nursecheryl

Thanks for the explanation lellow.

I've been reading the boards and read something about cheating on diets. I thought that once you have the band you can't eat more then 1/2 to 1cup. How can someone overeat? And, if someone overeats are you stretching out your stomach again? If you overstretch your stomach is going on a liquid diet for a couple days and soft foods for couple days going to shrink the stomach back up? I'm getting this done so that I don't go back to my old habits of overeating again. I didn't realize you can go back to your old habits.

Carolina Girl, Thanks for letting me know what your doctor said. I don't care if it takes me 2 or even 3 years to lose the entire 100 pounds as long as i lose it and keep it off this time. It is great to hear that he/she said that in 2 years it all evens out. It makes sense that t he more one puts into it via eating better and exercising the more the person will lose and better chance to keep the weight off. Congrats on your loss of 130+ pounds.

I wanted to thank all of you for the information you have given me. It has been so helpful in my research so far. I am going to an information session at another hospital today. I listened to a video online about wls that was put on by this hospital. They still do lap band surgeries, at least per this video, and said it is less risky then the other two surgeries, but takes longer to lose the weight, they added that slower weight loss is healthier. They had a positive take on all the surgeries and said most of them have little risk in comparison to the risk of obesity. Both of the hospitals have great reputations and I feel safe going to either of the two. I'll let you know what they say.

I'm not sure why she told me those things either and am glad i brought my husband with me because he heard the same thing i did. She did admit the sleeve is new, I think she said 5 years they have been using them. So it is hard to use statistics with the sleeve, but she seemed to prefer the sleeve over the lap band. I prefer the lap band because they don't have to cut out some of my stomach, I don't have to wait for the stitches to heal increasing my chance of infection and the surgical incision line coming open. Now i have to admit that i know nothing about these surgeries but sure have lots to learn. That gave me an idea. I should take a ceu nursing class on wls. That would give me facts and not opinions related to which surgery is beneficial to the hospital or doctor.

Yes, I will let you all know what the other doctors say once I find them. lol. BTW, Congrats on losing 10 pounds already.

Thanks for your response MountainMan. I'm a RN too. Congratulations on being close to goal. I'm very interested in what others think about the comments made to me today in the bariatric clinic as I heard that it was a better choice then the other surgeries so was very surprised when they seemed to be trying to talk me out of it. I am going to talk to as many people as possible and read as much literature as possible and really would like to be with a doctor that not only has a lot of success in placing lap bands safely but believes in them as well.

Thanks for the information Ivy. It is an interesting article i bookmarked it and will show the article to my husband when he comes home for the pros and cons file while i make my decision.

Wow, great job Cheryl2586. I'm happy for you to reach your goal and keep it off for so long. I hope i can do the same. I do consider 5 percent a big number. i guess i look at it as 5 out of 100 people. It is good to know the erosion happens if you eat too much because my intention is not to do that.

Congrats on your 32.5 pounds weight loss lapbandguru. I think i am going to find another doctor, I agree. It does sound like they may be in it for the money. I also heard that the band is becoming more popular because of its effectiveness and fewer complications. Thanks for letting me know about your friends that had the other procedures and wish they had tried the band first. I had no idea the sleeve is the most risky, I'd have thought the bypass was. I'm sorry to hear about your friends but am very happy how it turned out for you by going with the lap band.

Thanks for your quick responses to both of you. Me and my husband were so disappointed after the meeting. Before the meeting I had heard more good then bad about the lap band vs the other wls. My husband said the same thing, that he thought that maybe they just don't want to have to follow up with all the fills. Congrats on your 60 pound loss and good luck on your surgery. cheryl

I went to the bariatric center today and met with the surgeon and dietician. They told me that the lap band is almost never used anymore because it not have as good of results as the by pass and sleeve. They suggested the by pass or sleeve, but told me it is my choice. My first choice was the lap band because it is less invasive and can be reversed if needed. I thought there would be less risks to the lap band, I don't mind if it takes me longer to lose, I prefer a slower weight loss of 2 pounds per week, and the doctor told me that actually the lap band is more risky. She told me 5 percent risk of erosion of the stomach and it becoming dislodged. Also, she said that a 40 to 50 percent of excess weight is lost usually and that keeping it off for 5 years is the average. This just doesn't make sense to me. What have all of you heard? I'm thinking of talking with another bariatric center because I really wanted the lap band but am starting to have different thoughts. I also don't want to work with a team that have such a negative look at the procedure i want to get. cheryl