annanyc

I was banded about two months ago, but haven't had any fills yet. I'm waiting until January to start on that for insurance purposes. I don't currently feel restriction. But 2 or 3 times, I have PBed when I eat bread products too quickly. This hasn't been full vomiting or particularly dramatic. I have definitely eaten meals that are too large on occasion though. But no adverse consequences when I do. Again- I don't feel any sort of restriction volume-wise. For the last month I've had on-and-off but fairly regular pain on my right side. It's almost like the cramp you get when you run. It will last for several hours at a time, in kind of an annoying background, I'm aware of it, but it's not super painful kind of way. It gets worse when I move, it also seems worse when I'm digesting. It's not super sharp, and the fact that it's lasted so long makes me think it's unlikely to be anything appendix related. I also haven't had rapid weight loss. I've lost 12 pounds since banded Sept 20th, which I think makes gallstones less likely. Does this sound familiar to anyone? It's not getting worse or better. And I know it's on the opposite side of the stomach from the band, but I've never had stomach problems of any kind before, so I'm thinking it's probably related. Just wondering if this is common.

It makes total sense, except that my port's on my left side. So it doesn't seem like it'd be related... but it didn't start until I had the surgery. Thanks so much for the reply though!

Hey, I'm six days out of surgery. I just noticed a disconcerting numb spot on my stomach. It's fairly large- almost fist size, and it's below my port incision site, where no other incisions are. Anyone experienced this? Know what causes it or whether it is likely to go away? Thanks in advance.

this was day 5 for me. overall, i feel great. very little pain of any kind. occasionally there's a little discomfort/gas pain. i feel like i want to burp or hiccup but can't. actually, my biggest annoyance is that i'm really, really hungry. yesterday was my first day on all liquids, and i had a smoothie. today, i've had at least 800 calories of juice/smoothies/soup and stillllll hungry. guess i'll be making that first fill appointment asap. also, i'm retaining water and i've actually gained about 5 lbs since surgery. i don't feel backed up or anything. but i wasn't on any pre-op diet, so i was ingesting plenty of calories right up till surgery, but it's been 6 days since i've had a bm. sorry if tmi. i'll probably roll out the milk of magnesia if nothing changes by tomorrow.

I guess I have to respectfully disagree. I see the advantage of both positive and negative information. But I believe the quality of the reviews speak for themselves. I give about as much credence to unsupported positive reviews as negative ones. And to be honest? Lap band really has been a terrible choice for some people. It's good for me to hear about these stories so that I can think about the way I live, my risk factors, and make a judgment about likely I am to suffer a similar fate. Something that's a little related... has anyone noticed that bariatric surgeons, in general, seem a little less candid and neutral than a lot of other doctors? I spoke with five different doctors in considering gastric procedures, and all of them were frankly, a little too optimistic. Not one told me I should reconsider surgery or highlighted any possible complications or negatives unless I directly asked about them first. And even then, they glossed over them, dismissing them fairly quickly, often intimating that they were the result of patient non-compliance or true flukes. They weren't as able to give me dispassionate clinical statistics regarding how many of their patients had kept off a significant amount of weight for five years, how many needed revisions, etc. I guess they're selling the dream. The before and after pic. But again, I feel like many bariatric surgeons walk too fine a line between plastic surgeons and other surgeons who offer mainly non-elective procedures and have no problems discussing potential risks in a very candid and thorough way. I probably wouldn't have done lap band if it wasn't for these forums, and the ability to do my own, independent medical research so that I felt like I knew what I was getting, warts and all.

you can also make your own shakes. i normally like putting in whatever fruits sound good, and you bulk it up. i'm vegan, but if you're not you can just put in some egg whites. i use soy or silken tofu (silken tofu makes a great shake- especially with berries). sometimes i'll use almond milk though the Protein count isn't as high. you could of course use regular milk. finally i also add Peanut Butter and/or avocado depending on hunger levels. that way you avoid the chalky taste, and can customize it to your tastes, sweetness wise.

Hey, I'll type more tomorrow- I'm pooped,, and my vision's slightly blurry from the muscle relaxant- but I had my surgery today! I went under around 1pm, left the hospital around 7, feeling great). The first thing I remember saying to the surgeon was "I can't believe I actually did this. I was sure I was going to end up backing out at some point." I remember him saying that that's the most common thing he hears after patients are out of ga Anyway, feeling great about the decision, though there were a few points in the process that I'll go into more in a surgery day write up. Good luck to everyone out there- and that your surgery recovery is at least as easy as mine has been so far It really is so much better once it's done.

I know this may vary from person to person. But I was wondering about the people who lose a lot of weight without any fills- a few people it seems don't even need a fill for years. Is this primarily just because of diet? Or does the average person feel some restriction just from the band being in place without any fills?

Interesting. Would you mind expounding on this? It's the first time I've heard of biochemical changes caused by the band. It's definitely something I hope for. I have no problems keeping active and I eat fairly healthy relatively (vegan, but definitely too many processed foods). There are times though when I just physically feel like it's impossible to eat enough. Not sure what that has to do with. Chemistry, emotions, huge stretchy cavernous stomach chasm- probably a nice mix of all three I only expected the band to address the last one.

My surgery is Wednesday. I think I've been in denial. Haven't wanted to think about things at all lately, and so much to do. Exciting. But also terrifying. Wish me luck. Luck and calmness. I'm doin' just fine, but I am on the edge of freaking out just a little. I've never had surgery before. It's a big deal. (But welcome, good, etc. etc.) Just... eep. Eeep and Calm.

I need to decide by tomorrow whether to get banded on September 12th or not. Obviously, I could do this at some future date, but realistically, I don't see another window, since insurance doesn't cover my surgery, and I'm quitting my well-paying, stable job for my own business. I'm super excited about the opportunity, but having the time and finances to take off just isn't something I can count on for the foreseeable future. I didn't really consider lap band, because I didn't think it was an option until recently. I didn't know you could get a lap band at my weight, or that it was financially practicable. I'm currently 31 and healthy, with very low blood sugar, great cholesterol and other blood work. I've been a vegan for two years. I jog 15 miles per week without a problem in addition to walking my dogs for 90 minutes each day. I use fitbit and over the last 6 months, I've averaged almost 15,000 steps per day, so objectively, I'm pretty active. My resting heart rate reflects this. Though I'm obese, most of it is "healthy fat" carried in my hips and thighs. My waist circumference is under 35". No obesity-related illnesses run in my family. My BMI is 30, has never gone higher than 32.5, but has never stayed the same in one month either. I'm an awful yo-yo dieter. Great at losing the weight through every method, sane and insane. Terrible at keeping it off. And it's drastically affected the way I live my life. I know that a lot of it is mental. But I have so little confidence. I've been fighting my weight since I was 12 years old. I don't date. I don't put myself out there. I avoid family events and socialization when I'm heavier... I look at the world completely differently. I'm a binge eater. I have my life together in other ways. But I also think this would make a huge difference professionally. I'm a corporate lawyer, and I work in an office with over 500 attorneys. I'm one of three obese female attorneys at the firm. A few carry some extra pounds. But most are noticeably slim. As much as I hate the observation, perception matters an insane amount here. I have to think all the moreso when I go into business for myself. Overall, I do realize that my problem is not really my weight, but the obstacle I've let my weight become to living my life. I don't want to do something rash- I've never needed any type of surgical intervention before, and this is one- one that comes with complications, and doesn't even always work. One that, no matter how minimally invasive, does result in scar tissue, and diligent upkeep over the years, and in all likelihood, will require future surgery to remove/adjust/replace. To do this for pure vanity reasons seems potentially unwise. I'm pretty sure I'd probably tell a friend not to go through with it. Except it's not just vanity, you know? Mental health counts for something. Confidence. And I've already gained and lost over 50 pounds five times in my life. I'm so sick of trying the same thing and expecting different results. I think lap band, combined with some therapy and a little inner work, could really work great things in my life. I guess I'm just looking for feedback from anyone else who's gotten this done. Whether they would if they were in my position- if it wasn't a physical health risk- because I just can't bring myself to believe that mine is. Should I just try to lose weight again and keep it off? I need to be objective about cost-benefit here and whether this is really worth it.

and if so, any problems getting coverage for revisions/removals? i assume if blocked under pre-existing condition, this should not be a factor once obamacare kicks in? thoughts?

So on his website Dr. Ariel Ortiz claims to have been named one of the top 15 bariatric surgeons in the US in Newsweek. But there's no link to the article. I've been to the Newsweek site to search and Googled the claim, but while I can find other doctors who also claim to have been in this "bariatric surgeon showcase", I can't find any evidence of the actual 2011 article. Newsweek searches go back as far as at least 2008. A search of "bariatric surgery" brings up plenty of other articles. Not to be cynical, but my suspicion is this was maybe an info-tisement, where 15 doctors got together and brought some ad space hawking their skills as opposed to third party, independent recognition. Anyone have any more luck tracking down this accolade? Or another plausible explanation?

Such a bad taste in my mouth. Looks like he was featured in Newsweek "Showcase" which is exactly what I was afraid of- a paid advertisement made to look like an unbiased article. If you go to www.newsweekshowcase.com it expressly says "It does not constitute an endorsement by Newsweek and no endorsement is implied." Contrast that with the following OCC video, which not only shows a Newsweek magazine, but talks about how Newsweek chose to honor them and, apparently surprised, he called them and said "Don't you know we're in Mexico? Are you sure we still qualify?" Pretty sure money's money, pal. And paid advertising doesn't usually discriminate on the nationality of your bank account. Ugh. Now I feel like everything's suspect. Super shady, no? There's got to be a real difference in laws. In the US, that video is easily false advertising. It's not even on the borderline shady gray area. It's way deceptive.

Thanks Denise. Super helpful!

I'm comfortable with my choice, though it wasn't an easy one for me to make. The way I see it is there are no physiological reasons that the band isn't appropriate for me. It isn't a higher risk surgery at my BMI, there aren't increased complications, and in fact, the limited research that's out there suggests I may be slightly more likely to have long-term success with the band than someone with a higher BMI. FDA has approved use of the band on BMIs of over 30, and there are at least 10 countries with first world medical practices who have approved the use at lower BMIs (generally 25-28). If for some reason it doesn't work out, I can revise or remove just like anyone else. All our bodies and experiences are so different. There are people who need the band at a BMI of 35 because their bodies handle that weight more poorly- more health risks and comorbidities. Someone else who manages to live life fully and relatively healthfully at a BMI of 40 may not find the band appropriate for them. It's all about quality of life and it's not a completely objective assessment. My physical health is great. Part of that is genetics. Part of it is hard work. I mean, I ran a half marathon every month last year. I'm vegan. I try really, really hard to be healthy, even if I fail in certain key ways. But that's not the whole story. I'm uncomfortable in my own skin. I struggle to perform as well as an athlete as I want, I suffer very real professional discrimination, and my self-confidence is directly tied to the size of outfit I pull from my closet, which might as well be a store, since it offers range in clothes from size 2 to size 14. And maybe other people would be able to live life more fully than I do at this weight. But again, we all have different bodies, different brains, and subjective experiences. I'm not happy. I've been not happy for long enough. I've diligently tried to live a healthy, fit life, but I need some help. Hello, lap band. I know this explanation is a little all over the place. And it may not be persuasive to you. I am happy to answer any questions or discuss further, cause it helps me think about things more fully as well. But I'm not really looking to convince anyone else- I don't really feel like I need approval. I know someone could easily arrive at a different decision with the same facts. But what's important to me is that I'm comfortable with my choice. And I am. I'm just trying to explain why

I wanted to thank everyone for their thoughtful replies to my post. All the responses were sincerely appreciated. I decided to go ahead and schedule the surgery. I am aware that most of my problems with food are in my head. But I don't think that separates me too much from most other people who are considering WLS. The majority of us eat emotionally, binge or have other unhealthy relationships with food. Many of us let our weights hold us back from taking non-weight related steps in life, like going for promotions or pursuing romantic relationships or social engagements. Regarding my weight not being as high as many surgery candidates, well, it's high enough that it's drastically affecting my ability to live my life the way I want to, much like any of us and high enough that lap band has been done, and to good effect. So I'm going to take this step. Exciting? Yes. Terrifying? Totally. Life changing? I'm going to do everything I can to ensure it is I can't believe it's in just a few weeks!

Hi- thanks a lot for your response, and for your responses generally. I've found them really helpful and informative. I did think that the FDA lowered their recommendation and now approved lap band for BMIs above 30. They still want a comborbidity though. And I don't have that. Honestly, I've been toying with the idea of using it off-label anyway. Losing most or all of my weight without restriction and then using restrictions as that extra help to aid maintenance. If I could learn how to maintain my weight, I'd be set. (I'm pretty sure most other dieters' if onlys are the same as mine But yes, I agree with you that a lot of my most handicapping issues right now are mental ones. And I'm not sure getting lap band is appropriate for that even in conjunction with therapy to address the bingeing and self confidence issues at play. Thanks for giving me your honest opinion.

All insurance companies are different of course, but that term surprises me. I've seen that you have to be fat for five years, but not that you have to be suffering from a comorbidity for that long. Doesn't seem to make sense either, since the longer people have those, the worse and more expensive they get to treat.

Hi, Julie! I feel like I'm in the same boat as you are, but on a slightly more accelerated timetable. I plan to quit my job at my current law firm by the end of the year. I'll have another, but I don't know what that will be and I don't know what insurance will be available, what salary I'll have, how easy it'll be to take a few days off work, etc. Especially since I'm considering a pretty drastic career change with less reliable hours/fewer benefits, I'd like to take care of this at a time when everything will be as low stress as possible. That said, I really want to make sure it's a smart decision for me. And while I've loved these forums and have found them incredibly informative and the people in them very supportive, I do think there's an element of kool-aid drinking going on. Most people are extremely positive, which is great, and I'm sure that attitude helps nurture everyone's chances of success. However, I think with limited exceptions (the complications forum is also great to check out), the complications and possible failure rates are glossed over. Even within those forums, there's a lot of backlash to negative experiences. (i.e. "The band didn't fail you. You failed the band., etc.) The little information I've seen suggests that very few people (far less than half) who were banded a decade ago, still have their bands, and that long-term, significant weight loss, without going in for future additional procedures that far out is also less than certain. Simply stating that the new bands won't have these complications isn't a panacea. The new bands may be much improved, they definitely appear to have fewer immediate complications, but the long-term data isn't out there yet. Or at least I haven't been able to find any. If any members are aware of it, I'd love to see it. And in the meantime, I'll keep reading the boards. It's just that while I don't want to underemphasize the value of reading about the individual experiences here, they're not statistics, and I don't think they're likely to be even representative of underlying statistics, because participants are so skewed towards being successes. (Just like any other diet board- very few of those it doesn't work for will be motivated to post- they'll move on to try something else and expend energy elsewhere.)

Hi, I recently decided to get lap band after more than a decade of fighting my weight. I have no problem losing it. I've gotten down to 130-140 on no fewer than 4 separate occasions in the past 10 years. But I also shoot right back up to 190-210 mere months later. It's exhausting. And while I wish I could be one of those women who lived life to the fullest, regardless of the scale, I'm just not. My weight has too often limited the way I live- the opportunities I take, the relationships I pursue, etc. This summer I didn't even go to my cousin's wedding, because I didn't want everyone to notice I was fatter than the last time they saw me. Terrible! If I could, what I'd really want to do is lose all the weight again and *then* get the lap band, because that's when I need a little extra help. And don't most dieters gain the weight back? A timely use of lap band at the low point, well, not a doctor and haven't seen any studies, but I bet this would work wonders. Anyway, my BMI is currently only 30, has only been as high as 33, and I don't have any comorbidities. As such, insurance paying for the lap band was never an option. After much research, I decided to get the procedure done in Mexico, where they will perform the surgery on BMIs above 28. However, the center there seems to be pushing for gastric plication. The price is comparable (especially factoring in the after care for the lap band and none for gp). Both are supposed to be reversible (though one website seemed to suggest that though gp, doesn't cut into the stomach, the folding and sutures scar it so significantly that further revisions are problematic). From what I can tell, gastric plication seems more restrictive and often leads to more weight loss. But there isn't a lot of other data about it in relation to incidence of complications or long-term results. Is anyone aware of any studies? Or does anyone have anecdotal information of why one might be better than the other? Or why they selected one over the other?

I've been a vegan for the past two years. In terms of health and weight loss, it's actually been terrible for me so far.. I don't cook much, and it was always easier for me to find something nutritious and healthy when lean Proteins and dairy were options. Now, a lot of meals consist of french fries and assorted overprocessed crap. Total junk food vegan. No surprise, while most vegans lose weight, I've gained 40 lbs since avoiding meat and dairy. Whoops The thing is, it wasn't a nutritionally-based decision, but a moral one, and staying vegan is important to me. I do know I have to get better about cooking going forward (and stop living off 80 ounces of diet soda per day (not an exaggeration)). But I was wondering if anyone out there is vegan or vegetarian, and if there are particular challenges you faced when banded? I imagine getting enough Protein is just a little bit more of a concern than for non-vegan eaters? I also wonder whether the two diets mesh well together, since the typical healthy vegan diet (not mine) is pretty high volume, with lots of fruits, veggies Beans and rice. And I understand breads are a no-go? I'm really not sure, and just asking about others' experiences/thoughts. Thanks! (As an aside, the search function was really helpful to me a few days ago when I joined the forum, but it doesn't seem to be working for me now. Anyone else having problems with this? Or is there a troubleshooting step I might be missing?)

Yeah, there are actually a lot of options out there. I live in NYC and there are at least 15 or so completely vegan restaurants, which I love. There are also so many mock meats and Protein substitutes out there I could use in my own kitchen- some healthy, some less so. (Ever tried Beyond chicken? Most people seriously can't tell the difference.) I just need to get better about cooking and dropping the processed crap. It's amazing what's vegan out there and how terrible it can be for you. I think I'll give it a try. I'm currently healthy and not deficient in any of the Vitamins tested in a standard blood panel. I do have vegan Protein powder, and cook or no, there's not much to mastering a tofu scramble. If I do feel like my health is suffering, I can reevaluate my restriction level and my options at that point.

Thanks so much for all these great responses. Super helpful!

These sound like wonderful goals. I need to make a list myself!