SoccerMomma73

theres also a bit of literature on not performing bands on anyone with any type of autoimmune disease for worry of worsening the autoimmune disorder by introducing a foreign body into the body....it's technical, but last I checked my surgeon wouldn't perform bands on patients with Crohn's disease. Just too big of a risk.

FYI former lap band patient and current family practice physician assistant....many of us know the difference between the surgeries. You are more than welcome to express your views and opinions and obvious brilliance on the topic in any way you deem fit. Just don't expect warm fuzzies when you're coming off as an arrogant know it all.

So I'm trudging through my couch to 5 K tonight. Slowly jogging, like I'm stuck in molasses, counting seconds til I'm done....and I had a moment. During a free form run. Where my stride picked up and for about 2 minutes I actually LIKED what I was doing...then I had to slow down or I was going to die. But briefly, ever so briefly, I enjoyed it....that was wild

This has been my entertainment and horror this past weekend.... It's one of those can't we just agree to disagree moments that no one is ever going to win.

Maybe not the moth thorough but I'm using the zombie 5K app....for some reason it amuses me to have zombies chasing me.

read above, there are directions and a picture

Absolutely!! We're all here for the same reasons even if we have a different journey!

Oh so much to talk about with this..... Sorry, but I'm going to ramble a bit. First off, there are risks and benefits to each of the three surgeries (as background I had a lap-band, miserable with it, prolapsed, lead to emergency removal, and now have a gastric bypass. I'm also a family practice physician assistant. I'm not a bariatric expert, but I've been around this a bit). On average, lap-band patients do not lose as much as the other 2 surgeries. That is why surgeons typically don't recommend lap-band above a certain weight. That said, I know people that have lost 200+ pounds with the lap-band. Average weight loss is just that, an average. For everyone that loses 10%, there's someone that loses 80% of their excess weight. It's impossible to predict where you'll fall in that spectrum. Some of it is how good your surgeon is, some of it is how dedicated you are to lifestyle change, some of it is sheer luck. As far as the band, I won't say don't do it. I will say research your butt off. Again, weight loss tends to not be as much as compared to the other 2 surgeries. I would like to add that, while the band is known for it's reversibility, that is not entirely an accurate statement. My personal story was that my band prolapsed, stomach herniated (and before i get jumped for being a bad band patient, I wasn't a bad band patient....sometime crap just happens). I had an emergency removal and was supposed to revise to gastric bypass, however, once the surgeon got in to remove the band I had so much swelling and inflammation that he was not able to do the revision. They removed my band, sewed me up, sent me home to heal for 6 months, then I had my revision. I know of at least 2 individuals in my area that had band removal and had so much damage that they could not revise to another surgery....while the band is removable, I don't really feel the term reversible is 100% accurate. Another point I'd like to share is 'invasive' truth be told, you're having major surgery. All 3 surgeries are invasive. The sleeve does not have the malabsorption issues or dumping associated with the RNY. However, they are essentially cutting off a large section of your stomach. The RNY does have malabsorption and possibly dumping (most people don't dump, I happen to be in the minority that dump easily, it's really not a huge deal if I watch what I eat). Yes they are making a small pouch in your stomach and bypassing and small portion of your intestine, you are getting some replumbing done with the RNY. That said, RNY is reversible (again, subject to scar tissue and such associated with previous surgeries) IF you need reversal. The vast majority of us will never consider reversal because we need this surgery to maintain a healthy weight.....(reversibility was not a factor in my choosing RNY). I know people that have been hugely successful with all 3 surgeries. I know people that have lost almost nothing with all 3 surgeries. I know people that have had bad complications, hospitalizations, ICU admissions with all 3 surgeries. None of them are magic. None of them work without a commitment from the patient. It is not something to step into lightly..... My advice, research, research, research. Find a surgeon that you trust and listen to what they say and what they suggest. Ultimately you have to make a decision that you are comfortable with and that you can commit to. But know that every day you spend morbidly obese is taking a toll on your body and your health. Most of us just cannot lose an maintain a healthy weight without surgery. Most of us have lost and gained a thousand times. There are some that regret the surgery but the vast majority of us wish we'd done it sooner. The RNY is right for me, I wish i'd done it in the first place. But I'm not you. I wish you the best of luck with the decision and applaud your choice to start considering surgery. If you ever have questions I'm happy to try to help. Best of luck with this decision and congrats on trying I take control of your health. It's a tough choice but at least you're considering it. That's a step in the right direction.

RNY is the gastric bypass surgery.

It defaulted a lot of us to band so we're getting just the band threads, but yup, do as they said above and it'll change.

Salted caramel and pumpkin spice are great in coffee. I use the brown sugar in oatmeal. Haven't gotten brave with baking with it yet.

Also, LOVING the bariatric God title...how stinking funny!

I found February!!!!! Yay!!!! Not sure if there are any other survivors left though....suddenly zombie apocalypse visions spring to mind . Miss you guys!!!)

It's sooooo lonely!!!! I can't find the threads I usually read. I get frustrated reading peoples rude comments about the changes (yes it sucks but seriously, they're not murdering people...) and there's so much not pertinent stuff to weed through...just frustrating. We'll get our groove back

It's under basic of gastric bass for beginners, sub-topic post-op.....

It varies HUGELY. And maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. But I don't think you can bet the farm on being completely off your neds. Also, particularly with insulin, I'd be very nervous about not having your refill on hand. I'd ask your doc what he thinks before you spend the $$$ though. Good luck!! Fingers crossed for amazing results.

awesome!!!!! I was really hoping she was just pushing ya . Congrats!!!

Sitting on a plane next to the nicest lady in the world who is probably pushing 400 pounds....and I just want to jump up and scream 'you should check out gastric bypass!!!! It's awesome!!!!' But I will bite my tongue because it's really none of my business.....

In my case probably lots and lots thinking 'damn girl, do something!!!!!' Planes broke so still sitting here amusing ourselves. Yay!!!

Man I was a band for almost 3 years, don't wanna relieve that for a second but thanks Ken, got my RNY groove back on. I truly appreciate y'all for the nightmare you're currently trying to fix!!!

Apple had to switch out my phone this week. Everything is up and running but I can't get signed on to rnytalkon my phone because I can't figure out my password and haven't found a place to go for password help....so,HELP!!!! I'll be at work all day tomorrow and unable to post! The horror!!!!!! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 204.6

I'll play too!! I'm a former band, went through hell, prolapse, and emergency removal. 6 months later I got my RNY so I've seen the good the bad and the ugly of 2 out if the three choices. The funny thing is, so much of what we do and what we need is the same, yet we tend to be sooo sharply defined by the surgery we had. I was nearly chased off lapbandtalk because I had the gall to say I was doing well with my RNY on the 'life after lapband' board....I no longer had a band so I wasn't suppose to be there...even though that's what that board was for. Anyway! We're here and it'll work out and hopefully we'll all just have more crazy dysfunctional weight loss surgery family to love (and secretly gripe about) PS I talk...a lot....I've already invaded the sleeve forums, sorry . I'll try to behave

It appears of you go to the web site instead of using the app things are working some better. I do see the November thread there but doesn't look like anyone is using it....at least I can sort of find stuff by going to the web site it'll get better! Kinda feel like I've lost my friends though, how goofy.

Unless their toes fell off!!! New RNY complication I can see maybe a size, possible 2 of you're super heavy but I just can't imagine more. It's AWESOME being in non-wide shoes though!!! So many more to choose from, and cheaper! I really hadn't expected that little gem but totally loving it!

they HAD to be getting bigger shoes for the width...thats a crazy size change!!!