Bella

Has anyone used him for their banding? Any references?

Hi all, I'm loving this forum! I'm 248 at 5'8 1/2" so I have a BMI of 37. Not covered by insurance:faint: I can't decide between the lap band or the RNY and I would love to hear your input on either surgery. RNY - you lose weight faster, but then you have a higer risk of death/complications, longer recovery time, BUT you don't have to struggle with eating healthy because you will lose weight no matter what. I do worry that I will lose weight so fast that EVERYONE at the office will be talking about it behind my back. You know how judgemental other women can be... Lap band - cheaper (I am selfpay) very low chance of complications so I feel confident that I WILL survive .. that's a big deal. :nervous short recovery time ... loving that too, but I WILL have to struggle with the food issue which had all my life. I like the idea of losing about 10 pounds a months which slow enough so that people won't freak out. See another thing is I won't tell my co-workers ... they WILL talk about me like a dog. But I don't want to be like Star Jones and keep a lie that everyone KNOWS is a lie. So if I'm seen eating small heathly foods and I lose weight slowly .. it will seem natural. Of course, I will tell my close friends as I know they will be supportive. It seems though the the loose skin thing affects people that go will either choice - but I already have a lot of muscle. My feeling is that if I do light weights with many repititians ... I can keep my skin fairly well toned.?? My goal weight is 135.. - of course, I can't even imagine being that small. PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS!!!!!:help:

I always take Centrum (one a day) so - are you taking two of these kind of Multivitamin a day? Thanks!

Hi all, I'm stilll waiting for my surgery. Question: I've been reading about VBG Vertical Band Gas or sometimes it's written as the VGB. Basically, they stable your stomach so it's the same restrictive surgery as the lapband BUT from what I read - it's more effective. Any thoughts about this option? Thanks in advance! <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Hi, Thanks for your reply. Actually, I'm American but have been living in Holland a number of years. My surgeon is in Belgium. The surgery staples your tummy but it is definitely reversable. No cutting involved - although yes, the staples could 'tear' you. :cry I've just email my Doctor (his aid at least) and asked his thoughts about switching. I like the lapband but from my research so far: - I worry about being HUNGRY and not being able to eat those 6 weeks before my first fill - I worry about having to get a fill or an unfill until I hit my 'sweet spot' - I worry about slippage but with the VGB .. it would more like a tear .. which is WORSE when I think about it.... :omg: Ummm now I feel a little silly because it seems like small things that I'm worrying about. I guess what got me in this line of thinking is ... I want to lose weight FOR SURE .. not for 'maybe' and when I read too many bad lspband stories, I'm afraid I'll end up like them. I'm self-pay so I don't want to go in for a revision and pay all over again ... I just want the weight OFF. (don't we all!) No, RNY is over the top, My doctor advises - there's no sense in going that dramatic as my goal is 90 pounds AT MOST. I agree. I guess I just needed to talk to someone about this... thanks for letting me vent. I'll figure it out. :decision: I must say the VBG forums on www.obsesity.com is like NOTHING as compared to this lapband forum! I log in a read EVERY DAY as I obsess over my weight EVERYDAY. Thanks again!

Gosh, I'm surprised too. But I don't see how removing the band is going to stop her 'head' problems. If she continues to eat like that WITHOUT the band - she's just gonna get fat again and ... still have the head problems. I think she subconsciously wants to get fat again because surely she can get help for her 'head' problems AND keep the band so she doesn't get fat again? I don't get it. I feel bad for her though.

Hi all, I'm waiting for my surgery too! Question: I've been reading about VBG Vertical Band Gas or sometimes it's written as the VGB. Basically, they stable your stomach so it's the same restrictive surgery as the lapband BUT from what I read - it's more effective. Any thoughts about this option? Thanks in advance

I'm a Computer Consultant. Several years ago, I fell in love with a Dutch guy and moved to Holland. I broke up with the guy but I stayed on as I can pretty much do my exact same job here in this country!

Hi, Ummm what's the HGTV board?? :confused:

Thank you very much Leatha for your clear explaination. This information alleviates my concerns.:confused: I guess I've been reading too many posts on people having problems when most people don't have problems at all. Ok ... back to my research!! :decision:

Question - once the band does slip ... why does it have to come out?:confused: That's what I've been reading on these threads. It seems ... the band might be precarioius ... and once it 'slips' game over.:cry I also read that some doctors actually sew the land to the stoma in some way - just to avoid slippage.:plane:

What I read - somewhere in these posts was that some doctors automatically prescribe diet pills for that post op period. As you may know diet pills only decrease your appitite for about a month - that's it - but that would be enough until you first fill. I plan on ordering something from the internet - just in case my doctor does not prescribe anything for the hungries! :biggrin1: Check it out!

I have a question for all you long time slow losers. From what I've been reading, many people have hair loss when they lose weight because of an decrease in the kind of iron you find in beef. That and the fact that when you are stressed lot of nutrients like vitaman B goes to your other vital organs and away from parts of your body where it's not so critical - like your hair. Ive read that you should take iron suppliments as well as B complex vitamens and of course 1000 - 5000 mg of biotin per day. I'm just curious if a slow weight lose also helps you avoid losing hair? Any ideas?

Something clicked for me too! I just decided I HAVE to do this! My date is set for Jan. 23 - wish it were sooner but I've already booked and paid for a 1 month adventure tour so I can't have the surgery earlier. I CAN'T WAIT! I'M REALLY UP FOR IT! :biggrin1:

I'm looking forward to getting real about my weight! I just realized .. my weight goal is not reasonable!! (I'm just venting here) My weight should be 165 so why in the heck did I plan on 135??? I've never been 135!! When I check the bmi scale for a person 5'9", 165 would put me at 24.4 - within a 'normal' range. Oddly enough, I used to weight 165 and I thought I was fat! Of course, this was years ago before I figured out that I looked fine ... and just didn't know it. I wore a size 10/12 and still complained that I was too fat! It's a sickness folks!! What I wouldn't do to be 165 again:faint: Sorry to hyjack thread - just had to get that out!!!

Ohhhh I read that EXACT Memorial listing!! That's why I decided AGAINST RNY!! Sorry but my research so far tells me the lapband is no where near as dangerous as the other surgeries. My doctor has done hundreds and only lost 1. This was because the person had a very high BMI with other healths problems which in fact may have lead to a premature death anyway. I'm booked for late Jan. 2007 and can't wait. My only fear is that I will be one of the very few that's body cannot tolerate the band - then I'm back to square 1 again.:phanvan I say - go for it!

I'm waiting to be banded as well. I'm reading these threads everyday with great interest as I am hoping and praying that this works for me. I'm not short - but I am healthy, and workout - thought in starts - but I have to come to believe I'm powerless over food. Powerless!! Ahhhh ... and I DON'T want to get any fatter. Like the others say ... I'm tired of dreading summer because EVERYONE wearing those cute skirts and tops ... and I'm wishing I could pull out my raincoat and coverup again. I'm that hoping that THIS will be my LAST winter covering up like this! I just wanna wear some cute jeans and a short fitted leather jacket ... and be COMFORTABLE in my own skin!!!:clap2: Can't WAIT to get banded.

Alllll I want to be able to wear are ... a nice pair of jeans!!!:clap2: (I have a long list actually ... this is just number ONE on my list)

The insurance is only 145 euro out of the 5700 I will pay. That's a great price though! Frankly, I want the insurance as I'm afraid that if I have complications - it will surely leave me in the poor house as my regular insurance will not cover it. Did Dr Dilleman over any insurance to you -or explain who would pay of you have complications? Did you just give him a call and arrange that price with him directly? About the 33 - I see your point. Insurance here will only pay for it if I'm at 40 but I'm afraid I can hardly stand my fat butt right now - so how would I feel if I gained even MORE weight! :angry Noooo ... I may as well get it off now and like you said - avoid the baggy skin look as much as possble! Thanks for the 'stone' conversion. A friend of mine had the DS and went from a size 24 to a size ... 4. She looks beautiful ... but the loose skin is a big issue. She will now have several surgeries just to get rid of all that - plus she had complications ... so in the end ..she's in and out of the hospital. She's very happy with her results though. I figure for me I just want to have a breast lift - because basically I need one now so losing weight will just make it worse. That's all the PS I want really! Thanks!

Hi! Sorry to confuse you but I'm an American living in Holland. I've been here over 7 years and don't plan on return to the States. :biggrin1: Brugge is only 2 hours away so it's no problem to commute for my fills. The lapband is much cheaper over here than the States.

Great! I found him on the internet too. The package deal based in the UK that arranges everything on Brugges with the doctor. It's surgery, all costs related too and flight from the Uk to Brugge, hotel etc for like 7000 or something. I'm just get the al la cart deal which is 5700 (everything - even insurance if something goes wrong). WAS YOUR DEAL LOWER THAN THIS FIGURE??? I'm surprised you got the band at only 33- I must spread that information around! I'm at 37 which is not high as any many others - but heck I'M FAT! Hee hee! You must be British - well I'm from the States. What is a 'stone'? Anyway, how was your prep and procedure? Tell me what you went through? Yes, January ... I'm just dying to peel off this fat suit. )

Gosh a 'family affair' hugh? Did you get a family discount? Did you take a 'package deal' from the UK/Ireland or did you just find him on your own? I'm based in Holland - where are you based? What were your experiences? I can't wait to get banded! Let me know your thoughts so far!:clap2:

Wowwwww you look AMAZINING ... Actually ... you look a bit like myself!:grouphug: Can't wait to get banded so I can look just as gorgeous as you. (You must be beating the brothers off with a stick!!)

Hi, Having a low day - my date is Jan. 23rd so I've got a long wait. I'm going nuts because I think I'm overeating more now and everytime I look in the mirror . ECCCCCK! I can't stand myself! (just venting:faint: ) Any words of encouragement? Thanks!

Good for you. I'm not telling anyone but my HR lady at my job - but only because she has to see the doctors info. so I can prove I'm not sitting on the beach for 2 weeks! Hee hee! I think regular people that have to lose 5 or 10 pounds - don't understand what it is to have a weight PROBLEM. It's .. like having a gambling PROBLEM or a drinking PROBLEM etc... I think for me ... I finally came to accept the fact that ... I am powerless over food. It's like a drug for me! Hard to admit - but true. :think