I Just Might Be Ready This Time....

[KK66 61]

Hi everyone

New to the site. Long history of yo yo dieting, pills, plans, yada yada. Never really heavy as a child or teenager. Entering perimenopause (46 now) and it's a lesson in futility to lose and keep it off.

The 30 lbs I lose keeps hunting me down, finds me and brings more friends!

Completely frustrated. I have a 2 1/2 year old grand daughter now and I want to have the energy to continue to enjoy our times together.

In addition to being heavy (okay, obese according to BMI chart), I was born with congenital hip dysplasia and now I need a hip replacement (putting off as long as possible). I am hoping lowering my weight will help with delaying this.

I am not trying to be model thin, but I think getting down to 160 would be both achieveable and realistic.

I am petrified of bypass or sleeve surgery--and not really sure if my BCBS would cover it.

I am a nurse at a Boston hospital, so we have a weight center (scheduled an appt)

I am interested in any advice, information you can give me. Will there be much down time?

How did everyone do post op? How quick did you lose? Sagging skin? Pain? Post op complications?

Thanks to everyone.

Krissy

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Welcome, Krissy!

The best way to get answers to your questions is to read lots of posts here on LBT. Everybody's experience with the band is unique, so the more you read, the better understanding you'll gain about the range of band experiences,. I'll take a shot at giving you some answers right now.

Advice/Information? I could write a book to answer that one. Oh, wait! I did write a book!

Down time after surgery? At the time, I was working from home at a sedentary job, and started back to work about 3-4 days after surgery. I assume that as a nurse, you're required to lift/assist patients, so your down time may be longer - maybe a few weeks?

How did I do post-op? I lost 90 lbs in a year. That works out to 1.8 lbs/week, and the average weight loss rate with the band is 1-2 lbs/week, so I think I did pretty well. I have sagging skin but according to several plastic surgeons, that's related more to my age than my rate of weight loss. In terms of pain, my band surgery wasn't bad compared to my abdominal hysterectomy and breast reduction surgeries.

Complications? I had a band slip (fixed by a complete unfill and 6 week rest period) and a port flip (fixed by outpatient surgery). I had my band removed this April because of bad reflux that I've apparently had for over 20 years in its "silent" form. It was aggravated by my small 4 cc band (no longer used in the USA). I'm planning to revise to the sleeve in the next month or so because my surgeon thinks putting another band in me is asking for trouble.

Congrats on starting your weight loss journey!

[DeAna N 229]

Welcome, Krissy!

The best way to get answers to your questions is to read lots of posts here on LBT. Everybody's experience with the band is unique, so the more you read, the better understanding you'll gain about the range of band experiences,. I'll take a shot at giving you some answers right now.

Advice/Information? I could write a book to answer that one. Oh, wait! I did write a book!

Down time after surgery? At the time, I was working from home at a sedentary job, and started back to work about 3-4 days after surgery. I assume that as a nurse, you're required to lift/assist patients, so your down time may be longer - maybe a few weeks?

How did I do post-op? I lost 90 lbs in a year. That works out to 1.8 lbs/week, and the average weight loss rate with the band is 1-2 lbs/week, so I think I did pretty well. I have sagging skin but according to several plastic surgeons, that's related more to my age than my rate of weight loss. In terms of pain, my band surgery wasn't bad compared to my abdominal hysterectomy and breast reduction surgeries.

Complications? I had a band slip (fixed by a complete unfill and 6 week rest period) and a port flip (fixed by outpatient surgery). I had my band removed this April because of bad reflux that I've apparently had for over 20 years in its "silent" form. It was aggravated by my small 4 cc band (no longer used in the USA). I'm planning to revise to the sleeve in the next month or so because my surgeon thinks putting another band in me is asking for trouble.

Congrats on starting your weight loss journey!

Have you gained anything since your band was removed?

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Have you gained anything since your band was removed?

Yes, I'm afraid I have. I had a complete unfill in February and since then have gained 25 lbs. I haven't been pigging out, but I'm physically hungry most of the time and eating bigger portions.

[DeAna N 229]

wow I was wondering if after eating differently for so long it it just "stuck" only in a dream world I guess. That little band is with us forever. My Dr wants to do a band with plication do you know what the differnece is between the sleeve and plication?

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

wow I was wondering if after eating differently for so long it it just "stuck" only in a dream world I guess. That little band is with us forever. My Dr wants to do a band with plication do you know what the differnece is between the sleeve and plication?

The sleeve surgery involves putting a staple line along the stomach to create a small, banana-shaped (or sleeve) stomach, after which the surgeon cuts away and removes the rest of the stomach.

In plication, the surgeon reduces the size of the stomach by making a pleat in it and securing it with staples. So no part of the stomach is permanently removed. I know 3 people who've had the band with plication. One has lost an enormous amount of weight (but she has a lot to lose - started at almost 500 lbs), one I've kind of lost track of, and the other just had her surgery last month. I'll ask her to drop in on this thread and give you her comments about it.

The band with plication has very good results so far, but it's too new to have accumulated any stats about long-term weight loss and possible complications.

[DeAna N 229]

My Dr told me that is the procedure he would like to perform for me. I was a little spooked at first and I worry with it so new will my insurance approve it. someone else posted that her insurance paid for the lapband surgery but the plication the surgeon did on his own I guess a lot of the surgeons are trying to really get the plication numbers. I feel more comfortable knowing that it can be reversed if I have complications. I am thinking my surgeon is going to do the same he has done them before. I have anthem BCBS and he has to know that they wouldn't approve anything experimental. thanks for the information

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

hi de ..i had this surgery 2 weeks ago. (lap band w/plication). so far so good.

he said it (could/may) possibly help more with band slippage in the future and less visits for fills

and also makes the stomach smaller (similiar to sleeve w/o cutting) and that

would also help in the weight loss. i am hoping as i heal to get more feedback on this.

i have read online that is does help or add up to 35% or even more weight loss. (or more depending on if the patient is eating properly and exercising). granted that is only what i found online and cannot say if its true or not as it

is a kinda new surgery. again, its is a (tool) along w/the band to help by making the stomach (smaller)i liked it because there was no cutting only a suture. i was able to go on you tube and watch my surgeon do this exact surgery and it was so interesting.

here is a link that explains it better than i. hope this helps

ps-thanks J

Band over Plication

The gastric band and the gastric plication weight loss surgery procedures are less invasive and possibly safer than other bariatric procedures currently available. In both cases, however, there effectiveness is somewhat diminished because they are not as invasive. There is a growing consensus that by combining these two procedures bariatric surgery patients may get the best of both worlds. Each of the procedures individually may yield over 50% excess body weight loss (EBWL), however combined, there is the belief that EBWL may reach or exceed 75%, similar to that of the much more invasive gastric bypass.

Original Stomach Shape and Size

The procedure will begin with a gastric plication to initiate weight loss. The surgery, combined with diet and exercise, will yield excellent excess body weight loss within the first several months after surgery. The band will also be implanted during surgery, however adjustments will not be made until the patient’s weight loss begins to slow (about 8 months to a year after surgery). This means that many of the complications associated with band adjustments, like infection at the injection port and port flippage, will be decreased. It also means that fewer adjustments and follow-up will be needed in the first year after surgery.

A recent study by Huang, et al. showed promising results when combining these two procedures and there is ample evidence that the combination will yield additional weight loss compared to each procedure individually. Of course, longer term follow-up and clinical data is yet to be evaluated.

Lap-Band Placement

Gastric Band and Gastric Plication Combined

Advantages of Banded Plication

• Possible additional excess body weight loss vs. each procedure alone.
  
• Reduction of complications associated with band adjustments and fills.
  
• No cutting of the stomach or rerouting of the intestine.
  
• Fewer adjustments needed in the first year after surgery.
  
• Less risk of the gastric band slipping or eroding (resulting in additional surgery).
  
• Encouraging obesity related disease resolution rates.
  

Considerations of Banded Plication

• Band over Plication is still major surgery that comes with inherent risk.
  
• There is very little long-term data to support the effectiveness of the procedure.
  
• A medical device (Lap-Band® or Realize® Band) will be implanted in the abdomen.
  
• Risks associated with gastric banding, while reduced, are still possible.
  
• This procedure may not be covered by public or private insurance.
  

About Gastric Plication

The gastric plication procedure is a new form of bariatric surgery that offers the restrictive properties of the gastric band or gastric sleeve, but in preliminary data, is showing fewer potential complications. Gastric plication does not require rerouting the small intestine, implanting a medical device or removing any gastric tissue. The procedure works by folding the stomach in on itself by suturing or clipping, creating a much smaller vertical gastric pouch. This procedure is very similar to the gastric sleeve without the resection of the stomach.

About the Gastric Band

Gastric banding also known by its trade names Lap-Band® and Realize Band® works by restricting the amount of food that can enter the stomach at any one sitting without any cutting of the stomach or small intestine. The surgeon places the band around the upper portion of the stomach and tightens it to form two connected stomach chambers. The smaller, upper gastric pouch becomes the primary receptacle for the food being consumed, making the patient feel fuller, sooner and stay fuller longer.

[DeAna N 229]

Thank you for the information

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

my insurance (tricare) did not approve the sleeve or the plication so my doctor performed this surgery along w/the lap band at no charge. i wish you all the luck.....