Tell me why the band is good or bad?

[CHER123 0]

I am just waiting for my surgery date ( am recovering from a cold first). It should be within the next 3 weeks.. I have completed all the things my surgeon requires, support classes, education class, exercise class and mental evaluation. I guess as the time gets closer I am a bit nervous if I am making the right decision. I have talked to several people who have had meger results. At one of the support groups a woman reported that she lost 24lbs in the first month, after going to the education class I found out that your first adjustment is not till 4-6 weeks after surgery so her loss was more due to her diet than the assistance of the band. I spoke to one woman yesterday who swears she has done everything she is suppose to do and has lost only 4lbs since Dec and expressed her feelings that she is always starving and could have done that to herself and kept her 15K dollars. I asked her why she felt it was not working for her and she said neither her nor her doctor could coe up with an explanation. I guess I just want to hear from more people who have been through it and how you feel it actually helps you, how it compares to dieting or why it may not work for some? Thanks!!

[snowbird 2]

Well, you are going to see posts on this forum from a lot of people who have done really well with the band, and also from many who have not. I guess that's why the statistics say the you lose on average around 50% of your excess weight!

The band is my safety net, which keeps me from eating too much for meals and cuts down on my desire for big Snacks. However, I still have to have the mentality that I am going to try to eat less and eat better. It has changed my relationship with food and I no longer desire many foods that I craved before, simply because they cause me pain and suffering now. I CAN'T eat a half dozen donuts anymore; I can't even eat one. However, I CAN eat an ice cream sundae, but I have to choose not to. I am satisfied with smaller portions of everything, including ice cream now.

[Cleach 0]

For me it is Portion Control. I always liked the food that was healthy I always ate far to much of it. This helps me eat smaller portions. that has always been a big problem for me. I have cut my calorie intake in at least half if not by 2/3. that is a big bonus for me.

cleach

[coolcrystal 1]

I lost 22 pounds from my pre-op diet (South Beach) to my first fill which was exactly 4 weeks out from surgery. Even though you don't have a fill, your band is swelled from 1-2 weeks, so it was like having a fill in. My doc primed me with 3cc for my surgery, so I had restriction for the first two weeks which helped with the weightloss. From my first fill to my second fill I lost 6 pounds in three weeks. And from there I have averaged 5-8 pounds a month.. a great healthy weightloss, but I prefer not to be too tight to where I can't eat healthy foods in small portions.

In MY opinion, when people say they've only lost 3-4 pounds in several months.. they aren't doing it right.. period.. they need to get honest with themselves. I have a friend who is going through this right now and she sits around eating pizza.. Pasta... chinese buffetts... chips and all sorts of crap and it's because she's scared to go get a fill because she doesn't want them knowing what she's been eating.. well, if you don't go get the fills, you will not be successful , unless you are one of those rare people who never need fills.. but those people are pretty rare.

Anyway, this happens a lot.. people get off the bandwagon, don't get their fills and slip away, and then later blame the band... the band is the last thing that should be blamed... if the doctor doesn't talk to them about these things.. then it is their fault and the banded person's fault. My doctor told me up front.. if you gain weight or are scared to come, don't! we won't be mean.. we will just try to get you back where you need to be.

Disclaimer: there are other reasons for no weight loss.. leak in band.. band slippage.. just wanting to throw that out there for folks who this has happened to, but a simple barium swallow can bring this to light.

To me, my band is my little miracle. I have tried so much stuff and it never worked,. I was addicted to breads and greasy crap. Fast food... pasta... I have NO desire to eat those things anymore.. none.. every now and again I treat myself to half a shake and because I needed my fill I got today I ate some naughty sweet stuff recently and luckily it didn't affect me very much... BAM, get the fill.. happy again.. no cravings..

Sorry for the long response.

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

The band is a tool. It is good because if working correctly it controls your portions and can be adjusted as you lose weight as the fat around your stomach strinks. It's also good because it can be reversed if you ever chose to have it removed or have unforseen complications. You don't have the malaborption problems or dumping syndrome people that have Gastric Bypass.

The bad - it is still surgery and not a quick fix. I don't know if I'd put this into a "bad" category. You aren't going to lose the weight quickly and without effort. You have to do your part in eating correctly and exercising. There is no guarantee that it will work the way you want it to.

You can eat around the band. Most junk food (like chips) go right on through, as does ice cream and many of the Snacks that I love.

The band isn't for everyone. Do your research, talk to those who love it and hate it and make an educated decision on what you want and feel is best for you.

As for me, I love my band. I was tired of being fat! Period - I was going down a path to an early grave and needed help to lose weight. The band is my help and I'm looking forward to becoming a healthier and happier person.

Edited June 3, 2008 by Leslie2Lose
I can't spell (duh)

[Marinegal 0]

I'm still in the process of deciding what I want the by-pass or the lap-band. I'm afraid if I have the band I will be tempted to junk and no problem. The by-pass will not allow sweets by causing the dumping effect. If I thought I would be ill if I ate sweets I may be less inclined to eat them. My husband thinks the by-pass is too much surgery and the band is reversible! I don't want reversible! I'm sick of jiggly thighs!

[MacMadame 81]

The by-pass will not allow sweets by causing the dumping effect.

Not everyone who gets bypass has dumping syndrome. Something to think about.

My husband thinks the by-pass is too much surgery and the band is reversible! I don't want reversible! I'm sick of jiggly thighs!

You should think of the lap band as being for life anyway. It's true if you have a big problem, you can have it taken out, but typically that doesn't happen. The idea of it being reversible is that you will not be stuck if it turns out you are one of those people who reacts badly to it, not that you take it out when you get to goal weight (an impression some people have).

[coolcrystal 1]

I'm still in the process of deciding what I want the by-pass or the lap-band. I'm afraid if I have the band I will be tempted to junk and no problem. The by-pass will not allow sweets by causing the dumping effect. If I thought I would be ill if I ate sweets I may be less inclined to eat them. My husband thinks the by-pass is too much surgery and the band is reversible! I don't want reversible! I'm sick of jiggly thighs!

The people I've known to have the bypass all gained their weight back and have MAJOR health problems. The pouch from a bypass can still be stretched out.

[brandyII 9]

I'm a sweet craver, partially due to my medications (anti-depressants) and partially due to my diabetes II and basically "ME". I have had the band over nine months and due to gaining back most of the weight I lost on the pre-op liquid diet (25 big ones!) I decided to get a partial unfill to stop or help control the urge I have to "eat around the band" with sweets. It has not been an easy journey for me but I see my doctor tomorrow and may get a partial fill to tighten my band a bit again.

I was afraid to get gastric bypass so changed at the last minute probably because I knew I was a sweet eater and was afraid I'd get dumping syndrome in a place it wasn't appropriate, meaning anywhere besides my own home. I guess either I was misinformed or not informed enough to know that most sweets (except donuts as they're doughy) will go right through the band because of the right amount of fat and sugar ease through. Also chips do too as one poster stated but not an issue for me.

My daughter had gastric bypass because she researched and found it to be right for her even though she is not a sweet eater like her mom. She is only post-op one week + one day so I really can't speak to you about her success but has in the past 7 weeks taken off more than 40 pounds. I myself am still wavering and won't change my marker until I get weighed at the surgeon's office. Hopefully it will go down. that's not an angry face but a down emphasizer.

Anyway it's probably one of the toughest decisions of your life, as there usually are many but I wish you luck with it. I'm still trying and don't know what will happen to me in the future if I'll live as I am or if I'll revise or what. It's all up in the air but I have recently changed my anti-depressants to see if this new one will affect me in a more positive way when it comes to sugar cravings. Good luck to you and learn as much as you can from the people here as they know more than most books will tell you and they're a great group of nice people!!!brandyII:smile:

Edited June 4, 2008 by brandyII

[Hastings 3]

Since the band IS a tool, it is used in different ways. I do not want to get too tight.

I can eat about a cup and a half of food, maybe even two cups. I just make sure it is good, healthy food. Lots of fresh fruit and veggies.

My band for me is something that will keep me from going way over the border, but as far as day to day operation, I decide how much to eat. Not my band. I like the control.