Hello everyone. I was hoping this is a forum where i can feel at home. I am 24 and 438lbs right now. I have done all my insurance requirements for the WLS surgery and was actually supposed to have gastric bypass done in Nov of 2007. I did some pre-op testing and found out i was near kidney failure so the nephrologist that works with my bariatric surgeon opted for me to not do it and wait. Its been 3 months an i just had a visit with the nephrologist again. She said my kidneys have shown improvement and she gave the "go-ahead" for the surgery. I was so happy. I call the surgeon's RN and tell him the good news and he calls me back saying the surgeon would most likely reccomend LAP-Band for me since its less risk to my kidneys shutting down completely. My goal weight is somewhere between 200-250lbs. Do you guys think this is possible to lose? My brother had the band done earlier in 2007 and he only lost like 85lbs ( i can see he can still really eat all the foods i can) im scared because with WLS and insurance its one shot. No second surgeries covered by the insurance. I havent got an immediate answer from the surgeon and RN yet because they are going over my file. PLease comment and let me know what you think. Its hard to find good support nowadays!

Hi Chicago, Welcome to our group. First off, I think your brother needs a fill. He shouldn't be able to eat so much. He isn't using his band like it's intended to be used. . The you do enough reading here you will learn that this is a slow process....slow and steady if the fills are kept up. The bypass is much faster and if you need to loose a lot fast, that might be your best option. I think a couple years down the road it all evens out but the lapband takes a lot of committment and work. Good luck with what ever you do. And talk to that brother of yours about getting a fill.

Big Guy,

Welcome I am so happy you have been cleared for surgery. Do you know if your brother kept up on his fills? I wish you all the luck in the world, but as you probably already know it is a marathon not a sprint. I believe for myself my worst enemy is me. I often have to redirect myself or ask for help from fellow bandsters. Please keep posting.

JP

Well my brother has had one fill done. The thing is he doesnt have insurance so he actually paid for his surgery and it only included one fill. They wanna charge him like $1000 for a fill and he is waiting to make some money to pay it. Anyway, when i first looked into WLS i decided Lap Band because it was less invasive and safer. The surgeon reccomended bypass, but this was last year before my kidney problem. Now they might reccomend the band, i know its a slow steady process, im willing to do what it takes, im doing my best now by eating healthier and i feel good. So you guys think its possible to lose 230+ lbs with band?

Mike,

You can do what ever you set your mind to do. Keep thinking positive thoughts. My Dr. charges $250 for fills have your brother shop around.

Well my brother has had one fill done. The thing is he doesnt have insurance so he actually paid for his surgery and it only included one fill. They wanna charge him like $1000 for a fill and he is waiting to make some money to pay it. Anyway, when i first looked into WLS i decided Lap Band because it was less invasive and safer. The surgeon reccomended bypass, but this was last year before my kidney problem. Now they might reccomend the band, i know its a slow steady process, im willing to do what it takes, im doing my best now by eating healthier and i feel good. So you guys think its possible to lose 230+ lbs with band?

I believe you and the band together can accomplish it if you do everything your dr. tells you to do. I really feel bad for your brother & his situation. That sucks. I hope he gets it all worked out so he can continue to get his fills because without them...well you just keep eating & stretch everything out. You don't want that. Good luck, you'll do great!

My doctor charges $50 for a fill.

Mike,

You can do what ever you set your mind to do. Keep thinking positive thoughts. My Dr. charges $250 for fills have your brother shop around.

lol whos mike?

Woops I was reading several threads and got confused. Or maybe it was the cold medacine???:wink_smile:

Hey BigGuyChicago,

I just got surgery last week. I started the process with 210 lbs to lose. I can't say what it will look like in the end, because I haven't yet hit it... but from the people I have known who have had it, 230 to lose isn't unreasonable if you're dedicated. The one thing I've learned about the surgery is that the lapband isn't an easy way out. (Much to my dismay). There's still willpower and self control, dealing with the emotional aspect of eating and what not.

I know someone who had the bypass as well... I guess I'm more into the band because it's reversible and less recovery time. It depends on your own preferences and desires.

I don't know if this helps or not...

I think it's possible if you work the band rules. I have lost 67 lbs in four months and only now actually have restriction. But I followed the rules anyway and ate protein first and limited the rest. I actually have 256 lbs to lose and from what I've read on this board and on obesityhelp I think it's totally possible.

Connie

BigGuy, you don't mention your height, but as a uh big guy, gastric bypass isn't a walk in the park - the fatality rate is scary. And you've already had a scare with your kidneys, and your MD is recommending lap banding as a much safer alternative.

How motivated do you think your brother is? If he's still eating whatever he wants, and has only one fill, I'm not sure that I believe he's dedicated to losing weight. I don't think that any physician in the country charges $1000 for a fill - it's a simple procedure where the physician (or an assistant, often), squirts a fraction of a teaspoon of Water into the op scar - a $1000 charge is unbelievable, and no insurance company would pay for that ever, if that was what it cost. And post-op people need multiple fill sessions to carefully calibrate the exact restriction they need for weight loss.

So, yes, I'm suspicious of what your brother is saying - possibly unfairly.

But you're here on this board asking questions, which is a great first step. The fact is, it's possible to lose 200 pounds by dieting alone; the lap band is a tool that will make that long march downwards possible.

I think this is a great place to share your experiences, to get advice and support as you lose. Can you lose that weight? Of course you can.

It's up to you.

Welcome and I absolutely believe you can lose all the weight you need to lose with the band as long as you give it your all! =)

OK GUYS I GOT AN UPDATE! i saw the surgeon today and i scheduled lap band surgery for april 3rd yay! i also spoke to the surgeon about my brother (he did my brothers band) and he said to me "get his ass in here and well do it for free" haha so hes happy about that and im happy about my surgery date! wish me luck guys!

Congrats on getting your surgery date. Just wanted to give you some encouragement. I'm down 134 lbs. in about 18 mos. I'd like to lose another 70 and I know with the help of my band I can do this. It's taken a lot of hard work, but it's definitely worth it. Good luck to you!

I had my lapband installed in Dec. 2007. To date I've lost almost 60lbs. I have had 2 fills and am not as restricted as I would like. It takes several fills to reach the right restriction, but eat that protein first and continue to drink those protein drinks (protein helps control the hunger pangs).

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