Ok, my sister was just banded last Fri May 6th. As an African American female, I would have NEVER considered surgery, but today I finished my final nutrition consultation. Now, it's a waiting game. After my appt, I went to pick up my CPAP for the new sleep Apnea diagnosis I recvd yesterday...talk about timming! While waiting, I have a discussion with two women about the benefits of Gastric Bypass and now I am confused.

Here are my questions:

1) What is the good, bad and ugly of the lapband?

2) Lapband or Bypass?

I'm so happy I found this post! Firstly, because I too 'weighed' (haha) the good and bad with the band and bypass. For me, bypass flat out terrified me! I'm sure there are bypass patients who are happy with their choice and dislike the idea of the band, that's the way it is. My mom got banded in February of this year. Being a born-again Christian, she struggled with the thought of WLS because many people feel it's not natural or necessary. My mom chose to tell only her closest friends (either in the church or at work) and they support her 100%. I do believe God gives surgeons and doctors the abilities and skill to help His people. I am now waiting to hear back from my insurance to see if LapBand surgery will be covered. If and when I get my surgery, I don't feel obligated to tell the world if I don't want to. At this point, I don't talk to certain people about it because they will just try and discourage me and tell me what a bad decision I'm making, I can do it on my own if I just try, etc. But on the other hand, the one person who I thought would not like the idea of WLS is my number 1 supporter! I am 23 and have been overweight since elementary school... I'm ready to start my new healthy life!

I would say pray about it. That's what my mom did through her whole pre-op experience. I have to take my advice and start praying about it as well, cause as it gets closer I'm getting more nervous and I want to be at peace about it come surgery day! I hope everything goes well for you!!

And congrats to the post op patients on being successful and positive! It's inspiring.

I have not been banded yet! I just completed my last nutrition visit this week. For the past few months, I have been going back and forth between the band and the sleeve. I was terrified at the thought of removing more than half of my stomach and the possibility that if I do not keep the weight off with the sleeve and gain the weight back, I lost part of my stomach for no reason. In the end, I chose the band. I'm only 28 and I don't have any children, so knowing I can have an empty band while I'm pregnant and fill it back again to jump my weight loss was great. Plus after reading all the success stories of people who have lost large amounts of weight, I realized I too can be successful. It's all up to me and my tool!

Hi,

I am also an AA female, and new to all of this. I did not like the idea of having my insides rearranged at all, so the lap band was the choice for me.

I have been overweight all my life, and never considered having surgery. After losing 30 lbs with a trainer for a wedding last September, once again I

began to see the weight come back. I want to put an end to this viscous cycle. My surgery is scheduled for 6/27/11, and I have been on Optifast for one

week. I have only told a few people. I also like the idea of the lap band because the weight loss should be slow. I'm thinking it should be about the

same pace it was when I was working with the trainer. I don't want anyone at work to know.

I went to my first seminar in February. The doctor's office has taken care of everything. I should have had the surgery by now, but when they checked my

insurance, they found that I had to have the procedure done in a hospital, not a surgery center, so I needed 3 additional weeks of the program required

by the hospital.

Let's keep in touch if we can.

Good Luck!

Hi,

I am also an AA female, and new to all of this. I did not like the idea of having my insides rearranged at all, so the lap band was the choice for me.

I have been overweight all my life, and never considered having surgery. After losing 30 lbs with a trainer for a wedding last September, once again I

began to see the weight come back. I want to put an end to this viscous cycle. My surgery is scheduled for 6/27/11, and I have been on Optifast for one

week. I have only told a few people. I also like the idea of the lap band because the weight loss should be slow. I'm thinking it should be about the

same pace it was when I was working with the trainer. I don't want anyone at work to know.

I went to my first seminar in February. The doctor's office has taken care of everything. I should have had the surgery by now, but when they checked my

insurance, they found that I had to have the procedure done in a hospital, not a surgery center, so I needed 3 additional weeks of the program required

by the hospital.

Let's keep in touch if we can.

Good Luck!

I'm so happy I found this post! Firstly, because I too 'weighed' (haha) the good and bad with the band and bypass. For me, bypass flat out terrified me! I'm sure there are bypass patients who are happy with their choice and dislike the idea of the band, that's the way it is. My mom got banded in February of this year. Being a born-again Christian, she struggled with the thought of WLS because many people feel it's not natural or necessary. My mom chose to tell only her closest friends (either in the church or at work) and they support her 100%. I do believe God gives surgeons and doctors the abilities and skill to help His people. I am now waiting to hear back from my insurance to see if LapBand surgery will be covered. If and when I get my surgery, I don't feel obligated to tell the world if I don't want to. At this point, I don't talk to certain people about it because they will just try and discourage me and tell me what a bad decision I'm making, I can do it on my own if I just try, etc. But on the other hand, the one person who I thought would not like the idea of WLS is my number 1 supporter! I am 23 and have been overweight since elementary school... I'm ready to start my new healthy life!

I would say pray about it. That's what my mom did through her whole pre-op experience. I have to take my advice and start praying about it as well, cause as it gets closer I'm getting more nervous and I want to be at peace about it come surgery day! I hope everything goes well for you!!

And congrats to the post op patients on being successful and positive! It's inspiring.

Hi! So your Mom had LAP-BAND in February? How much has she lost? Is she happy that she did it? I've been waiting a year (because of my insurance), but my wait will be over in mid-August. I'm hoping we can schedule the surgery soon thereafter. Two ladies in my church have had the surgery and both have lost well over 100 lbs. without any problems. I wish for you the best in your journey!

Hi all, this is a good post. I, too, am a God following chic! But a white southern gal that has been raised in a christian home ! I will definitely have to check into that christian post that was listed on the the reply above. I have struggled with this as well, mainly because I have been praying so much about this. In December, I was listening to KLOVE (christian radio station) and they had a guest on the show by the name of Lysa Terkeurst (author) and she has written several books etc....but what caught my attention is the fact that she had just written her book "Made To Crave" that speaks about peoples' addictions to things, but in HER case --weight issues. To hear her talk about her struggles I felt as if she had just crawled into by brain and took my very thoughts and yearly trials and put it to paper. I KNEW God had led me to listen to that station that day. So... I got her book and followed her 6 week webcast that was (like the book) so full of God's word. Very good scriptures to read regarding issues that we battle. So full of truths!! It seems as though, since I have been into this book, I have had an even harder time getting back on my weight loss track, eating healthy, etc.... and I know it's just the devil throwing darts my way. Then I feel guilty for not allowing this to help me. I felt like it's the way I needed to go, but was having such a hard time. I had always been against having WLS and also was too scared. I have followed Weight Watchers for many years now where I have had good losses, only to start bingeing (why, why, why??? I just don't know why) and gain back. I have managed to keep 15 off. (really 45 off total since I once lost some weight on a low carb diet....but gains and losses followed year after year). Anyway, my mom is the one who suggested that I should look into this. She sees me in tears over this weight issue so many times and knows that I have battled it since my childhood. We know at least 7 people who have been banded and lost a lot of weight and would not trade it for anything. Only one person I know of now, can't eat much of anything, but after reading these posts, I really think her band is too tight. The rest are doing well. Most of those that I know go to the same church as me and I have not heard any negative words from anyone there about it. I would not consider it.....I was following Weight Watchers and keeping on going to the gym.....BUT finally my curiosity peaked and I started asking questions about it and found that some of my fears were not as bad as I thought they would be. I have been totally encouraged on these forums and I now know I want and NEED to be banded. I have to wait a few months with new insurance coming through my work, but at least that gives me even more time to read the success stories and get even more mentally ready for this.

Like others on this forum, the bypass surgery scares me WAY too bad to ever do it, plus I don't want to give up all sweets FOREVER. I would be knocked into severe depression if that happened. Anyway, many blessings to all of you and may you have much success in your journey.