scared_but_sure

[glitz99 1]

am scheduled for surgery next week. i am scared that something will go wrong or that the band won't work. pleeeeze reassure me. i weigh 210 and have 60 to drop.

[Graceful One 4]

Piece of cake sweetie! And your so small now....I was 250...lost about 25 lbs in the first two weeks...just got my first fill yesterday (I was more scared about the fill) and didn't feel a thing!

THIS BAND IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE!

Does that make you feel better?

[jadrad7 0]

Surgery isnt easy, but 2 days after you will be so happy you went thru it. Like having a baby, well worth the discomfort to get the end prize! we will be here for you.

[GeezerSue 7]

Originally posted by glitz99

am scheduled for surgery next week. i am scared that something will go wrong or that the band won't work. pleeeeze reassure me. i weigh 210 and have 60 to drop.

Hopping in here doing my grumpy thing...I do not wish to worry you, as I see no reason to worry. I do wish to cause you to question yourself and make sure you know all about what you're about to do. Let's make sure you are fully informed on what is likely to happen if "the band works" for you.

The average WLS patient (regardless of which surgery) has lost about 60% of their excess weight two years out. And, 60% of 60 pounds is 36 pounds. So, if you are going into this knowing that there is an EXCELLENT chance that two years from now, you will weigh 174, not 150...and if it's worth it to you to go to all the trouble and expense knowing that a thirty-six pound loss will be typical, then you are sufficiently informed.

It's a different call for the seriously Morbidly Obese. If you are well into the MO range and need to lose, say, 160 pounds, and only lose 96 (60%), you life will STILL have changed so dramatically that the surgery would be well worth it. I'm not sure the same applies to losing only 36 pounds.

This is not to say that you won't meet or exceed your goal, of course. I'm just mentioning the AVERAGE result.

Good luck, no matter what you decide.

Sue

[glitz99 1]

Dear Everybody.

Thank you all for your kindness and concerned responses. I feel SOOOOO much better now. I have been doing nothing but research for a long while but discover new stuff every day. Today I came across the following: http://www.lifelinewls.com/Lap_band.htm and was horrified. It made it sound like the band does not work at all. I know rationally this is not true. In the wake of that awful link, I went to the FDA website and downloaded the truth about the FDA study and found pretty much what Sue summarized.

I look at this way. It's been a long time since I've even been in th 170s so it is TOTALLY worth it to me. And I am going to try my darndest to go all the way.

Thank you all again. You are all wonderful!!!!

[quakergirl 2]

Don't let that article scare you. It is VERY out of date! It's talking about people banded way back in 1996 thru 1998. Things have changed A LOT since the lap-band was FDA approved in 2001.

For one thing, surgeons have improved their techniques for how to do lap-band surgery. It's been shown that surgeons have lower complication rates with their later patients than they do with the very first ones. Experience of the doc makes a big diference, and back in the 1990s not very many docs had experience with the band.

Secondly, we modern day bandsters have a lot more information and support available to us than the pioneering bandsters did. Looking at how a lot of bandsters even nowadays don't get a lot of info from their doctors, I'm betting those bandsters in 1996 had NO guidance in what they were supposed to eat and when to get fills.

Those people who gave up on the band and got a gastric bypass may not have been properly informed about how the lap-band requires more PATIENCE than the bypass does.

A LOT of bandsters get into a panic "Oh no, this isn't working!" mode during the first few weeks post-op, because they don't realize that any weight loss before a fill is just a bonus. Back in the 1990s, there weren't any lap-band messageboards where people could find out from more experienced bandsters that the "this isn't working" panic is normal, and DOESN'T MEAN THE BAND IS FAILING! So, a lot of people probably gave up on the band without giving it a real chance to work.

Like Sue pointed out, there is NO GUARANTEE that you will lose all your excess weight, but it is definitely possible! Sounds like you have the right attitude about realistic expectations. Good luck.

[mkcarpen 0]

I had my surgery on 9/15. My highest weight was 218 and I am 5 1/2. This morning when I stepped on my scales, I saw 172. In July when I was approved for the surgery I would never have believed that by December my scales would read 172. This would not have happened if I had not had the surgery. I would have been gaining more weight over the holidays.

I strongly believe that one of the main reasons for my weight loss is exercise. As long as it is not raining or freezing, I have been getting out for walks. Last night I wore ankle weights to increase the intensity of my walk. My energy level is up and my house is cleaner than it has ever been. I care more about myself and my surroundings.

Good Luck.

Kathy

[nicolekiper 0]

Well although there are a lot of articles and things out there that talk about average weight loss. Well what is average weight loss considering we are all different and unique people. I my self started out at 402 lbs on 8/28/03, that was 3 and a half months ago. I have been eating solid food for about 2of those months. I now weigh 340 lbs, that is 62 lbs in 3 months with noooooooooooo fill. My friend has lost 100 lbs in 3 months with no fill although she has had some complications, a different friend has only lost 35 lbs in 5 months with 2 fills and that is ok. Everyone is different, even if we all ate the same food, exercised the same it doesn't mean we will al loose the same. You may loose 36 lbs but you could also loose all of the weight you need to to get to your goal weight. SO GOOD LUCK!! Don't let anyone bring you down. I haven't even scheduled a fill yet because I don't need one yet. you will do great.