Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Thinking about getting lapband



Recommended Posts

Good afternoon every1.... I am a 25y/o mother of 3 children. I am considered obese by medical standards. I spoke with my primary doctor in regards to getting bariatric surgery and he is 100% supportive of me getting the procedure done. I am interested in gettting the lap band because the rate of weight loss seems healthier than that of the gastric bypass. Also its reversible and the of course the bypass isn't. There are other medical reasons why my doctor is so supportive of this surgery. I am scared of surgery but i see that its done laproscopically which is less invasive. But would any1 recommend that i get this surgery????

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Everyone is not the same. If you are a person who wants to change their current lifestyle with a heathy one, then lapband is a good choice. Let me tell you if your mind is not in this for the long haul you will not succeed. The lapband is a tool. Nothing more. You still have to eat healthy, follow doctors orders and exercise. Keep in mind some foods you enjoy today you will not be able to eat again. This has not been to big of an issue for me so far. I am down 60 lbs and feeling great in less than 3 months. But keep in mind I followed the rules of the tool diligently. For me the choice to get the lapband was easy. Lose the weight or not see my kids grow up. I am self pay and this was the best investment I have ever done. I invested in my life. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Edited by bearbandit

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

thanks 4 responding. i am ready 2 make drastic lifestyle changes in order 2 be healthier. i even talked 2 someone that i work with who has had the lapband. i am excited @ the thought that i eventually with hardwork and dedication along with the surgery i will be able 2 finally lose my weight and keep it off. i no this isn't a miracle weight loss procedure. lol. i am also going 2 get my children involved and have them eat healthier foods and limit the unhealthy foods they intake. can u tell me what procedures occur b4 the actual surgery. if thats not asking 2 much.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow. You're 25 years old with three children? It sounds to me like you are probably a pretty strong person!

I chose the lapband for the same reasons that you listed, as far as being reversible, etc. It sounds like your doctor has some good reasons for you to take this step.

I can tell you what I did to decide. I went to the lapband seminar, then I signed up with the program at the hospital I chose. I had to do six months of a supervised diet for insurance company purposes. In the meantime, I read a lot of threads on this board. I read other materials about people's experiences with being banded. I thought long and hard about whether I felt that I could really commit to the lifestyle. In fact, I took an extra six months to decide. It was a year from the time that I went to the seminar and got banded. I tried really hard to lose weight on my own and couldn't do it. I thought about all the weight loss failures of my past.

I think you've made a good start by asking people on this board if they would recommend it. If you haven't already, go ahead and delve into other threads to see how people are doing. Check out the success stories and the complication stories.

I'm like bearbandit. I want to see my daughter grow up. I don't want to be in a wheelchair, either, which is where I was headed.

BTW, my fiance and daughter joke that they are losing weight on my "diet". We don't go out to eat so much and I'm buying and cooking much healthier foods. I don't want my daughter to suffer the pain that I have. She is 12 and was depressed about having to wear plus sized clothes and having a belly. Now she's starting to slim down and feel pretty good physically and mentally.

Sorry for the long post. Take care, let us know what you decide. :thumbs_up:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×