Does lap band work for total Hysterectomy weight gain??

[wickedme 0]

I have been overweight for most of my adult life. Big boned was the explanation and quite true in my teens as I was very muscular, broad shouldered and round in the butt.... After miscarriages in my early twenties, two successful pregnancies for beautiful children, and two more miscarriages in between them my weight went crazy. Also I started to get Gerd, arthritis, IBS, diverticulosis, kidney stones and gallbladder issues. After my son was born in 2000 my female issues increased rapidly and I was in pain so much that exercising was intolerable. In 2006 after a year of non stop ER visits and doctor appointments I was diagnosed with Adenomyosis of the uterus. I had a total hysterectomy due to that and pre cancer cells on my cervix, cysts on my ovaries... I was told I absolutely had to take HRT even though I didn't want to. Six months into them I had gained 47 lbs. Believe it or not, I was eating 1500 to 1800 calories a day, swimming or walking 4 miles 4 times a week. I was devestated by what was happening to me and stopped the HRT on my own.. No more hot flashes, anxiety or weight gain.. phewww.. The only problem was I couldn't lose the weight. I went to a nutritionist and kept food journals on sparkpeople.com,, kept exercising and started to become seriously depressed. The only thing that made it worth it was that I didn't have anymore PMS or other female problems or moodswings. My doc said I was BS'ing her and needed to get it together.. Last aug 07 I fell of a landing on the river and shattered my leg.. 2 months in a wheelchair, 6 months physical therapy,, jan to april in a gym.. full exercise 3 days a week for 60 minutes, stationary bike at home 5 days a week and still no weight loss.. We were so broke from me being out of work I couldn't aford to overeat.. total frustration...

My lipid specialist wants to refer me for lap band surgery.. I'm terrified of being layed up again, but fear onset of diabetes, heart attack and stroke.. I have 2 brothers who had attacks at age 50, one wasn't even overweight. I also fear that after I go through with the surgery that it won't help because of my hormone issues..

Has anyone had lap band after hysterectomy and been helped???:confused2:

[DiscoDiva 0]

Hi, I understand how you feel about the weight gain after your HYST. I had a total one done when I was 35 and then I quit smoking.....oh boy what a combo. I am now 51. I had the Lap Band done Feb of 07. I have lost 76 lbs as of today. The weight came off nice and slow but now I am just sitting here not doing much. Partly my fault, just not as active as I should be. But I still lost 15 pounds over the winter so I am still very happy that I had it done or I would still be gaining instead of losing. I can tell you I feel a thousands times better than I did before. I have much more get up and go then I have in years. Go for it and have it done. Its not an easy fix, because you still have to work at it but it is one helpful tool.

Good luck,

Debbie

[jrg1979 0]

If you don't think overeating is your problem, it is unlikely that lapband will be a successful solution. If you have already tried counting calories and exercising, with little or no results, I dont see how lapband can help. All lapband does is help you limit the amount of food you can eat at one time. Even for those of us who are self-proclaimed over eaters who have lapband, it is still a never ending struggle. Sorry. I am sure that is probably not the answer you wanted to hear. But what do I know. If your doctor thinks it is a good idea, then maybe it is.

[wickedme 0]

Thanks for the encouragement!! I am an eater, love food, , watch my calorie intake, but I would have to run a marathon daily to burn anything off.. I'm making a pros and cons list to post, and am going to let my family add to it over the next few weeks and take it to my next appointment with my doc.. I am getting control of my cholesterol through meds, but diabestes is still looming.. all four of my grandparents had heart and diabetes issues,, my dad too and all 5 brothers.. I have 11 aunts and uncles, only 2 didn't have issues..

[crazycatlady 0]

Hi Jennifer,

I was just wondering why you only have a 4cc band? I have a 10cc band, as I found out yesterday at my 1st fill. I only need to lose about 50 lbs. Are you sure yours is only 4cc?

[wickedme 0]

I do overeat, not daily, but food is definately an issue for me.. my first thoughts 4 months ago when my doc first mentioned it was.."I dont' want to not enjoy food" I'm 286, 5'5", solid, and fat distributed fairly even all over,, my belly is definately the worst and am a prime candidate for severe diabetes in the next 10 years if I can't get the weight off.. I appreciate your comments,, I have been called lazy too many times when I am not, and always get on the defensive by listing my attempts.. I really do eat the right foods for the most part, but too much, and can justify the calorie counts because I'm educated enough on nutrition to be able to overeat even on the good stuff and show it on paper.. basically I'm full of BS lol....

I love to cook and love to eat, and do it for many different reasons.. I am working on my mental issues now, and hope to learn some Portion Control over the next few weeks before I see my doc again..

thanks again,, we all need some wakeup calls once in awhile..

[PATCHELTON 0]

I had a hysteretomy in my 30's. I was in a car accident in 1998, broken leg. My weight gain was gradual since the hysterctomy. I love to eat, and I work for cardiologists, so I am aware of good food choices, and made them some of the time. I had periods of regular exercise, and was going to Curves fairly regularly. My PCP had been after me to lose weight, and in my head I understood it. But put a pizza or sub or chips and dip in front of me and I was a goner. I have high blood pressure,high cholesterol, GERD, knee arthritis, sleep apnea (or as my surgeon put it, metabolic syndrome all but the diabetes). When my liver enzymes were elevated on my cholesterol test, my PCP started again about weight loss. My sister had gastric bypass about 2 years ago, but I wasn't sure I wanted to go that route. I checked my insurance (they cover bypass and lapband) and went to a seminar about weight loss surgery. Then I started going to the support group to learn more. I found this site and obesityhelp.com and did a lot of reading, ultimately deciding the band was what I wanted. I had to do a 6 month documented diet for insurance(lost 10 lbs), consult with surgeon, psych eval, and was finally approved in February of this year. Prior to surgery I had to do a pre-op liquid diet for 2 weeks (ended up 3 weeks because I caught a cold and surgery was postponed for a week). I lost 25 lbs on the pre-op diet, so by 3/25/08 I had lost 35 pounds. 2 weeks post op liquids, 2 weeks mushies, then regular food, just a lot less than before. Some foods have a tendency to get stuck, like bread/rice/pasta, so you will be altering your eating habits. I read labels like a maniac, looking for the lowest fat/carb/sugar content. My eyes are still bigger than my pouch, and if I eat too much I feel uncomfortable, but that is getting better. I am also learning to chew more. I used to inhale my food.

Sorry to be lengthy, but I think you can benefit from the band. It doesn't affect what you put in your mouth, just how much. And when you start losing, you will tend to make better choices in what you eat. I also bumped up my exercise with walking. I found a lovely park with a 2 mile path. I started walking weekends in January and when daylight savings arrived, I now go almost every day and do 2-4miles. When I lose daylight in the fall, there is a county rec center gym with treadmills near my home, and I still belong to Curves. There is also an aquatic center 5 minutes away with Water aerobics. So it is a package deal. The band is a tool to help with Portion Control. Since surgery I lost another 35 pounds, so I would say go for it!

Edited June 5, 2008 by PATCHELTON

[Sue Magoo 71]

Hi Wicked:

I had a complete hysterectomy too. When they analyzed the tissues they discovered that I had adenomyosis too.

The lapband is working for me. I've gone from size 26/28, 324 pounds down to size 16 and 192 pounds in 13 months. I started dieting 4/23/07 and was banded 7/26/07. I've still got 32 pounds to goal or whatever it takes to get to a size 12.

Good luck to you.

Sue

[wickedme 0]

Thanks Sue, that was very encouraging! The more I read the more I want to get an appointment to start the long process. I am going to go to a seminar right away, and found there are 3 doctors locally who have been doing the surgery for 3 years at least. I am truly at a point where I don't know what else to do..

[wickedme 0]

Thanks Patch.. I have a simon too,, he needs to get some exercise with me!! I'm hoping to get in better shape this summer, swim, walk etc. and get more strenghth back in my leg and ankle so when and if I do go through with the surgery I will be well on my way to better health. Its very frustrating because I had such high hopes for the same outcome after my hyst! I don't regret it at all because I was very ill at the time, but the weight gain has been horrid. I think I would lose my mind if I didn't lose anything even after this!

[jrg1979 0]

Hi Jennifer,

I was just wondering why you only have a 4cc band? I have a 10cc band, as I found out yesterday at my 1st fill. I only need to lose about 50 lbs. Are you sure yours is only 4cc?

I asked my Dr. the same thing. He said I had a relatively small stomach, and the 4 cc band was the best fit for me. He also said that since I was considered to have "a little less to lose than others", that the 4 cc band would give me the tightest fit when filled and that would give me the best restriction. But if you have only 50 lbs. to lose, you have less than me, so go figure? Guess it is really just each doctors decision. I asked him before surgery what size band I would be getting and he told me "he wouldn't know until we got into surgery and he actually saw my stomach. But yes, I am sure I have a 4 cc band.

[Sue Magoo 71]

crazycatlady:

I have a 4cc band too. I started at 324 lbs. My doctor used to use the 4cc and the larger size too and they would usually use the smaller band on women and the larger band on men. Now they use the larger one on everyone because they had three people in one month that the 4cc band was too tight on and they had to reoperate on those three people.

Good luck.

Sue