Would you get lap band?

[dawalsh 919]

What Missy said is spot on. Counseling is more advisable in a situation such as yours. Lapband is major surgery and not a simple fix. I would be extremely surprised if a bariatric surgeon with ethics would take you on as a patient.

I hope you find what you're looking for but honestly I don't think weight loss surgery is the answer for you. Please realize I am not a doctor and this is my own personal opinion. Good luck to you.

[annanyc 33]

I'm comfortable with my choice, though it wasn't an easy one for me to make. The way I see it is there are no physiological reasons that the band isn't appropriate for me. It isn't a higher risk surgery at my BMI, there aren't increased complications, and in fact, the limited research that's out there suggests I may be slightly more likely to have long-term success with the band than someone with a higher BMI. FDA has approved use of the band on BMIs of over 30, and there are at least 10 countries with first world medical practices who have approved the use at lower BMIs (generally 25-28). If for some reason it doesn't work out, I can revise or remove just like anyone else.

All our bodies and experiences are so different. There are people who need the band at a BMI of 35 because their bodies handle that weight more poorly- more health risks and comorbidities. Someone else who manages to live life fully and relatively healthfully at a BMI of 40 may not find the band appropriate for them. It's all about quality of life and it's not a completely objective assessment. My physical health is great. Part of that is genetics. Part of it is hard work. I mean, I ran a half marathon every month last year. I'm vegan. I try really, really hard to be healthy, even if I fail in certain key ways. But that's not the whole story. I'm uncomfortable in my own skin. I struggle to perform as well as an athlete as I want, I suffer very real professional discrimination, and my self-confidence is directly tied to the size of outfit I pull from my closet, which might as well be a store, since it offers range in clothes from size 2 to size 14. And maybe other people would be able to live life more fully than I do at this weight. But again, we all have different bodies, different brains, and subjective experiences. I'm not happy. I've been not happy for long enough. I've diligently tried to live a healthy, fit life, but I need some help. Hello, lap band.

I know this explanation is a little all over the place. And it may not be persuasive to you. I am happy to answer any questions or discuss further, cause it helps me think about things more fully as well. But I'm not really looking to convince anyone else- I don't really feel like I need approval. I know someone could easily arrive at a different decision with the same facts. But what's important to me is that I'm comfortable with my choice. And I am. I'm just trying to explain why

[Cocoabean 430]

The only question going through my mind is, with all the exercise you do, what is your caloric intake? I am asking this rhetorically. You seem very in tune with your diet. So, if you are looking for help with Portion Control, this will help. Unless you are bound and determined to "eat around the band." Please don't think of it as easily removeable when you are done. That is not what it was designed to do. Upon removal there is usally scar tissue involved, and the stomach will not return to its original state.

This IS a major surgery. It is touted as mimimally invasive, but it has the same number of cuts to your body as gastric bypass, plus one for the port. They don't cut your stomach or reroute your intestines, but poking five holes, pumping air inside you, moving your liver out of the way, and leaving an access port under your skin is pretty darned invasive. Living a banded life is not always easy. food gets stuck. Small portions can cause questions if you choose to keep your band a private matter.

My surgeon told me no anti-inflammatories long-term. I am now having big problems with arthritis in my neck causing nerve damage in my arm and hand. I can't take the drugs to bring down the inflammation. I can take pain killers, they help, they don't fix it.

I don't say these things to change your mind. I'd have given it serious consideration at a BMI of 30, most likely. Because at 30, I was on my way to 36, and at 36, I was on my way to 40. Only you know your habits and where you are heading in the future. I just want to give a perspective of someone who has been banded for a while.

I wish you all the best in your personal journey!

[annanyc 33]

Thanks Denise. Super helpful!

[MRSJLH 1]

The band has a 40% failure rate and you are putting a foreign object in you body. Leaking and flipping ports, slipping and eroding band. High chance of something or everything going wrong. If I live long enough to pay the medical bills from my catastrophic life threatening lap band and I need another weight loss surgery, I would consider the sleeve. I wish someone would have told me about this before I got my band, I would have run as fast as my fat little feet would have taken me in the opposite direction.

[MammaJamma42 106]

The band has a 40% failure rate and you are putting a foreign object in you body. Leaking and flipping ports, slipping and eroding band. High chance of something or everything going wrong. If I live long enough to pay the medical bills from my catastrophic life threatening lap band and I need another weight loss surgery, I would consider the sleeve. I wish someone would have told me about this before I got my band, I would have run as fast as my fat little feet would have taken me in the opposite direction.

I'd like to know where you're getting your statistic of the 40% failure rate. I've never heard or read anything nearly that high.

[MRSJLH 1]

Type in lap band failure rate on the computer. A previous poster to this site cited a study that was even higher than 40%.

[2muchfun 8,927]

The band has a 40% failure rate and you are putting a foreign object in you body. Leaking and flipping ports, slipping and eroding band. High chance of something or everything going wrong. If I live long enough to pay the medical bills from my catastrophic life threatening lap band and I need another weight loss surgery, I would consider the sleeve. I wish someone would have told me about this before I got my band, I would have run as fast as my fat little feet would have taken me in the opposite direction.

40% failure rate? BULL! Where's your documentation? People like you come here often to lay down these awful assertions and then provide no evidence to back up your silly claims.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Type in lap band failure rate on the computer. A previous poster to this site cited a study that was even higher than 40%.

If it's on the internet, it must be true!!!???

[MRSJLH 1]

It's Ok, a year ago I would not have believed it either. I thought anyone who had anything bad to say about the band had an axe to grind, or maybe had a band that they had horribly abused and ended up having to have it removed. This lady asked for opinions and I offered mine

[Bandista 7,466]

I'm considered by my insurance company to be low BMI and have had to beef up to qualify for the surgery -- mind warp! I am choosing Lapband as an additional tool. As soon as I decided to pursue this I realized I should get a therapist as well, just to help insure success with the switch from stress and emotional eating to a healthier lifestyle with minimal portions, etc. I ended up going with some one who does talk therapy as well as hypnotherapy and I think that is a good combination for me. I know what it's like to feel like professional life is suffering from being heavy, not to mention just not feeling fully engaged in my life, being happy to be out in the world, etc. You are in good company here. It's been helpful for me to realize how many people out there share my history, the feelings that go with the dieting failures, the health issues, shyness, worries, etc. and really reading people's entries gives a great sampling of people's experiences, challenges, etc. You will know what is right for you.

[SIJoe 111]

The band has a 40% failure rate and you are putting a foreign object in you body. Leaking and flipping ports' date=' slipping and eroding band. High chance of something or everything going wrong. If I live long enough to pay the medical bills from my catastrophic life threatening lap band and I need another weight loss surgery, I would consider the sleeve. I wish someone would have told me about this before I got my band, I would have run as fast as my fat little feet would have taken me in the opposite direction.[/quote']

Statistics can be very misleading. Let's assume for a minute that 40% is correct - I would then want to know a further breakdown - life threatening complications versus minor complications and all those in between. It seems to me that the FDA would have pulled this medical device off the shelves long ago if there were significant mortality/ morbidity problems with the band. Actually, the FDA recently recommended the lap band for people with lower BMIs. With that said, please know that I am sorry to hear about your experience, and I wish you the best.