cinward2001

Nope, not at all. We eat out a LOT because I hate to cook. We ate out last night. I had peanuts, some of my husband's steak, and some of my son's zucchini, salad, and shrimp. I don't always *mooch* off of them, but I rarely order my own entree these days. But I can always find something to eat at a restaurant... Special Noodle Soup (without the noodles) at our favorite Japanese restaurant, tuna salad and crackers at the local deli, salmon and grilled veggies, steak and grilled veggies, etc. The hardest thing for me is avoiding sweet tea, but when my band is tight, if I drink anything cold, I can't eat...so the band even helps with that.

Unfortunately, a LOT of people get banded without doing the research first. Then, they're surprised at what the band does and doesn't do. I also think that, sometimes, people discover things that they didn't know about themselves after banded...and it's not always good things. For example, before banding, I didn't think that I was such an emotional eater. I know different now. : I want to eat when I'm celebrating, I want to eat when I'm discouraged, I want to eat when I'm bored. So I'm having to work at separating food from emotion. It's also kind of hard to accept, sometimes, that I was morbidly obese simply because I *put too much food in my mouth.* In the past, I always said it was because of genetics and a slow metabolism. But it really was ME.

Thanks, Maria, I'm trying! LOL This is good for me, too. Most of the time, I don't feel like a successful bandster and that's something I need to work on. It's part of making my head *see* the changes and really believe them. I never really knew, until banding, how much of losing weight was a "head game." The band helps immensely with the physical part of it, but I'm the one who has to fix the head stuff. I think it's part of why I could never lose weight before...with both the physical AND mental stuff to fight, it just wasn't possible. My poor husband...LOL...he's the one that gets to hear me "re-affirming" my weight loss all the time. I still tend to see myself as a fat chick, so I'm sure to many people I'd sound very vain, but he knows better. Just the other day I was getting my hair cut by a gal who is tall, blonde, and very attractive. When she asked me what size I was, I told her a 12....and she said "You're smaller than I am. I wear 16s." I think my jaw dropped to the floor. In my head, I'm thinking "NO way am I smaller than she is!" :present: But the other part of me was doing a "happy, happy, joy, joy" dance because it's TRUE and I'm finally starting to believe it. :present: Then, I have nights like last night when I dream that I've overeaten and gained 80 lbs back. :girl_hug: Cindy

First, recognize that you're using foods for things *other* than nutrition. food really shouldn't be a source of happiness, it shouldn't be a source of comfort, or a place to turn when we're depressed, angry, sad, etc. There are plenty of OTHER ways to deal with emotions other than food. Take a long bubble bath if you need pampering, hit a heavy bag if you're angry, go for a walk if you're bored, call a friend or dance to some music if you're happy and want to celebrate. You have to *actively* begin substituting other activities for eating. With time, it becomes easier because as you lose weight, you begin doing so much more. I used to hate shopping. Still not too crazy about it, but I've found that, when I'm feeling really good about myself, instead of celebrating with food, I can easily spend several hours trying on clothes. As for cooking...well, I've never liked it. But I've been told by others that they still enjoy cooking, but they try to cook healthier, and yes, eat less of it. If cooking is about being an *activity,* then you can still enjoy it. If it's just about *eating,* then yes, you'll need to change your thinking and make it more about the cooking itself than the food. This is all hardest in the beginning, because you haven't yet felt and seen the benefits of having the band and yet you're giving up a "friend," a source of comfort, a habit, etc. But as you lose weight, it gets easier and easier. :girl_hug: So you have to take it one step at a time and do your best. Cindy

Marjon and Audree (and anyone else), you really *need* to stop this. Here is why...any type of rapid weight gain causes your liver to enlarge. Your surgeon has to *pick up* your liver and move it out of the way in order to reach the stomach to place the band. There HAVE been cases where a surgeon refuses to do surgery because of weight gain and/or during the procedure, decide that the liver is too unhealthy to continue. So in a very real way, you're putting getting banded at risk...and I don't think anyone wants to do that. I did a very small amount of last supper eating prior to banding. I did not have a pre-op diet at all. Mainly, I ate a few more things here and there that I knew wouldn't work well with a band...such as pizza. But I also knew that getting banded does NOT mean never eating these foods again. I've had pizza since banding...and doughnuts...and cake...and pasta...rice...bread...can you tell I'm not a "perfect" bandster? But I had those things early in my banding. NOT during the 6 weeks of healing, but at various times before fills or when my band was particularly loose. So if you stop thinking that this is the last time you'll eat "X," then you won't feel so desperate to eat it all now. You also know that you're not doing yourself any favors by having more weight to lose. If you need guidelines, then tell yourself that you're going to practice eating like a bandster now. Put small portions of protein and produce on your plate, take very small bites, and eat very slowly. If you do that and you're still hungry, then get more protein and produce...but better yet, get up from the table and take a walk. I really DO know how you're feeling. I struggled with the same things this time last year. I remember telling myself that *this* week I'd give up sweet tea...and then it was the next...and the next. I never did make any serious dietary changes pre-banding...but I also didn't go crazy in the other direction either. Cindy

Whitney, the scales don't measure health, that's for sure. I've always resented it (a lot) when someone sees a thin person and assumes they're healthy...and because I'm overweight, assumes that I'm not. Even at 200+, I took karate, aerobics classes, never had any co-morbidities, no meds, etc. Actually, I've never attended a support group meeting. I'm not much for groups...I find that I get a bit too critical...as in "Quit your bitchin' and do what you need to do!" I do, however, read this board, and participate in the SmartBandsters group. So my support is online. :huggie: I was self-pay for my surgery, so thought that I'd have to pay for all of my fills, too. Lo and behold, my insurance at least pays for the fluoro part...I pay the doctor. So they cost me $150 each time (instead of $300). Cindy

Wph (sorry, not sure of your real name), I worried about failing, too. I STILL do. : I'm 41 yrs. old, I've been over weight since my late teens. So I'm not one of these people who gained weight due to a pregnancy, illness, or used to be an athlete, etc, and then just had trouble taking it off. I fought my weight for 20+ years. When you repeatedly fail, and fail again, and then again...even if you manage to lose some weight and then you find yourself right back where you started (or worse) 6 months later...well, it makes it really hard to believe that "this" time will work. In previous weight loss attempts, I often had a "stop" date in mind. I did BFL for 12 weeks...but after 12 weeks, that was it....and the weight came back. Most people work really hard to lose a "set" amount of weight, or for a certain occasion (this summer, that wedding, before the vacation), and then you revert back to old habits or simply give up because it's so HARD. But here's what's different about the band. You *can't* really give up. Oh, sure, you can work really hard to work *around* the band. You can not get fills, you can eat ice cream all the time, etc...but if you simply follow the guidelines (protein and veggies first) MOST of the time, you find that it DOES WORK. And when you feel full with just a small amount, you're NOT feeling deprived (like most diets), so you don't want the junk and the ice cream as much. Note that I said "as much." Shoot, I still want junk...I want something junky right now. But I'm not really hungry, so it's much easier to ignore that "voice" in my head...I'm going to go get some Water in a few minutes, start working, and then, before I know it, it'll be dinner time anyway. So try not to worry too much about failing. Take it one step at a time. My first few weeks post-op were pretty easy. I was a lucky one in that the first 2-3 weeks, I really wasn't that hungry. I found that if I gulped liquids, it was pretty uncomfortable...so I sipped all day long. Also, and I think this is VERY IMPORTANT for EVERY new bandster. Before you go to surgery, get RID of the scales. Give them to a friend, have someone hide them (my DH hides them for me), throw them in the trash. I'm SERIOUS. The first few weeks after surgery are emotional. Some people have mood swings from the anesthesia, some people are mourning food, some people want to have lost 20 lbs right NOW simply because you've made that first step. But the first 6wks really ARE about healing. Stick to your liquids/mushies/soft foods regimen that your doctor recommends and do NOT worry about the weight loss. Consider any loss a bonus, but focus ALL of your attention on doing what's right for the band in this healing time. Even within that healing phase, you can practice making GOOD CHOICES for your liquids. Choose skim milk instead of a milk shake, eat cottage cheese (for a soft food) instead of mashed potatoes...but even then, you're adjusting to a new life, so if you need the milkshake one day , drink it. I did find that, once I moved off of liquids, that it was harder. I started getting hungrier and I missed "eating." By moving to mushy foods, it was just "normal" enough that I really wanted to BE back to normal. So I did things like pureed Beans with cheese on top, which for me (because of the cheese) is something I normally wouldn't do, so it was a treat. By the time I was eating solids for a few weeks, and feeling NO restriction, I'm pretty sure that I was GAINING weight. But since the scales were gone, I couldn't panic about it. I went for a fill instead. I never really craved sugar any more than I crave it now. I always want sweet tea, I always want chocolate. I CAN say that, in the beginning, when I hadn't had ANY of it, it was easier. I do think that you "de-tox" from the carbs and sugar IF you're avoiding them...but once you start them, you want them again. : But still, all of those cravings are so much easier to deal with now! I started exercising about 2 (maybe 2.5) months post-op. I'd lost enough weight by then (again, no clue of numbers, but I could tell in my clothing), that I felt like I could with trying to buy some workout clothes. I do think exercising is VERY important, but for LOTS of reasons beyond losing weight. It's good for your heart, bone density, lungs, blood pressure, and more importantly for me, my MOOD. Exercise is an endorphin release for me...best anti-depressant I've ever tried. Breakfast and lunch my band is pretty tight. I have to be *really* careful at breakfast. Some mornings, breakfast is just hot tea with a bit of sugar. Most often, it's a Kashi GoLean or South Beach bar on the way to my workout. Lunch is also very small, depending on how the band feels that day. An example might be 4 or 5 bites of tuna salad on crackers, or another Protein Bar. Today, it was some Hawaiin chicken and Shrimp salad. But I always try to think Protein and produce FIRST. If your meals are on the run, you'll find portable things that work well. Yes, I've PB'd. It really is NOT a big deal most of the time. Usually a week or so after a fill, I forget that my band is tighter and do something stupid like eating too fast, or too big of a bite, or the wrong food. I haven't PB'd now in weeks. The main thing, I think, is that it really IS a manageable occurrence. If you slow down and LISTEN to how your band feels, you can avoid them. Whew! What a long-winded post! I hope that it helps some. Cindy

I'm chuckling after catching up on this thread. It's great to read everyone's excitement and enthusiasm! I weighed today and I'm now 95% of the way to my original goal (175). I think that I'm going to continue on to either 165 or 155, but I can't believe that I'm in the 170s. I think it's very normal to have the LapBand "consume" your thoughts these days. I know that, last Christmas, I was more hopeful and positive than I'd been in a long, long time. And that hope and positive attitude helped me to make better food choices (despite the "last supper" syndrome), and it gave me more energy and pep so I started moving more. THIS Christmas, I'm giddy. Can't wait to see some people who haven't seen me in a while. Sunshine, I don't think of myself as much of a "leader" with the lapband. lol I've had my ups and downs...not with the band so much (no problems there), but with the "head games." Worrying that I won't get to where I want to be, knowing that I'm thinner but not *seeing* it (that's getting better), and I'm not always the most compliant bandster. I've had days at a time where I'm snacking, eating chocolate, etc. But overall, I think I'm a typical bandster, so if I can answer any questions or offer any advice, I'm willing. Cindy

Can previous January bandsters join in here? I was banded 1/19/06, and I can still so vividly remember this time last year while waiting for January to roll around. We were looking at last year's video of Christmas and oh, my gosh, it was HARD to watch that person. I've lost almost 80 lbs, dropped from a 24/26 pants to a 12/14, and have about 25 lbs to my goal...only 7 lbs to the goal I set myself when I was first banded. I'm in the best shape of my life right now and I'm THRILLED that I got the band. This time NEXT year, so many of you will be able to say the same thing. I'm not an exceptional bandster...I still snack sometimes, eat the wrong things, etc., so if I can do this, I honestly believe that anyone can. You're definitely starting your New Year off right!! Cindy

scales lie. All the time. You really shouldn't use them for more than general "trends." But if you're like me, it's really, really hard to weigh once/week and then look at the ups and downs over the course of a month and say "Yes, it's mostly down." For women, it can be really rough. Hormonal changes during a month can have you gaining 6 or 7 pounds in Fluid retention. So if you're losing at a steady 1-2 lbs/week, it can LOOK like you haven't lost anything in an entire month. In fact, it can LOOK like you've gained weight! Best thing, I think, is to put the scales away for weeks at a time. Instead, get a too tight pair of pants and try them on every week or two. When you can wear them (or button them if you couldn't before, zip them, etc), then get the scales out...just for once...then find another pair of next smaller pants. That way, you avoid eating in frustration when the scales have lied, and you avoid eating in celebration when the scales do go down.

You're not abnormal! Very normal, in fact. I don't know if I gained weight before my first fill or not because I simply didn't weigh. I knew that the time before the first fill was for healing, and that if I needed to stick to the food guidelines first and foremost. Weight loss (or gain) was secondary to my sticking to liquids, then mushies, etc. Hang in there! It will be different after you start getting fills. Cindy

259 to 186

The problem with this chart is that they don't provide references to the research. Some doctors still adamantly claim that the LapBand is worthless...because they're basing their opinions on research from the initial trials on the LapBand. And yes, those results were bad. It's one reason why US surgeons were then proctored by surgeons from other countries to teach them the proper techniques with the LapBand. So if this chart isn't based on the newer studies, it's pretty much worthless. Sue, you're dead on with one thing...anyone with a LapBand NEEDS to have good follow-up. Without getting fills, the band is almost useless for most people. But then, follow-up is important with ANY WLS. With RNY and DS, you need the follow-up to prevent major health problems from malabsorption. Some of the people who have the worst problems with these surgeries are the ones who don't work at getting enough Protein, taking supplements, B12, don't have regular labs done, etc. Follow up is important in ANY WLS. Using that as a reason to not get banded would have to apply to any WLS. It's very important to know your surgeon and the aftercare that's offered. I do wish, when we have threads like this, that EVERYONE would simply ignore any childish, petty, sarcastic, hateful remarks. There's a LOT of GOOD information in this thread...all the snideness just gets in the way. People SHOULD know that RNY is an option, DS is an option. Believe me, if something happened so that I could no longer be banded at all, I'd be weighing the pros and cons of DS vs. RNY...because if I have to choose between returning to morbid obesity or a lifetime of "managing" maladsorption issues, I'll take my changes with the maladsorption. Cindy

Sue, again, for much of your post, I agree with you. I'm glad that people who have had problems with the band stick around because prospective bandsters DO need to know potential problems. The parts of your post that I don't agree with are quoted above. 2. Studies are showing that banding is AS SUCCESSFUL as RNY by the 3rd year. Yes, RNYers lose more weight more quickly and initially, but it averages out...and as more long-term studies are done, there's some evidence that, by year 5, banding is MORE successful. 3. You can't use insurance companies as "proof" that RNY is safe. Insurance companies covered phen-fen once upon a time. Insurance companies "follow" the FDA, and the FDA is notorious for NOT approving some obviously safe drugs and procedures while others get pushed through quickly. RNY was approved by the FDA before lapbanding because initially, RNY was studied more. Just as many doctors are switching to LapBanding more than RNY, eventually, insurance companies will catch up. 7. Again, studies are showing that in regards to weight loss, Lapbanding is MORE successful long term because RNYers often regain weight. But also, there are serious medical problems that can accompany RNY long term, such as bone loss, muscle wasting, vitamin deficiencies, etc. Now, maybe once LapBand has been around for 10 years (in the US), we'll find problems with it, too...but for now, LapBand is the safest WLS available. Cindy

LOL, no, Telly, just a bit paranoid. I've looked at way too many "plastic surgery gone bad" photos. I'm realistic enough to know I'll never look perfect...I just want to be closer to normal. But even as I am, I'd rather need the BA/BL and TT and NOT have implants and scars than to have the implants and scars and still have major "issues." I also worry about the "slippery slope" of PS. So many people start with one thing...and then decide another would look better with ps...and then another. I can envision myself doing that because initially, I wanted the BA/BL. Now I really want the TT at the same time....but then I thought about the saggy skin at the top of my inner thighs (it's gross) and the fat pockets I have on the outer thigh....so now I'm wondering about lipo on those fat pockets...and at one time, I'd sworn to NEVER do lipo... LOL, so I need to get the surgery done ONCE and hopefully not need revisions...'cause if I go back, who knows what else I'll want done? Cindy

Jacqui, I think that part of the reason why some people "hang around" after a band failure (for whatever reason) is that it is so hurtful. Most people have such high expectations for banding, and in many, many cases, the band lives up to the promise. But when it doesn't, whether it's the bandster's fault or just bad luck, it can be pretty devastating. So when we have the really strong "nay-sayers," I think of how I would feel if I hadn't lost weight or if I was putting it back on. Sometimes, I still worry about what I'd do if I lost my band because I don't think I could maintain without it. So in some ways, the negativity doesn't bother me because I understand it. It does bother me when "blanket" statements are made with nothing to support them, or when it's obviously false information or scare tactics...and that might cause someone to not get the bad when they need it. But then, again, it's up to the individual to do the research and if one or two people make them change their mind, then they didn't have the perseverance to make the band work anyway. : I also think that, when someone's posts continually come across to the majority of people as sarcastic, rude, and unhappy, that no matter how often the poster claims happiness, it's not true. Even though a lot of emotion can't make it through type, strong emotions do and someone who is continually sarcastic and unhappy sounding in a post is most likely that way in real life, too.

Kare, none of my posts have been directed at any one person (except for my responses to Sue). I'm sorry if you feel that I've attacked anyone. That's not my intent. But your post is a good example (I think) of what some people really need to know about the band. Banding doesn't help with head hunger and any emotional issues related to eating. None of the other WLSs do either, but, RNY and DS allow you to eat anyway and NOT deal with those issues. In the long run, though, that's really NOT a good thing. The band is different from WW or other diets because it really DOES suppress physical hunger. It also limits the quantity that you can eat, and even what you can eat in many (but not all) things. WW doesn't do that. WW gives you dietary guidelines, but then, you get to fight physical AND head hunger while still able to eat pastas, bread, huge portions, etc...so with WW, it's ALL up to you. With the band, it does do some things for you. I've experienced the "esophageal choke" that you mention. After my 3rd fill, I was pretty tight. I had thought, up until that fill, that I knew what restriction and being banded was like. I *thought* that I was eating carefully, slowly, and with small bites. What I found out was that I wasn't eating carefully enough, or with small enough bites. I had a pretty good learning curve there for a while. I'd take a very, very small bite of food (about the size of my pinky fingernail), chew it well, swallow, and then WAIT. Then I'd take another bite, and another...if I managed to take small enough bites when I first started eating, I could avoid that initial discomfort and tightness. For the rest of the meal, I didn't have to be quite so cautious. But there were plenty of times that I'd start a meal and then BAM! Pbing, pain, etc., and I'd have to walk away from the table hungry. But those instances really were MY fault. Once I learned how to manage the band, everything was fine again. I hear your frustration and pain, Kare. I understand, too. I've been "stuck" at this weight for over 6 weeks now. Part of me hates that. Part of me really wants to get to goal (I'm less than 30 lbs away). Part of me doesn't care because I feel GOOD right now. Part of me is scared. If I can sabotage myself at this point with the band, what's to prevent me from sabotaging myself right back up to 260lbs?! So some days, I get out of bed thinking "Ok, no more junk! Time to get the rest of the weight off!" and that will last until early evening and then I go to bed thinking "Oh, crap, I really shouldn't have eaten that piece of pizza, or that chocolate...I'll do better tomorrow." And those are the EXACT same thoughts I had at 260 lbs. Feeling like a failure because I messed up THIS day, too. But hurting ourselves is PART of obesity. Every time we eat something that we shouldn't, we're trading a few minutes of instant gratification knowing that we'll hate ourselves a little for it later. We hurt ourselves both emotionally AND physically. We also feel hopeless. We think "Hell, this ain't working anyway, so I might as well eat that and enjoy it." We put ourselves in a nasty cycle...eat to feel better, then feel worse about it, so eat to feel better... So how do we get ourselves OUT of this? For some, just getting the band is enough. The commitment that this is permanent and not a diet that can be dropped is enough to get them to goal. For others, it takes a LOT more. Some people need counselling. Some need anti-depressants AND counseling. And for some, they're just not ready to do what it takes to be successful with the band or otherwise. For me, getting the band offered HOPE. I believed (and still do) that the band is a very effective tool for losing weight. It's helped me get to the point where I'm in "average" clothing, I'm no longer MO, I'm physically active, my cholesterol is normal, etc. But I also admit to myself that maybe I don't want those last 30 lbs quite enough...and that's not the band's failure. In fact, I don't even think of it as failure for me. I'm taking a break. The band is still helping. I might eat one piece of pizza, but not 3 or 4. I'm maintaining my weight whereas ANY other time I stalled with a diet, I immediately starting gaining again. The band is a constant reminder that I did this for a REASON. I really do NOT want to be obese and no chocolate in the world is worth how badly I felt 75 lbs ago. And I also know that being negative about this stall is NOT the way to get out of it. That's the old "diet trap". So I also look at this time to really think about why I'm doing what I'm doing, to think about my goals, and to focus on the GOOD things that I'm doing. All this leads to another reason WHY I think banding is the best WLS to have. Most people didn't get fat and THEN start having self-esteem issues, or depression, or anger issues, anxieties, etc. In MOST cases, we had some kind of issues FIRST...and the obesity followed. So fixing the obesity through RNY or DS, while great because it takes care of so many physical problems (as long as it doesn't create any), doesn't make you fix the problems that got you to obesity in the first place. But then, trying to fix the issues while you are MO is really, really difficult...so the band helps with the weight loss, but it's up to us to work on the head/emotional issues right along with it.

Geezer, on this topic (of uneducated bandsters), I'll agree with you wholeheartedly. I HAVE been a part of this board for quite a while (just usually not much of a poster) and there are several other bandsters boards that I read every day. I think it's awful when someone is banded without enough education going into the procedure. To me, that's more the fault of the surgical practice than the individual because you often don't know you don't know something. Hope that made sense. LOL But then, there is some degree of responsibility on the part of the patient to ask questions, do research, and be well-informed *prior to* banding. I think that, in general, there are 2 groups of people who are unsuccessful with their band. The first group is rather rare...those people who have "medical" issues with their band. As in, repeated slips, erosions, esophageal complications, etc. This group has to have the band removed. In some cases, some of those problems CAN be attributed to what the bandster did and did not do...and in some cases, it just happens. But then there's the 2nd group. That's the group who can't seem to make the behavioral changes to make the band work. Bandsters who PB too often but instead of getting the band loosened, or learn to eat very slowly and with small bites, or continue to eat the wrong foods (Pasta, breads) blame the band instead. PBing doesn't necessarily mean you're too tight...it means that you need to change your eating habits. Or bandsters who resort to "soft food syndrome" and then blame the band for not working. Bandsters who eat too close to bedtime and then blame the band for reflux problems. Bandsters who say that they're hungry all the time but haven't learned to differentiate between head hunger and true hunger...and then blame the band. Bandsters who don't get fills and unfills as needed. Bandsters who won't exercise. Bandsters who can't accept the fact that, yes, you really DO need to eat less than a 1000 cals/day to lose the weight. Being banded means dealing with all of these "issues." I think that's why many people choose RNY. RNY does the weight loss FOR YOU. With maladsorption, you can continue to eat a lot of crap and still lose weight because your body isn't absorbing it. With banding, if you eat it, you WILL process and absorb it (unless you PB). But the sad thing is that the human body usually ADAPTS. So the RNY patient begins to regain weight because in many instances, he or she did NOT learn to deal with the head hunger or learn to eat more healthily. Most of the time, when you read a post from someone who is unhappy with the band (we have a few on the board now), you can usually figure out WHY the band isn't working for them...and unfortunately, *most* of the time, it's because the bandster isn't doing what's needed. But let's face it...most of us really DO want an easy way out of obesity and we sure don't want to admit that it's our fault. I'd much rather be able to say that my obesity was due to thyroid problems, or PCOS, or Cushing's disease, or diabetes...instead of accepting the fact that I simply put too much food in my mouth. But even WITH any of those medical issues, if you reduce your calories enough, you WILL lose weight...but it ain't easy. For those wanting additional support groups, try obesityhelp.com. Obesityhelp.com has forums for RNY, DS, lapband, plastic surgery, etc. Also forums for complications, patients who regret having the various types of WLS, and even a memorial page (and yes, there are stories there of deaths due to RNY). There are also many, many Yahoo groups devoted to banding. Simply do a search on lapbanding and you'll find many.

I, too, am looking into surgery, both for a BL/BA and TT. I've had one consultation locally already, have another scheduled for early Dec, and plan to set up one with yet a 3rd doc. I've also emailed and sent pictures to 2 different doctors in Mexico, discussed options, pricing, etc. I was super picky about who did my lapband, and I'm being even pickier about PS. Here's why. I *needed* the lapband because my obesity was killing me. I *want* PS. So even though I wanted the best surgeon I could find for my banding, I feel even more "responsible" for the outcome of my PS. Not sure that makes sense. LOL To put it another way...if something bad had happened during banding, I still knew that it was a necessity to get the banding, otherwise, I'd die prematurely anyway. If something bad happens with PS, then I'll always have the thought that I could have avoided having the surgery in the first place. Next, with banding, I knew that there would be only a few very small incisions that would easily heal. Once the banding is done, very little can go wrong post-op. But with PS, you have a lot more stitches and wound care. You have drains, incisions can open up, there's more opportunity for infections, recovery time is longer, there's usually more pain. So from a "medical" standpoint, my PS needs to be terrific. Then, there's the cosmetic aspect to consider. Banding requires a skilled surgeon, but nothing is being re-arranged, moved, recreated, etc. With PS, a surgeon needs to be able to envision how something is going to look...from deflated breasts to perky ones of just the right size. Doing a TT that's tight but not too tight, creating a new belly button, creating the least noticeable incision, etc. Not to make light of being banded, but I think a plastic surgeon has to deal with a LOT more variables for a succesful outcome. And then, last, I was self-pay for banding and I'm self-pay for PS. Again, I felt that banding was a necessity. But for PS, it's not. If I can't find a terrific surgeon, I don't *have* to have it done...so by golly, I want this to be the absolute best experience possible. I want to feel like I'm pampered and taken care of by the staff and that they value me and the chunk of $$ that I'll be spending. :bananapartyhat: I've already ruled out the 2 Mexican doctors. Even though I asked specific questions, in most cases, they told me what they wanted to tell me. : The one local PS is not at the top of my list for the same reasons, plus, he does none of his aftercare...his nurses do it. His entire office and the entire consultation felt rushed and like I was 1 of 50 or just another "cog" in the wheel. Again, if I'm paying $10,000+ for surgery, I want to feel that the surgeon is taking his time to talk to me and get to know me. Otherwise, how is he going to know if I want big boobs or small ones? If I'm physically active and still need to be able to do bench presses or run? So I'm still searching...

GeezerSue, I think that you intentionally try, always, always, always, to put the most negative spin on the LapBand as is possible. First of all, trying to compare the "rearranging" of your innards to the holes used laparascopically to place the band is laughable. All WLS surgeries use either the laparascopic incisions or an open incision to perform the surgery. All "lap" surgeries, whether WLS, gallbladder removal, etc will carry risks due to the surgery and incisions themselves. Of course, duration of the surgery and what is DONE in the surgery changes the overall risks. Second, you state that a LapBand surgeon "walks away" after band placement...again, implying a worst case scenario in which the surgeon provides no follow up and no after care. You mention morning sickness, flu, or food poisoning all potentially undoing the work of a good surgeon. Again, how often do you think a LapBand patient encounters any of these things right after surgery? The flu is the most likely of the 3 and in the event of the stomach flu, there are anti-nausea medications to help with that. 6 weeks or more after surgery, these things are unlikely to cause a slip or any other problems related to the band. And last, IF we're looking at worst case scenarios (which you tend to do), then IF a person has problems with the band, it is removable...and their "innards" usually work fine without the band and with no additional medical interventions needed. But IF your DS (or the by-pass) fails for some reason, such as when a patient finds that they can't tolerate any food and have to be on a feeding tube, or that malabsorption is so bad that medicines can't be absorbed, then there is little that can be done to fix the "rearranging." Surgeries to revise or reverse the DS or by-pass are risky and rarely successful. You can't compare worst case scenarios of being banded (esophageal problems, reflux, erosions, slippage) to best case scenarios of the DS or by-pass (your rearranged innards are functioning fine). You can compare best case scenarios (I've had zero problems with my band, lost about 75 lbs and still losing, you've lost 100+ lbs with DS and are healthy and happy, so we're both doing great!). Or you can compare worst case scenarios of both (the band slipped or eroded, caused too much reflux, didn't help the individual to lose weight...so they had it removed and now everything is fine or the DS/by-pass caused abdominal leaks, or severe malnutrition and the patient died after multiple surgeries to try to fix it). Personally, I was determined to try to have the best possible scenario with any WLS I chose, but IF I happened to be one of the unlucky ones that had to deal with a worse case scenario, I wanted the one where I didn't have to worry about dying. I find it rather sad that because banding didn't work for you, you're so sure that it's wrong for everyone...and yet there are MANY people who are successful with banding. And yes, there are people who haven't been successful with banding, but that will be true of any WLS, so trying to present DS as the "holy grail" of WLS isn't any better than saying that banding is the perfect WLS. Most bandsters are pretty darn honest when someone asks about potential negatives. Yes, you have to get fills, yes, you sometimes have to get unfills, yes, sometimes you PB, sometimes you have reflux if you're too tight, yes, you still have to work at not eating junk, no, it's not super easy most of the time and it doesn't do all of the work for you. Ports flip, bands slip and occasionally erode. Anyone doing research will find these things out quickly enough. Implying that you're doing newbies a "service" by presenting the negatives of banding is giving yourself far too much credit and them not enough.

Anyone researching banding *should* know that erosion and slippage are possible. They are a risk with the lapband. Just as there are *known* risks with RNY, DS, weight loss drugs...even exercise programs involve some risk. There are risks involved in the surgical procedure itself. The key is to weigh what is an *acceptable* risk with your "chosen" WLS method against the risk of staying obese. For me, everything about my way of life was being negatively affected by my obesity. So I looked at LapBanding, looked at the risk of surgery, the potential for erosions and slippage, etc., and weighed those against what my life would be with continued obesity. I KNEW I had to do something. I also looked at RNY and DS. BOTH of those operations have a higher risk than LapBanding. Risks are STATISTICS..meaning that, just because we have one, two, or three (or more) successful DSers here, doesn't mean that, overall, it's less risky than Lapband. Same for RNY...many RNYers are successful...but statistically, more RNYers DIE from either surgical complications or issues directly related to the bypass. So for me, the risks associated with RNY or DS were MORE than I was willing to accept. That doesn't mean that no one should have those surgeries done. They're options...you have to weigh the risks. But by the same token, just because someone has had an erosion or a slippage, you can't say that banding is a poor choice for WLS. Yes, in that particular instance, the banding failed. But as a WLS option, it has a high success rate. A complication with the band might lead to its removal, but then your stomach and intestines are still intact. With RNY and DS, IF there are complications, it's difficult to reverse what was done and in some cases, you're worse off than you were. Now, what really annoys me is when people are here on the boards and they say "Yes, I regret banding" but they don't tell you why. It creates an "oh my gosh, what horrid thing do I not know about the band?!" sort of scare tactic. Erosion? Ok, fine, then look at the statistics for erodiing and hope that you're not in the 1-3% who erode. Slippage? Ok, fine, again, look at the statistics and see if that possibility is worth it to you. Also, in the case of slippage, look at your surgeon. My surgeon, having done thousands of bandings, has a 0% slippage rate. You also have to be skeptical of the "doom and gloom" people because you can't really know IF something was their fault or not. Erosion and slippage have been linked to situations such as having the band too tight, having consistent acid reflux, PBing excessively, not following the post-op "rules." So before I put too much stock into someone's story of erosion or slippage, I want to know exactly what they did and didn't do. It's like when someone posts "Oh no, I'm not losing! Why isn't the band working for me?!" and you find out that they're still trying to eat sandwiches and french fries. Or that they're too tight, so since nothing solid stays down (and they blame that on the band, too, instead of getting an unfill), they eat soft, calorie dense foods and then say "But I'm not eating anything!" and yet they've taken in 2000 calories in liquids and mashed potatoes. And if you're going to use the argument that only those bandsters banded for more than 2 years can say anything positive about the band (because of the stupid honeymoon analogy....I knew I was happy in my marriage the first MONTH...and I've been married almost 20 yrs now), then by the same "rule," you can't say anything postive about ANY OTHER WLS unless you're 2 years out. After all, many RNYers are *thrilled* the first and second year...and then, in the 3rd year, the weight starts creeping back. Or the Vitamin deficiencies start showing up. Or they develop strictures. And then, you can't say anything NEGATIVE about banding unless you've had it removed for at least 2 years, because who knows? Maybe in 2 years you'll have gained back all of your weight and be miserable again. Or your current WLS will have causes problems that make the lapbanding problems look minor. Cindy

Hmmm, makers of the band, Inamed, say no carbonation because it might ruin the band. Personally, I'm not going to take a chance on ruining my band...not for something that isn't good for me anyway. Did you know that bone loss is associated with drinking colas? They're not sure if it's because of the phosphorus content in the cola (which lowers Calcium levels), or the caffeine (which causes your kidneys to excrete more calcium), or because, when you're drinking cola, you're not drinking other liquids that are good for you (Water and milk). But my thoughts are that I got banded to become a healthier person and that means drinking more water, too...and if I'm drinking a cola, I'm not drinking water.

That's true, but for many bandsters, they find that, since they ARE more satisfied with what they eat, it's a LOT easier to avoid the ice cream. Pre-banding, there was no way I could stick to a 1000 cal/day diet. I was hungry all the time, constantly thinking about the next meal, etc. So then, when the scales didn't drop as quickly as I wanted, I'd get frustrated and impatient...and head for the ice cream. Or Cookies, or chips, etc. In ONE day, I could easily undo an entire week's worth of limiting my calories. But with the band, I consistently eat 800-1000 cal/day. But I'm NOT hungry. Since I don't feel deprived, I don't feel the need to comfort myself with comfort foods. Sure, sometimes I want ice cream...and when I really want it, I eat it. But I eat it because I really DO want it and not because I need to be comforted, or I'm sabotaging myself, or because I'm miserable so figure I might as well eat. The band helps me even more because, even if I'm being impatient, I can't say "to hell with the latest diet" and go back to eating more. The band is with me all the time. :eek: Cindy

Yes and no. I've been banded 10 months, and have plenty of restriction. I don't really obsess about wanting foods any more, but I DO have to think about what I'm eating and when I'm eating it. "When" I'm eating it because I have a tendency to skip meals. "What" I'm eating because I really have to stop and think about how the band feels at that particular time. How tight it feels determines what I can and can't eat. Even when I am eating, I have to be very mindful of the size of bites and how quickly I'm eating. Even though it feels pretty "routine" right now, I don't think that living with the band will ever be automatic for me. But then, that's a good thing...because NOT thinking about what I'm eating is what got me fat in the first place. Cindy

Wow, Angela, that surprises me. Dr. R did my surgery and everyone was super nice. I had my surgery in January, so some of their staff might have changed, but the ones I know are terrific. Cindy