Lifestyle Changes

[Joei005 0]

Hi. I haven't had the surgery but I've had consultations with a bariatric surgeon about the Lap Band surgery.

I am concerned about the Lifestyle changes that are required post-op. They seem pretty restrictive to me.

I was wondering how difficult it was for people to adjust to the lifestyle changes.

Also, I am very concerned about "stuck" episodes. Has anyone had them? What could you tell me about them?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[KateP 359]

If you want to lose weight, there is no option other than to change your lifestyle. You can do it by pure will-power or you can get surgery to help you. But there is no other way to lose weight and, even harder, to keep it off.

So if changing your lifestyle worries you, stay the size you are!

But in fact, they aren't that hard! Personally I eat all food groups, just not much of them. While losing, I made healthy choices about 80% of the time. Probably most people make a few mistakes while learning to eat with the band and bring a few mouthfuls of food back up, but it only happens to me maybe once a month, if that. It was a bit more often at first but still quite rare, And it is always because I ate too fast. It's not like being ill and vomiting. The food comes back from above the band so there is no nasty stomach acid or part- digested food. I have never had a long or painful episode.

[Joei005 0]

Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.

When I went for my consultations, they said I couldn't eat steak or white-meat chicken, among other foods, after lap band surgery.

I'm on medication and they said I wouldn't be able to swallow any pill greater than the size of a tic-tac. Some of my medication is time-released and cannot be cut into smaller sizes.

They also stresses how well I needed to chew my food in order to prevent a regurgitation event. It sounds like one needs to be very careful.

I'm not concerned with changing my lifestyle so I make better dietary choices, become more active, etc.

The above items are what really concern me. I've asked this same question on the gastric sleeve forum and the responses thus far indicate that none of the concerns I raised in this message affect their post-op lifestyle.

[lexiemia 78]

I have had my band since 2004. I don't regret having it by no means but if someone asked me if they should do it I would say go with the sleeve. Sleeve was not offered when I got my band. My band has slipped and I will be having it removed and converted to a sleeve May 28. As far as things stuck. Yes I have had it happen a couple of times. Once was a piece of steak. I mixed meat tenderized in Water and dran some. It took about half a day but it finally went through. The otero option I had was to have the saline removed then it would have slid through. The other thing that got stuck was a grape. Can't eat broccoli unless it is cooked to much. It gets stuck as well. No Apple peelings. It's kind of a trial and error deal and is different with everyone. My friend has a band and I can eat things that she can't. Also their are two type band. Lap band and realize band. The lap band only holds 4 cc of Fluid and applies more pressure. My brother in law has the realize band and he seems to do much better than me. I wish you much success with which ever you choose.

[CherieRyde 227]

"I am concerned about the Lifestyle changes that are required post-op. They seem pretty restrictive to me."

Honestly, if you really want this to work, you'll want to follow your surgeon's guidelines. To be honest, you will learn that the "restrictions" are rather lenient. You will only be able to handle but so much in the beginning. After that, it's on you to keep the weight-loss going. It's hard work, and the band isn't a magic wand that will make all of the pounds drip off. It FEELS like it is at first. But then you realize that you really do have to take the bull by the horns.

You will also learn a LOT about yourself, your addictions, and your limitations. You have to be up for this or you will have a lot of difficulty. For example, I didn't know pre-op that I'm an emotional eater, a carb addict, and a sugar addict. I knew that I'm a caffeine addict, and I thought that I could handle all of this with NO issue. Then I started the pre-op diet and started coming off of everything. The headaches, the cravings, and everything else that goes along with detoxing and withdrawal took me by surprise. Once I had my surgery, I thought that I was in the clear. But oh, no. Nope. I have to make the CHOICE every day to walk away from the things that call to me because they are the very things that caused my weight issues. Sure, I have cheat days. But sometimes those cheat days become cheat weeks, and I have to detox again. It's worth it though.

Does that help?

[KateP 359]

Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.

When I went for my consultations, they said I couldn't eat steak or white-meat chicken, among other foods, after lap band surgery.

I'm on medication and they said I wouldn't be able to swallow any pill greater than the size of a tic-tac. Some of my medication is time-released and cannot be cut into smaller sizes.

They also stresses how well I needed to chew my food in order to prevent a regurgitation event. It sounds like one needs to be very careful.

I'm not concerned with changing my lifestyle so I make better dietary choices, become more active, etc.

The above items are what really concern me. I've asked this same question on the gastric sleeve forum and the responses thus far indicate that none of the concerns I raised in this message affect their post-op lifestyle.

You are right to be concerned. Most banded people can eat white chicken meat! But tablets are a different issue. It is quite common not to be able to swallow large tablets. I can certainly swallow ones larger than a tic-tac but not ones like Vitamin tab size. I always get either small ones, a liquid form or I cut or crush them - not possible with slow release meds. You might be ok. But you don't know until it happens!

[KateP 359]

I have had my band since 2004. I don't regret having it by no means but if someone asked me if they should do it I would say go with the sleeve. Sleeve was not offered when I got my band. My band has slipped and I will be having it removed and converted to a sleeve May 28. As far as things stuck. Yes I have had it happen a couple of times. Once was a piece of steak. I mixed meat tenderized in Water and dran some. It took about half a day but it finally went through. The otero option I had was to have the saline removed then it would have slid through. The other thing that got stuck was a grape. Can't eat broccoli unless it is cooked to much. It gets stuck as well. No Apple peelings. It's kind of a trial and error deal and is different with everyone. My friend has a band and I can eat things that she can't. Also their are two type band. Lap band and realize band. The lap band only holds 4 cc of Fluid and applies more pressure. My brother in law has the realize band and he seems to do much better than me. I wish you much success with which ever you choose.[/quot

Just to say. The 4cc Lapband is obsolete. It was used in some countries (Mexico, I think) until about 2007. But laobands are now either 10 or 14cc. Some other makes come in 9cc. I have the old 4cc Lapband - put in in 2005 so I may have the exact cc level incorrectly! But they are all over 9cc.