In The Early Stages Of Making My Decision About Lap-band.

[lindsabeth 0]

Hello everyone, I'm looking for some advice.

I'm a female, 21 years old with a BMI of 37.1 (5'6", 230 pounds). I also have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and hypothyroidism. I've recently started to consider having LAP-BAND surgery after my grandma brought it up to me. I briefly discussed it with my nutritionist the other day and she gave me resources to look at. I've been doing a lot of research on the procedure and I know that it is a major decision and not something to take lightly. I'm attending an info session on December 6th about the surgery at one of the hospitals in my city.

With all of this being said...all of the people I have brought this up to (family and a few close friends), everyone has been horrified at the thought of it and has strongly advised against it. Everyone keeps telling me that this procedure fails a lot and that many people end up re-gaining all of their weight after a while. Someone told me that LAP-BAND just tries to "sell" the fact that this is a successful procedure. Someone else told me that 75% of the contestants on the Biggest Loser have had this procedure, so it has obviously failed. I was wondering if anyone knew if this was true? It's very discouraging and makes me want to bag the whole idea.

Any advice is much appreciated!

-Lindsey

[stacythegreat 1]

The band is a tool. You still have to make a lifestyle change. Excercise and eating right. Most people would say that if you do those two things you should lose the weight which sounds good but until I got my band I could eat too much of the good things. So it is just a helper not the whole solution to the problem. You have to be committed to a change or it won't work for you. I was banded on 9-1-11 and have lost 38 lbs. Hope this helps. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Allison0927 329]

Hi - I will say this. People often talk of fear of the actual surgery. I'm not a doc or in the medical field - but my own two cents are - this is likely the easiest surgery you will ever have. It's fast, little scarring, little pain (if you take your meds) and you're only in the hospital a few hours - and recouping a few days. That was the EASY part if that is your concern. For me, the surgery was the best decision i've made for ME in years. Wish i had done it sooner. Don't know what the future holds - but i do know that there is NO WAY i would have lost nearly 70 pounds in the last 5 months without doing it - i likely would have progressively gained weight during that same time frame. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU WHATEVER YOU DECIDE!

[HayFarmer 0]

I am in the early stages of getting the lap band done, I have done all the testing that the doctor wanted so now I am waiting to go to some more meetings that are required before surgery.. I am so looking forward to it. I don't have a problem loosing the weight its keeping it off, so this will be a tool to remind me how much i can eat and stuff i cant eat because it will be painful or it will come back up.. You have to do this for yourself not anyone else, So if you think its for you go for it... good luck..

[olivepickles 13]

i am 3 months post op and so far this is the best choice i have ever made. it is work and band is a tool i have to do the work. i am sure this time the weight will stay off. I tell everyone about my band i really don’t worry about what others think. i can see where people fail their band it’s all about choices. I would worry with hypothyroidism if weight loss could be a struggle with the band. i have read many people with hormone imbalances have a hard time the band

I have a few friends who have had WLS surgery and the one who had the band 4 years ago is the only one keeping her weight off. My friend who had bypass 8 years ago is starting to gain weight again

good luck in you journey

[lindsabeth 0]

Thank you everyone for your advice! I do know that the band is a tool to help with weight loss and that it is not the magical solution. I am already working on making a lifestyle change and working on eating healthier.

I am not afraid of having surgery. I had major surgery on my bladder when I was only 8 years old. I know I can't know about the surgery until I actually get it, but it does not seem that bad.

I am not really concerned about what friends think, but I will need my family's support throughout this. If they are not on board, it will be a difficult process don't you think?

I'd never do this for anyone but myself. I am very concerned about my health and want to better my quality of life. I feel that this may be the tool to help me to do that.

In regards to my hypothyroidism...my nutritionist said this would help me lose weight with that more than anything. Hypothyroidism makes it almost impossible to lose weight. I guess that is something I will have to ask about/look into.

Thanks again everyone for your advice!!

[lifeisjustbeginning2011 11]

Here's a great (recently published) book that is perfect for where you are in the process: It isn't specifically for Lap Band, it is more of a "are you ready for bariatric surgery?" book. Do it for yourself if you determine it is right for you. I only told a few people because I didn't want to know people's opinions and I'm really glad that I did.

The Weight Loss Surgery Workbook by Doreen A. Samelson

[lindsabeth 0]

Thanks for the book rec!

[TheRealSouthernBelle 22]

This is your choice and your choice only. If you feel compelled to listen to your parents, by all means do that, but you will have to live with the what-ifs. I am not that close to my parents and I am a grown woman (I can make my own decision), so their opinions didn't mean anything to me. My parents said the same about gastric bypass surgery (when my sister told them she was thinking about doing it). They automatically thought I wanted it too. They said I didn't need it and I was going to die. It just shows how uneducated they are about that procedure and WLS in general.

You are correct that the Lap Band fails and so do many people. Lap Band was not made for everyone, so some people have complications and it really does them no help. (You NEED to be prepared for this possibility!) Then there are individuals that fail their bands. They get too tight, they continue their "normal" eating habits after being banded, they ignore their bodies (possible complications), they refuse to exercise, etc. Either one could happen.

Then you could have success with the Band, What an odd occurrence. I was being totally sarcastic! There is a thread here dedicated to success stories and I am one of them and I'm not all the way through. I was interested in this procedure after I seen the success that a former school mate of mine had. She lost well over 100 lbs. I figured if she could do it, I could do it too. I talked to her several times and she convinced me that this is a great procedure that will work. She told me about how she still lives a normal life. She doesn't measure and weight food, she doesn't PB, goes out to dinner here and there, and does not let her band hinder her. She advised me to do as much homework as possible and then let her know and that's exactly what I did.

I would suggest to you to do your homework. Keep Googling, researching, and doing everything you can do to learn more about this procedure and other ones as well. Use this information to educate those around you and maybe they will be on board, but maybe they won't. I went into this with only 1 person as a support system and that was okay with me. I would rather have one person I love and trust in my life than a million that constantly gossip, talk behind my back, and are negative about issues in my life.

BTW Of course, Lap Band is there to market and sell their product. They are a for-profit company. They also let the consumers know of possible side effects (read the fine print). Also, I don't think that it would be possible to give a major surgery to that many contestants and no one know this for years and years. That statement about the Biggest Loser contestants is laughable. Those individuals are isolated from society. They have no other choice, but to follow a diet and exercise (they do have cameras watching). They have the finest foods and assistance in preparing them and they also exercise 4-6 hours per day! Results are pretty much guaranteed. LOL!

[Heather B. 1]

One thing to keep in mind when talking to family is that the Lap Band surgery does NOT involve cutting the stomach or intestines. I think a lot of people assume it's very similar to the bypass. The band is much less invasive.

You do have to change your habits, but my thought is, if you are committed to becoming healthy enough to have the procedure, you shouldn't compromise it.

Take your time in deciding and have your family research it as well, they will likely become more comfortable with it as mine did.

Good Luck!!!

[Miller.ted 3]

I had the same questions and concerns and waiting way too lonh IMO. I was banded Oct this year and have had dramatic changes in my body and mental state. It is so far, one of the best choices I have made for my family and myself. I have been heavy most of my life and it has not been easy. I have not really lived life to the fullest. This surgery is easy, and the least invasive of all. If you want, it can be reversed! None of the other can! So do if for you not the other people who are knocking you down! If you need anything, please PM me!!

[healthychange 1]

As long as you are willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes, I say go for it. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner.

The lapband doesn’t make you lose weight, but for many, many people, it does make it possible to lose it AND keep it off. The whole experience has also helped me finally deal with some of the emotional reasons behind my overeating.

The surgery was very easy, recovery was no problem, and the weight loss is slow and steady. As long as you don’t expect miracles and you are committed to doing your part, ignore the advice of people who don’t have all the facts and make the decision that is right for you.

[Tracey51 0]

Be careful......Just keep in mind that this is not easy.... You have a big company, physicians and hospitals that make a great deal of money doing this surgery. This is not for everyone..... It has worked for me, but I am one of the very few. From what I have read and seen it is only about at 30% that lose weight and keep it off. The physician that started Lap Band is now saying in a 20 year study that this is not as good as he had hoped. Take a look I think it was CBS that did a story on this. One physician stated the at one time 50% of his patients had lap band, but now it is down to less the 5%.....GOOD LUCK