Spartan

I really do NOT understand why people automatically assume that it is the fault of the patient when a Lap band fails. Sometimes it is, but the simple fact is that the Lap band does NOT work for everyone. The reality of the Lap band is that MOST people will lose SOME weight, a small minority will lose ALL their excess weight, and a small minority will lose little or NO weight. It is not a perfect procedure, and the more people that have it, the more the bariatric community sees that the incidence of complete success is very, very small. Please note that I said "complete", meaning that few people ever reach their original goal using the Band. Most people will lose some, but not all, of their unwanted weight. December, in your case it would appear that you may have not had the best Surgeon, at least in terms of the aftercare. The educational component of the Lap Band experience and the follow-up is crucial and can sometimes make all the difference. It is unfortunate that your Lap band was removed before you were able to obtain a second opinion. Your surgeon was correct in that it was necessary to remove the Band to prevent ingrowth and erosion, but I would say that his action might have been a little premature. To those out there who are experiencing less than stellar results with the Lap Band, I would suggest that you seek out a second opinion before you have the Band removed. You are NOT "married" to your Surgical Group andhis/her staff, and you need to exhaust all of your resources before you call it quits with the Lap band. There are adjustments and changes that can be made that might make your Band experience a more positive one. Having said that, it is important to note that the Lap Band is NOT always the right choice for everyone. The various Weight Loss Surgeries and procedures are meant for different people with different eating and metabolic disorders. Many people whojump on the Lap Band-wagon would have been much better off with a Gastric Bypass. Prospective patients need to perform their due diligence and investigate ALL of the procedures before deciding on one. The Lap Band is being sold as an "easy, simple and minimally-invasive procedure that is right foreveryone"….and that is simply NOT the case. The Lap Band CAN produce the desired results…..but not foreveryone, and people need to be aware of that going in. December, I am sorry that you had this experience. I understand how you must feel. I would hope that you might be able to obtain some insurance in the future that will allow you to pursue the WLS option again. In the meantime, though, try and begin a process of healthful eating and exercise. You might be amazed at what you can do on your own. Many people are able to lose weight without surgery, and you might be one of them. Best of luck to you. S.

SPAM.....there are enough ads on the sides of the screen....we don't need them IN the posts..... S.

This subject does come up frequently, and it usually provokes some pretty strong opinions on all sides. I'll state the same things I have stated on this subject before: If you are really serious about losing weight, you need to consider giving up the booze. It is NOT conducive to good health OR weight loss, regardless of what some small studies say about the occasional glass of wine. Don't get me wrong; I always enjoyed a good blast of hootch, but NOTHING could make me feel as good as I do as a thin person. Sure, you could have a drink occasionally; you could also have a Snickers on occasion. Or a Hot Fudge Sundae. But WHY would you want to, after everything you have been through with your weight? It's the little decisions that we make on a moment to moment basis that impacts our health so dramatically. A shot of booze here, some cheez whiz there,....it all adds up. And you don't NEED a drink to be happy or have fun....if you DO,....well,,,,there are perhaps some other issues that you might want to address. There are certain things you need to eat to live..... Alchohol is one of those things you do NOT need. And it can hurt you in a number of ways. Also, consider the very real idea that after you have had one or two drinks, your will-power does tend to diminish, if not vanish entirely. This could lead to more drinks, and then the snacking that can often accompany a buzz. Sure, you can drink. Sure, you can have that piece of pizza, that slice of cake. But will that move you ANY closer to your goal? Nope. Will it keep you away from your goal? A little, tiny bit, yes. And will it continue to expose you to the foods that made you fat to begin with? Sure will. A couple of you have said your Drs have said that it is OK to have a drink.. Some have said their doctors advised against consuming alcohol. You will find Drs that say both. But….I would challenge you to ask any Dr if it would be better that you did NOT have a drink/Pizza/whatever. I can guarantee you that probably %100 would say that it would be better if you didn't. You always have a choice. And you should always strive to make the HEALTHY choice. S.

Kimike, Keep in mind that you are still in the Healing phase of your surgery experience. People can react very differently to the physical insult of surgery. Many people are just fine a couple of days after surgery, others take weeks or even months to recover from it. The effect of the anesthesia can have a fairly dramatic impact on people just by itself, not to mention the insertion of the band. Your dramatic change in eating can also play a role in your energy level. Just give it time and some rest and you'll be just fine. Even people who feel fine after a few days should curtail their physical acitvity for a while. There is a lot going on in the surgical process, and it is vitally important that you give your body plenty of time to heal. Just relax and enjoy the down -time! S.

I ABSOLUTELY feel that ongoing Counseling/Psychotherapy should be an integral part of the Lap Band experience. While it varies from person to person, the problem of obesity comes down to a very simple equation: We eat TOO much of the WRONG stuff. And most of the time, we do that not because we are physically hungry, but because of the "head hunger" that so many of us experience. And, simply because it gives us physical pleasure to eat good tasting food. Sure, there are segments of the Obese population that have some form of metabolic disorder, there are absorption issues, and some other elements that play a role in the path to becoming Obese. But MOST of the problem lies in the fact that we simply eat too much of the wrong food. And, of course, we don't exercise our bodies nearly enough. The fundamental mechanism of the Lap Band is to restrict our consumption of food. Plain and Simple. If you eat too much, you're gonna suffer. If you don't chew properly, it's gonna hurt. It's a valve. It's a Spigot. It's a throttle whose job it is to keep you from eating TOO MUCH (note to those engineer-types out there: I know it's not technically a"valve"…it doesn't open/close. I know…but you get my point…lol). There are some theoretical elements of the Lap band that some people here like to toss around as fact, that relate to reduced appetite and hunger, but that does not occur in all people….it is more the exception than the rule. The point here is that a HUGE component of the weight loss process is the MIND GAME. It is psychological in nature, and if that particular part of the puzzle is not dealt with, you will not be entirely successful in your weight loss efforts, with or WITHOUT the Lap Band. Some people get lucky and the band is all they need to lose all the weight, but they are really the exception. And, if the band stops working or needs to be removed, then you have a big problem if you have NOT dealt with the mind/emotional issues relating to obesity. So many Lap Band patients see the Band as some magical device that is stuffed in their stomach and Voila! ….they're not hungry any more. Nothing could be further from the truth, for MOST Lap Band recipients. It takes discipline, self control, patience, and a strong personal commitment to the process to make it work properly. And THAT is why regular Psychological Counseling is SO important in this process. Personally, I feel very strongly that regular sessions with a Psychotherapist that specializes in bariatric issues (and I mean SPECIALIZES, not just as part of the practice) should be a requirement of getting a Lap Band, not just a single session before the surgery. This should be an ongoing process, designed to support you in your weight loss efforts, and help you identify and manage the issues that have driven you to overeat in the first place. Now, on the other side of this, I do think that SOME of the Pre-operative Psych consultations are a joke. The insurance industry really needs to do some "housecleaning" with regard to how they handle these evaluations. Some of it really is "going through the motions", and that, honestly, doesn't help anyone at all. But that doesn't keep the PATIENT from taking a proactive stance and seeking out quality behavioral therapy to assist them in this process. As a Lap Band patient you should absolutely NOT be rejecting the idea of psychological intervention in your Quest for better health,,,,you SHOULD be wholeheartedly EMBRACING the idea that your problem with obesity is multi-faceted, and needs help from multiple resources, and NOT just a noose around your stomach. As I stated earlier, I feel that counseling and ongoing therapy should be a REQUIREMENT for anyone who undergoes Weight Loss Surgery of any kind, and I am kind of surprised that insurance companies do not make this a KEY part of the process, other than the initial Psych consultation. I believe that it is a CRUCIAL component of success in this area. It is known that a certain percentage of Gastric Bypass patients will put the weight back on within a few years of losing it. This is not a result of any deficiency in the surgical mechanism, but it is a direct result of the "mind component" of weight loss not being addressed properly, or even addressed at ALL in so many cases. It is also known that in the case of the Lap Band, a very large percentage of Patients never reach their intended goal, and, again, it is because (in many cases) the psychological and emotional issues that brought the patient to the point of needing surgery have never been addressed. So, yes…you ABSOLUTELY need to make Pyschotherapy an integral part of your Weight Loss Surgery experience. With Regard to Therapists who specialize in Weight Issues, yes, there ARE those who maintain a Specialty Practice in that field. You need to hunt for them a bit, and I should warn you that MOST Psychotherapists will say that they deal with weight issues, but the fact is that most of them do not deal with it as a SPECIALTY. And, you really do want someone who is a specialist in this, someone who has been doing it for a number of years as a primary practice. Sometimes you will see them in the yellow pages, but as is most often the case, the BEST practitioners do NOT have to advertise. It is very possible that you can get a referral from your Surgeon's office; they very often have good links to Professionals in this field. Also, if you contact your local chapter of Overeaters Anonymous, they often can refer you to Professionals as well. Again, I have to emphasize the importance of finding someone who is very well experienced and trained in Bariatric Psychology as a SPECIALTY, and not merely an incidental part of their practice. I think if you ask most Psychotherapists if they treat people with Obesity issues, they will all say yes. But, the vast majority of them will only have a couple of patients for whom it is a defining issue, and their experience in treating this problem is not very deep. So, take the time to find someone who really IS an expert in this….you will be well-served by having this kind of professional on your Team. S.

I would agree with CocoaBean..... Just because the FDA lowered the BMI threshhold does NOT mean that the insurances companies will follow. And, it is unlikely they will, because the overall success rate of the Lap band is generally quite low, and the complication rate is rising......the Lap band is not the "darling" of the WLS industry that it was a few years ago. S.

Yes, Amen to what Elcee said. salad is not a bad choice at ALL,if it's a salad!...... S.

It is interesting how people have such different experiences, even at the same facility. Cedars DOES have the reputation as being a world-class hospital. I was there twice last week, in fact. But...I would not have another procedure performed there. I have spent several weeks there as a patient, and I will tell you that what happened to me was quite dreadful. There is an amazing arrogance among the doctors and staff there when things go haywire. It's as if they think that because they are cedars that NOTHING bad could EVER happen. So, when it does, they work hard to sweep it under the rug. Interesting. S.

Hi, Elcee; That is a very odd post. There must be something else going on with that person, because it is nearly impossible NOT to lose weight with a bypass, if performed correctly. You would almost have to make a conscious effort to avoid losing weight....and Gaining? Yep, there is something else happening. The Bypass is an extremely reliable procedure. Any difficulty experienced is usually at the OTHER end of the process. A small percentage of Bypass patients put weight back on, because they have not altered their eating habits. Interesting. I wonder if they had their band removed because they did not lose any weight with it, and decided to try bypass. If so, it would appear that there is something pretty serious going on, metabolically. To the original poster, best of luck to you. The gastric bypass is a very good choice for many people. In fact, it is the ONLY WLS that will work for a sigificant portion of WLS patients. But, you still have to do the work. And you HAVE to change your eating habits....that is a MUST. The weight can come off pretty quickly and easily, and it can give the patient a false sense that this is the way it will ALWAYS be, and whatever you eat will just sail right through you. It doesn't work quite that way, so just be prepared for that....but, it's a good thing. having to eat in a healthy manner is NEVER a negative! S.

Actually, you should be fine with Tanning after lap band Surgery. You might want to consider putting some small bandages over your scars, as the incision area will be VERY sensitive for quite a while post-surgery. Other than that, there is not a problem in the world with tanning. Nothing to worry about at all. Not a THING to be concerned about. Unless, of course, you have skin. If you ARE one of the few and unfortunate people who require skin to keep everything tucked nicely inside of you, well, then you might have some problems with tanning. Because, of course, tanning DOES promote (some say causes) skin cancer. And of course, those people who DO have skin look absolutely horrid after years in a tanning booth or in the sun…their skin loses its elasticity, loses its moisture, wrinkles horribly…..just awful. But, like Jachut said, you're an adult. You're mature. And BECAUSE you're an adult and are mature, you wouldn't possibly think doing anything stupid like Tanning, right? I mean, you've gone to all the effort to lose a bunch of weight with the Lap Band, theoretically improving your health…..Why would you move in the OPPOSITE direction on the oustside? So, just be grateful that you don't have skin. It would be a shame to burn it up like that. Oh, and with regard to Jachut's comment about "self-righteous" people "abusing" you for suggesting that Skin Cancer is something you really do NOT want to experience….well, that is simply remarkable and unbelievable, seeing as how Jachut herself has been dealing with cancer herself for the last few months. And she seems to think its ok for someone else to expose themselves to another form of the same thing. Guess she wants someone else to join in the fun, Hmm? Unbelievable. Absolutely incredible. S.

I do not think that the Dr will provide you with a prescription for any kind of appetite suppressant, nor do I think he should. You need to let the Lap band do it's job when you have it installed, and the temporary effect that the medication provides will only inhibit that process. You need to learn to eat differently, you need to allow your body to respond in a natural way to your new eating habits, and depending upon a medication to assist you with that will only get in the way of this process. You might also give your Surgeon the impression that you are not quite ready to do the work necessary to make the Lap Band function as it should. Appetite Suppressants are a BAD idea, Lap band or not, and it is NEVER a good idea to get started on them. S.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Weight Loss Surgery. It's an interesting place. I have a few comments that I hope you will find helpful. As others here have stated, what you are feeling/experiencing is very normal, and your reaction to it is normal as well. However….. Saying that it would be considered "normal' is NOT saying that it is good. The time to start living like you have the Lap Band (or any other WLS) is not AFTER you have the Lap Band; it's at the moment you DECIDE that you will undergo the procedure. That is when the process begins. The sooner you can begin to rid yourself of old, destructive habits and begin to eat correctly, the better. Of course, it is not easy. People will say that if you could make those changes without the Lap band, then why get one? Well, the Lap band makes those changes EASIER. But YOU have to work at it. And by beginning that work the moment you decide to have the surgery, the better off you will be once the Lap Band has been implanted. On this forum, you will find a very wide variety of advice. You will find plenty of people who "get it"….and plenty of people who don't have a clue, even though they have lost significant weight with the Lap band. Their success has been more a consequence of luck, than of understanding the mechanics of obesity and the complexities (both mental and physical) of losing the weight and safely arriving at a state of robust health. For many people here, it seems to be more important to fit into a particular pair of jeans than it is to become truly healthy. So, you need to be very careful about whom you choose to "follow" in terms of advice here. Here's an example: "The only thing I can suggest is to remember that being banded does not mean there will be foods you cannot eat anymore, if anything you won't be able to eat the same amount of food, but there is no food that is considered "off-limits." To put it bluntly, this is a bunch of crap. There are people on this forum who seem to think that it is ok to eat ANYTHING, just not as much of it as they used to. That is only a half truth. A very large part of the obesity problem that we have all experienced is WHAT we eat, in addition to the volume that we consume. Don't allow yourself to get caught in the trap of thinking that as long as the "calories balance", then anything you want to eat is good. There ARE good and bad foods, and you need to learn what they are, and adjust your intake accordingly. One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to suggest that you take your focus off of losing weight, and place the emphasis on BECOMING HEALTHY. There is a Big difference. A HUGE difference, in fact. Being thin does NOT equal being healthy. And you will not achieve a TRUE state of health by continuing to consume a lot of the garbage that you have probably been eating most of your life. And I know,…. I have been there. Having lost around 200 pounds, easily keeping it off, and achieving a state of health that I never would have dreamed of a decade ago, I can tell you that making these decisions and choices about your health NOW will be a very important part of your overall Lap Band experience. Being ABLE to consume a lot of garbage ("comfort food", "treats", whatever you want to call them) while having the Lap Band does NOT mean that you should. You need to begin re-thinking your relationship with foods like this. So, I wish you the best of luck in this process. I encourage you to study this process hard, work harder, choose a good surgeon, and commit yourself to this process totally. And learn to become HEALTHY. S.

Using any kind of diet "pills" or appetite suppressant supplementation is a very bad idea. Some of them are able to supress the appetite in SOME people, for a short period of time. Then they lose their effectiveness. They can mess with your metabolism. They can alter your mood (and often not in a GOOD way). Stay away from the diet pills or anything like them. You need to devote all of your time and energy into making the Lap band work for you, in the RIGHT way. There is NO long term (or even short-term) beneft that can be derived from using appetite suppressants. And, they could possibly create some problems with your metabolism that will make losing weight difficult, even with the Lap band. S.

"I have heard of no unsuccessful banders" You have got to be kidding. The world is full of people with the Lap band who have never even come CLOSE to their goal. Unbelievable. S.

First, I think it's wonderful that you have the support of your in-laws….in these types of situations, in-laws can often be particularly critical. It's nice to have support from that area. The subject of alcohol consumption does come up frequently here, and it usually provokes some pretty strong opinions on all sides. I'll state the same things I have stated on this subject before. If you are really serious about losing weight, you need to consider giving up the booze, at least while you are in the process of losing the majority of your weight. Alcohol is NOT conducive to good health OR weight loss, regardless of what some small studies say about the occasional glass of wine. Don't get me wrong; in the past, I always enjoyed a good blast of hootch, but NOTHING could make me feel as good as I do as a thin person. Sure, you could have a drink occasionally; you could also have a Snickers on occasion. Or a Hot Fudge Sundae. But WHY would you want to, after everything you have been through with your weight? It's the little decisions that we make on a moment to moment basis that impacts our health so dramatically. A shot of booze here, some cheez whiz there,....it all adds up. And you don't NEED a drink to be happy or have fun....if you DO,....well,,,,there are perhaps some other issues that you might want to address. There are certain things you need to eat to live.... alcohol is one of those things you do NOT need. And it can hurt you in a number of ways. I saw a post recently where one member here had difficulty losing her last 10 or 15 pounds. When she cut out the glass of wine she had every once in a while, the weight came off. It is NOT always a matter of Calories in/calories burned…..different types of food have different effects on your METABOLISM. Alcohol is one of them. Also, consider the very real idea that after you have had one or two drinks, your will-power does tend to diminish, if not vanish entirely. This could lead to more drinks, and then the snacking that can often accompany a buzz. Sure, you can drink. Sure, you can have that piece of pizza, that slice of cake. But will that move you ANY closer to your goal? Nope. Will it keep you away from your goal? A little, tiny bit, yes. And will it continue to expose you to the foods that made you fat to begin with? Sure will. A couple of you have said your Drs have said that it is OK to have a drink. Some people on this site have said their doctors advised against consuming alcohol. You will find Drs that say both. But….I would challenge you to ask ANY Dr if it would be better that you did NOT have a drink/Pizza/whatever. I can guarantee you that probably %100 would say that it would be BETTER if you didn't. You always have a choice. And you should always strive to make the HEALTHY choice. S.

Funny Stuff. Some People here acknowledge that pizza is NOT a good choice for someone trying to lose weight. But look at all the people who went ahead and did it anyway. Jeez. And people wonder why the actual success rate of the lap band is so low. S.

I ABSOLUTELY feel that ongoing Counseling/Psychotherapy should be an integral part of the Lap Band experience. While it varies from person to person, the problem of obesity comes down to a very simple equation: We eat TOO much of the WRONG stuff. And most of the time, we do that not because we are physically hungry, but because of the "head hunger" that so many of us experience. And, simply because it gives us physical pleasure to eat good tasting food. Sure, there are segments of the Obese population that have some form of metabolic disorder, there are absorption issues, and some other elements that play a role in the path to becoming Obese. But MOST of the problem lies in the fact that we simply eat too much of the wrong food. And, of course, we don't exercise our bodies nearly enough. The fundamental mechanism of the Lap Band is to restrict our consumption of food. Plain and Simple. If you eat too much, you're gonna suffer. If you don't chew properly, it's gonna hurt. It's a valve. It's a Spigot. It's a throttle whose job it is to keep you from eating TOO MUCH (note to those engineer-types out there: I know it's not technically a"valve"…it doesn't open/close. I know…but you get my point…lol). There are some theoretical elements of the Lap band that some people here like to toss around as fact, that relate to reduced appetite and hunger, but that does not occur in all people….it is more the exception than the rule. The point here is that a HUGE component of the weight loss process is the MIND GAME. It is psychological in nature, and if that particular part of the puzzle is not dealt with, you will not be entirely successful in your weight loss efforts, with or WITHOUT the Lap Band. Some people get lucky and the band is all they need to lose all the weight, but they are really the exception. And, if the band stops working or needs to be removed, then you have a big problem if you have NOT dealt with the mind/emotional issues relating to obesity. So many Lap Band patients see the Band as some magical device that is stuffed in their stomach and Voila! ….they're not hungry any more. Nothing could be further from the truth, for MOST Lap Band recipients. It takes discipline, self control, patience, and a strong personal commitment to the process to make it work properly. And THAT is why regular Psychological Counseling is SO important in this process. Personally, I feel very strongly that regular sessions with a Psychotherapist that specializes in bariatric issues (and I mean SPECIALIZES, not just as part of the practice) should be a requirement of getting a Lap Band, not just a single session before the surgery. This should be an ongoing process, designed to support you in your weight loss efforts, and help you identify and manage the issues that have driven you to overeat in the first place. Now, on the other side of this, I do think that SOME of the Pre-operative Psych consultations are a joke. The insurance industry really needs to do some "housecleaning" with regard to how they handle these evaluations. Some of it really is "going through the motions", and that, honestly, doesn't help anyone at all. But that doesn't keep the PATIENT from taking a proactive stance and seeking out quality behavioral therapy to assist them in this process. As a Lap Band patient you should absolutely NOT be rejecting the idea of psychological intervention in your Quest for better health,,,,you SHOULD be wholeheartedly EMBRACING the idea that your problem with obesity is multi-faceted, and needs help from multiple resources, and NOT just a noose around your stomach. As I stated earlier, I feel that counseling and ongoing therapy should be a REQUIREMENT for anyone who undergoes Weight Loss Surgery of any kind, and I am kind of surprised that insurance companies do not make this a KEY part of the process, other than the initial Psych consultation. I believe that it is a CRUCIAL component of success in this area. It is known that a certain percentage of Gastric Bypass patients will put the weight back on within a few years of losing it. This is not a result of any deficiency in the surgical mechanism, but it is a direct result of the "mind component" of weight loss not being addressed properly, or even addressed at ALL in so many cases. It is also known that in the case of the Lap Band, a very large percentage of Patients never reach their intended goal, and, again, it is because (in many cases) the psychological and emotional issues that brought the patient to the point of needing surgery have never been addressed. So, yes…you ABSOLUTELY need to make Psychotherapy an integral part of your Weight Loss Surgery experience. With Regard to Therapists who specialize in Weight Issues, yes, there ARE those who maintain a Specialty Practice in that field. You need to hunt for them a bit, and I should warn you that MOST Psychotherapists will say that they deal with weight issues, but the fact is that most of them do not deal with it as a SPECIALTY. And, you really do want someone who is a specialist in this, someone who has been doing it for a number of years as a primary practice. Sometimes you will see them in the yellow pages, but as is most often the case, the BEST practitioners do NOT have to advertise. It is very possible that you can get a referral from your Surgeon's office; they very often have good links to Professionals in this field. Also, if you contact your local chapter of Overeaters Anonymous, they often can refer you to Professionals as well. Again, I have to emphasize the importance of finding someone who is very well experienced and trained in Bariatric Psychology as a SPECIALTY, and not merely an incidental part of their practice. I think if you ask most Psychotherapists if they treat people with Obesity issues, they will all say yes. But, the vast majority of them will only have a couple of patients for whom it is a defining issue, and their experience in treating this problem is not very deep. So, take the time to find someone who really IS an expert in this….you will be well-served by having this kind of professional on your Team. S.

Lol.... S.

You might want to cover up your surgical scars.....they might be impacted by the process. As far as any other impact upon the band, there really should be no problem. Now, with regard to tanning helping out your self esteem, I think a really good dose of Skin Cancer will work miracles in making you feel more like a complete person. Yep, I sure do. Isn't it wonderful how we are able to make really great decisions for ourselves (losing weight) and then be able to turn and around and make really stupid ones? (subjecting ouselves to rays that are PROVEN to cause skin cancer) all for the sake of having someone else see us and think we are "better" because we have a burned organ hanging from our bones? Also, there is the added benefit of having, later in life, drier and prematurely wrinkled skin because of the tanning. That should be even BETTER for your self esteem. Jeez. S. (ps:....you're smarter than that...stay away from those tanning booths.)

Even the “Evil” Spartan would like to wish Melody a speedy recovery, and best wishes on whatever your next step will be in this process. Sorry I snuck in here, but there was a little crack in the window, and I was able to climb through….. You have been successful with the band thus far, and while it is certainly sad that you had it removed, you are now free of the pain that it was causing you every moment. And of course, they say that when one door closes, another one opens. I am a believer in that. You are smart enough to be able to figure out what your next step will (or won’t) be. Perhaps you have learned enough about your body in this process so that you can go it alone. If I was in your situation, I would take this as a huge challenge, and try and make it work without the band. You have knowledge and experience and insight into both your body and your Personal “power” that you did not possess before, so perhaps that will be enough. If not, there are other options. But I think you have the ability to move forward and be successful at this, sans band. You’re a smart lady, stubborn (oh, c’mon, you KNEW that!), and you are more than halfway to goal. Give this a shot. I have a feeling you can do it. And if not, be grateful (as I am) that we are living in an age of options. But, I sense that you might not need those options. J Best of luck in your recovery, and your path forward. I will now attempt to crawl back out that window without falling on my butt…. S.

Nothing you described SHOULD create a problem. But, there HAVE been some cases of ports becoming dislodged, in a variety of situations. It depends a great deal on where the port was placed, and the experience/skill of the surgeon. I don't think one has to be too terribly protective of the port area after a few months have passed post-surgery. But it is important to be aware of the port and not cause any unneeded trauma to the area. Yoga is terrific, for the body AND the mind. Particularly Bikram....... S.

Jackie: I had a comment on something you said, which is what brought me back here to this "interesting" thread. You said: "I have made a decision to get healthy and that does not include eating fast food. Salads at these places are loaded with hidden calories!" I agree with that %100. I said that you can find something reasonable to eat wherever you go, BUT I will add that you do have to be careful. As far as the Salads, some of the fast food places dump all sorts of garbage into them, and sometimes put dressing on them before they give it to you. You really have to look carefully at the menu and see just what is put into the salads before you eat them. They like to make it seem like it is the "healthy choice", when in fact, it is anything but. a very good point! S.

Interesting stuff. I don’t usually return to threads I have posted in. I say what I have to say, and then move on. But I saw something that MaineJackie posted in another thread, and it reminded me that I wanted to reply to something she said in this thread. So, I see that some tiny minds here have turned a legitimate observation into some kind of massive judgmental tirade on my part. Nice Morph. This place is great. There’s always some good comedy to be found if you look for it. You guys are like a box of hamsters. Too much fun. Ok, I’ll start with this one from “StateofZen”: “Sure, yes. But that's part of what the band does-- helps people learn and makes it easier to make healthy choices. Why does it ultimately matter why she isn't eating the wraps anymore? In the end, the band helped her learn a better choice.” Does it Really? I think not. The only thing the band actually TEACHES you is the kind and amount of food that will cause you PAIN if you consume it. It doesn’t “teach” you that something was unhealthy. The band did NOT “help her learn a better choice”. Who knows what was next on her menu. Deep-fried Snickers? “Why does it ultimately matter why she isn't eating the wraps anymore?” It matters because of how she arrived at the decision. She did NOT say “oh….this is not a good choice because it is not healthy and will NOT move me close to my goal of good health and proper weight”. She made the choice because it HURT her….caused her PAIN…she got STUCK….that’s IT. If she made the choice based upon the knowledge that she was consuming something that was NOT particularly healthy, then that would be fine. But she did not. She withdrew her choice of Wraps as a meal choice because it got STUCK….NOT because it was unhealthy. I find it very difficult to understand how you cannot “get” that. “In the end, the band helped her learn a better choice.” Again, no it did NOT. It only helped her learn a DIFFERENT choice. And that could be most anything. It ONLY “taught” her that those wraps were painful to eat. Period. “Eating unhealthy food-- enjoying it on occasion-- is not a moral failure.” Would you care to point out precisely and exactly WHERE I said that….or even IMPLIED that eating unhealthily was a “moral failure”? You can’t….because I didn’t. And I wouldn’t. However, having said that, I will say that a certain case COULD be made for the concept that one DOES have a moral responsibility to their families and loved ones to be as healthy as possible. If there are people who DEPEND on you for their physical well-being (son, daughter, spouse, etc…) then yes, you MIGHT be able to consider it to be a moral responsibility to keep yourself healthy and fit, to be able to look after their needs…..AND to not become a burden to them. It could also be argued that individuals have a reasonable responsibility to SOCIETY to be as healthy as possible, for nearly the same reason….to AVOID becoming a burden to the medical system, the insurance system, and to society as a whole. I think that it only makes sense that people should at least give consideration to the idea that consciously becoming healthy makes them a better father, mother son, daughter, citizen, etc. “I will straight up say-- if I could still eat french fries without getting a stuck feeling, I would. *Gasp* Every once in a while, I would eat 1 or 2 fries (that's all my appetite would ever allow after my protein) just for the shear enjoyment of the taste. That does not make me a bad person or a band failure.” Once again, would you care to point out where I said ANYONE would be a failure or a bad person for consuming something that might be considered in opposition to a positive Lap band experience? Hmm? Point it out, please….I’m waiting……. But here is something that apparently you have not considered (One thing of many, apparently). YOU might be able to have those couple of French Fries. YOU might be able to have a whole handful of fries with no ill effects other than a slowdown in your weight loss. But there is a significant percentage of the WLS Community for whom that would be a disaster. You might be unaware of it, but a very large part of the Obese population is in that condition because of an ADDICTION to food. And for those people, getting even a BITE of their specific “problem food” could cause them to binge on ANY food that is available, that would make it through the Lap Band. Someone in this thread said that the Lap Band would “keep them from Binging”. Not true. It might keep you from binging on Steak and Lobster, but it’s not gonna keep you from binging on ice cream, shakes, Malts, Yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, gravy….it’s a LONG list. I am not going to go into the whole food addiction issue here, suffice to say that it is a VERY big problem and it IS the problem behind many, many cases of obesity. Those of you who DO have this as the core reason behind your particular weight problem are treading on dangerous Water by having that little “treat” so you don’t feel “deprived”, because you “deserve” it, and “everything is ok in moderation”….all a bunch of bull. So, for an alcoholic, you are suggesting that it would just fine to have “one or two shots of Jack just for the sheer enjoyment of the taste”….right? Because that is, in essence what you saying to people with a food addiction by telling them they can still eat whatever they want,….”in moderation”. Again…a Big subject, but worth exploring and worth being AWARE of…..particularly by someone who refers to themselves as a “Psychologist”. Right. S.

I am in a continual state of amazement whenever I come here and see so many "experts" on a surgery that they DIDN'T have. I don't want the OP's original concerns to get lost in this, so my first comments are for her. As far as the articles/studies you may have read, yes, there has been a significant number of observational articles that have been published recently (and one new study) concluding that the Bypass is the preferred methodology for treating obesity. For SOME reason, there have been very few hard-core studies performed comparing the two over long time frames. Part of that is because the Lap Band is still relatively new, in terms of being able to observe long-term outcomes. The Lap Band was only approved for use in the US 10 years ago, and it has only come into what would be considered "common" use in the last 4 years. And, a "critical mass" can only be considered to have been arrived at in the last couple of years, where you see tons of advertising, Billboards, bus benches, etc. In other words, there is no way to effectively compare the two in terms of outcomes longer than 4 or 5 years. The Gastric Bypass, on the other hand, has been performed and studied for over Half a CENTURY. And with the advent of laparoscopic surgical technologies about 12 years ago, the procedure has become incredibly safe, with regard to the actual surgical procedure. The Bypass and the Lap Band are now considered to be EQUALLY risky in terms of Death on the Operating Table and Death in the Short-Term, post procedure. So, the Bypass is Safe. Period. It is considered to be the Gold Standard in bariatric Surgery, and will continue to considered as such for the foreseeable future. Now, while it might seem like I am championing the Bypass, that is not necessarily the case. ALL the various WLS procedures are useful, viable alternatives. But here's the part that most people (including many Bariatric Professionals) simply do not get: Not all Surgeries are good or will work well for all people. It's not just a big "WLS Smorgasbord" where you just pick the surgery that appeals to you and go have it done. Many people are unaware of the fact that there are 6 major forms of WLS, and a few more obscure methodologies. And, in addition to those, there are even more being tested. But they are all DIFFERENT….they are meant for DIFFERENT people with DIFFERENT eating disorders and metabolic issues. I am not going to describe the details here; that is something you need to discuss with your Bariatric team. ALL WLS's do not work for everyone. In the last month here on LBT, there has been quite a bit of discussion about the Fact that the Lap Band does NOT work for everyone, for a variety of reasons. Some people simply eat TOO much. Some people have a metabolic disorder. For some it is emotional. There are LOTS of different reasons why people get fat, and you need to look carefully at ALL of the options available to make sure that you will choose the one that right for YOU. A former member here once said that "YOU don't choose the Type of Surgery…..The Type of Surgery Chooses YOU" And that is VERY true. You need to visit more than one Doctor. You need to see an Endocrinologist. You need to speak with different Surgeons. And , you need to begin a course of Psychotherapy with a Mental health Professional who has DEMONSTRABLE experience and skill in the area of Dealing with Obese people. Unfortunately…..most people do not do that. They do what they are "comfortable" with, and more often than not these days, that means the Lap Band. The advertisements on Bus Benches, Billboards, and those particularly obnoxious Television ads that show Lap band patients "morphing" from something like Roseanne Barr into something like Jessica Alba, are all pushing people into thinking that the Lap Band is a "one-size-fits-all" solution. And it is NOT. It works for some people. In fact it works VERY well for some people. But NOT most people. Mattie7632 said: "I had lapband and would never do the bypass due to it's so invasive and the potential complications." Mattie, My Dear, I have to disagree with you on this one. People always give the same reasons why they choose the Lap Band. "It's reversible" ."It's adjustable". It's "less Invasive than the others". "It's safer". Because someone mentioned it here, let's looks at the "reversible" argument. The way that the Lap Band is "reversible" is that you can remove it. So…why would you want to remove it? Because you are experiencing one of several problems that REQUIRE removal, that's why. Like Erosion and Slippage, the two most common adverse outcomes. Slippage can cause Damage to the esophagus. SERIOUS Damage. Erosion:….have you ever seen a picture of erosion?….it's ugly, and potentially very dangerous. And there are other problems that occur with the Lap Band that can cause serious injury to your insides. So, while you might be able to REMOVE the Lap Band (reversible), in most cases you CANNOT REVERSE THE DAMAGE IT DOES. So….it's really not all that reversible, is it? How about "it's less invasive than Bypass". This one is pretty comical to me. Sure, they do some re-routing. BUT THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS WHAT YOU NEED. If you need a Coronary Artery Bypass, I suspect you wouldn't say "oh, it's too invasive". And for MANY obese people, a GASTRIC BYPASS is what THEY need to help them with their problem, in the same way a Heart Patient needs a Coronary Bypass. And what about all of the other stuff we do to our bodies to solve some kind of problem. And the COSMETIC stuff. Facelifts, tummy tucks, butt implants, chin implants, hair transplants, ear-pinning….it is a long list. And what about all of the piercings that are being done today, eh? Nose…Nose BRIDGE. Tongue. Ears (seen the huge holes people are poking in their ears and putting pieces of metal in?) Eyebrows. Cheek. Belly Button. Penis. Clitoris. And, again, the list goes on…..and NONE of that gives you ANY physical benefit. How about Tattoos? The Skin is an ORGAN. And a sensitive one at that. But people seem to love injecting ink into it for some reason. Many people here are planning on having some significant Plastic Surgery performed after they lose enough weight…..you don't think THAT'S invasive? Several pounds of an ORGAN removed…..you don't think THAT is invasive? And the simple fact is that Plastic Surgery is FAR more risky that ANY WLS. Sorry, the "invasion" complaint doesn't make a lick of sense. Potential Complications? Well, ANY surgery has those, some of which have nothing to do with the TYPE of surgery. There are, in fact, very few complications that happen with any frequency with the Bypass. One is a ruptured Staple Line. Very Rare. VERY rare. If you choose your surgeon correctly, this is NOT a problem. Stricture: This is where one of the openings that was created during the procedure begins to close a bit. The solution is simple and takes just a few minutes. Not an issue. Small Ulcer: On occasion, this happens at the point where the aforementioned "hole" is created. Again…easily treatable, not really an issue. Malnutrition: This is the one you hear about the most, and the solution is also very simple. In virtually every case where people were not getting the proper nutrients it has been found that patient was NOT following the Surgeons directives concerning nutrition. This means, mostly, NOT taking their Vitamins, or taking the WRONG kind of vitamins. Plain and simple. Take your vitamins (the right ones) and you'll be fine. And, you have to eat correctly. The Chief of Bariatric Surgery for one of the Largest HMOs in the country put it this way: "If the patient is reasonably compliant with the instructions given, we can predict the outcome with great certainty". Not much more to say about that. I'm hoping you see my point. People make decisions based some pretty foolish notions., and WRONG INFORMATION. PrtyAntOvrYt said: "This is a also a trend now where doctors are placing Lap Bands over Gastric Bypass stomachs" It's not a "trend"…..it is an occasional event. This is not being done THAT often, but it IS an alternative for those people who have been able to screw up their Bypass. " The bypass weight loss comes to an end eventually and you have to struggle to continue losing if you're not at your goal." It comes to an end if the patient STOPS DOING what he/she is supposed to do and starts eating/drinking what they SHOULDN'T….it works the SAME WAY with the Lap Band. " I got a LapBand 1/2008 and I've lost over 200lbs. My friend got Gastric Bypass 9/2008 and she stalled at 155lb loss and hasn't been able to lose anymore!" And that happened because she (again) stopped doing what she was supposed to do. "She works out but the malabsorption is no longer happening for her. Her body has learned to compensate and if she eats anything unhealthy she gains" The Malasorptive component of the RNY does in SOME people lessen somewhat, but never "stops". Her body has not "learned to compensate" as much as she has decided to eat unhealthily again. Here's the line I really love: "and if she eats anything unhealthy she gains". Uh….ya think? Maybe? And guess what…..same thing with the Lap Band, the Sleeve, Mini GB, FB, etc, etc. I cannot believe you actually said that. Eating healthy is CORE to ANY FORM OF WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM, whether it be surgery, aerobics, Nutrisystem, or any other form of WL system. And I know what you're gonna say, so don't bother….."but she does eat healthily, blah, blah, blah….." No, she doesn't, If she did, she would be at goal. That is the one thing about the RNY that you CANNOT say about any other WLS…stick to the rules, and you WILL lose the weight. You may have a small challenge keeping it where you want, but that is true with EVERY WLS. A certain Percentage of RNY patients do, in fact, put some weight back on. But it is a small percentage, the best guess is around 8-12 percent. Again, the words of the Bariatric Surgeon quoted earlier: "it is very difficult (and rare) to put weight back on after a Bypass….you almost have to make a conscious decision to do it." And….some people DO make that decision. Maybe not so conscious, but there is a part of them that WANTS to be fat…a part that feels comfortable in that condition. So, they self sabotage. That Happens in the Lap Band world as well. Which is why I STRONGLY recommend that EVERY WLS patient seek a long-term course of Psychotherapy as mentioned previously in this…uh….novel. "I have known many with gastric bypass and 80% have had major health issues. And two did not have resolution to their diabetes." I keep seeing stuff like this over and over and over. And I believe VERY little of it. If the two did not have their Diabetes resolve, they were eating inappropriately. Period. Or they had an incompetent Surgeon. %80? Ridiculous. Unless they were having major health issues that pre-existed the surgery and they continued to present with the symptoms post-procedure. I don't even buy the "I have known many with Gastric bypass". Most people do not know "many". Maybe 2 or 3. But WLS patients do not generally announce it to the world. Unless you were part of a support group that included Bypass patients, but you did not indicate that. And having a group of Bypass Patients of which %80 have "major" issues is just SO out of proportion to the experience of the Bypass Population at-large (no pun intended) that I would have to call BS on this one, OR suggest that they all went to the same incompetent surgeon. There is one member of this forum who I find particularly uninformed but babbles about everything anyway, who claims to have personally known 11 Bypass patients. Red flag pops up on that alone. Out of those, they claim that FIVE have died, and only ONE had a positive outcome. Right. Of COURSE that happened. (snicker). That is so out of line with reality. I have told several Surgeons about that comment; they ALWAYS laugh for a few minutes, and say something to the effect that there is an agenda in place somewhere there. And I think that is probably the case. I have plenty more to say on this, but I won't. I will simply advise the OP to Consider the Bypass, and ignore the people here who have never had one, and have nothing but tales of dubious origin. There is also another post here I will comment on later….more BS from, I think, familiar sources. You should NEVER base any life-changing decision on comments made in a forum like this. See another doctor. See an Endocrinologist. Talk to several surgeons. See a Psychotherapist. You didn't become Fat overnight, so you can afford to take the time to do the research you NEED to do that will help you in making the RIGHT decision. I wish you the best of luck in whatever choice you make. S.