I'm going to talk to my doc about lap band surgery. Your experience?

[Bertha Venation]

There. I said it. I'm going to talk to her about it.

Have you had this done or do you know someone who had it done? If so, please tell about it.

[siligut]

1. Good luck! I have seen great progress for people.

I know that you have to be considered obese, a BMI of 40 or 35 if have a secondary condition like diabetes for insurance to pay for bariatric surgeries. http://www.lapband.obeseinfo.com/lap-band-insurance.htm

I know of people who have had lap banding done. They definitely lose weight. You have to be disciplined, as your stomach just won’t hold much food after. However, one woman I know who had gastric bypass done managed to stretch her stomach out after ten years and has gained a good part of the weight back.

[Bertha Venation]

2. That's one of the reasons I won't do G.B.

Another is that it is irreversible, and lap band is reversible.

[auntAgonist]

5. there's a lot of confusion as to (edited to add website FYI)

what 'gastric bypass' is. There are many different surgeries available now for obesity.
There's some really good info on the weight loss maintenance forum.

Here's one resource for information that might interest you.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/

I can't stretch my stomach enough to gain back 168lbs. :shrug:

aA

[auntAgonist]

3. good luck!

I know of a couple of folks who've had that done and are happy with the results :hug:

aA

[Bertha Venation]

4. hiya, bud

:hug:

[auntAgonist]

6. hey there!

:hug: I'm glad your posting as Bertha Venation :) :hug:

Please say a HUGE :hi: to Mrs V for me won't you?

kesha

[Shell Beau]

7. No, but I wish you the best of luck if you do decide it is for you.

:)

[MsKandice01]

8. I had gastric bypass surgery, not the lap band...

But I lost over 200 pounds with the surgery. It literally saved my life.

[Bertha Venation]

15. That's excellent news.

I'm looking to save my life.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. did Al Roker have lapband or GB?

do you have diabetes or high BP, age could also be a factor, right?

Good Luck whatever you decide. :hi:

[Bertha Venation]

11. Yep, there other factors besides the weight . . .

yet looking at life after surgery is sobering. Lots of things to consider.

:hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. Not an easy decision...but, in the end could be well worth it.

If you have honestly tried everything else then this could be a viable option :hug:

[wartrace]

10. I have a co-worker who had it done.

He lost over 150lbs, says it was the best thing he has ever done for himself. He is only 45 and had to have knee replacement surgery along with all the other assorted health problems with carrying the extra weight.

I would encourage you to discuss it with a physician & see if it is right for you.

BTW- I LOVE your new screen name Bertha!

[Arger68]

13. I have one. Got it in March 2007 and just got my first fill

a month ago, and my second one today. I lost a lot of weight right away even without a fill, but then about 6 months ago I started gaining some back, so decided to start getting fills. I have had zero problems so far, and almost forget I have it sometimes.

[Bertha Venation]

14. Wow. This is encouraging.

. . . :) Thanks.

[mwooldri]

16. Wife has it. She loves it...

... but it will change the way you eat forever. Certain foods will not stay down. Forget drinking sodas, they come straight back up. Fish is good, chicken is OK, ground beef is OK too (eventually). Steak? Forget it. You learn by experience which is good and which isn't. Sometimes the band will be tighter on certain days and some days looser... and sometimes varies in the day too. My wife likes trying out various foods and sometimes she'll try something and 5 minutes later it's off to the bathroom because it's coming back up.

She had the band about 2 years ago. Started at 350 lbs, after a pregnancy. Now at 250lbs but she hasn't had a fill in a long time and has been eating more "normally". She's fed up of being stuck at 250 and will be going for a fill in about a week or so time. I expect more "smaller portions" and when she eats foods that she wants to eat that just don't agree with her, I expect more visits to the bathroom.

I certainly say that if your doctor says you're a candidate for gastric bypass consider lap band first - try that - and then go gastric as last resort. Lap band is reversible, bypass isn't.

[cwydro]

17. I worked with a woman who had that done.

She is still having problems.

I actually could not stand her, but I did feel sorry for her when I heard the stories she told regarding that procedure.

[Jamastiene]

18. I would think the drums would be a problem.

I've traveled and done lots of things with bands, but I've never had one surgically attached to my lap. :P

[cwydro]

19. Lol.

That was just WRONG!:spank:

[Sheets of Easter]

20. It depends on how much you need to lose.

My wife had gastric bypass because she needed to lose over 100 pounds. The lap band is supposedly only good for about 50-100 pounds, and the difference is not as dramatic as a GB. She has no regrets. Side effects were minimal, and she doesn't exactly eat like a bird, but it's definitely less than before the surgery. After having it done this March, she is 90 pounds lighter, and much happier. It's not a cure-all; there are ways to cheat the procedure. It still requires a great amount of willpower to succeed.

Good luck to you. It's a big decision, and you need to figure out which is right for you. I salute you. :D

[mdmc]

21. I salute too

:kick:

[1gobluedem]

22. A friend of mine did it and lost 40 lbs right away

Her BP is much improved and she has a much easier time managing her diabetes too.

[pitohui]

23. a friend of mine had it done, great experience for him!

he was 68 when he had it done and i don't mind telling you that i was scared for him because of his age and the state of his health

recovery took him longer than anticipated but he is now doing very, very well and looks great

go for it if you're a candidate and good luck