Have any of you guys had this surgery? I am in the planning stages and have just started researching the pros and cons and could use any advice that I can get. I have heard some horror stories, but i have also heard some great success stories. Anybody?

Thanks

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SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS FOR PRESIDENT!!!

I didn't have the lap band but I did have RNY Gastric Bypass. The lady in my office got the band, so I've done alot of research on it for her. Do your homework, and don't rush into anything. This type of surgery is not for everybody. My best girlfriend is over 300 lbs, but says she would rather try to do it on her own as she knows she does not have the willpower to do what I did.

With that, the lap band lady does not eat right. I think she got the surgery because we had planned on both of us getting RNY but she had intestinal problems that the surgeon did not think she was a good candidate for it, but he would do the band. I had my surgery 6 months before her, and I think she just wanted to do something. Didn't do her homework, didn't know what to eat, is lazy about preparing meals, does not do protein and eats all the wrong thngs, meanwhile blaming the band for not working. I took my route because I am a junk food junkie and knew I wanted the side effect of "dumping syndrome" to keep me in line. With the band, you can still eat junk, and need much more willpower.

Just make sure that you will be commited to change your eating habits for life. If you follow the rules, you will have great success. Same with my surgery. Those who have gained the weight back, have fallen into their old eating habits and that's why they gained. It's the same type of diet for both surgery's except that lap banders do not have the "dumping syndrome" and therefore can still tolerate sugars.

This type of diet pushes protein first...as protein fills you up, and takes longer to digest, therefore giving you the full sensation longer than if you ate say, a salad that is mostly water. Eat a 3 oz portion of chicken vs. a cup and a half of salad and you will be fuller with the chicken for a longer amount of time. I do not eat any breads, rice, pasta, or certain vegetables. I do supplement with excellent tasting protein supplements I get online. The lap band lady eats NO protein supplements, eats bread, sweets, and fast food. I only eat 3 meals, and do 2 or 3 protein supplements daily plus drink lots.

With my RNY I have lost 180 lbs in two years, but have developed a myriad of medical problems, that the doctors are thinking they are a side effect of the surgery. I have peripheral neuropathy which is turning up in alot of RNY patients, and I have become malnourished and am home on TPN during the day, despite eating and supplementing in excess of 100 grams of protein a day.

You could check out the two bariatric websites I frequent and will learn alot.


http://www.obesityhelp.com
http://www.bariatriceating.com (this is where I get my yummy protein from)

feel free to ask any questions I can try to help.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

Eileen i hope they can fix your other medical problems you did great with the surgery
at 1 time i wanted it i researched it then found a doctor he said with being 80 pounds over weight
i should try weight watchers i joined lost my 80 pounds and maintaining it for the last 6 years
my neighbor had the lap band over a year ago i know every now and then she has to go get solution added to it to make it tighter she has lost about 40 pounds in 18 months i dont know what the normal rate is suppose to be but i do know that she eats mcdonalds and fast food a lot nothing bothers her she said she just eats less.like Eileen said do lots of research those sites she listed have great info
there have been a few others on here years ago who had the surgery i hope they are all well.

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Tim
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Yes, that's another thing I forgot to mention. After your initial surgery to insert the band which is done laproscopically through 4 or 5 small incisions, and usually can be done as a same day procedure, your band will be unfilled. You will then go for a "fill" which is an injection of saline through your "port" which is a little device attached to your abdominal wall. The procedure is simple. Usually the first one is about a month after your initial surgery. Your fill entails going into the same day unit, and the doctor uses an xray to locate your "port" and then inserts a certain amount of saline. People usually have to have several "fills" before they hit the spot where they feel they can eat the appropriate amount of food and be full.

They say you can tell you need one when you feel that you can eat more than you should be eating and not be full. The thing with the band is that you can still feel hunger as your stomach is left intact. I have never felt hunger in two years since my surgery. What I get is "head hunger" and a longing for a certain food, but never real hunger. Unfortunately too many people don't use this tool to their advantage and contnue to eat the same way that got us all here (overweight) to start with.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

I had the RNY gastric bypass done 4.5 months ago - I've lost nearly 100 pounds, preop and postop. While I've had some issues, more or less, I'm fine. I get dumping syndrome from sugar, so I have to be careful ingesting any amount of it.

As far as the lap band - I've heard nothing but bad things. All the things mentioned above, but don't forget that you have to have it removed before 10 years is up. which means another surgery, possible complication, weight gain after removal, etc. Sound like alot more trouble than it's worth. Also, having a large foreign object in your body for that long can't be good for you. I did tons of research before deciding on what surgery to have, and heard nothing but bad about the lap band.

Please do your homework - make sure and read real-life stories from people who have had it, and not just take the recommendations of the people trying to sell it to you. The best option, of course, is losing the weight on your own - however - i know how difficult that can be, which is why i went the route I did.

Good luck!

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~Diane~

My Dad just had the lap band done is is on Stage 3 and doing very well so far. I have heard stay away from Gastric Bypass as there are too many complications including ones we don't even here about. At least with the lap they have kept my Dads Stomach intact. I wish he had taken the Weight Watcher route but has lost weight before and re-gains. I do agree even with the lap or gastric bypass you need to change your lifestyle and eating habits to succeed. I also have several freinds who have had gastric and lost trememdous weight but are always having some issue related to the procedure

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Without Health you have no Wealth!