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New Guy Here....



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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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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.

btw im 6ft3

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I'm certainly no expert, but I have two friends of mine that each has WLS. One had the RNY (bypass) and the other had the lapband. Both are 4 years out.

My RNY friend had a starting weight of around 450lbs. She got down to 180lbs very quickly, and is now 300lbs. :mad2:

My Lapband friend had a starting weight of 325lbs and is now 190lbs (and has maintained that weight for sometime....she hasn't had a fill in ages and enjoys milkshakes a little too much, lol).

I don't know about you, but coupled with the fact that Lapband surgery is MUCH safer and the recovery time is MUCH shorter, it was a no-brainer for me to choose Lapband. I'm not saying RNY doesn't work for a lot of people, but the possibilty of it not working for me was not worth the risk.

Also, when I went to my seminar back in Nov 07, there were like 6 people there wanting to re-do RNY's. I think maybe it might be too easy to stretch your stomach back out???? Which, in my opinion would suck, especially after going through a massive surgery like that.

I wish you the best of luck, I don't think you're going to have any problem taking off the weight! You sound very determined, and with the support here for you...there's noway you can fail! :cool:

Best Wishes

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wtg on your surgery date you will do fantastic Had mine done mar 5th 2008 lost 34 lbs so far. I feel great surgery was a piece of cake . your in my prayers good bro you are keep after him too good team work.

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BigGuyChicago,

I have only lost about 50+ in a year and a half. This is because I haven't been following the rules. But I would never ever change what I did and go with the bypass. No offense to anyone who has ahd it done but those people just do not look right. the weight comes off so fast that their bodies do not have time to adjust and most of them just end up looking like someone is pulling down on their entire body.

The weight loss is also so fast that many of these patients do not have the heart to take it - literally. Their heart fails and that's it. I know that with the lap-band I am in control. I can use it or I can abuse it. But I am still in control. With the other surgeries I can not see where the patient has any control.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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