CMT, so I'm betting they discussed the Band. I feel certain Wy knows about it, but if her food addiction is that bad, she'd better do lots of headwork before going forward with ANY WLS. It's a very tough, very personal decision.

I'm also anxoius to find out about this pacemaker. If I were to find out my band eroded, I'd probably opt for something like that. I need to find out more.

Wy, you ROCK!!

I agree with some of what's been said but I think that anyone (including us) who have surgery to assist us in losing weight is overcoming an addiction to food. If you consider that we continued to eat despite the toll it took on our bodies then we can't separate ourselves from others who still are living in it, we just made a decision to give us strength we don't innately have. Hopefully this surgery will give us the motivation and confidence to internalize the better habits but it doesn't for everyone and that doesn't make us better, just luckier.

That's the way I feel.

I agree with some of what's been said but I think that anyone (including us) who have surgery to assist us in losing weight is overcoming an addiction to food. If you consider that we continued to eat despite the toll it took on our bodies then we can't separate ourselves from others who still are living in it, we just made a decision to give us strength we don't innately have. Hopefully this surgery will give us the motivation and confidence to internalize the better habits but it doesn't for everyone and that doesn't make us better, just luckier.

That's the way I feel.

Do not assume that just because someone had weight loss surgery that they have an addiction to food. Many people, like myself, have PCOS and NO addiction to food.

With all due respect, obesity due to PCOS is a definite factor but if you are over 100 lbs. overweight you are ALSO likely to be abusing food (i.e., eating beyond hunger).

So my humble apologies to anyone on the site that was "gasp!" mistakenly labeled with a food addiction - those with PCOS, thyroid disorders and gland problems....

I actually never thought of having a food issue as being such a horrible thing but obviously you do.

Out of my ignorance and curiosity, why is PCOS treated with Lapbad Surgery?

Do not assume that just because someone had weight loss surgery that they have an addiction to food. Many people, like myself, have PCOS and NO addiction to food.

The band doesn't cure anything...except overeating large quantities of solid food at one sitting.

I did not see the 20/20 show, but did read the article linked by banded for life (Thanks!). It sounds interesting. Since it works by increasing hormone levels, do you ever think they will come up with a pill? They do it for people with menopause and such...

Many people focus on the fast weight loss approaches. DS is the new one I hear about the most recently. But everyone I know that has had those surgeries end up with colon proplems, hair issues, and the like. I know the band has it's own set of issues (PBing, erosion, slipping, etc) But at least you can take it out and go back to "normal". Once you cut your stomach you can not be reversed. Those people are "Screwed for Life" if you will...

Wynonna may or may not benefit from the lap band. I have a feeling she would be in having it removed. She is plain and simple addicted to food and as she said loves room service (of course she can afford it). She isn't willing to help herself, so how can she be helped by a device. She would make herself sick and in the end have the band removed because she has no willpower over food. She needs to hand herself over to God and ask him to help her make the right decisions. She is a beautifully, talented woman who unfortunately has a beautiful (but bossy) mother and an incredibly beautiful sister in Ashley Judd. Wynonna has said more than once she is the black sheep of the family. She eats for a reason. She just has to dig deep and explore it. Oprah even offered her the personal trainer that helped her and Wynonna said no. She has a loving supportive husband, but not sure a husband should support you being overweight (although he certainly should not pick on you by any means) but he should be encouraging her to seek help to find out what has caused her serious problems with using food for comfort.

Well what I think is that--since we are all privvy to the intimate details of her life and since she has asked for our input--we should be judgemental and talk about why SHE is obese and how SHE should go about resolving HER problem.

At least it might save us from talking about why WE are obese.

Sue

:::your friendly neighborhood atheist, who doesn't have time to judge/discuss Wynonna's shortcomings and who intends to lose weight in spite of her atheism:::

OH.. and in regards to the PCOS food addiction thing...

People with PCOS crave carbs more than others. It is a hormonal thing. Kill or die for a twinkie type of feeling. I have it and know that when I am "on carbs" I am an obsessive compulsive eater. Living from "carb fix" to "carb fix". Like a druggie.

When I am "off carbs" and on Atkins I do not attack things, but I still can not lose weight at a fast rate. One study I read said that a woman with PCOS would have to limit calories to under 1000 and exercise 85 minutes a day to lose and average of two pounds a week. Totally messed up when you figure if we eat ANY amount of carbs it goes straight into storage (our fat bottoms/bellies).

So guess you can look at it like a food issue, just more hormonal/metabolic than mental.