Hi everyone,

My name is Linda. I have a consultation set up this Monday for LAPBAND.

Alot of what I struggle with now, pre-op is what most of you still struggle with Post-op. That is making really second guess my decision to have this surgery.

I mean, if I am going to have all these struggles that I have now, why have the banding right? I am just thinking out loud here. Like the PB's, the fact that you can't eat certain things without pain, no drinking with meals, some foods disagree, I mean I feel like I would be going from one hellish experience to another

I am just so confused. I didn't expect that this would be a magic bullet, but gosh, it really sounds as hard if not harder to do then being 376 lbs and dieting and binging now.

What are your thoughts on my thinking. I really appreciate your honest feedback. I am thinking, if I can't weigh and measure my food now, what will be different after the banding, as so many of you still struggle so much with the same food issues.

Hugs,

Linda

Looks like you posted on a busy day and no one saw your post.

I have not yet been banded, but hopefully soon.

I am looking forward to getting a band, why?

Well, because I think this surgery is safer than the bypass, and each surgery has its post-op disadvantages and benefits.

I chose lapband because:

I can adjust the tightness and restriction that I will feel

I dont have to worry about "dumping syndrom" with RNY

I dont have to worry about becoming malnurished that comes with the other surgeries.

I am a volume eater and with the band, you just cant do that.

RNY patients have a high chance of never learning real honest to God portion control, so after a while, when the body does learn to re absorb food stuffs, if you stretched your RNY pouch, you will gain back.

DS surgery just scares the heck out of me with re-routing.

Bread and Pasta do seem to be a big problem with some people. for others, it seems to be a "how much are they restricted" thing.

I dont think its so much you have to weigh and measure all of your food, well maybe at first. However, your body will tell you when to stop even if the 1 cup of food is left.

But the biggest reason is this thread:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=4642

all in all, its your body and your choice. Get with your Dr and see what he tells you and see if he can help you choose the right surgery that is for you.

Cause yo-yo dieting is NOT good for you. Ever.

First of all, Welcome!!!

I was banded on march 16th this year. I had a low BMI to start with so my weight loss is a bit slow and yes it is sometimes hard to deal with. I choose the band because of it being adjustable and just much safer. I have had no problems at all! I can eat whatever I want, but I choose to eat what is a better choice out of the things I can eat. I do cave into cravings once in a while and that might explain my slower loss. I am on target with the 1-2 lbs a week and my doctor is happy with my weight loss. As the last person said, with the band you may be able to eat stuff that isn't great for you but you won't be able to eat as much once you find some degree of restriction. I have not hit my "sweet spot" yet but I have had 2 fills and I think I am close. Even though I don't have superb restriction I still have to control how much I eat, and I listen to my body, if I am full I simply put the food down and either save it for another meal or throw what I have left away.

No choice is ever easy but you can't yo-yo diet and expect to lose and keep it off. I did that for so long and at one point I went from 190-145 on my own, but then I started eating carbs again and I packed the weight on again. With the band, I have read that others have stopped losing or hit a plateau but they did not gain and that is importaint.

Talk with your doctor and make the choice that is best for you. Good luck with your journey!

Linda,

Welcome to LBT, stick around and you will find some great support here to help you make your decision. I can't speak for others but I can tell you my experience.

I was a little over a month ago, and so far things have been fine. I don't have restriction right now, and I haven't been eating the best I could...but guess what? I haven't gained any weight! In fact I have lost a little. Not as much as I would like, but still...any direction but up is good for me. Even if it's standing still.

Like Mia, I am on the lower end of the bmi scale so my weight loss might also be slower. I decided to get the band because I have been overweight my whole life and I have been dieting my whole life, going up and down up and down. I wanted a permanent solution to it all. Sure you still have to diet, but dieting is a whole lot easier when your not starving all the time. Even with out restriction I can still eat less then my usual meal and feel satisfied. I've only been banded a little over a month, and it takes time to relearn how to eat properly and it's not easy. But this is the first time I have every felt I might have some real long term success.

This is a difficult decision for any one to make, and I wish you luck.

Hi Linda,

I started out just the same weight as you. I had read and read about the band being a tool and you having to work it. The job is as hard or as easy as you want to make it.

How good were you at losing weight before? if like me you were terrible, then even seeing the scale moving downwards makes things better.

I had my band 20th March. I've had 2 fills and no problems.

I decided to go with it and stick to band rules and really, really try! It's paid off. The scale goes down...55lbs down so far and I am exercising and eating right and am proud of myself. I haven't been able to say that for the longest time.

So, if you're willing to give a bit of effort, chances are the band will do it's bit and help out in ways that your body alone can't do.

As for the pb'ing and denied foods etc..that depends on you. I haven't pb'd once and food only gets stuck if I'm not careful with what I'm doing. I can eat most things but choose not to eat some ...like my beloved bread because the pay off is so much greater than a few seconds of taste!

I would do it again in a heartbeat but then the decision has to be yours in the end. Good luck!

I got the band for all of the reasons mentioned above, but had it removed after three years. It was damaging my esophagus and it caused its own "eating disorder."

Since I'm used to catching flack about giving bad news, I'll mention this as well. My insurance, Blue Cross of California, no longer covers the LapBand for people with BMI's of over 50. (Or maybe it's 50 and above, one or the other.)

Their justification is that research shows that, with higher BMI patients, the AVERAGE weight loss with the band leaves the patient in an improved condition, but STILL Morbidly Obese. (Not with everyone, but with enough that they can deny the coverage based on the research involved.) That wouldn't seem to make sense given that, a few years out, band and RnY results are pretty similar. All I can figure is that--for the patients who are MO two years out--the banded people never got out of morbid obesity and the RnY people lost enough to no longer be MO and then regained. So, they "blame" the band for not causing a big enough weight loss, while they "blame" the RnY patient for the regain.

Honesty with yourself is key. If you already know that you are a sweets junkie, who will for sure find a way to "eat around the band," then it probably is not a good choice for you. If, instead, you are someone who just overeats at three HUGE meals a day but doesn't snack and doesn't forage all evening (like I do) and is not particularly addicted to stuff that will melt and slide right through the band, then it might be just what you need.

Good luck figuring it all out. And just because your appointment is Monday does not mean you have to decide by Monday.