Medical and lifestyle conditions - need help

[Irish4Ever 0]

<table id="post1094278" class="tborder" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td class="alt1" id="td_post_1094278" style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(201, 206, 212);"> I am a 45 year old male who weighs 335. My medical and lifestyle conditions include total knee joint replacements in both knees, Obstructive sleep Apnea with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Fatty Liver, Bipolar II Disorder, Disabled, Unemployed and cannot Drive. In summary, I have to walk with a cane, sleep a majority of the day, rely on others for transportation, and have emotional problems.

I am a former college football player and power weightlifter. My goal is to begin weightlifting and to lose 100 pounds using one of the Bariatric tools.

My Doctor recommended Gastric-Bypass due to my medical and lifestyle conditions.

After research and attending both LAP-BAND^® and Gastri-Bypass courses, I am still not sure on which surgery to recieve.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on which surgery I should have and any personal experiences. Thank you!

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[Jodi_620 37]

My first question would be "What has been your experience with weight loss attempts in the past?"

Have you ever tried losing weight on your own?

If so what were the results, did you not lose any weight or did you lose weight then gain it back?

The reason I think this is important is that with the band it does take some effort on your part. You will need to eat the proper foods and eat them the proper way. The band does do its part, keeping you from being hungry and when eating the right foods, keeping you from eating too much.

Some people have never dieted in their life and/or just don't have enough personal discipline to control their eating. These types of people likely would never be able to make the band work to its fullest potential, if at all and might do better with bypass.

[Irish4Ever 0]

I have had 10 knee surgeries since 2001. Before that, I weighed between 220 and 230 with a body fat percentage of 14. I was always a "gym rat" and ate 5 to 6 balanced meals per day totally 2000 calories. I did try different diets or eating patterns and had various success. Since 2001, my knee replacements have limited cardio and have gained 100 pounds. My concern is having the Lap-Band surgery then if not successful in losing the 100 pounds having to get a By-Pass surgery. I do have a sweet tooth which will need to be reduced with the Lap-Band.

Thanks again for your reply and good luck.:biggrin:

[SuzanneG 1]

I know people who have bands and several who had gastric bypass. Of the 4 people I know personally who had bypass, only 1 is still skinny. That's my mom and she's sick (vomiting or diarrhea) every day of her life.

Some folks don't do well on the band, but unlike gastric, the band is adjustable so you get a longer window of restriction, and it's reversible. Once they take part of your intestines out with bypass, you're stuck with it.

I think your plan sounds like a good one, try the band first and see where it gets you.

Good luck.

[Jodi_620 37]

I have had 10 knee surgeries since 2001. Before that, I weighed between 220 and 230 with a body fat percentage of 14. I was always a "gym rat" and ate 5 to 6 balanced meals per day totally 2000 calories. I did try different diets or eating patterns and had various success. Since 2001, my knee replacements have limited cardio and have gained 100 pounds. My concern is having the Lap-Band surgery then if not successful in losing the 100 pounds having to get a By-Pass surgery. I do have a sweet tooth which will need to be reduced with the Lap-Band.

Thanks again for your reply and good luck.:biggrin:

It sounds like you have the experience with dieting and that is what I was getting at. Some people come into the Lap Band not ever having tried dieting and unwilling/unable to put forth much effort thinking the band will do it all for them...In my opinon those ones should never have been approved for banding in the first place.

Look at your doctors program and ask yourself if that is something you can do. It is hard at first, you have to get through the pre-op and post-op diets then work with sheer willpower until you get your first fill. It takes an average of four fills until the band really kicks in. You have to deal with your head hunger but the band will help keep you satisfied on a small amount of food. You of course also have to re-train yourself to eat slowly. But the pros are that the surgery is much less invasive, the band is adjustable so you have control over your weight loss, and if there are any problems it is reversible. It was hard but I have absolutely no regrets. Seven months out and I have lost more than 3/4 of my excess weight and plan to be at goal within 9 months.

I have seen many more people get bypass first then turn around and get Lap band than I have the other way around. But you are the only one that can know for sure which is best for you.