Since deciding to install a lapband, I've been pouring over these forums daily, reading both the good and the bad. One thing that I've started to wonder about as I an preparing to have my surgery is what kind of complications low BMI bandsters have experienced. From what I've read, the heavier you are, the more likely general surgery risks/complications are, so for those who went in at ~200lbs or less, did you feel like you experienced less problems post surgery (like in the first few days/week after)? I know that each person is different, but it's something I've started wondering about. I'm planning to have the surgery on a Saturday and return to work on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. I know of two people who used the same surgeon I will be using that did this (one was a low BMI, the other was higher). Both of these individuals also seemed to have few problems with the gas pains. Fingers crossed this will be what I report to you all in a couple of weeks, but I was just curious about others' experiences.

Thanks for sharing!

Since deciding to install a lapband, I've been pouring over these forums daily, reading both the good and the bad. One thing that I've started to wonder about as I an preparing to have my surgery is what kind of complications low BMI bandsters have experienced. From what I've read, the heavier you are, the more likely general surgery risks/complications are, so for those who went in at ~200lbs or less, did you feel like you experienced less problems post surgery (like in the first few days/week after)? I know that each person is different, but it's something I've started wondering about. I'm planning to have the surgery on a Saturday and return to work on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. I know of two people who used the same surgeon I will be using that did this (one was a low BMI, the other was higher). Both of these individuals also seemed to have few problems with the gas pains. Fingers crossed this will be what I report to you all in a couple of weeks, but I was just curious about others' experiences.

Thanks for sharing!

Since deciding to install a lapband, I've been pouring over these forums daily, reading both the good and the bad. One thing that I've started to wonder about as I an preparing to have my surgery is what kind of complications low BMI bandsters have experienced. From what I've read, the heavier you are, the more likely general surgery risks/complications are, so for those who went in at ~200lbs or less, did you feel like you experienced less problems post surgery (like in the first few days/week after)? I know that each person is different, but it's something I've started wondering about. I'm planning to have the surgery on a Saturday and return to work on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. I know of two people who used the same surgeon I will be using that did this (one was a low BMI, the other was higher). Both of these individuals also seemed to have few problems with the gas pains. Fingers crossed this will be what I report to you all in a couple of weeks, but I was just curious about others' experiences.

Thanks for sharing!

I'm a lower BMI person and I don't relly believe that has everything to do with how you heal. I didn't have any complications from the surgery, just some of the uncomfortable stuff that follows surgery and I wasn't ready to go back to work for a week and a half. The anesthesia really knocked me out and I felt sleepy for a week, aside from the other stuff. Good luck to you!! Give yourself the time you need to heal!

Since deciding to install a lapband, I've been pouring over these forums daily, reading both the good and the bad. One thing that I've started to wonder about as I an preparing to have my surgery is what kind of complications low BMI bandsters have experienced. From what I've read, the heavier you are, the more likely general surgery risks/complications are, so for those who went in at ~200lbs or less, did you feel like you experienced less problems post surgery (like in the first few days/week after)? I know that each person is different, but it's something I've started wondering about. I'm planning to have the surgery on a Saturday and return to work on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. I know of two people who used the same surgeon I will be using that did this (one was a low BMI, the other was higher). Both of these individuals also seemed to have few problems with the gas pains. Fingers crossed this will be what I report to you all in a couple of weeks, but I was just curious about others' experiences.

Thanks for sharing!

I had a low BMI and seemed to do OK. I didn't have a lot of pain and what I did have was easily managed with the meds. I felt nauseous for a while but I think that was because of all the sweet stuff. As soon as I was allowed to have some Soup I felt much better. (To me sweet stuff is not a meal whereas soup is ).

I went back to work a week later but I only work casually.

I did just look back through my diary to see if I noted any other problems and interestingly approx 2 weeks after the op I was driving home from a full day of work along some horrible quiet, windy, country roads when I got pulled over by a cop. He told me I went over the white line a couple of times and he thought I was DUI! I thought I was driving fine(probably trying to avoid potholes) but maybe the effects of anaesthesia and the op and work meant that I was tireder than usual!

I dont think your BMI has a lot to do with how well you recover from the surgery - people all have different tolerances to anaesthetics, different pain thresholds etc.

I'm pretty fit so I recover pretty fast and pretty well from things like surgery and that's perhaps got a little to do with not being overweight before and having a BMI of 36 at the time of lapband surgery - I could be fitter and more mobile than someone much heavier. But that said, at a BMI of over 30, I popped out 3 babies with no pain relief, in the space of about 40 minutes per labour and was right as rain within a few hours. I was much heavier than a lot of women who find childbirth a lot harder than that. I dont even think childbirth hurts that much - certainly not as much as a brazilian wax, lol. So its totally individual.

I do think your BMI can affect how successful you are with this surgery though. Obviously over the years eating and exercise habits slide and we get heavier and heavier but it is pretty much a given that someone who has a BMI of 35 is probably more mobile, fitter and eats better (if not well) than someone who has a BMI of 50, and so has less work to do to get themselves onto a healthy track. Not that that's strictly true either.