I had my surg. at buffalo General on 6-9-08 by Dr. AAron hoffman. any one familiar, Please let me know about your experience. :scared2:

There is a whole thread about hoffman, just go to that thread.

I am orig from Bflo and now still deciding whether to get the Lap Band or the Lap Bypass. I still don't know which is best for me. I have my first clinic visit on Monday, aug 4th at BGH... Still up in the air.. I guess it will the MD that will tell me which is best for me. I would like the Lap Band mostly because it is less invasive and recupe time is minimal compared to the other, however, what if it does not work for me. I'm sure the health ins will not pay for 2 surgeries. Were you as undecided as I at this point of your pre-op process ??:cursing:

If you want quick weight loss the bypass is what you want. But your body is remade forever. I myself would go with the band as you would still have the bypass option, the reverse is not true.

The doctor will tell you what is best I think. This is work, but not much pain for me at least. I still have to take an active role in my eating and exercise habits. I did not consider the bypass as I only had 50 pounds to lose.

Did you go to a seminar? They presented both surgeries.

I can only tell you I think the trend at BGH is band, but I am sure they will give you information and assist you with an option.

Type in Hoffman on the search field and you will find a whole bunch of us from buffalo talking about our surgery.

Take care.

PS, a few of us walk in Delaware park Saturday morning at 8 am, join us there. We meet at 8 at the old juciery which is now an ice cream place or something like that.

Hope to talk to you soon.

I am orig from Bflo and now still deciding whether to get the Lap Band or the Lap Bypass. I still don't know which is best for me. I have my first clinic visit on Monday, aug 4th at BGH... Still up in the air.. I guess it will the MD that will tell me which is best for me. I would like the Lap Band mostly because it is less invasive and recupe time is minimal compared to the other, however, what if it does not work for me. I'm sure the health ins will not pay for 2 surgeries. Were you as undecided as I at this point of your pre-op process ??:cursing:

Dear nbflo, I did not consider bypass because it was just too invasive and risky for me. I do not regret my decision and although it is a slower process,and takes more willpower, like judy said it is reversible if need be. you should not decide until after the seminar,and talking with the m.d. Good luck on your journey.....

thank you.. I have my first clinic visit on monday. Kind of nervous about it. Hope from that point on, its not too long of a weight. I know they will put me on the South Beach diet. I wonder how much I will need to loose ?? !! Problem is.. its hard for me to loose but when I do, mostly I put it back on.

shar

You have to lose 5% of your body weight and keep it off until surgery.

excess body weight or total body weight ?

5% of your total body weight. You might be able to get away with 4%, sometimes they seem flexible. It also depends on your insurance company.

Since your surgery in June, How have you done so far ? Have you lost much ? Is there much discomfort, etc. ?

shar

Judy, for Lap-Band surgery,are there any tests that have to be done prior to the procedure different from the Lap-Bypass ?? I think I have most of it done but trying to speed up the process and not to run into too many delays. I really want this done by the end of the year ..

thanks

shar

You should be able to have it done by the end of the year. It is usually a few months after your seminar. You have to have a colonoscopy if you are over 50, you need to be checked for sleep apnea, you need a urine test for cortisol levels and some blood work. You also need a psychological evaluation by someone who deals with patients for weight loss surgery.

I just looked over your last emails, it seems that you have already been to a seminar, so you should definitely be done by the end of the year.

Since your surgery in June, How have you done so far ? Have you lost much ? Is there much discomfort, etc. ?

shar

Dear nbflo, I had the most discomfort the first few days after the surgery, then it got better everyday after that. now i just have some discomfort where the port is but its nothing extreme, just a little tender. don't sweat the small stuff, the real work begins after healing, cause your whole life as you know it (eating) will change, and it is work....but it will all be worth it in the end.....

thanks Judy for the reply... I already had the colonoscopy last august but the sleep study has not been done since about 5 years ago.. I guess they will let me know tomorrow what I need to do.. Its only been since april but seems like forever that this process is taking. I need to go for some bloodwork anyway in early Sept for my colesterolso maybe the urine test will also be ordered.. I will check with my primary before I go.

thanks

shar

36 lbs is pretty impressive since June...only 2 months ago. Sounds as if you are doing great. Have you already had an adjustment in the port ? Is that why its still tender ? Anyway, glad you are doing well. I kind of hope that the doctor suggests the lap band for me.. I know its the same amount of life change and hard work after surgery, but this seems so much safer w/o the cutting and redirecting and all. Thanks for the information.. Maybe I will see you guys in Del Park one of these saturday mornings.

shar

36 lbs is pretty impressive since June...only 2 months ago. Sounds as if you are doing great. Have you already had an adjustment in the port ? Is that why its still tender ? Anyway, glad you are doing well. I kind of hope that the doctor suggests the lap band for me.. I know its the same amount of life change and hard work after surgery, but this seems so much safer w/o the cutting and redirecting and all. Thanks for the information.. Maybe I will see you guys in Del Park one of these saturday mornings.

shar

Dear nbflo, I wish I could say the 36 lbs was since june, but I lost 18 lbs before surg, then 10 lbs 1st week after surg, then gained 7 back, got 1st fill july 15 and lost 16 since then. As long as it keeps coming off, thats key, cause before surg it always went up... you'll do fine shar just keep focused and take one day at a time.