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.