Went to a local WLS support group meeting tonight. Out of thirty or more people, there were only two bandsters--three including me who has yet to me banded.

The leader of the meeting pretty much said I would fail at this band thing--that most banded she's seen convert to the RNY eventually. She said that most of the lap band folks are not happy with their slow weight loss--and she said that there are so many things that can go wrong--slippage, erosion, etc. She said that I'd have a higher chance of having more surgeries than if I were to have the RNY. She said that if I have a sweet tooth, then the band is DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME.

This bummed me out for a---SECOND--then I came to my senses. This is the best and safest way to go. Eventually, I am going to have to come to terms with the type of and amount of food I eat, and even if I were to get the RNY, I'd have to come to terms with eating sugar eventually. From what I hear, the "dumping" gets less and less severe as time goes on. I do have some what of a sweet tooth, but I don't care for sugary liquids at all. I do love cookies--cakes, etc., but I willing to say good-bye to them to regain my health. The main thing I'm looking for in the band is to help control real, physical hunger--not head hunger--but physical hunger--that's all my expectation of the band.

It just frustrates me that she (leader of WLS meeting) tried to talk me out of the band. She even mentioned how she's struggling with her weight gain (after 5 years out/RNY) and that she still vomits a lot--and that her teeth are chipping easily (possibly due to a mineral deficiency).

Ahh--I don't know. I just want SO BADLY to be successful. I don't expect a miracle cure. I just want help with this journey. Am I asking too much of the band for that--help to curb the ravenous physical hunger?

Thanks all for listening...

I am new here and am sorry to hear that you feel discriminated against for choosing to have a bypass gastric surgery. I was banded on 3/30/06 and work full time as a registered nurse. Because of the prejudice towards fat people that I have lived with my entire life, I chose not to tell my family or co-workers about my surgery. Only 2 people know and that's the way it will remain.

Because of my decision not to reveal my surgery to friends and family, I sought out this site for support. My choice to go with lapband surgery was based on my own research and my medical history. That said, I could tell you all horror stories of people who had bypass gastric surgery as well as those who had lapband surgery. I work in intensive care and that's where these poor people end up.

Rather than discuss horror stories, I prefer to dwell on successes. Everyone posting here is healthy and has chosen a surgical intervention to assist in reaching optimal health. Let's be thankful that we're alive and well and just support one another in the common goal of getting rid of the excess weight. Many roads lead to the same destination and what's most important is not the road but finding our way safety to the destination.

Just my thoughts as I approach my one week post-op date.

Last night I attended my final group session required for insurance. This group was the smallest with 15 people. It was the best yet b/c more Q & A was possible. Once again, I was welcomed with open arms and never judged for my decision to get the band. I even thanked everyone for being so supportive & told them of some horror stories of bandsters being treated poorly. I can't say enough about the willingness of people to listen and help with the few questions I had. Now that I've fulfilled insurance requirements, I know this will be my real home for support.

Elisabethsew ~ Hi there and welcome! Congratulations on your band. :clap2: I am preband and waiting on insurance. It will be nice to have your experience and insight. You made a good in point in saying it's not the road, but the destination.

GeezerSue ~ I agree...very well said!! I wished they did offer mixed meetings here, but so far after attending 3 support groups at various locations through St Vincent's, I have been the only person choosing the band. I wonder if there are not many out there or if they just don't attend meetings. O.K., this will probably sound stupid, but do they really have carbon filters? You made it sound so true. Interesting. :guess

What I want to know is where do they find the "leaders" for these groups? Do they just pick someone that's had the gastric bypass or rny for the longest period of time and think they know everything? Of course everyone is bias you ask the lap banders which is the better wls of course there going to say the lap band, same for the gastric bypass, ds, rny and whatever other method there is out there. But if you also talk to the gastric bypass patients you'll see that alot of them actually come across lazy in the fact that the reason they don't consider the lap band is mainly because they don't want to see a doctor regularly and maintain the fills. Also the fact that you loose 100lbs in 3 months is definitely appealing but I'd rather loose 100lbs slowly over a year or so and know that I did it the right way rather than basically starve myself and have half of my stomach cut away

I truly believe a lot of patients also feel more 'superior' because their doctor sold it to them that way. My follow-up doc who does my fills has been uber helpful, but he is VERY pro-bypass or sleeve. He sees faster weight loss and has more experience with it. PLUS, his patients get closer to goal, according to him. BUT, they are not me... and it all depends on your personal goal. I mean, I was 235, and now I am in the 170's. I wear a size 12. I look and feel NORMAL. I don't have head hunger issues anymore. I am going to get every last pound of me that I can, BUT I know that it may not be likely that I get to 130 or 140, like I'd like. Am I disappointed? GOD NO? Do I have second thoughts? Not even for a split second. I can walk down the beach in a bathing suit and not be totally mortified. I can show my kids healthy eating habits, and more than anything, my obsession and fixation with food is GONE.

What I want to know is where do they find the "leaders" for these groups? Do they just pick someone that's had the gastric bypass or rny for the longest period of time and think they know everything? Of course everyone is bias you ask the lap banders which is the better wls of course there going to say the lap band, same for the gastric bypass, ds, rny and whatever other method there is out there. But if you also talk to the gastric bypass patients you'll see that alot of them actually come across lazy in the fact that the reason they don't consider the lap band is mainly because they don't want to see a doctor regularly and maintain the fills. Also the fact that you loose 100lbs in 3 months is definitely appealing but I'd rather loose 100lbs slowly over a year or so and know that I did it the right way rather than basically starve myself and have half of my stomach cut away

My support group is run by a behavioral therapist who fully supports WLS 100%. She does not side with one or the other she believes it's what is best for each individual. Ironically enough my group has a very high percentage of lap band group members. A member tried to talk me into RNY and I told her personally it's not for me and not to take it personally. I told her thanks but I would not judge her so do not do the same to me. She does not talk to me anymore but that's okay I am not there to make friends. If I do I will count that as a blessing. I am in no rush I plan on living a very long healthy life.