pre lap-band

Candace Corner · August 27, 2003

Hi! I had my first consultation with my Doctor yesturday. I have been doing quite a bit of research on the lap-band and I really have not run across anything negative about it. I was just wondering what the down falls to having this surgery are? I know the risks of the surgery but have there been any negative post ops???

I have not really told anyone in my family(except for my husband) that I am concidering having this procedure done. I am not sure how they will react. I guess I will wait to tell them till I find out if my insurance will approve it.

Thanks for any input.

Candace

marsha · August 27, 2003

Candace,

I'm also hoping to be banded. I'm in the process of waiting for insurance approval. Most people do great with the band. However, there is a web site on Yahoo groups called "struggling bandsters". I don't go there much because I want a positive outlook. Most of the people there are doing quite well, they just want the weight loss to be faster. Keep in mind, you will loose slower with the band but isn't that healthier?

I also have a friend who was banded about a year ago and is struggling to loose. She lost 25lbs in the first 3 months and hasn't lost any weight since. Her doctor refused to give her anymore fills because the band IS working...she is just eating the wrong things!!! She admits that she doesn't follow the rules...she eats a pint of icecream everyday and the amazing thing is that she hasn't gained back any of the original 25lbs lost !!!! She knows she needs help (psychologically) and I'm hoping she'll get help soon!

This is really the only negative story I've heard of. In spite of this one case (and considering she is a friend of mine) I'm still going to get the band!!!!! There are sooooooo many others (especailly on this great site) that are doing very well!

I wish you luck with your research! Information is power! I hope to see you on the banded side!

Marsha

August 27, 2003

I have not had the Lap Band procedure yet but I am scheduled for September 30th. I have done alot of research on this subject and while I have found that typically one does not lose weight as fast as one that has had a gastric bypass, it is sooooooooo much safer. I would never have a gastric bypass because of the difficulties associated with it. I think that many Bariatric doctors in the US, mine included, are use to the sudden weight lose with a gastric bypass. Personally, I think that a lap band is the way to go.

Alexandra · August 27, 2003

Hi Candace,

I searched and searched for months to find the bad news about the band. I've been reading Struggling Bandsters for months now because I also don't want to get a sugar-coated version of banded life.

The conclusion I've reached is that there can be a dark side, but it's so much lighter than that of the bypass even the bad experiences with the band are better than good experiences with the bypass! And if you're having trouble losing weight, there's always another day in which to work on whatever problem is occurring. Therapy, exercise, a fill, whatever, there are lots of ways to make it work. There are as many ways to make it work as there are to work around it, and they are all within your control. The great thing about it is that if you're not losing this month, try something different and try again next month. It will still be there!

Physically speaking, aside from the surgical risks (which you may or may not decide are worth taking to achieve weight loss) the worst that can happen is that you'll have a slippage, port twist, or something like that. With the band, those sorts of things are easily fixed if caught early. To prevent major problems, you have to be really aware of your body and its relationship with the band so as to catch symptoms of over-restriction, but that's not too much to ask.

This is in marked contrast to the effects of gastric bypass, which are not at all in the control of the patient. Will I dump? What will be my window of weight loss? Will I have physical reminders not to overfill my pouch? What do I do two years out when I have 75 lbs. left to lose and my body's adjusted to the malabsorption? Will I know I have a Vitamin deficiency before I pass out one day? No thanks. I want to have control over my life and weight loss. The fact that the RNY is a vastly more difficult and dangerous procedure is just the final nail in its coffin, as far as I'm concerned.

Lulu · August 27, 2003

Alexandra,

Could you please tell me what website you visited to get the "other side" of the story? I firmly believe that to be forewarned is to be forearmed - and by reading the experiences of others I will be more fully prepared. Thanks a bunch - and keep up the wonderful work of being "mom" to all of us!

Alexandra · August 27, 2003

The only ongoing discussion I've ever found involving bandster problems is the Yahoo discussion group, Struggling Bandsters. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrugglingBandsters/ to register and read the postings. I really appreciate the messages there.

Otherwise, whenever I'd see someone post about a port problem or some other issue, I'd follow the discussion closely to get all the info. There are lots of bandster lists on yahoo, including Bandsters, SmartBandsters, and many that are state-specific.

But as I said, even the bad news wasn't very bad. Of course, there have been some deaths from the surgery as there can be with any surgery. As far as I can tell they've always involved surgical error, patient noncompliance/denial, or both. Obviously you have to take your chances with the first of these, but complications in the second category are within our power to prevent.