I need YOUR opinion

[monique73 0]

I had my lap band put in in Nov of 08, two weeks later i had my tonsils removed and was in ALOT of pain. Needless to say i lost some weight approx 15lbs, once I was able to eat I noticed I had NO restrictions I advised my dr of this and he said just wait and it will happen. Fast forward to Feb 09 I have my first fill and I have NO restriction and that was with a 6cc fill(the capacity on this sucker is 9:crying:) I lost all faith in the lap band and had just decided it did not work for me. I became depressed and gained approx 40 lbs:mad:, Just this past November I decided to just suck it up and try something else. I set the timer on my cell phone and at small meals every three hours and hit the gym 4 days a week 30 mins hard cardio and 20 mins weights. I see results now I have lost just over 20lbs:thumbup: but i am hungry and I'm not ashamed to admit a little cranky. I just went to the Dr again to day and I am scheduled to have the remaining 2.5 cc fill hoping that it will help, I asked what my options are if this does not work. My Dr advised I can stay on the same path with the gym work and the lower calorie meals or do the bypass procedure. I am sooooo leaning towards the bypass because I am sooooo tired of being hungry, fat, and cranky. It is a drastic move and I am concerned with the permanent factor but right now hungry fat and cranky seems kinda permanent also as i have been two of the three for a while now. Any thoughts?:thumbup:

[BetsyB 9]

Don't put the cart before the horse. Chances are, you will achieve good restriction with subsequent fills. A lot of people, it seems, really do need to push toward (or even past) their band's stated capacity.

Too soon to worry about conversion to RNY, IMO!

[JeweI 2]

I would wait and see if restriction happens with the fill. If that doesn't work. I personally won't go as far as to have the bypass. I don't know how I would feel about it though if I was larger. If I was having alot of health issues I would consider it. Right now I have PCOS and am getting close to diabetes. There is so much to consider. How are your knees feeling? your back? If all these things are bothering you and you are hungry it is no wonder you are cranky. Sounds like your doing the best you can without the restriction. Could you just imagine how great it would be with the restriction? I hope you get it it this time so you don't have to worry about the bypass.

[LeighaMason 19]

I would have my band filled to the top before I gave up on it. Hungry was my problem too... I got restriction on my second fill. But I have heard of people who take many fills to get there. When the doctor said ok thats all it will hold and you dont have restriction, go for a second opinion with another doc. Until then fill, fill, fill.

[thebandedgirl 0]

I'm with the other commenters here. Give your band a chance to work before you give up on it again. As others have said, some people get fills beyond the capacity of the band. Work what you have before you resort to something more drastic :smile2:

[KatrinaD 0]

Oh gosh don't do bypass..you should be so proud of yourself with what youve accomplished...i hope you stick with it..you can do it!! Stay strong and keep your support ppl around

[Melinco 1]

This is the reason that people should ask their potential surgeons what their philosophy is for fills. If the surgeon has set time frames that they'll do fills regardless of your hunger level, I'd shy away from that surgeon.

Once you are past the healing stage, you should get your fills based on your level of hunger, not some arbitrary time frame or weight loss schedule. To me, that's just asking for trouble and inviting feelings of failure and depression.

I may be talking out my butt as I go in for my first fill tomorrow, but one of the things I really liked about my surgeon was the fact that he says he listens to what his patients are saying, and if they are feeling hungry, then it's time for a fill.

Good luck with yours! I hope that once you get some additional cc's in your band, you'll be feeling it!

[TinaM 0]

i think you should continue this hardwark approach with the next fill for at least a year before you consider the sleeve or rny