kiz

froggi, I'm wondering if your hormone levels are within a normal range. Depending on the amount of weight you have to lose, you may be experiencing some unusual hair growth, among other issues, that will be resolved as your weight comes down. Anyway, that's just a thought. I know the doctor mentioned at the lap band seminar that some women who thought they had gone through menopause, had actually just had weight related menstrual issues, and found themselves fertile after weight loss.

If it was included in my fee, I'd stay. It will cost me an extra $5,000 to stay the night, so barring any complications, I'll be going home the day of surgery. I find it very hard to sleep in the hospital, but those IV pain meds and fluids sure sound nice. I can't see paying $5,000 for the benefits though.

Hello everyone. I have so many questions and concerns. The message board has already been very helpful to me. I'm 46 and have been considering the surgery for about an year. My bmi is 39.5, so I think I can put on the extra couple of pounds to qualify for the surgery without too much trouble. :wink2: I went to the doctor's seminar the other night. It ended up discouraging me more than anything else. The doctor who spoke is the head surgeon, and he's not very supportive of this procedure. He is top in his field in gastric bypass surgery, and he highly recommends it over Lap Band. He has surgeons in his practice that perform the Lab Band surgery though. A couple of his thoughts (my paraphrasing): 1. It does nothing to relieve the constant hunger. 2. Over the many years he's practiced medicine, he's seen several restrictive surgeries come and go, and he said in Europe, where Lap Band has been used for several years, it is falling out of favor do to its less than favorable results. After reading this message board, one of my concerns is the inability to drink fluids during meals. I can give up my diet coke addiction, my rare beer, and bread, but having no fluids during meals is going to be hard. I also was under the impression that the surgery was much easier to reverse than it seems to be. I'm worried that like all the other diets I've tried, that I'll not lose, and I'll be stuck with the Lap Band. I'm self pay, so I won't be needing a insurance authorization. My doctor's evaluation is scheduled for next month. Thanks for reading ~ Kiz

OMG...I'm so sorry that happened to you, but thank you so much for posting about your experience. I don't have a lap band yet, but I can assure you that when I do, I won't forget your warning.

Thanks for you input, benhamgirl. The doctor I first met doesn't even perform lap band surgery. He had preformed gastric bypass for two women I knew several years ago (mom and daughter). They highly recommended him. I didn't realize he only did the gastric bypass, which is fine, but his seminar was VERY one sided. I left thinking of giving up on lap band altogether, just as you did. However, I wasn't going to have gastric bypass; that's just too too invasive and altering for me to even wrap my mind around. I'd almost given up. This board has been a godsend to me. I've gotten SO much information and support from both newbies and veterans. I'm very thankful for my Internet addiction since it led me here ...lol

That's great froggi. It'll be so much easier having your surgery and subsequent doctor's visits locally (I was born at Camden Clark too ). I would travel for it, if necessary, but nothing beats having your doc nearby. zengirl, I'm sorry that you're not responding well to your lap band. I do have to wonder if your "cheats" aren't part of the problem. I'm a complete novice, so I'm in no position to know for sure, but it sure seems like the carbonated beverages could be wrecking havoc with your stomach pouch, leading to more hunger. I'm weaning off the carbonated drinks now. After yo yo dieting for several years, I'm going to try to follow my doctor's recommendations as much as possible. I'm sure there'll be good and bad days, but if I don't cut out the carbonated drinks, yeasty breads, and sweets, I'd be sabotaging my surgery. I know it's easier said than done, but I am a one who is very motivated by results. I have to gain a few pounds by my doctor's appointment (:thumbup:) - never thought I'd say those words - so I am backing off my exercise a little, but I hope keeping active will help in dropping this excess weight. I do hope this turns around for you. I can imagine it must be terribly frustrating. Best wishes to you.

You sound like me, GramaLisa. I want to read up on everything I can get my hands ahold of, to make the most informed decision possible. After I finish reading here, I'm going to look into ordering the book your nutritionist recommended. I'm sorry to hear about all the difficulties your friends at work have experienced with gastric bypass. Some of those are heart breaking. I don't know how I could cope with gaining all the weight back after going through such a life altering surgery. I hope you hear back real soon from your insurance. Thanks for your kind words, froggi, but I'm not surprised, because you come from a great part of the country. My husband and I were born and raised in Parkersburg. We haven't lived there for years though. I think you were probably a little baby last time we called Parkersburg home. Where will you have your surgery?

Thanks for your support, ja9va. I've read your posts on this thread, and they've been VERY helpful. Is it HOT enough here? LOL, in a word: :thumbup:

LeLee, just wanted to give you a quick update. I went to the seminar given by Dr. Brengman this evening, and I couldn't have been more impressed. I'm going to make an appointment with his office tomorrow for the evaluation. I'm very excited to get the process rolling!

Thanks for the tip about having fruit with dinner, Susanbee. That seems like it would be a very good way to "wash" down food. I'm so glad that you're having such great success. Good luck, Regang. I hope you hear back from your insurance soon. I have some good news. I went to a seminar with a different surgical group and had a completely different experience. The doctor was very positive and gave a more balanced view of the lap band procedure. I also went to the seminar equipped with a lot more information after spending hours reading this site. I'm going to call their office in the morning and schedule an evaluation and cancel the appointment I made with the other office. I do think that if the doctor that actually performs the lap band surgery, rather than the gastric bypass specialist, had presented last week's meeting it would have been much better, at least for me. I'm glad, now, that it pushed me to find another office.

At the seminar I attended two people had questions concerning their hernias, and the doctor didn't seem to imply that a previous hernia operation would have any negative impact getting the lap band.

First, I have to say I haven't been banded, so this is theoretical. :tongue2: Are you keeping a food log? If you aren't, I really think it would help you to do that. Even without exercise, you are not eating very many calories, so there may be something in your diet that is slowing down your progress. Also, if continue to not lose, and you talk to your doctor, you'll have your daily food intake readily available. Next, please get up 15 minutes early (if this is possible) and do ten minutes on the treadmill. When you get home from work, go another ten or take a ten minute walk. Work to increase these segments every week, until you're up to 30 minutes per day (although, more is better, within reason). Like soobydoo said, if you have something to help pass the time while you're on the treadmill, the faster the time will pass. After you increase your time, be sure and increase your speed, and vary your routine so you don't get into a boring rut. If you have a heart monitor, try to keep your heart rate up, as long as that's within your doctor's recommendations. Also, you can add some muscle building excercise as you feel comfortable. Good luck!! Keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks, LeLee. I'm so glad to know you had such a positive experience with his group. I'm really looking forward to going to their seminar tomorrow night. I would have to agree that driving 11 hours for your band fills is high praise.

I'm really glad to hear your seminar was very positive, autumnleaf. Hopefully, since you already know you're qualified, things move quickly for you.

WOOT WOOT LELEE!! You look absolutely stunning. Congratulations on your incredible new body!!! I'm excited about attending the seminar tomorrow night with Dr. Brengman's group. Did you feel like you were well taken care of by Dr. Brengman and his office staff? I'd appreicate any information about him and his associates. Thanks.

I **WON'T** MISS :incazzato:: 1. Gaining ten pounds a year 2. Giving up even trying to lose weight. It always comes back, plus some 3. Giving up so many outdoor activities that I love (skiing, backpacking, snorkeling, hiking, long walks with my dear husband, bike riding, ...) 4. Wearing same clothes that are so tight that I look like a stuffed sausage, but I'll be darned if I'm going up YET another size 5. Underwear that feel like thongs, but aren't 6. Feeling great about my hair and makeup, and then looking in a full length mirror and feeling like crap 7. Having a husband that loves and supports me regardless of my size, and feeling like I'm letting him down 8. Living in fear that airlines are going to start charging passengers by the pound 9. Not going in for routine physicals before I'm so embarrassed to be weighed Thanks for starting this thread! This is so cathartic. I'm still in the first stage of exploring the banding option, and this is helping me immensely.

Hi autumnleaf and kimaly. I'm new, and from VA too. I'm from Richmond. I'm at the very first stage of the process. I went to a seminar last week, and I'm going to another one nextweek presented by a different surgical group. I'm both excited and scared about the process. I guess that's pretty normal. What did you think of the seminar you attended autumnleaf? Best of luck to you, kimaly, on your upcoming surgery.

Hi Richmond Banders. I know this thread was started quite awhile ago, but I enjoyed reading about everyone's progress. It's so helpful to read these longer threads to get an idea of what to expect from the beginning of the journey. I went to Commonwealth Surgeons' seminar last week, and I'm going to Richmond Physicians' seminar next week. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do. I haven't decided for sure whether to have the surgery, but I think I'm about 75% committed to it at this point. I'm also undecided as to which group to go to for the surgery. I hope next week's seminar helps me decide.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK AIRFORCEWIFE! Also, congrats on your new addition!!

What a coincidence entwife, my older brother, nephew, great nephew and great niece, and one on the way live in Houston. I've visited Houston a few times too, but it's been a while. froggi1985, I'm so glad you feel Lap Band will work for you. It sounds like you must have done your research, and are well on your way to permanent weight loss. I hope you didn't get the impression that I thought Lap Band wouldn't be successful if you had a lot of weight to lose (although, even though my BMI is at the bottom of the acceptable range, I still have so much to lose too). I really meant that I would only *consider* gastric bypass if I had more substantial problems, but I would have still weighed the options for Lap Band. The idea of the gastric bypass scares the bejeebers out of me. Best of luck to your continued success!!! I'm with ya bas!! I, like probably many others on this board, have a huge wardrobe of clothes that, unfortunately, span many sizes. I'm so looking forward to looking forward to shopping for clothes again. :thumbup: Now, it's just a sad chore. :thumbup: tommaney, I think you "hit the nail on the head" with this statement :tongue2:: >>His motto is "If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." That is, if a doctor is only skilled at one or two surgeries, then he/she may only see patients as fitting into his/her skill set.<< I really believe the doctor did not have ill intent in his lack luster opinion of Lap Band (ill intent meaning, the almost triple cost for gastric bypass and pushing his specialty to gain patients). If I had to guess, I think he's very excited and pleased with his patient's results from GB, and his enthusiasm spilled over to an almost negative LB presentation. Also, thanks for those great resources, I've already checked them out, and will keep them bookmarked for more research.

Thanks so much for your reply, nyllrap. I do wonder if the seminar I attended was hosted by the surgeon who actually performs the Lap Band procedure, if it would have been a more balanced presentation.

Great question! I'm just at the research stage stage, and I had not even considered the life of the band. I'll be very interested in an answer too.

Good Luck MsMia!! I'm just beginning my journey. You're way ahead of me (I've been to the seminar and have scheduled an evaluation appointment for July). I'll be excited to hear about your progress!!!

HarleyGirl, I'm very encouraged to hear you and others are able to successfully cope with the hunger issues. I've been reading posts about it on several threads, and I think that I'll be fine with it. The doctor that led the seminar I attended really had me discouraged. In fact, I've found another surgical group out of the same hospital that appears to be more Lap Band friendly. I've made an appointment to go to their seminar next week. I've read very good things about the Lap Band specialist from the original group, but I'm hesitant to follow through with them due to the program their gastric bypass specialist presented. I know that doctor believes in that procedure, but with just squeaking in the BMI range and with no other complications that are apparent, I wouldn't consider that drastic of an operation for myself.

I do think part of the adjustment will be that I'm eating much smaller meals, and staying plenty hydrated other times during the day. I'm just going to have to accept the no liquids with meals. You all are giving me plenty of encouragement to believe it's possible. Thanks for the explanations as to why it's important too.