Newbie

chaos · January 11, 2008

Hello All!

I am new to this site and I am looking into getting lapband surgery. I thought I would join a forum to find out more information from different people and take in their thoughts on this type of surgery.

So what are your thoughts? Are you glad you had the surgery? Are you sorry? What should a newbie know before getting into this?

Any feedback would be great! :rolleyes:

Thanks,

Chaos

JaxBandster · January 11, 2008

Chaos,

My recommendation is to read, read, read and read some more. Only you can determine if this procedure and the lifestyle that follows is right for you. I can't give you any feedback about the surgery or anything since I haven't had it yet (my surgery date is 4 weeks from yesterday) but I can tell you that before I decided I armed myself with as much information as possible. I still have varying emotions about the upcoming changes in my life but those are to be expected with a change this significant. All I know is that I feel this is my best chance for success.

Good luck!

chaos · January 11, 2008

Thanks for your feedback. A few years ago my b.f. has gastric byspass and she is still doing great, but I do not think that's the route for me. My current co-worker just had bariatric surgery in September and is also doing well with it. She has given me her pamphlets to read up on and it's been helpful. Good luck on your new venture and keep us all posted on how your doing!!

Chaos

nip50 · January 11, 2008

Chaos - you asked what our thoughts are and how we feel about the lapband. I LOVE my lapband. I only wish that I could have had it years earlier. I have struggled for close to 40 years with my weight and never was successful. I've only been banded for 3 months now, but I can say that I weigh less now than I did 20 years ago. I never believed that it could be so wonderful. In the past I've tried and tried and have never been successful. That is really hard emotionally, but now, I feel like its too good to be true. I can honestly say that I don't have to work as hard to loose the weight as I did in the past. I still have to watch what I eat, but I did that in the past and that still didn't work.

I'm sure that if you decide to have the band and you follow the protocol, you too can be successful. The surgery is not difficult at all and you can be back to work in a week or even less (5 days for me). You will have pitfalls, the first few weeks you will have to be on liquids and mushy foods (that's no fun). It also takes awhile to get your fills at the right spot - this makes the lapband work more efficiently. You have to watch what you eat. Protein is the most important and most doctors recommend only good carbs - nothing white like bread, flour, sugar, etc., but if you follow the plan the lapband works wonderfully.

Like others have said, read, read and read some more. Also, attend a seminar and take notes. The seminar will answer a lot of your questions. Good luck with your journey.

reif78 · January 11, 2008

hello and welcome to the site im sure as you read around your questions will be answered. i had my band 1 month ago and i will never regret it. one thing to understand as you will read some say it was the wrong thing for them and dont do it and so forth. This is not a quick fix this surgery should be geared on the fact that you have tried everything else possible and affordable to do it on your own. And that with this alike any other surgery there are risks but i will tell you this there is less risks to this surgery compared to the bypass. this surgery is less invasive and has a faster recovery time. be prepared to have a 2 week preop diet of nothing but liquids and post op 6 week diet which we call bandster hell.

2 weeks liquids 2 weeks pureed 2 weeks soft and then onto solids but remember all doctors are different they may have a different post op diet for you. and remember that during your 6 weeks healing phase post op weight loss is a bonus so dont worry if you lose weight or not. you may have some saline in the band that the doc might put in during surgery but you fills usually dont come until 6 weeks after surgery. At that time youll feel more resticted And you doctor will explain it to you. with the band your weight loss is slower than the bypass this is a good thing because if you lose the weight faster youll probably have more excess skin compared to the bypass you may lose weight faster but youll have alot more excess skin. If you decide to get the surgery remember when eating eat protiens first you will get full faster and stay full longer. then eat the veggies and so forth till you feel your full or just not hungry any more. the lapband basically retrains you to eat and teaches you Portion Control. you will love it im sure of it. remember if you havent before start reading labels when buying groceries. low fat low cal low sugar high protien. good luck i hope this gave you some light. Every ones opinion is different everyon may not see it or agree with the things i say. but its working for me ive lost 32 pounds this month so im doing something right.lol. good luck hope to see you become a bandster

chaos · January 12, 2008

Thanks everyone. I have struggled with my weight all of my life. I'll do ok for awhile but then gain the weight back and as we all know, you gain more back than what you lost. I understand it is not a magic bullet and I am ready for new, positive changes ahead. I know comorbidy plays a role in getting approved insurance wise. I was diagnosed w/ sleep apnea about 3 years ago and I sleep w/ the air machine. BUT, I am hearing that the insurance companies want you two have two comorbid disorders. What are people's experience with this? I have blue cross/blue shield-HMO Blue New England insurance. I'm confident that I'll be approved because of my weight. My BMI is 40, but it's the insurance part I have to check into.

Thanks again!!

Chaos :wink: