Thinking about Lapband Surgery

pepsiholic · May 8, 2006

Hi all,

I'm a 45 year old mother of 2 lovely girls ages 4 & 9. I'm considering getting the lapband surgery and have been doing some research on the procedure. I'm still in the considering stage and would like to get some feedback from those that have done it.

Up until my first child was born at age 36 I never had a problem with weight. The largest clothing size I ever wore before my first was born was a size 7 and I usually wore a size 4. My weight never moved above 125. I was healthy and never spent a single night in the hospital. After my first was born I was a size 14 and though I did manage to diet back down to an 8 I could never keep it down. I was excerising 5 days a week 3 hours a day and doing the stictess version of the Atkins diet just to maintain. I've never considered myself a big eater but I've definately been slowly putting away more food then I ever did before and I've let my sweet tooth get out of control. I'm now a size 18 weigh between 195-205 depending on the mood of the scale that day and inching up.

I now have hypertension, gallstones, hietia hernia (sp), sleep apnea (minor), occasional asthma, history of getstational diabetes and the doctors think I may have had 3 mini strokes (TIA's) before I got the BP under control. I quite excising and dieting after my second was born 4 years ago because frankly I was tired of it. I don't know how those of you that have battled this your whole live have managed. I know without surgery I'll just going to get heavier. I'm blessed at the moment to have really good insurance. I dont' know how much longer that will last though since my husband could be laided off at anytime. One more lay off will get him. I believe that my insurance will cover most of the procedure. I'm guessing based on my reseach that my out of pocket will be less than $250 the first year and that includes my co pay for doctors visits. However, my biggest concern is if it will work for me. I am a heavy diet pepsi drinker and I have a sweet tooth. I also believe that I eat most of the time not out of hunger but from boredom. Have any of you out there had simliar eating habits or problems? Did the surgery help you conquer it? I'd love to hear from you.

Jachut · May 8, 2006

Sigh, pregnancy is awfully hard on your body isnt it? I found I didnt gain so much during the actual pregnancies, in fact in my last I gained 4.5kg (10lb) and that was all. But it was during breastfeeding that I piled it on and I piled on more than could be explained due to the changes in eating habits. I fed each of my beautiful three children for 2 years or so, so lots of time to pile on weight, half a kilo or so a month didnt seem noticeable but it sure adds up over the years.

Yet I have to be honest and say life at home with kids brought some terrible changes to my eating habits. Like you I'd never had a serious weight problem before, unlike you I was "heavy" and usually had a BMI of 27 or so so I was overweight, just not hugely so. I found the disorganisation, comfort and boredom eating that crept into my lifestyle the killer. It didnt happen after my first baby but after the second I stopped exercising too - it was just impossible when the first was too old to tolerate long hours of walking. So I got fat over the years.

The bigget thing I've discovered since being banded is that I've been able to reign in the bad habits very easily. I really feel for people who have such longstanding and serious eating issues and I feel blessed that I really dont. None of the lifestyle factors have changed of course, my life is still utter chaos trying to fit in study and 3 kids but the band has enabled me to quit my dependence on those comfort foods and even when I'm disorganised and havent shopped and dont have healthy foods to hand, I dont say to myself "blow it, I may as well enjoy this" and pig out totally. There's loads of room for improvement but that's true of any mother of young children I suspect. If I eat junk food for lunch I might take half an hour to get through a burger and I'm STUFFED and dont need to eat again taht afternoon, beforehand I would have had the burger, fries and a sundae to boot.

I still do bad things for my healht, like I live on coffee, now often at the expense of food. But since I've broken that cycle and since I've had a taste of being fit and healthy again, its easier and easier every week to make good food choices, and I"ve always been aware of what I feed my kids (I can be scathing of fat parents with fat kids, dont you often hate what you most fear becoming?), now I'm even more so.

In fact its been terrific for my whole family since they are pretty much at the mercy of what I feed them.

People here have had problems and yes, there's risks but overall its been a fabulous experience for me and so worthwhile.

Kbel · May 8, 2006

In my experience with the band, emotional eating is a hard but essential thing to tackle. I eat as a distraction/ punishment/reward/comfort/boredom-buster... you name it. The band is great for dealing with quantity but I have found it a real battle when quantity is not the problem but self destructive behaviour is.

I think that it is really important to analyse WHY you eat and you seem to be doing that already. As many of the bandsters here say, the band is only a tool. It is not a miracle and does not put a band around your head and the reasons you seek comfort in diet pepsi or chocolate or whatever it is.

If I could go back 12 months ago knowing what I know now - post band, I wish I had done more analysis of myself. Secretly I think I was hoping for a bit of a miracle and was buoyed by many of the great, positive people here and their stories BUT for me, the band wasn't the answer although it has forced me to face the hard questions about myself. In that, it has been a good thing.

I hope that helps you in your decision-making.

K

Alexandra · May 8, 2006

Pepsi, I can relate totally to eating out of boredom. That is my most intense eating cue, has always been.

The band DEFINITELY helped with that, no question. It FORCES you to think about what you're eating, and makes it much easier to stop when you've had enough. It's not a magic cureall for boredom, though, and the challenge is to find something else to fill the time. Now, perhaps finding something else to fill the time would help with overeating even without the surgery, but for me it took the physical brakes the band puts on me to get control over the mindless munching.

pepsiholic · May 9, 2006

Thanks for all the replies. I've been doing some more research and I found this awesome video of the procedure.

http://www.or-live.com/BrighamandWomens/1372/

It includes some of the most commonly asked questions and answers as well as a video of the fill. I think its a must see for anyone considering the surgery. If you're a bit squimish it may be tough to watch but you can still listen and get tons of great info.

pepsiholic · May 9, 2006

More questions...I talked to someone at the office of the doctor my insurance recommened today and I got a strong feeling that she was trying to push me toward the gastric by pass rather than the lap band. Did any of you get the same kind of treatment? Did any of you consider some of the other procedures? If so, why did you choose the lap band over the others? Do you wish you had made a different decision. Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure I'm fully equipped when I make a decsion and I feel like the best advice comes from those that have been through it.

Kat817 · May 9, 2006

I chose the band, because it seemed a much less drastic step. IF I were to react adversely, it is reversable...Bypass is forever, regardless of how your health responds. In bypass you lose for 2 reasons, reduction in how much you eat, and malabsorption of what you eat. You do not get all the Vitamins and mineral out of the food you do get to eat. You must take multiple supliments for the rest of your life. With the band, while the amount of food you can eat is restricted, you get full benefit of anything and everything you eat. Good or bad. The food choices are yours. I have always been more of a carb eater as opposed to a sweet eater, but I could not imaging never ever being able to eat sweets again without a negative impact. With my band, I can have sweets. Just a few bites tho and I am done.

The seminar I attended discussed both, without a real lean to either one. The Dr. meets with each patient to discuss their habits, and expectations, and together they decide which surgery to pursue.

I was a self pay. I had mine done in Mexico. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I feel safe in my decision. I know how to eat healthier, I could do it for periods of time...but doing it with the help of the band, makes it very simple. I am only 2 weeks out, but I cannot ever, EVER remember not being hungry for that length of time! The lack of hunger makes having the willpower to do this easy!!

As far as your Pepsi addiction, it will be something you will have to conquer. I was told I could have soda, if I let it go mostly flat before drinking it. I personally was a diet Dr. Pepper fiend! But I slowly began swapping out, drinking more Water and iced tea. Now I no longer even think about it. I drink bottle after bottle of water every day. I feel so much better! I think it all boils down to how badly you want it to succeed, and how much you are willing to work and give for it to succeed. If you want it, you do it.

Good luck in your research, keep looking and reading until you find the answer for you!!

Kat

pepsiholic · May 9, 2006

Hi Kat, Thanks so much for the reply. That's just the type of information I was lookin for.

<i>" I slowly began swapping out, drinking more Water and iced tea. Now I no longer even think about it. I drink bottle after bottle of Water every day."</i>

My diet pepsi addiction will be the hardest part for me I think. I've drank pepsi soda's for as long as I can remember. I use to drink regular but switched out for diet 15 years ago when I was diagnoised with borderline diabetes and had put on a few pounds. I lost 10 pounds in one week after the switch (which gives you an indication of how much I drank and I drink more now) and that was enough to get me back where I needed to be then. I thought about trying to slowly weed them out before I do any surgeries. That way I'll know if it is something I can do.

I know I'm tired of being tired from all the extra weight. I'm tired of hating the way I look. I moved back here nearly 10 years ago and I haven't looked up any of my old friends because I didn't want them to see how fat I got. When I see people I use to know out in public I hide so they won't see me. I think its tougher on me because I use to be so slim. I thought I was fat when I was 140 and wearing a size 8. Now I'd love to be that small again. Heck, a size 12 sounds really great to me right now. At least I didn't feel like an alien in my own body then.

I'm also really tired of knocking myself out dieting and excersing only to gain it all back (plus some) the moment I let down my guard for a moment. I just don't have the energy or the time to spend all day at the gym like I use to. I really have a newfound respect for those of you that have battled this your whole life. It isn't easy and it only gets tougher the older you get. I know I can do this if I see results, lasting results.

pepsiholic · May 9, 2006

Another question...yeah I'm just full of them... The nurse (I guess that's what she was) at the doctor's office said my insurance usually requires 6 months of doctor supervised weight loss program. What exzactly is that? We've discussed weight loss and I've tried a few medications, even did some weighing in at the office for a while and did loose a few pounds but nothing permanent. The moment I came off the drugs or stopped the diet the weight came back. Does that count as medically supervised? It's nothing that I felt she was really serious about even if I was. Of course, then I was about 50 pounds less than I am now and didn't have any cormobilities (sp) so that might explain the cavalier attitude. Just curious if I do decide to have this done if I'm going to have to go through the motions of yet another diet before they'll okay it.

If it sounds like I'm tired of dieting its because I am. :phanvan

Kat817 · May 9, 2006

I'd say call your ins. and ask what they consider medically supervised, that is the phrase that tripped me up. My ins. required 12 consecutive months of supervised weight loss attempts with nutritionist support, and a supervised exercise program. I had all the co morbidities, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, joint issues...but no go! So I went to MX and did a self pay.

One thing you might try with the pepsi.....have they come out with the Splenda version yet? My DH drinks diet coke, and they have. He said he used to want more and more and more soda, but since changing to the Splenda version he is satisfied with one at lunch. I have heard that artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, make you crave sweets...so you might try switching that as a slow phase out of the Pepsi.

And I hear you about not wanting old friends to see you. Right now, even with the 20+ pounds I have lost, I weigh more than double what I did when I went to school with these people. I was not even borderline overweight until my 2nd marriage. Now it finally feels under control again. I have been on high blood pressure meds for 7 years, and have not had any since my surgery 2 weeks ago, and my BP tonight was 126/52!!! And when I measured I had lost 12 inches overall!!! It feels good to have something to be proud of again!

Good luck in your research!!!

Kat