I have finally decided to have my lapband done . But I'm often annoyed but the amount of people that failed to loose weight or had loads of complications coming forward and kinda saying to no1 to do it because it doesn't work or you going to have too many complications and it is not worth it. Or as well the studies done which mostly ain't very feasible saying that mostly there is no success with banded patients. Do you think the same? Is it not annoying?

All of my pre op info is completely different t then the info in this link, I was told you eat, it goes to the pouch and gives you a full feeling and should then take 4-6 hrs to then feel hungry again, And the hospital/ surgeon are supposedly top in the nation out here near Chicago .....l, so now I'm totally lost based on info you guys have here in the forums...... Makes no sense, I can choke and puke on a bite size piece of chicken but I can eat a bag of Doritos without blinking. And no choking

My Dr. Is Dr. Simpson from the link provided. I don't know of this will help you at all, but he specifically tells patients NOT to eat dry foods. They do cause choking. For example, he told me I should never eat at Paradise Bakery because the chicken is dried out and soaked in sauce. Now, I was only banded in May, but I'm down 62 pounds, and I've never vomited. Not once.

I wish you the best, and I hope you find peace.

Dried food is a KILLER.....Chicken is one of my main stays...but I will not order it in a restaurant because it is usually dry and tough....(old?)

For that matter, after a while you have to learn which are the better restaurants to go to.....

My Wife loves "Outback"...but there is absoululey nothing I can eat.....90% Red meat, and the Chicken is rock hard.....lately they have been coming out with more seafood choices other than shrimp......

Cannot eat deep fried (breaded) foods anymore.....

Raw Veggies....bust be very careful......same with most fruits....

This may sound strange....but I have learned that I needed to "Listen to my Band"

It gives me feedback with every swallow...even water...and I need to understand what it it trying to tell me....especially what NOT to eat, and when to STOP....

Some people say the band is only a "Tool"...That's Ok, I understand where they are at...but for me...the band is "Totally in Charge".....

My doc told me he didn't like doing lapbands, mostly because the population of patients he had couldn't be successful with it, or at least as successful as they would be with other surgeries. And he openly admitted it has to do with motivation and the willingness to work hard and make major life changes. Most of the work is on you with the band, unlike bypass, for example- that magically drops weight (initially) just simply by altering the body's ability to absorb calories.

In my case, I had already changed my diet and become very active with exercise before the surgery. After the first year post-op, I was hiking regularly and I had climbed a volcano, the second year I had started running and finished a 1/2 marathon.

And I've lost about 90 lbs- with about 40-50 lbs to goal. So I am not dropping pounds lightening fast. And my band is about half way filled, but I hardly notice it. I am trying to do as much as I can before it has to be "tight". That's my last resort. At this point, what it does for me, is keep me from regaining when I hit a plateau- which had always been my problem in the past.

You have to know yourself and especially know your relationship with food. When I was losing my pre op weight, I kept a food diary- but I also journaled a lot about why I was eating, how I felt about food and I explored my emotional relationship with food- and found that I didn't think I had much of an addiction to food emotionally. I didn't eat to deal with things, I just ate because food is yummy. So it's a little easier to control than if i was really turning to food for emotional support- and in that case, any WLS will be challenged to work. I did know I needed to be aware of when I did eat emotionally or binge in rare cases, because those where the things that would sabotage me.

So basically, I think if people go into any WLS knowing why they were big in the first place- the WLS will give them the tools to take control of the issue, but it won't solve it. For me it was portion control, and luckily the band helped with that, but I also had to ramp up my physical activity and be more aware of foods that were just not worth eating.

My doc told me he didn't like doing lapbands, mostly because the population of patients he had couldn't be successful with it, or at least as successful as they would be with other surgeries. And he openly admitted it has to do with motivation and the willingness to work hard and make major life changes. Most of the work is on you with the band, unlike bypass, for example- that magically drops weight (initially) just simply by altering the body's ability to absorb calories.

So basically, I think if people go into any WLS knowing why they were big in the first place- the WLS will give them the tools to take control of the issue, but it won't solve it. For me it was portion control, and luckily the band helped with that, but I also had to ramp up my physical activity and be more aware of foods that were just not worth eating.

Very well put

Lap band is SO much different than gastric bypass for this reason. It requires much harder work and the results aren't as magical (quick weight loss). This may be why it has a bad rap.

My mom had gastric bypass and we watched as the pounds literally melted off her without her doing ANY exercise. For me, with a lap band, I am going to the gym and at least 4x a week and REALLY working (not just strolling on the treadmill while reading a magazine for 20 mins), and my weight loss isn't nearly as fast as hers.

I guess some people just simply don't wanna do the work, which is cool, but certainly not for me

This is probably the best reply I've ever heard' date=' thanks for your response, I don't really want and unfill but from the replays of other people it seemed to be the popular vote, I'm going to start out measuring my food for a while until I get a handle on things, from what my dr said with the last visit is that my band is on the tighter side of the scale[/quote']

Im glad someone was able to explain it to you in a way that was best for you. B52 has a great way with words and is very motivational. Im so glad you are going to keep trying. I was worried from your responses that you were to the quiting stage. Goodluck to you!!