New to Website-thinking about Lap Band

[Joanne B 0]

My name is Joanne and I am thinking about Lap Band surgery. I went to a seminar about 1 year ago about weight loss surgery and they discussed the by pass and the band. I know a few people who had both and I think the band is the best solution for me. I work full time outside the home, plus have two small children. It seems to me the band has a less drastic diet change then the by pass. That does not mean in any way that I think this is will be easy or that I can eat whatever I like.

I also am not to comfortable with the drastic changes that are made to the stomach, I feel if things go bad I can reverse the band and not the by pass. I also did not want to get hung up on the rapid weight loss, I am told the by pass your weight loss is faster then with the band, but I am OK with that. I only want to be healthy I don't want to be skinny. I don't think I would be happy with myself skinny.

My biggest fear is the extra skin. One asset I love about my body is my back side. I have learned to love my body and flaunt my assets, I already have medium size breast, I fear they will be smaller, and my back side will become flat. But I feel like I will just continue to put weight on, I never was a rapid wight gainer, I would gradually put weight on, and I have been a size 20-22 for at least 15 years, however, I but 20 lbs on in the last three years, and now I have reach 270. that is only 30 lbs away from 300. When I look at myself I don't think weight that much, I don't cringe away from the mirror or cameras but when i got on the scale last week (which I never get on them) I thought to myself oh god, it maybe time to think about getting help.

I have a lot of hereditary health issues like diabetes, heart diseases, and joint issues, thank goodness I am not afflicted by any of the yet, but I look at my mother and all her issues and I don't want to become that.

Well anyway I guess that is my story and I joined this group to read about others experiences, and support while I make this decisions and possible walk down this path.

[THEgeorgiaPEACH 3]

Great post. I am 3 months post op and started off at 299. I am now 34 lbs down. The first 34 lbs were ALL without a fill. I just got my 2nd fill on Saturday & I am finally feeling restriction.

Yes, unfortunately, it is VERY likely that you will have saggy skin. Usually the most is in the arms & the belly area. Which can easily be covered with clothes, etc. It also depends on the elasticity of your age. I was worried about this also, and still am. But at this point I just think to myself "Well, I already hate seeing myself naked AND clothed because I'm so large. So hating seeing myself naked with saggy skin wont be any different AND I'll look amazing clothed!"

The surgery portion of the lap band is about 45 minutes long. I experienced major discomfort after, but some say that they are almost perfectly fine following their surgery. Just definitely research good dr's in your area. Ask questions like "Who will be doing my adjustments" (the answer should be the surgeon) "How will you secure my port?" (The answer should NOT be "with a mesh") Is there a respiratory team/hospital nearby if anything WERE to happen? (obviously the answer should be yes.) Just ask a TON of questions.

After getting my surgery there is no way I'd go back. I feel HOPEFUL of my future. I know that I'm going to continue losing & becoming more healthy. It's a great feeling.

Goodluck on your journey and I hope this helped!

[FLORIDAYS 3,040]

Last year December I got on the scale and about had a heart attack... I had gained the 60 lbs I lost on Jenny Craig (didnt make it to my goal because I got bored and wasnt commited....) 2 yrs earlier as well as 30 more.... today I have lost 124 lbs and have about 60 more to go.

For me this has been a wonderful decision. I do not regret it at all! I wish you all the best and know that a correctly filled band will do 70% of the work. You must do the rest by way of making good food choices.

So far I dont have too much extra skin.... .. but I will take that over 200 lbs of extra weight.

Best of luck with your decision.

[Joanne B 0]

Great post. I am 3 months post op and started off at 299. I am now 34 lbs down. The first 34 lbs were ALL without a fill. I just got my 2nd fill on Saturday & I am finally feeling restriction.

Yes, unfortunately, it is VERY likely that you will have saggy skin. Usually the most is in the arms & the belly area. Which can easily be covered with clothes, etc. It also depends on the elasticity of your age. I was worried about this also, and still am. But at this point I just think to myself "Well, I already hate seeing myself naked AND clothed because I'm so large. So hating seeing myself naked with saggy skin wont be any different AND I'll look amazing clothed!"

The surgery portion of the lap band is about 45 minutes long. I experienced major discomfort after, but some say that they are almost perfectly fine following their surgery. Just definitely research good dr's in your area. Ask questions like "Who will be doing my adjustments" (the answer should be the surgeon) "How will you secure my port?" (The answer should NOT be "with a mesh") Is there a respiratory team/hospital nearby if anything WERE to happen? (obviously the answer should be yes.) Just ask a TON of questions.

After getting my surgery there is no way I'd go back. I feel HOPEFUL of my future. I know that I'm going to continue losing & becoming more healthy. It's a great feeling.

Goodluck on your journey and I hope this helped!

Thank you for the reply, and exactly what I am looking for is what you provided...QUESTIONS TO ASK.

[bg9249 18]

I'm 18 days post-op, and would do it again no problem.

A few things that I think should have been brought to the table for me include:

Where the surgery will be located. For me, I thought it would be the next town over, but it was 3 hours away.

How much fills will cost (I wasn't sure if my insurance covered them or not- they do).

What types of labs and tests have to be completed prior to surgery. (I was not made aware of any and had to complete a sleep study 3 hours away, an endoscopy 3 hours away, surgery clearance from my physician, lab work, etc).

The question about how the port is attached is great because I didn't know the difference, but my doctor brought it up to us.

My main question going in was if I could get pregnant (since that's a goal over the next few years- to have kids)

I did read through this website a lot before I decided to go on with my lapband. Things you may read about that don't make sense (at least for me) was the gas pain. That is NO joke. You get this weird pain in your left shoulder, and it truly hurts; but in turn it passes rather quickly, and for me it has been few and far between after the first few days. I have noticed if I eat too much I get the pain as well. If you have any questions, I would love to answer based on my experience. I also know that people are different, and for me I have a blogging buddy who has the same surgery date as me and we have had two totally different experiences.

Best wishes!

[54Shirley 105]

You have done your Homework on which surgery to have, and that's a start. But how you eat, what will really go down once you are filled vs just being Banded! That's a start. too.

Continue your research on this site, and you will see the difference. It's good to be prepared, and still, I am always learning..

The lose skin issue. That depends on Genetics, you, and a lot of LUCK !

You know you will be exercising, and if the elasticity in your skin is not shot ! It will spring Back with working out. If it's gone ? There is not much you can

do. Live with it, or get it removed. But keep working out.

Some of these Lady s on here are Gorgeous, now that they have reached their Goal.

So hang in there, this hole thing is worth it, and doable.

Just follow the rules, be patient,and watch the results.

One good thing, is keep staying of that scale, and just get weighed at your Dr. Office. or weigh 1 x a month.

You will be delighted with the results.

Welcome Aboard !

Shirley