Headhunter

Yes, under almost all conditions it would be considered elective. If there was some co-existing condition that made it crucial that that you had it, well, you MIGHT be able to use that. But, that would really be a long stretch. Many, many people have the surgery and are back to work in a few days, even a couple of days. have it scheduled for a friday, if possible, and you'll have the weekend to recover! HH

In some cases, the Band DESERVES to be "bashed". It has some inherent flaws. Those flaws do not surface on every patient. Rarely, in fact, but when they DO, there can be life threatening consequences. The Band has been life-changing for many, many people. It's killed a few as well. It's done damage to many others. But, that can be said for ALL of the various types of WL surgeries. Much of the problem lies at the feet of idiot Surgeons who have gotten into this field to make some easy money. But a LOT of the problem in WLS is also, I believe, that people are getting bad advice on what surgery would be the RIGHT one for them. The Sleeve is NOT right for EVERYONE. The Band is NOT right EVERYONE. Bypass is NOT right for EVERYONE. It takes a skilled surgeon, with experience in ALL of them to correctly diagnose what it is that a patient really needs. For some, it's restriction. For others, it's malabsorbtion. And, there are plenty of people somewhere in between for whom there IS no definitive surgical answer. And, and there is a certain portion of the obese population for whom neither diet nor surgery will do the trick......for whatever reason, they simply cannot keep food out of their mouths, or they have some rare metabolic disorder that keeps them plump. I'm coming to believe that YOU don't choose the surgery, IT chooses YOU. I think that extensive psychotherapy needs to be a mandatory part of this process.....and I really mean EXTENSIVE, not just a 30 minute evaluation, with a psychotherapist that has DEMONSTRATED expertise in Bariatric problems. With the correct form of therapy, you MIGHT find the power within you to do it WITHOUT surgery. If not, then you may come away with better understanding of exactly WHAT kind of surgery YOU need. More than once, on this board I have seen someone complain that their Doctor has tried to steer them toward a WLS OTHER than the Band. I have seen situations where a Person has seen MULTIPLE Doctors, all of whom have tried to direct them to some other type of WLS than the band. But, they get it in their heads that they WANT THE BAND. They don’t seem to want to consider that these Doctors are telling them that the Band might NOT BE RIGHT for THEM. But, they keep seeing Doctors until they find one who will give them what they want. TV commercials and Billboards make the band seem simple and easy. And that’s what people want…..the simple and easy way out. But, I can assure you that MOST people who have the band, successful or otherwise, will tell you that the Band is neither simple NOR easy. If you are considering the Band, you NEED to consider the Sleeve as well. Sure, it’s more “invasive”, and it’s permanent. It’s not reversible. But it simply gives you a smaller stomach. And it calms your appetite. It’s restrictive, which is the concept behind the Band. And it doesn’t plant a piece of plastic in your gut, bouncing around, rubbing against your innards, with the potential of doing various types of damage…..like it did to ME, and many others. And that’s not “Band-Bashing”…..that’s a FACT. Do yourself a favor, if you’re considering ANY form of WLS……before deciding on any particular procedure, do your Homework. See various Bariatric specialists who have expertise in ALL the procedures, and find out which one is right for YOU. You didn’t become fat overnight. You need to take the TIME to find out which procedure is the right one for YOUR Body. So, TAKE the time….I think your life is worth it.

The very BEST weight loss surgery is.......NO weight loss surgery. I say that only because it IS best if you can do it without WLS. You've lost 40, that's a great start, just don't eat anything you couldn't eat when you had the band. I went on to have Gastric Bypass (which is the malabsorbtion process WasABubbleButt mentioned), and I have lost all the weight I needed to lose, and more. But I do wish that i had been able to do it without WLS....it's not possible for some people, but you really need to give that your very best shot! HH

I had an idiot install my band, Dr. Theodore Khalili at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. He installed it incorrectly. After having it in me a few months, the port Popped OUT OF MY STOMACH while I was on business trip. It was a long and ugly story, but one of the tubes that was left in after the port popped out worked it's way down and buried itself inside my colon. It was real nasty. Dr. Zane discovered all this, and did the surgery to remove evrything and fix me up real nicely. I had a Gastric Bypass, and, one year later, am healthy, happy, and at my Perfect weight for my height/build. Yes, DO see Dr. Zane. The guy really knows what he's doing! HH

Who is Dr. K? The initial doesn't give us much info..... :party: HH

Should prostitution be legal? It already is. It's called "Congress". :party: HH

I was completely clothed during my surgery. However, my Surgeon and the entire Operating Room Staff were totally naked.

I am not certain if Harbor City is presently doing Lap Bands, but they have a beautiful, fairly new Bariatric Operating facility there, so I am quite sure that they do. I will tell you, though, that the Chief of Bariatric Surgery there is opposed to the Lap band, so they might NOT be doing them at that facility. I do not know if he is personally still doing them....but, if he IS, and if you DO have a band there, have him (dr robert Zane) put it in for you. Even though he is opposed to the band, he is regarded as an expert in things that can go WRONG with the band. People who have band problems come from all over to have him repair their problem. He is an oustanding surgeon, and wonderful guy. Because of his unique knowledge, you can be certain that he knows how to do it CORRECTLY. I consider him to have saved my life, and I highly recommend him, and the Harbor City team in general. He WILL try and point you toward a Gastric Bypass....he has seen a LOT of suffering from the band. But, he is a talented Surgeon and he knows his stuff! HH

Nothing to be concerned about, really,....they won't ask you about your fetish for fuzzy slippers or anything... BUT....the role they play is very, very important, and when I hear about these little 10 minute sessions, I get a little annoyed. They should be doing MORE. I think we all know that a LARGE part of weight loss/gain is a MIND GAME. Self discipline. Self Control. Comfort Eating....etc. It really does take a certain personality type for the Band (or any WLS) to be successful. And it's the job of the Psych to make sure that YOU are going to successfull at this, from an emotional standpoint. So, I would listen very carefully to any questions they ask, and answer very truthfully. Don't just try and "get through it" so you can go on to getting the Band. You WANT to be successful in this process, so make sure you let the Psych people do THEIR jobs to the best of their ability. And I would seriously consider signing on for some weekly therapy both pre and post surgery to help you adjust mentally to this program. Because, if your HEAD is not in the RIGHT place for this, it won't matter what kind of device you have wrapped around your stomach.....you'll still fail. Good luck! HH

Don't even THINK about having this guy perform your surgery! I had an inexperienced idiot perform mine, and it almost cost me my life. I know that all surgeons have to start somewhere.....just don't let it be YOU! HH

The shrink may have seen something in you that raised a red flag as far as your ability to work the band program as it should be followed. The Band does NOT work for everyone. You need to be certain type of person to be able to make it work. It's easy to cheat the band. Don't see the Shrink as roadblock to what you want.....see them as partner in your ultimate success....listen to what they have to say. They are part of the approval chain for a REASON. HH

Ok, I've had the Bypass. If she hasn't done "#2" in 9 days, she is in trouble. Constipation is one of the problems in the bypass, IF you don't eat right/drink enough Water, etc. There is NO foolproof WLS. You can find a way around ANY method. Weight loss, with or without WLS, is a MIND GAME, and if people are not trained how to play that game prior to surgery, they WILL FAIL. and your friend is failing....AND could be in for a big problem if she does not get that "#2" problem dealt with. I would serioulsy consider calling her Dr, and tell him/her what is happening....of course, ask the Dr not to tell her you called, but have the Dr call her in for a "routine" followup. This is a bad situation. HH

Nope, not me. Didn't have to lose an ounce. Have you decided which procedure you are going to have? If so, what were the compelling factors that made you choose one over the other? HH

There are a MILLION different viewpoints on this! LOL! As someone who has had both the Lap band and a Gastric Bypass, I can speak to this with some experience. For ME, the Bypass has been a good thing. The band, on the on other hand, was life-threatening, several times. You will find people that will have the opposite story to tell. Each and every method of WLS has its risks and benefits. There are complications with all of them; no method is entirely without some form of potential difficulty. If you search this site, you will see posts from myself and some other people that will give you a really good idea as to the problems with both forms of surgery. People who would never consider having a bypass will usually offer the argument that they are afraid of the Malabsorbtion component of the surgery. That is a valid concern, HOWEVER, there are circumstances where the malabsorbtion is something you NEED to have to make ANY form of WLS work for you. It all depends on YOUR BODY, and NOT whether any particular surgery has worked well for someone ELSE. My own case in point: I have been aware for many years that I just don’t eat THAT much. There have been times in my life that I DID eat a lot, but for the most part I was one of those guys that simply LOOKED at food and gained 5 pounds. My therapist recognized this, my personal trainer recognized this, and family and friends could see it too. For Many years prior to even considering having WLS, I had very often wished that there some method that would prevent me from absorbing much of what I ate….I wished that it would simply “pass on through”. So, for MY particular needs, I SHOULD have had the Gastric Bypass to begin with. Malabsorbtion is what I needed. And, it has worked for me. Very well, in fact. I am presently very happy at the PERFECT weight for my height and build. With Gastric Bypass, the simple facts about nutrition are that, for MOST people, if you take your vitamins, and eat sensibly, you will be fine and healthy. There are rules with the GB, as there are rules with EACH AND EVERY WLS. Try and circumvent the rules and you will gain weight, or have some significant problems. Again, this is the truth with EVERY WLS. I chose the lap band for many of the same reasons that people here have stated: “It’s reversible/removable”, “No cutting up of my insides”, “It’s adjustable to my needs”,…blah, blah, blah. And the damn thing nearly killed me. Literally. I had life threatening complications. Don’t get me wrong; as I have said here many times the Lap Band has worked wonders for many, many people. But there is increasing incidence of complications, failures, and injury from the Lap band. One of my surgeons has told me several times that he thinks it will be removed form the market within a few years, due to these increasing problems. I don’t think it will, but it is interesting to hear that from a Surgeon. I think that my point here is, that YOU don’t choose your Weight Loss Surgery; IT chooses YOU. And it chooses you after you have done extensive research, met with plenty of Doctors, had psychotherapy (yes, that is an IMPORTANT component), and have TRUTHFULLY analyzed what KIND of overeater you are. It’s not simple, like choosing what movie you are going to see this weekend, and you should plan on taking plenty of time to arrive at a decision. You have probably spent many, many years becoming overweight, and you need to commit to a significant amount of effort in deciding what your surgical solution will be. Talk to very, very experienced surgeons who have done hundreds of BOTH Bands and Bypasses, and find out what their outcomes have been with the different procedures. Talk to Drs who specialize in Bariatrics, to determine if what you need is malabsorbtion or restriction. Also, don’t entirely rule out diet and exercise. I know, like most overweight people you have probably tried that. Multiple times. But you need to make sure that you have given it your BEST SHOT. Hire a Trainer. See a nutritionist. People use diet and exercise every day to lose/maintain their weight. Many, many people are successful at it. For those who are not, there is Weight Loss Surgery. But you need to give it your best. Because, whether you like it or not, after you have Weight Loss Surgery of ANY kind, you will STILL be on a diet. And you will still need to exercise to maintain your health. Surgery of any kind should ALWAYS be a LAST RESORT. One thing I highly recommend is reading a book called “The PH Miracle”, by Dr. Robert O. Young. It’s a book that has changed my life. I firmly believe that if I had discovered this material many years ago, I would not be writing this, at this moment. I believe I would never have had weight Loss Surgery. Because, when you get right down to it, it’s NOT simply about losing weight….it’s about becoming HEALTHY. And one of the by-products of Good Health is arriving at your natural weight. Most people don’t concentrate on getting healthy….they just want to lose the weight. But if you make getting healthy your priority, you might see a difference in the outcome. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck in this process. It can be life-changing for you, as it has for me and the many other people on this forum.:thumbup: HH "The Journey is the Reward"

Having had a gastric Bypass, I can attest to the fact that MY appetite has DRAMATICALLY decreased. That, combined with feeling full very, very quickly has been wonderful. It's great to not constantly be thinking about what i'm going to eat next...... :thumbup:

The sleeve is a good choice for many. But not all. I'm pretty happy with my RNY. I think malabsorbtion is necessary for some types of people....it does play a role with some kinds of weight issues. As much as the sleeve SOUNDS like a perfect solution, well, it's still pretty new. I know, they've been doing them for a long time, but in very, very small numbers. It's only recently "taken off". So, there are not the huge numbers of patients to draw statistics from....we really don't have any idea what the long-term outcome is, in large numbers. There WILL be some flaw, some point of common difficulty that will be realized eventually....there is in EVERY form of WLS. One of the good things about the bypass is that they have doing them for 50 years, in very large numbers (in recent years), and we have more long-term stats with GB than any other WLS. The drs know pretty much what is going to happen short and long term with the majority of patients. The great thing is that we have choices. And I suspect that in the next decade there will be even more choices, surgical and medication and who-knows-what-else. And, I do believe that they will ultimately perfect REVERSALS for many of these surgical procedures so that down the road, if something better surfaces, we can enjoy those options as well. It's a pretty neat time to be alive, eh?:thumbup: HH

I'm not sure what you mean by "well liked".....she was actually quite well liked by people she worked with. I became acquainted with her first when she had her screen debut on Star Trek II, and then got to know her when she worked on Cheers (I worked at the studio where they made those). She was quite a lot of fun, and got along with most everyone....very personable. I had lunch with her a couple of times and she was a riot! I was surprised when i saw her begin to put on weight noticibly during "Veronica's Closet", because she always looked terrifc when i saw her on the lot. But, she was under a lot of pressure to succeed in her new series, and i suspect that is one of the reasons she turned to food.

This morning, as i drove from my home to a client's office, I saw no less than NINE billboards advertising the Lap Band. (I live in L.A.). And the television ads are all over the place as well. They DO make seem like it is the simple, easy way to lose weight. It's a pretty shady business, methinks......:thumbup: HH

Here's a little different perspective; Perhaps you should listen to the Nurse. I know how much you want this to happen, but it is entirely possible that this particular Nurse saw you as NOT being an appropriate candidate for the Band. In all fairness, you didn't give us a whole lot of info about the relationship you have with your therapist, what exactly her relationship is with the Nurse (therapists don't usually have Nurses), or what kind of conversations you had with the therapist. Did your therapist AGREE with you that the band would be right for you? Is the therapist qualified to make that decision? Again, I'm not sure what the relationships are here, but it would seem entirely possible that IF this Nurse was an experienced Nurse in Dealing with Bariatric cases, she MIGHT have simply identified you as someone who would NOT do well with the band. The Band does NOT work well for ALL people. It does wonders for many, but you really do have to be a certain kind of person to make it work. It may be that this Nurse thinks that ANOTHER WLS might be a better option for you. If you gave her a 40-year history on your weight ups-and-downs, she might simply have seen something in that history that might have precluded you being successful with a Band. Have you talked with your therapist since you saw the Nurse? it might be possible that in the time between your last meeting with the therapist and your meeting with the Nurse, that THEY spoke and came to the conclusion that the band might not be right for you. Just something to consider...:redface: HH

Count me in too, Nanook! Had a HORRIBLE experience with the band (it almost killed me....it really did!), it was removed a year ago, and at the same time I had a RNY. I have since lost 100 pounds exactly, and I am at my very perfect weight. I have had a few complications; stricture and ulcer, but they are coming under control. As time goes on, I think there will be many more who have "revised"......either to RNY or perhaps the sleeve..... HH

Jachut is our "poster child" for Lap band success when combined with hard-core exercise....she's an inspiration, and you should listen to her when she talks WORKOUT!:mad2: Also, consider going BACK and taking the education class that you skipped during your pre-band days. I'm sure that your Surgeon wouldn't mind you sitting in on someone elses session....If you feel you are not doing this correctly, then start over. Make an appt with a Band-specific nutrionist/Dietician, and find out the CORRECT way to go about this. Also, don't discount your success thus far. 25 pounds is a GREAT start, even if it has been slower than you want. You have to WORK with the band, and find your "sweet spot", and find the right combination of diet and exercise that will make it work for YOU. HH

Listen to Jachut. She's a lean, mean, fat-burning machine!:mad2: Diet pills won't do anything but mess up your metabolism. Let the Band do it's job. Slow and easy. I understand the frustration of waiting, but it probably took you many years to become overweight. It's gonna take some time to take it off SAFELY. Exercise. Seriously. Keep one important thing in mind: It's NOT about getting thin....it's about getting HEALTHY....and a by-product of being TRULY HEALTHY is being at your CORRECT weight. So concentrate on getting healthy....excercise....your body NEEDS that to be healthy. HH "the journey is the reward"

Welll......Kaiser DOES offer Bariatric Surgery as part of its plan....although, perhaps YOUR particular plan may not have it, but I think all Kaiser Plans offer that coverage. It's possible that your BMI or something else does not qualify you for WLS.... It may be that you are in that "zone" where you weigh more than you want, but not enough to qualify you for surgery. HH

I'm not sure that I would characterize this Surgeon's actions as "intimidation". The surgeon may have had a reason for recommending that THIS particular patient choose the Bypass....we really don't know. And, the Surgeon may have simply been very aware of many of the band failures and other problems, and thought it best that the Patient choose the Bypass. Either way, it doesn't sound like intimidation would describe the conversation. I do agree, however, that the OP should NOT have this surgeon perform the operation if she chooses the Lap Band. My methodology (now) would be to do comprehnesive research, Choose the PROCEDURE first, and then choose the BEST SURGEON that does that particular procedure. Like WasABubbleButt, I abhor the "Weight Loss Surgery Mills", but I have no problem with a surgeon that has decided that they prefer one particular method and he/she has decided to specialize in THAT method. But, I think that the patient has to go into the selection process with an open mind, choose the RIGHT procedure for them, and then choose the surgeon that is the best at performing THAT operation.

Hi, lauren; Sorry you've a rough time with the band. It simply does NOT WORK for SOME PEOPLE, for a wide variety of reasons. You need to make sure that you have given it your best shot (sounds like you have), and then look elsewhere. There ARE other options, and one of them might be perfect for you. The Sleeve is a good one - Talk to WasABubblebutt about that one, she' had one, and she's very happy with it. I've had a Gastric Bypass, and my success with it has been very, very good. I am now at my perfect weight. The incidence of RNY regaining their weight is extremely rare, and you really have to work at it to be able to put the weight back on. There are those here who may disagree with that, but if the surgeon really knows what they are doing, then the GB gives you a VERY good shot at reaching your goal. I understand that you are fearful of the more invasive surgeries. But, you need to consider what your life may be like if you do NOT get the weight under control. There ARE things that CAN go wrong with WLS.....but there are also things that WILL happen for SURE if you do NOT find a way to control your weight....diabetes, stroke, heart difficulty, and that's just the beginning. If you have really given the band it's best shot, then begin to look at the other options. Keep us posted, and ask plenty of questions! HH