Considering surgery...

[AshleyRN 0]

Hello. I've looked into the surgery about a year ago, did some research & got a little worried about the side effects and decided not to do it. I've again thought about doing it and did some more research. I was hoping to get some detailed input from recent and long-term banders. Any complications? Concerns? Frustrations? Suggestions? I'm hoping to maybe get the surgery done in October. How long before that do I need to meet with the doctor and start working with my insurance? Any information would be greatly appreciated! :smile: Thanks and congrats to all you banders that are doing great! :tongue2:

[Guest ZenGarden]

Complications: absolutely none. I never needed any pain meds whatsoever and even drove myself home from the hospital the following. I've never experienced all the vomiting and reflux that others have, but everyone is unique.

Frustrations: slow weight loss and lack of restriction. I'm 14 months post-op and only down 62 pounds. I still struggle with adequate restriction and have had seven fills so far. I work out three times per week and barely eat anything, but again - everyone is different and so far, my weight loss has been very slow, and very random.

PS - my final thought: if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone with VBG or DS instead.

Best of luck to you. My best advice is to do all the research you can (as did I), but all the research in the world won't matter until you have surgery and experience things on your own. Only after surgery will you see how well your body reacts to weight loss.

[Guest Leslie2Lose]

Hi Hinman! Depending on your insurance carrier, you may want to go ahead and contact them and your doctor. Some carriers require six month diets, psych evaluations, and other hoops to jump through. Mine (BCBS FEP) didn't require any of that.

I am a "newbie". I was banded on April 10th and am down 34 pounds. My port flipped sometime after surgery and I have to have another surgery to fix it. I haven't been able to have a fill yet due to my flipped port. That being said, I still love my band and would have the surgery again. I know that it isn't a quick fix. I didn't expect to have surgery and six months later be down 100 pounds. I haven't been sick at all and still have some restriction, even with the band alone.

Everyone is different. Some people are slow losers and some lose rapidly. I think it depends on your body, your metabolism and what you put into it. All three play a factor in success.

I like the fact I can still eat what I want in moderation. I do follow the bandster rules, Protein, fruits/veggies, then all the other...but I can still have a cookie if I want one. We just have to chew, chew, chew. Eating one cookie or a couple of chips isn't what made me fat - eating half the box or half the bag is. With other types of WL surgeries you can't eat certain foods or you WILL get sick.

Do your research. I'd definately contact your doctor and insurance carrier to get the ball rolling. It may take you between now and then to get everything in order. Hopefully you'll be lucky and it won't.

Good luck to you and I hope all works out well for you.

Edited June 9, 2008 by Leslie2Lose

[Froggi 4]

Start your appts now. Insurance usually draws things out to go slower so the sooner the better. Wishing you lots of luck.