researching and news doesn't look good

May 17, 2005

I would like information from those that know.

My history -- Had Stomach Stapling in 1981. I dropped 100 lbs (225 to 125), felt great, was working out like crazy, and didn't have any problems with it. I maintained this loss for almost 10 years. Slowly, through a divorce and major life changes the weight began to crawl back on. NOW add menopause on top of that... and my mom just died... and my business just failed... etc. and I am totally out of control and headed for an early grave. Currently I am 5 ft tall and 210 lbs. I gained 10 lbs in March and 10 lbs in April, while my mom was in the hospital and at hospice. Lately, I have been walking for 30 minutes 4 times a week for the past month and have stilled gained 8 lbs.

I am scared and looking for help. Yes, I'm old enough to have tried everything on the market.

NOW... from what I have read on this board. The Lap Band surgery seems to just add more problems. You STILL have to eat only certain foods. You STILL have to pour down inhuman amounts of Water. You STILL plateau. You STILL have to "work it". And then there is the added changes that the surgery itself creates... liquids, scars, recovery etc.

When I had the stapling it was SO VERY worth it. I loved it and loved how I felt. Do you feel the same way about the lap band?

If you had it to do again would you choose the Roux-en-Y over just lap band?

Are all these problems worth the weightloss?

Anything else to add to those of us that are desperately seeking solutions?

I'llsucceed · May 17, 2005

Funny you should ask this- I have been deciding for 8 months now & just got my date for the band. Short & sweet these were the reason that finally persuaded me to do it over the by-pass.

1) Easily reversible

2) No switching around of my inside--- who knows what they may have a few yrs from now that I may change over to? This way I could just remove the band if I needed to.

3) Less invasive all around (most surgeries are done in 45 mins)

4) It seemed to me you can gain weight on both operations if your not careful - there is NO Cure all. That being said I think the band is easier to adjust if you start gaining. I know SEVERAL people who have gained after RNY & they just don't know what to do now. One is actually getting the band on top of her RNY. I also know of others that have been banded & have now had the rny.

5) Yes- its hard. I do fear failing but I will have this tool helping has I learn to permenately change my habits along the way. Unlike the Rny- I am not sure I will be able to change my mind set as quickly as I lose weight so fast. That scares me. You need to do both to be successful.

I hope that helps - It is a very hard decision to make & i even still faulter once a day on it - but there comes a time when you just say " I made my decesion & that is it!" & than just DO IT & be vigilante. Best of luck to you- I know you'll do the right thing for yourself.

May 17, 2005

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I am hopeful that this might be a good solution because I was able to keep the 100 lbs off for almost 10 years. With the stapling, after it stretches, there is no solution or adjustment that can be made.

Now the next steps... will my insurance cover.. and will new husband except it.

Alexandra · May 17, 2005

Regandy, there is no magic bullet. You know that. In 1981 your stomach stapling may have felt like it was, but you have probably just forgotten the behavioral hoops you had to jump through.

Banding is a tool, like all the others, but what it does is keep us on the behavioral wagon we must stay on to lose weight and keep it off. The "problems" are not universal and are not even, to my mind, problems. They are learning experiences and I have to accept them as such because MY control over my intake was obviously not working. If I want to be a more normal size for the rest of my life I'll have to accept that I can't eat for three people, and my band continually reminds me of that. That's what I NEED it to do, and it works.

I would not consider RNY if I had to lose my band, unless I was truly desperate and sick from excess weight. The effects of being banded are exactly the behavioral kick that I needed to reverse the trend of my life and start losing weight. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Corgi · May 17, 2005

Alex you couldn't of said it any better..

Corgi

May 17, 2005

I would like information from those that know.
My history -- Had Stomach Stapling in 1981. I dropped 100 lbs (225 to 125), felt great, was working out like crazy, and didn't have any problems with it. I maintained this loss for almost 10 years. Slowly, through a divorce and major life changes the weight began to crawl back on. NOW add menopause on top of that... and my mom just died... and my business just failed... etc. and I am totally out of control and headed for an early grave. Currently I am 5 ft tall and 210 lbs. I gained 10 lbs in March and 10 lbs in April, while my mom was in the hospital and at hospice. Lately, I have been walking for 30 minutes 4 times a week for the past month and have stilled gained 8 lbs.

I am scared and looking for help. Yes, I'm old enough to have tried everything on the market.

NOW... from what I have read on this board. The Lap Band surgery seems to just add more problems. You STILL have to eat only certain foods. You STILL have to pour down inhuman amounts of Water. You STILL plateau. You STILL have to "work it". And then there is the added changes that the surgery itself creates... liquids, scars, recovery etc.

When I had the stapling it was SO VERY worth it. I loved it and loved how I felt. Do you feel the same way about the lap band?

If you had it to do again would you choose the Roux-en-Y over just lap band?

Are all these problems worth the weightloss?

Anything else to add to those of us that are desperately seeking solutions?

think of it this way - because it's adjustable, it's the last WLS you'll ever have.

hagerteresa · May 17, 2005

Hello,

It is nice to meet you and thanks for sharing your story. I have had my band just over a year. Yes there is changes but only changes for the better. I am able to eat anything I want but in smaller quantities. I don't feel deprived at all and in fact have actually learned how to leave uneaten food on my plate and put it in the garbage later. I don't drink enough Water but I still have been successful. I may have days when I don't eat correctly but I have a dozen other days that I eat very properly. I have lost 95 lbs in one year even while drinking my daily sugar free iced mocha and allowing a single candy bar a day. Did I mention,"I love my band?" There are days I fight with it and am not cooperative but it just reinforced the fact that I need to eat slower and chew better. THAT is a habit all my unbanded friends and family needs to learn. The band is a tool that teaches me how I should eat and makes me feel satiated with smaller portions.

vinesqueen · May 17, 2005

Hi Regandy, welcome to LBT.

My husband and I have both been banded, and never considered any of the other types of WLS. I believe my DH would have died from his weight if the Band was not an option. And it is possible that I would be dead in the next few years from asthma complications if not for the band.

We have not experienced any sort of problems with our bands. He's been banded almost 2 years and I've been banded for 9 weeks. Yes, we have to drink lots of Water, but we have to drink lots of Water anyway. Like Jack said, it's like oil for the machine.

My DH has had to drastically alter his lifestyle, basically because he was killing himself with food. If he hadn't been banded, I wonder if I would be a widow right now. He weighed 600 pounds when he was banded.

But he would have never chosen a different type of WLS.

My surgeon is one of the ones who is banding folks who've had other types of WLS that need revisions. Feel free to PM me for more information if you wish.

Good luck on your journey.

I'llsucceed · May 17, 2005

LOVE IT TERESA- LOVE IT JACK--Simply Love it!

Kelly Ann · May 18, 2005

I am so happy and thrilled I did this for myself ...it is great and really easy compared to the kind of life I had overweight with health problems. And even worse than that ....my head problems which the more I lose and the more I gain my "self" and my self esteem and confidence I realize would have killed me. I was miserable and felt like I had no way out no matter what I tried no matter what I did- I could not stick to a diet or food plan. This band has freed me from all of that. I can only eat a certain amount of food-yea some foods I can't tolerate and maybe never will again but you know what?? I am in sizes now I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be. More importantly I feel so great. I do need to pay much more attention to my nutrition and exercise more but even not exercising I lost a total of 61 pounds since October!!! I was embarressed to go to the gym but now I feel like I can. I do have a treadmill at home though but you know what I mean... The band is the safest way to achieve weight loss. I keep thinking where I would be today right now facing another summer in the position I was this time last year....I felt like I was hopeless....I was so depressed and beat up on my self.... I was not happy.. Today ???I shopped today for like four hours trying on size 8's in regular stores. I even bought a size 6 skirt in Old Navy --but we all know they are generous with their sizes .... My point is do it. We are here for you on this board. I read all of the time and to tell you the truth have not posted recently until I read your post. I have gotten whistled at and mistaken for my daughters' friend not Mom!!! I literally cannot believe this is happening after all of these years in my 20's and most of my thirties being overweight and so unhappy and unhealthy. The lapband is the way to go for sure I 100% can tell you to go for it -you will never regret it!