Thinking about Banding--Questions

jojobzz · March 14, 2008

I have read just a little on lap banding. I am planning to attend a seminar, but honestly I don't want to do this because someone is selling/pushing me on it. I want to hear from real people who have had it done, and how it has affected your life. My sister has had gastric bypass, and even though she has lost the weight, she hates that she has ever had it done.

I have a couple of questions, please.

#1 What does it mean to get a fill? Why do you have to have fills? How is that done? Is something left on the outside of your body? How costly are the fills (my insurance does not pay for them)? How often are they done?

#2 What kind of diet restrictions are there with the band other than you get full faster?

#3 My sister and niece lost a lot of their hair with gastric bypass. Does this happen with the band?

#4 I am overweight (260 lbs.) and have tried everything. I love to eat; therefore, I am scared if I go through this I might just end up stretching or breaking the band.

Any words of wisdom or advice would be appreciated!!

Pix · March 14, 2008

#1 What does it mean to get a fill? Why do you have to have fills? How is that done? Is something left on the outside of your body? How costly are the fills (my insurance does not pay for them)? How often are they done?

The cost depends on your fill doctor or surgeon (some cases it is one in the same) It varies from place to place, but the average I have found is roughly 100-200 dollars. Some charge more if you were banded out of country (read as Mexico) because of the old school of thought about Mexico being dirty etc. But for the most part that just isn't true.

#2 What kind of diet restrictions are there with the band other than you get full faster?

Well, you have to chew your food to slurry consitancy or you have a really high chance of coughing it back up or having it get stuck. All in all, that is the only issue that I have found so far (I am not banded yet, but I have done enough research for 10 people LOL)

#3 My sister and niece lost a lot of their hair with gastric bypass. Does this happen with the band?

It is a possibility, but with the lap band because we wont(don't) have the serious issues like bypass (malabsorbtion) it isn't AS bad for us IF it happens at all. Some do, some don't. Depends on the person I guess.

#4 I am overweight (260 lbs.) and have tried everything. I love to eat; therefore, I am scared if I go through this I might just end up stretching or breaking the band.

You aren't alone, we are all here for that same reason. Loving to eat, and eating to love. You can't 'break' your band but if you do over eat on a constant level you will chance erosion, band slippage and a whole host of things. This is something you should really take up with your nutritionist and the surgeon

Any words of wisdom or advice would be appreciated!!

I really don't have any, while it seems the vast majority of us are going through the SAME things, it is different for each person. My suggestion is talk to the surgeon and his team. Get to know them beyond what you would for a doctors office. and finally RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!! If you think you know the answer keep looking until you KNOW the answer!!