To band, or not to band....

Lori21769 · March 6, 2007

I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks and decided to register today. There is a lot of good information here, but some of it scares the daylights out of me! :omg:

It was recently recommended by my Endocrinologist that I consider this surgery as my diabetes has progressed rather rapidly. Those of you who are diabetic and on insulin know the weight-gain that accompanies insulin. I am at my heaviest ever, and I know that losing weight is the only way to reverse the path I am on.

The more I read about side-effects, the more leery I become about trying this technique. I have a delicate GI system to begin with, and don't want to spend the rest of my life vomiting or in pain.:sick

What is PBing? I cannot seem to figure that one out.:cry

Anyway... does anyone regret getting banded? Do most people have problems? Can you live a normal life after?

KimFrmSealy · March 6, 2007

PBing is throwing up/vomiting!

I don't regret getting banded at all. I have been banded since January 26, 2007 and have lost about 25 lbs. so far. I have not had any problems and would get the surgery again in a heartbeat. My sister also had the surgery and lost all of her excess weight within the first 9 months! I have about 55 Lbs to go and can't wait! There is deffinately life after this surgery - a much better one. You can still eat the foods you love just in much smaller amounts which allows you to lose the weight. Everyone is different and not everyone can tollerate certain foods after the surgery but that is a choice you will have to make. I highly recommend it especially if you are having medical problems that seem to be getting worse! Good luck - hope this info. helps.

lisah25 · March 6, 2007

I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks and decided to register today. There is a lot of good information here, but some of it scares the daylights out of me! :omg:
The more I read about side-effects, the more leery I become about trying this technique. I have a delicate GI system to begin with, and don't want to spend the rest of my life vomiting or in pain.:sick

Anyway... does anyone regret getting banded? Do most people have problems? Can you live a normal life after?

Yes, you can. Normal changes a little, but in a good way. I would get banded again in a heartbeat!

Keep in mind that this is a support board. People post when they are making the decision, and as they are newly banded, or if they are having problems. Not many people start threads saying "well, things are still going just great".

I've had very little pain once I healed from the surgery. Had a few days a few weeks ago where my port area was sore, but I had been playing with my 5 YO niece I think I overdid it. I vomit/PB rarely, and usually it's because I've eaten too fast, or something I knew wasn't a good choice. And when I do, it's not bad, not like we think of vomiting pre-banding.

Now, there can be rare serious side-effects, and you need to be aware of that. Most of us decided to take a calculated risk and have surgery, since the risks of staying mobidly obese were a lot higher.

faithmd · March 6, 2007

Lori, here is a link to a thread that explains the various abbreviations, it's a great thread! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/abbreviations-and-they-t7959.html

I'm going to suggest you use the search feature and type in the word regrets, there are quite a few threads here asking about that very issue. I figure that in addition to the response you get to this thread, it might be good to see what others have said as well.

It is a big decision, I haven't yet been banded, but I know this is the right choice for me. I'm not living a "normal" life now (but what is normal, anyway?). food is ruling my life and my weight is preventing me from doing things I want to do. Of course my life will change, and I will never have the same relationship with food that I do now. But that's a very good thing.

Elisabethsew · March 6, 2007

First of all, welcome! You asked:

Does anyone regret getting banded? The answer to that is YES. However, if you read through the posts and use the search option, you'll find it's a VERY small percentage of people. Remember, the band IS able to be removed and requires no surgical cutting of the normal digestive tract.

What is PBing? I really don't care for this term but it means "productive burb." When people don't chew enough, overeat, eat too fast, or eat a food that is not tolerated by them, the body tries to "get rid" of that food. PB is the heavy mucous (some call it slime) that coats the esophagus and results in an emptying of the pouch that is caused by the band. This emptying is proceeded by "bringing up slime."

Do most people have problems? Some do, most don't. The band requires learning and living by rules. When you first get the band, it's usually deflated to allow for healing. At 4-8 weeks post-op, you start getting Fluid (usually saline) injected into the port that had tubing that connects to the band. The saline causes the internal diameter of the band to decrease so food passes through more slowly. If you try to eat too fast, over eat, etc., you can vomit. You soon LEARN to eat smaller portions, chew well, not drink with meals, etc. SOME people allow themselves to be overfilled thinking this will result in a faster weight loss. It doesn't. What it can do is damage the esophagus. Other, less common problems, can be found on the Inamed website as well as here on this board.

Can you live a normal life after? YES!!! Most of us here are doing just that. The majority of people I know (and all my family members) don't even know I had the band. You eat normal portions of food, exercise, lose weight, and enjoy life. The band is only a surgical intervention to help you control your caloric intake.

I have a brother who was banded who was an insulin dependent diabetic. In less than a year (men lose faster) he lost well over 100 pounds, reached his goal weight and was off insulin in 6 weeks post-op. I myself have what you called a "Delicate GI system" and have to take coumadin (blood thinner) everyday. I also take a NSAID (naprosen) twice a day for severe arthritis. Because of this, I take an acid blocker once a day. NSAIDS are discouraged because there is a danger that the pills might break down in the pouch rather than the stomach. My surgeon has me take the pills with 8 full ounces of Water and not lie down for 30 minutes afterwards... no problems!

There is a wealth of info. here so read and ask whatever questions come up. Make sure you ask a lot of questions of the surgeon as well.

marys · March 6, 2007

I just wanted to add that two of my band sisters (4 of us banded on the same day) are diabetic - one has lost all her excess weight - went from 240lbs to about 126 and is off her medicine and the other one has lost aout 45lbs and stopped one and decreased another. I don't know too much about what they were taking but both are very happy as are their doctors.

Not everyone pb's - some never, some occassionally, some excessively. Mostly it can be controlled by your behavior and having the right fill. I wouldn't let that stop you but it is something to think about. good luck!

Lori21769 · March 7, 2007

I really appreciate the responses. I am feeling a little more hopeful. I will continue to read here, and attend the seminar that was recommended by my doctor. I am hoping my insurance (UHC) will not make me wait once I make the decision. I need a BIG shot of courage!

faithmd · March 7, 2007

I really appreciate the responses. I am feeling a little more hopeful. I will continue to read here, and attend the seminar that was recommended by my doctor. I am hoping my insurance (UHC) will not make me wait once I make the decision. I need a BIG shot of courage!

Call your insurance company TODAY and get their requirements (get them in writing) and get started on them right now. If you decide in two or three months that you want this done, then you have potentially lost two or three months you could have been working on their MD supervised weight loss (most companies require 6 or 12 months of MD supervised weight loss with frequent, sometimes monthly, weigh-ins). So even if you decide this isn't for you, all you have lost is the office visit co-pay for a couple of visits and maybe a few pounds, too.

Good luck!

Lori21769 · March 7, 2007

Do I really have to do the supervised weight loss if I have diabetes, hypertension, and mild sleep apnea?

Crishell · March 7, 2007

Depends on your insurance company requirements. Not everyone has to with these conditions.

faithmd · March 8, 2007

Lori, CALL your insurance company! I have a BMI well over 40 (usually over 40 they don't care if you have any comorbidities or not, they'll band you at that number), under 40 you need two comorbidities. But in my case, as in most I would assume, the comorbidities have NOTHING to do with an MD supervised weight loss. But again, every insurance company is different in what they require. No one here can tell you what your specific policy requires. You HAVE to call your insurance company and ask them. Heck others here could have the same insurance company, but you could have a different policy than them, or you could have different "riders" attached to your policy. Call them ASAP! Really, call them now. It doesn't hurt, it takes just a few minutes, and then you don't have to wonder anymore.

Lori21769 · March 8, 2007

I called... and they don't cover the procedure at all. I'm totally bummed.

faithmd · March 8, 2007

That's too bad, Lori. Do they not cover ANY bariatric surgery, or just the band? You may want to check out www.obesitylaw.com

Without insurance you can still get the band, there are plenty of docs out there (most of them, actually) who also have self-pay/financing options. Some are expensive (like $17-20K) and others are much more reasonable (in the US anywhere from $8-12K, and in Mexico for a lot less than that).

I know lots of folks go to Denver www.lapbandrockies.com to Dr. Kirshenbaum.

Check out the forum: Doctors and Hospitals

You'll find many threads there about lots of different doctors, and quite a few about the experiences folks had leaving the US for the procedure. If my insurance denies me, I'll be picking up some overtime and heading to one of these docs myself.

Good luck, Lori!