Stephanie1972

It's tough to give advice without knowing what you're doing or not doing to help/hurt your weight loss. What are you eating? How much are you exercising? These play critical roles in success...

Carolina Mom, I'd love to chat with you. Bauman is banding me next Thursday. I like him a lot and trust him fully...have you been happy with your weight loss? How about his fills...would love to be band buddies! :-)

You have many valid concerns. I will be banded a week from this Thursday and can tell you that it took me 3 years to make this decision. I have researched and asked many doctors your questions over the last 3 years. I will answer them as they have. My biggest concern was that it says Lap Band patients lose an average of 50% of their excess weight. I thought to myself when I read this...I'll still be obese if I only lose 1/2 of my excess weight! It's not worth it. In talking to 3 different surgeons about this, I can FULLY expect to lose 100% of my excess weight IF I am compliant! I can also fully expect to lose NOTHING if I am NOT compliant...I suppose this is where the average of 50% came about...if I want to cheat the band, I can drink bottles of wine, regular koolaid and have large milkshakes daily. I can avoid exercise at all costs and STILL consume THOUSANDS of calories daily...OR, I can eat foods that are dense and will cause me to feel full, thus WORKING WITH the band...(remember, it's just a tool). I can walk an hour a day and get in all of my Protein and lose all of my excess weight. I am going to try to choose the latter of these options. I have heard of many that don't lose weight quickly, but admittedly, they aren't following the program...dieting for me was a chore. I'd be gung-ho for 3 months, then lose all interest. I very rarely felt satisfied. I expect that with the band I will feel full and satisfied, however after consuming a very small amount of food (2 ounces). I thought too that I could diet on my own and lose 2 lbs a week...well, I can! (but only for a few months!) I then gain it back because I can't sustain that lifestyle of always depriving myself and feeling dissatisfied. As far as the erosion...that happens in so few instances. If you find a reputable surgeon, they will make sure you have no bacteria in that part of the stoma which is believed to cause erosion. If it erodes into the stomach, it's not life or death...and seriously, it is very rare, but the most common of complications. I'll take that over "leaking" issues or the complications of my diabetes and sleep apnea anyday! I have type II diabetes. I am so sick of taking my medicine and so afraid of my ability to sustain good sugars with the help of pills. My doctor fully believes my diabetes, sleep apnea and all other issues will be fully eradicated post surgery/post weight loss...The surgery is a major decision because it's a major life change, but the mortality rate is almost nil. In fact, it's 1 in 2000 and doctors are typically VERY thorough in making sure you are safe to have surgery. The procedure takes less than an hour which means you're under anestesia for a very short time. I wish you the best of luck with your decision. I am very nervous but SO excited to put the pills aways, my husband's earplugs away and to get my life back...

I asked my doctor about this. He said tolerance of chicken how well it's chewed? I'm not banded yet, so I can't attest to this...but fyi.

Actually, now that the time has come, I am very nervous but so excited for a new, much more active lifestyle. I researched doctors all over the country. I was willing to travel to the best doctor in the world and to the best hospital. After looking at what was important for me, I needed a surgeon who had a substantial amount of experience as well as a very specific aftercare program. Many doctors who do thousands of surgeries do just that...thousands of surgeries. After the surgery, there is little to no focus on nutrition, exercise, etc...The surgeon I chose is a Circle of Excellence for Blue Cross Blue Shield...in fact, he "wrote" the stipulations for Blue Cross's Circle of Excellence program. He is EXTREMELY thorough and does not leave a rock unturned. Having said all of that, he doesn't have the most outgoing, gregarious personality out there...I must say that I enjoy his dry sense of humor...but I fully trust that he takes his surgeries very seriously...I did some research on Cook and Cox (Frye Hospital). In fact, my next door neighbor is a doctor and he really likes both of them...they have not performed enough of these surgeries for my comfort level...Have you fully decided on the band?

I have been drinking Wheybolic, found at GNC. The vanilla is yummy! 1 scoop is 20 grams of protein and 2 g of carbs. I mix it with skim milk. To add more texture, blend it with some ice and it's more like a milkshake!

Hey! I live in Hickory, NC and will be banded April 16th! I'd love to answer any questions you may have. I opted not to use a surgeon in Hickory for multiple reasons but would be happy to discuss my experiences, thought process, etc...with my decisions

I will officially be banded on 4/16 too! I have a lot of apprehension but definitely look forward to the day that I can throw my diabetes meds away and can wear some clothes and look sharp! I know my husband is psyched for the day I stop snoring! :-)

Yes, which is why all doctors do some sort of pre-operative diet.

I am in the pre-operative stages. Just waiting on insurance company approval, but the answer is yes...you usually have to lose weight. After extensive research, I have found that some doctors require a 2 week all liquid diet, however mine is a 2-4 week "diet" with no fried foods, no starches, no sweets. The purpose of losing the weight pre-surgery is to shrink the liver. My Dr. assured me that my liver would in fact shrink in just 2 short weeks if I followed the diet. They have to lift the liver to get that band around the stomach and if it's too heavy or thick, it could lacerate the liver, so instead of that risk, the dr will just sew you back up and wait until the liver did shrink. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you on your journey!

Restless Monkey, thanks for the tidbit. I tried the quote button and it said error when I submitted my response...so, I guess the fatty liver question was directed toward you. Sorry!

Hey! I used to live in Seabrook (now in North Carolina). I went for my consult here and will be banded within the next 60 days. You've had a ton of success...what have/haven't you done that you were/weren't supposed to do to make you successful.

You said no band because of fatty liver...well, I'm pretty sure I have a fatty liver! Did you not follow pre-op?

I am an avid watcher of The Biggest Loser and you said "besides having a personal trainer 7 days a week" as if that was small...That's exactly how they're losing weight. The are working out or doing something active 6-7 hours per day. Understand that they aren't working and have no responsibilities or distractions other than their bodies and taking care of themselves. It will require an incredible amount of discipline to maintain the weight loss once they get "off the ranch" because their lives will resume...ie kids, having babies, working, etc...

Does anyone know what Dr. Enoch's mortality rate is?

Is Leland Cook the same as James Cook? (they're both in Hickory, if not). I am going to get banded, but am still in search of a surgeon. Can you tell me about Dr Cook and his pre-op and post op instructions and any other information you may have for me? Thanks!

hi! I'm looking to have the lap band done in Hickory. Did you have it done?

who did your band? I live in Hickory and I'm trying to find a reputable Dr.

Wow, thanks for the information! He definitely has a warm genuine spirit about him...We already moved to North Carolina. There are only 2 doctors I would trust performing this procedure, although they are the only 2 I met...and they're both in Houston. sigh...Since you were so kind to respond, do you mind sharing your story? Why you decided on the lap band and what you've experienced (both miserable and extraordinary) since the band?

I am not banded, but have been considering it for over a year now. I attended Spivak's seminar and loved him. I have since relocated and am considering traveling back to Houston to get banded. My question is this: what is his pre-op protocol and what type of testing should I expect to undergo. I do have several co-morbities; type II diabetes, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea. I am only 35. I'm concerned that I won't qualify by his standards or that I'll have to undergo months worth of testing and/or dieting before he would perform the surgery.

Hi. I live in Seabrook. I was just approved for financing today and I am trying to learn as much as I can about the procedures and their successes or challenges. I went to Felix Spiegel's seminar as well as Dr. Hadar Spivak's. If I do the procedure (which I am greatly leaning towards), I will be banded by Dr. Spivak. Where in Seabrook are you? :-)

I am new to this site as well and am seriously considering the band. Can someone tell me what DH stands for? I feel like such an idiot but it's driving me nuts!!