Last night I attended a support group meeting put on by the Dr. that will perform my LB surgery. He also does many By-pass procedures and spoke about the differences. It seemed to me that he was more partial to the by-pass than LB. There was only one person there that had the LB. The rest were talking about how great the by-pass was. He also stated that for real results the by-pass is more effective. As a person that has trouble losing weight, I am nervous that when I have the LB I will not be happy with the results.

By-Pass is way too scary to me. I don't want to cut my stomache and make changes to my body parts. I have 2 little kids that I have to think about. I don't want to take the risk with that kind of operation. I know there are risks with the LB, but they are much less than with By-pass.

I was just wondering if anyone else here found it hard to lose weight prior to surgery. I know that obviously it was hard to lose weight or you wouldn't have had the procedure, but I mean..... if you really tried and managed to stay on a diet for any length of time.... didn't you lose weight. I can be the best of the best and keep to 1000 calories and workout like you would not believe and still have trouble even dropping a pound. I was hoping that someone else had this problem and are able to lose with the LB.

Thanks

Wendy

Hi Wendyjoy I think a lot of folks can stick to a diet and lose the weight. The big problem comes in with the maintenance of that weight. As far as you sticking to a plan and not losing weight, you should see the local cushings specialist and the queen of Slow Losers Unite. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/slow-losers-unite-t10174.html?t=10174

Good Luck

I had tried every diet know to mankind. I'm talking W.W., Nutri system 3 times, Jenny Craig, Richard Simmons, Phentermine, Phen Phen, Dexatrim, and other. I've spent thousands of dollars on them. I'm 5'7" and weighed 270. Yes I was huge. I was worried about the same thing. I have two neighbors who are sisters. One I graduated with and her sister. They both had the bypass and so did they're mother. The mother just had her's last week. Both are now considered anerxoic and can't keep any weight on and are having the dumping symdrome, malnutrition and other problems. One sister quit work becuase she keeps using the bathroom in her pants. I'm not knocking the bypass if that is what someone wants I just wanted to tell you my experience with the band and you can decide for yourself.

I had the surgery on July 10,06 and was self pay and had it

I will tell you about my experience and maybe it will let you know a little bit about someone personally. I have two sisters and they're mother whom are my neighbors who live about 1 mile from me. They all 3 had the bypass. I graduated with the sisters and they're mom just had her's done. The sisters are both now anerxoic (sp) and can't keep up they're weight. One of the sister's had to quit her job at the newspaper becuase she keep's going to the bathroom in her pants. They have the dumping syndrome and malnutrition. Now here's my story. I am not against the bypass at all, my daughter works with the biatric unit here at the hospital on the floor and I'm just not willing to have all of that done to me. I had tried every diet known to mankind. W.W., Nutrisystem 3 times, Jenny Criag, Richard Simmons, Dexatrim, Phentermin, Phen Phen, and many others. I also was a heavy coke drinker. I had the surgery on July 10, 06. I was self pay and had in done in Mexico. I was 270 pounds and 5'7" at surgery. I lost 50 pounds in a little less than 4 months and have now lost 60 pounds in 5 months. It would have been more but I'm suffering with kidney stones right now and have had 3 steroid shots and predisone. My surgery was 45 min. and one hour in recovery and was up walking as soon as I got to my room. Flew home a day later. On day 3 I was cleaning house, doing laundry, grocery shopping and day 7 rode 4 wheelers all day long. I'm 41 yrs. old and this has saved my life. I could have never ever done this on my own and was getting ashamed to even go to church with my size. I was in size 24 jeans and 3 x shirts. I now wear some 16 jeans and 18's and large and xlarge shirts. I have absolutely no problems whatsoever.

I just wanted to tell you my experiences to give you someone's view other than a bypass patients view.

good luck on your decisions. I also have pics of one hour after surgery pics, scar pics and getting fill pics if you would like to see them just pm me.

This is why I chose the LB. I have been successful in all my many attempts to lose weight but I couldn't keep it off....the lapband will help me manage maintenance, I have not doubts about this whatsoever. I have read and heard of too many instances where by-pass patients have suffered malnutrition....I can still eat enough food to benefit my body nutritionally and naturally while promoting weight loss.

Also, lapband is totally reversible and a relatively non-invasive procedure. I have lost almost 79 lbs since the pre/op diet and I'm feeling f***** fantastic, I feel healthy, normal, and safe.....I'm not so sure I'd be feeling so comfortable with the by-pass.

If I had to do it all over again......I would in a heartbeat.

Carol

This really does help me with my decision. It is either going to be lapband or nothing. I can't consider the bypass at this time. My Dr. just made me nervous when he was so for the bypass. Don't get me wrong, I love the man, but he really was a little negative about the LB. He says you really have to have patients to see results with the band and that it is not for people that have a large amount of weight to lose. I'm just afraid that it will turn into any other plan I have tried. If I don't see results, I will have a hard time sticking to it. I Love food, and I only hope that a little piece of rubber can help me get this love under control.

There are a lot of members here were quite large (hope I don't offend anyone).....they have done just fine.

It is much easier when you reach the level of restriction that works for you. You can still eat but very small amounts...the band with proper restriction prevents overeating. You can sabotage the bands efforts by eating high fat, high calorie foods like ice cream that slip right through....but we all know you are much smarter than that...right!

Carol

Wendy, I have to be honest with you. In my case (and I'm not saying most) it has been a very slow process to lose weight. I am down 32 lbs in 6 months at the normal rate of 1 lb per week. The lapband is not a quick fix. For some of us it takes a lot more work then a bypass would. You may find that you have better results because of your metabolism but for mine I haven't. Just know that the lapband is a tool, not a fix for obesity. You have to eat well, exercise and make sure you are taking in enough protein. If you do that you will lose. But you do have to be patient. Good luck with your decision.

here here juliegeraci...I am with you...its a long journey and takes a lot of sacrifices...but it is so worth it...I wouldn't change it for the world.

becky

i have lost 100 lbs twice in my adult life by diet and exercise alone. both times i have gained the full 100 back. i got the band strictly to maintain the loss this time (once i lose the 100 again)... i am losing very slowly but i as long as the scales are going down instead of up for a change i am very happy. honestly i would be losing much faster but i enjoy happy hour way too much!!

Kym.....when I read your post it sounded like my words exactly.

Carol