Okay... I have been 100%... no....1000% sure about getting banded. I know several people who either have been banded, had gastric bypass or know someone who had either one done. I have not heard any of the horror stories from them that I have read in these threads. So here is my question.......and I know its surgery, and there are aches and pains that go with it.............but:

Is there anyone who really regrets having the banding done? Was it so bad that you wished you hadn't done it? :cry

Or does the good outweigh the bad? (I know healthy is way better than unhealthy-i just mean the banding part) Do you think the awful things are short lived and worth the banding?

Maybe I shoud direct this to the ones who are a year out on their banding.....was it worth it? Would you do it again?:clap2:

Of all the complications I had I would still have gotten the band. I just would NOT have gone to Mexico to get it done. I think the benefits are wonderful and the risks are low.

Just curious as to why not Mexico?

Just curious as to why not Mexico?

If you have it done in Mexico....where are you going to go to have your fills done?

Just curious as to why not Mexico?

I thought a bit about going to Mexico, and chose not to. For me, it was a combination of living in the Northern US, near Seattle. So it was a bit of a trip there and back, but more important I didn't like the idea of being that far from my surgeon. I wanted to be close to the practice for follow-up care and support, and the one I chose for a lot of reasons is about a 15 min drive from my house. I can go to the monthly support groups, my fills for a year are covered with the inital fee, and I can call or stop in with questions. Yes, I probably could have arranged that even if I got the surgery in Mexico, but this just feels better to me.

Looks like you figured it out!:tea:

Well, I got banded in mexico and I dont have a single problem with getting fills and finding an awesome Dr to take care of any band problems. I spent alot less and I go to a regular DR...just like anyone else. Personally...it was the right move for me.

I'm just over a year out and 100lbs down. Would I do it again. HELL YES! It's been a hard road, tough journey of learning about myself, about food, about how I eat, about how deeply the ties are with food.

I'll say this...with RNY, they can eat what they eat and the malabsorption takes place. You have to work a lot harder at the band. You have to learn yourself a lot more. But I think that benefits you in the long run! I've heard of LOTS of complications from RNY. So much that I'm super happy about the band!!

Remember, the problems you see here are the people who have come here to vent and for support. You aren't hearing from all the thousands who are THRILLED with their band. They are too busy running around out there living their new lighter life!!!

:huggie:

Best of luck on your band. You are gonna love it!!!!

I had my surgery yesterday. THe gas pain is awful! How long does it take to go away? No pain from incisions.

Everyone I've talked to says "Walk, Walk, Walk" and "walk some more" to get that pain to subside....

I'm just over a year out and 100lbs down. Would I do it again. HELL YES! It's been a hard road, tough journey of learning about myself, about food, about how I eat, about how deeply the ties are with food.

I'll say this...with RNY, they can eat what they eat and the malabsorption takes place.

What do you mean by that?? Do you mean they can eat whatever they want? My sis had Gastric Bypass....and its way worse than Lapbanding.

You have to work a lot harder at the band. You have to learn yourself a lot more. But I think that benefits you in the long run! I've heard of LOTS of complications from RNY. So much that I'm super happy about the band!!

Remember, the problems you see here are the people who have come here to vent and for support.

I am so glad you mentioned that, because I was thinking yikes everybody has been complaining I rarely heard the good stuff, personally at home I have heard nothing but good, but I wanted a more vast opinion because I thought they were just telling me this to make me feel better...lol

You aren't hearing from all the thousands who are THRILLED with their band. They are too busy running around out there living their new lighter life!!!

:huggie:

Best of luck on your band. You are gonna love it!!!!

Thank you!!! and...I am so glad you say that I will love it! --Getting down to the wire now.....all tests done and fitted for my C-Pac...just waiting to hear from doc on the date of the banding.....ugh getting jitters about it today...lol.

Thank you!!! and...I am so glad you say that I will love it! --Getting down to the wire now.....all tests done and fitted for my C-Pac...just waiting to hear from doc on the date of the banding.....ugh getting jitters about it today...lol.

Yay!!!! I'm excited for you! That pre-op jitter phase is CRAZY! You are going to do great!!!

and

To answer your question:

I'll say this...with RNY, they can eat what they eat and the malabsorption takes place.

What do you mean by that?? Do you mean they can eat whatever they want? My sis had Gastric Bypass....and its way worse than Lapbanding.[/Quote]

I didn't say they can eat whaever they want. I said they can eat what they eat (whatever diet plan) and lose due to malabsorption. I have see RNY patients eat like HELL (cheetos, chips, hamburgers, etc) and still lose fast because of the malabsortive issue. Then when it's a year out and the pouch relaxes and the stomach creates more cilia to absorb...it gets a LOT harder and the patient hasn't necessarily learned how to re-configure how they eat. A bandster has to work a lot harder at it.

I was banded on July 17, and it was the easiest surgery I've ever had....I would do it again in a heartbeat. I loved my surgeon and his whole team. I received first class care at Vanderbilt and would recommend Dr. Melvin and his wonderful crew to anyone interested in being banded. I've had absolutely no gas pains, little port pain that is now gone (I have the low-profile port). I'm so glad I researched and found this wonderful dr. that I traveled over 1000 mi. to have do my surgery. He is awesome....oh did I say that before. I get my first fill on Aug 30, but even now I'm full on 3/4 cup to a cup of food. I've lost 6 lbs. since being banded and I would recommend it to anyone who asked.

Hi Thanks for all your responses! I am back on the "yes this is good" attitude. My sis had gastric 4 yrs ago...not for me thanks. Too permanent. My surgeon, who also did my sister's surgery, said that you can only really lose weight the first year. Of course its not for nothing because the new small stomach helps you eat less. He told me banding---you lose weight as far as 4 years out. Tomorrow I find out that either I have sleep apnea and i have to be fitted for a cpac (takes a month--damn) and then have to wear it for 2 weeks before i can have surgery......or, I don't have it, and can schedule my surgery right away. Which is what I am hoping for because I have three weeks between my current semester and the fall semester and if I have to wait till fall I can't have it done because I will be taking 6 classes and I just can't miss any of them -I'll get too far behind...ugh.

Wish me luck...and thanks again for everyone's response.

Bettina,

I have sleep apnea and have a machine but don't use it much, i am scheduled for surgery Aug 7th, did the dr. say why you had to use

the CPAP for 2 weeks before sugery?

You can get fills from Dr. Stephanie Eysink (sp) in College Station, Texas for $200.00 and she has the lapband herself.

I'm 2 days shy of 6 weeks out. I would do it again in a snap. The surgery itself is not as difficult as Bypass - with an open wound. The recovery time is quick.

What I would do different - is read every thread on the forum boards, so I knew better what to expect, and how to deal with it. I don't get that info from the Dr - only from here, others going thru it every day.

I'd also know that the first month doesn't mean the band is working - and not to expect too much loss. It's after restriction the problems start, and you have to crawl your way thru the real hard things.

But, I'd do it again - I did it. If something happens, I'll do it again.

I'll take my 2 pounds a week, and the pb's and the sliming, and the way it feels to fear food.

It's slowly giving me some control over the food <fear replaces it> but any control is better than binging, overeating, food dreaming, compulsive eating. I also like the fact that I finally did something....

Yay!!!! I'm excited for you! That pre-op jitter phase is CRAZY! You are going to do great!!!

and

To answer your question:

I didn't say they can eat whaever they want. I said they can eat what they eat (whatever diet plan) and lose due to malabsorption. I have see RNY patients eat like HELL (cheetos, chips, hamburgers, etc) and still lose fast because of the malabsortive issue. Then when it's a year out and the pouch relaxes and the stomach creates more cilia to absorb...it gets a LOT harder and the patient hasn't necessarily learned how to re-configure how they eat. A bandster has to work a lot harder at it.

Hi Karen,

I didn't say you said they can eat whatever they want...I was asking if that was what you meant. I wasn't sure by your wording..lol....thanks for clearing it up for me. I agree with you....they will never lose if they eat what they want. ....sorry you misunderstood what I was asking

Bettina,

I have sleep apnea and have a machine but don't use it much, i am scheduled for surgery Aug 7th, did the dr. say why you had to use

the CPAP for 2 weeks before sugery?

Hi Anniemay!

Oh boy the doc had a lot to say about wearing the cpap for 2 weeks prior to surgery! Because you stop breathing with sleep apnea...it puts a stress on your heart.....and I would not have believed this myself except for the fact that I had a heart ultrasound last year and everything was fine...and now its not (per the new pre-op ultrasound). My general practicioner says she things the change may just be due to the fact that my blood pressure was up a few times this year. But, it was up because of the apnea, so that is another point toward why you should wear it. The doctors told me (pulmonary and lap band doc's) that 2 weeks will allow my breathing to regulate itself and gives the heart a rest --you know, just so risk of not breathing while still under in recovery is lessened.

But how can you sleep if you are not wearing the mask??? I can't wait to get mine to finally get a goods night sleep...I hadn't slept in a few days...so I called the apnea clinic yesterday at 5:20am...to see if I could take Tylenol PM to get to sleep..yay they said yes and I did take it. For the last few months...I couldn't figure out why I was sooo tired all the time...it was awful. I would practically OD on the coffee and soda just to stay awake...but that only lead to chest pains...ugh. I am actually really glad I found out what the problem is and it can be treated. My brother-in-law has it too, so now I have family support. I wish my husband understood, he thinks it just my weight making me tired..ugh!!!

August 7th huh? That was the date I wanted...it's my birthday. But since I don't have the mask yet, i have to wait...oh well!

Take care, and I'll be thinking about how your doing on that day!!!!