the surgeon i saw today said that i would probably only lose 50lbs and it would take me 2 years to do it. this is so discouraging. he said that i need to lose 140lbs and that it wont happen with the lapband. help i need some feedback?

andrea

Wow, I would be discouraged too. I might look for a different doctor. My doc said the band could help me lose up to 70% of the weight I needed to lose, the rest would have to be me.

So far I have lost 100 pounds in 6 months. Granted I need to lose another 100. But 1/2 way to my goal. The thing to remember is the band is a tool, not a cure.

If you browse around on here you will find tons of folks who lost a lot more than the 50.

Good luck.

Andie, take some time, look around here. Look at people's tickers. Mine alone is great than 50 lbs but that's a combo of pre and post-op.

There are loads of threads about people who have lost more than 100 lbs, bandsters with BMI greater than 50, before and after pics, etc.

I think you need to find a new surgeon.

We'll I can speak from experience but mine had to do with the insulin I was taking my new doctor told me that it was making it hard for me to lose weight and he put me on a different kind. I got banded in fed 05 and lost 20lbs pre-op and finally started losing in october 06 on the new insulin. I have seen people who have lost 100lbs and more within the first year of being banded. So every body is different. My doctor told me not to give up and even though I might not lose it as fast as I want he told me that gastric bypass patients lose at a lot within 6months to a year and hit a plateu and lap band patients can lose steadily. It's all about how much work you put into it and don't give up.

andrea,

wow, i am so sorry that your doctor told you that. that must have been really discouraging.

i had my lap band placed on 09 October 2006 (almost 11 months) and i have lost almost 130 pounds (129.25 to be exact).

i lost 6 pounds post op :eek:, my first month, i was down 33 pounds. by early December, i was down 50 pounds.

i am not your "typical" bandster though. i started out at 402.5 pounds and IN GENERAL the more you have to lose, the quicker it initially comes off.

one thing you do need to know though, it's not a 'quick fix'. i work my tail off at the gym 5-7 times a week and i "diet" of sorts (pretty severe low carb).

good luck to you, let us know if you have any questions, that's what we're here for.

sometimes i wonder if i should even have surgery, i do eat bad often. i do good for awhile then i do bad then i do good then bad etc. i wish i could just eat well most of the time. i was 90% convinced that having surgery was for me now after today meeting with the doctor i feel like im going to fail especially if hes not supporting the lap band

also i just talked to my husband and he is sick of me taking about surgery he just wants me to do it on my own. now i dont even have his support

andrea

andrea,

this is a very personal decision ... no one can make this one but you.

however, if you think you want lap band, you may want to consider finding another surgeon to talk to ... just talk initially. stay on this board, you will get lots of info and support here.

i, too, LOVED to eat ... (LOVED TO EAT) in fact, i still do ... but i find that i enjoy my food so much better now... i take my time to taste the food instead of scarfing it down.

i do not tell myself i cannot have something, if i want a piece of chocolate, OK. have it - tomorrow. if my craving is so intense that it lasts through the next day, have ONE piece of chocolate / one whatever.

moderation is the key and i learned that with the band 'cause i didnt have it before.

andrea,

this is a very personal decision ... no one can make this one but you.

however, if you think you want lap band, you may want to consider finding another surgeon to talk to ... just talk initially. stay on this board, you will get lots of info and support here.

i, too, LOVED to eat ... (LOVED TO EAT) in fact, i still do ... but i find that i enjoy my food so much better now... i take my time to taste the food instead of scarfing it down.

i do not tell myself i cannot have something, if i want a piece of chocolate, OK. have it - tomorrow. if my craving is so intense that it lasts through the next day, have ONE piece of chocolate / one whatever.

moderation is the key and i learned that with the band 'cause i didnt have it before.

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Hear Hear Losing! You are sooooooo on the money with what you wrote. I LOVE food, I still love food, and because I love it, I'm delaying my first fill, which is silly. But I'm still losing weight (albeit VERY slowly now), and would lose more if I learned to tur off the head hunger. I log every bite and every sip I take in on an online free food site. I loosened up my food program during the summer, but it's time to buckle back down. I love your idea about putting off the craving until tomorrow. I'm going to try that.

Andie, I wish you luck, perhaps you should give your hubby a cool-off period and then take him to an information session about the band. Go to lapband.com and register there, it's Allergan/Inamed's site (the US band manufacturer) and they have a calendar where you can search for info sessions near you.

There are folks in this support group that started out over 300lb and down to less than 120. Look at Aussie Chick (I don't think I got that completely right). She has awsome before and after pics. So many great inspiring stories.

I've lost 65lb and maybe need to lose 10-20 more. I'm no longer diabetic or hypertensive and my anniversary is next week. So, I feel like a success story that I really didn't count on. I ate bad too, we all did or we wouldn't be here. I still am no model eater, although most of my friends think I am because of my results and they want to be like me, as far as weight loss.

Good luck, it's a big decision. I would look for another doctor.

Jewel

Dr. Ortiz, TJ, Mx

218, 153, g135

i would love to try another doctor but the other doctor who does the lapband i heard is the same as the one i went to today i heard that she isnt much for the lapband either and prefers to do the bypass. i am scared to go to her because i cant handle another negative doctor. if i go to southern maine to see a doctor i may have to do the program over and i would have to travel alot and its hard for me because i have a child.

andrea

i would love to try another doctor but the other doctor who does the lapband i heard is the same as the one i went to today i heard that she isnt much for the lapband either and prefers to do the bypass. i am scared to go to her because i cant handle another negative doctor. if i go to southern maine to see a doctor i may have to do the program over and i would have to travel alot and its hard for me because i have a child.

andrea

Andrea - a couple things that you have to do on your own right now are to complete your research, and make your decision based on what is right for you.

You have indicated you want to lose weight - your surgeon is recommending by-pass vs. lapband. Have you made your decision as to what would be best for you? Have you asked him point-blank why he is so sure that you will only lose 50lbs? That makes no sense - unless you are indicating that you plan to continue your present life-style without modifications.

Unless you choose appropriate food to eat, you will only have a limited amount of success, whatever procedure you choose. Therein lies the rationale for by-pass - whatever you do eat, moves through the shortened digestive system so quickly that you only absorb some of the calories, and nutrients - a more dramatic result initially.

I have a significant amount of weight to lose - this is going to take 2 years - big deal - it took me 50 years to put it on. Initially I will lose quickly - but it will slow and I am going to have work every step of the way. I now have a small pouch that will only hold a small amount of food - like everyone else on these boards I like food. Now the trick is to ensure that whatever I eat, meets the three criteria I have set for myself: top taste and quality, top Protein, lower carb value, and nutrient rich foods. I have to exercise (a real toughie right now, but I'll keep at it).

This decision was right for me, because no one is going to mess around with my insides to the point that there is no reversal. Go back to your surgeon armed with your research and request his rationale for not supporting your lapband request. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF YOUR MEDICAL TEAM - their job is to provide you with the pros/cons and then support you in the decision you make.

Get your husband back on board - you are going to need his support - he may be frustrated right now with your confusion - be firm and settled in your decision and then make it happen. We all have to take control of our lives - the lapband is a tool and it is only a tool - we have to make it work for us and you are the only one who can do that. Good luck - it is not an easy road, but the rewards are phenomenal and your child should be your greatest inspiration for succeeding.

Cindy

I was banded on March 29, 2007. I weighed yesterday at Curves and have now lost 81 pounds total.

It's a tough personal decision to make, I agree. You have to first be convinced that you're worth it... worth the time, worth the chance, worth maybe even having to travel back & forth to a good doctor, etc.

I was banded on May 29 & have lost 46 lbs so far (pre- & post-op). I want to lose 120 lbs definitely, and then maybe 25-30 more, depending on how I look/feel/clothing size when I get down there.

I still love food. The band prevents me from eating too much of any one thing. Most of the time I eat properly, nutritiously... but when I am around a pizza, I can enjoy a piece. A piece. What an amazing sentence! In the old days, it'd have been a pie! LOL! So a lot of head work & re-training old food habits is involved in this journey.

Also, exercise is involved, too. I never really exercised previously; I signed up for 1 aqua class @ the Y this summer & walked a bit, and now am up to 3 classes/week + about 2-3x/week on the eliptical. Slow & steady wins the race. I supposed I don't HAVE to exercise, but it speeds up the weight loss & makes me feel good, so why not do it? I don't want the losing weight phase to take any longer than it has to!

Best wishes as you research your options and decide what is right for you.

I have lost 80ish pounds since I was banded May 06. I need to lose another 35 or so.

I have to drive almost 45 minutes too get to my doctor and phycyatrist and nutritionist.

I plan for the day and all of them are really cool about giviing me the last apointment of the day or even schedualing all my apointments for the same day. I havent been banded yet but I dont mind driving out of the way for my own health.

I figure I am worth it to take the longer drive. and take a day or so out of my life for something that will save my life and greatly improve my quality of life.

I was banded the end of April of '06, and by August I had lost the first 50 pounds. I lost 8 of them pre op. The weight loss slowed down then, and I also began replacing some of the fat with muscle, as I finally felt like I wanted to work out a bit!!! It felt good! I had NEVER thought that before!!!

I wish I was as strong as losingjusme...I don't give my cravings a day!!!! If I want the chocolate, I have a hersheys kiss, and am able now to leave it at that.

Dr.s have to be very conservative in their assessments. If he told you you would lose 100 pounds in a year, and you only lost 30 you would be dissappointed and angry. If he tells you you will likely only lose 30 pounds in a year, and you lose 100---you are happy and thrilled with him and the band both!!!

He has to give you numbers with the possibility that YOU may not do anything to help the band along---healthy diet, and exercise wise.

The last 50+ pounds coming off have taken another year---but I have lost lots of inches, I am toning up, even if not losing massive pounds suddenly.

I was on 2 high blood pressure meds, Lotensin, and HCTZ, a blood sugar med, Metformin, and a high cholesterol med, Lovastatin. Within 6 weeks, I was taking lowered doses of HCTZ ONLY...all others had been discontinued, and now I no longer take any HCTZ. While some medications might have to be continued, the weight loss will make some others unnecessary. My savings in RX co pays alone is over $100.00 a month!

I probably spend about the same on food...I buy better food now though! I no longer buy by quantity...but by quality. A nice filet, as opposed to bigger amounts of a lesser cut. Fresh veggies, as opposed to canned. I buy butter as opposed to margarine now---I use so little of it, now that I don't inhale 4 pieces of toast a morning--I can afford to use butter! A pound of Almonds costs more than a bag of potato chips---but it last me much longer, and is a great snack for me...a healthy snack! I eat chips on occasion, but they leave a greasy feel in my mouth, and I gross out on that!!!

There are lots of differences, your mileage with the band might be different from mine or different from someone done the same day---but if you work with your band, I have full faith that you can lose far more than 50 pounds---especially over 2 years. Of course I can say that, I am not your Dr. You are not going to file a silly law suit on me if it doesn't happen!!!!! Are you???!!!

I LOVE my band!!!

Kat