Lap Band Surgery - Need advice

[GRhino]

I'm just trying to weigh the pros & cons to decide if I should really consider having this done. Now that I'm getting serious about having the surgery, people are advising me of horror stories of people who have done it.

FWIW, on the lap band test score which uses your height & weight, I came back with a 41.5...which is considered morbidly obese.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

 

[scottsins]

I am strongly opposed to surgical procedures for weight loss.

 

[txeconomist]

My uncle had this done and has lost a lot of weight.

 

[Seattle Husker]

I had an uncle that had this done. He ended up trading in one vice (food) for heavier consumption of another vice (cigarretes). I'd try ALL other weight loss options before this one.

 

[wolfman]

I had a friend who did the by-pass operation and weight flew off him, but a couple of years later he as put a good bit of it back on. I personally have a similar BMI to yours. My doctor told me that I would qualify for the lap band, but strongly suggested that I loose weight through diet and exercize instead of the lap band. I recently started to eat low carb and exercize.

 

[kevwun]

A good friend of my neighbor had it done. She died from an infection a few weeks after having the surgery.

 

[NEWDOC2002]

Two words: Last Resort

 

[si se puede]

A friend of mine works in a support role at a lap band clinic (professional, but not a doctor), and his stories make it sound like a crap thing to go through. There are the initial complications that are attendant to the surgery, which are magnified by the fact that many of the people who go through with it aren't in the best health. Once you've had it done, you have a port just below your skin that the docs stick a needle into to adjust the band.

The weight can fly off at first, but your body eventually adjusts, and the patient can creep back up to Square One. This is avoided if the patient makes major changes in lifestyle and attitude, e.g. limiting portion sizes, curbing sugar and fat intake, etc. Ironically (or perhaps not) this lifestyle change likely would result in weight loss regardless of whether the lap band was there.

I believe most bariatric surgeons require the patient to attempt a diet and exercise plan before performing the surgery. Most patients either fail or don't even try, and end up getting the surgery. They keep eating garbage, and then they blow back up.

If you're morbidly obese, it may not be a bad idea to get the lap band as a stopgap. But for it to be truly beneficial, you must be committed to attacking the physical and psychological factors that have put you in this position. Good luck with whichever you choose.

 

[BA93]

GRhino - I don't mean this as an attack but can't you use portion control and simple exercise (walks, etc) to lose some weight?

If a person can't figure out how to plan ahead and have the will power to eat better, it seems to me that a surgical option may only be a temp fix.

 

[GHoward]

There are plenty of alternatives, but none that sounds as "easy".

First.. get rid of the Tv/cable/internet. These things make it too easy to just sit on your *** for hours upon hours. You will find your self with several hours a day in free time. All the sudden something as simple as walking around then neighborhood doesn't seem so boring. Then find some hobbies, preferably ones where you move around. Golf, frisbee golf, geocaching, kite flying, model airplanes, whatever. You can justify the cost of these hobbies because you are paying >$100 for HD cable with dvr and HBO and all that crap.
Try doing low impact exercising, that allows you to rest as you need it. cycling and rowing/kayaking are easy.

The list goes on and on. But one of the easiest things I can do to lose weight is to stop drinking alcohol, specifically beer.

 

[wherzwaldo]

My mother-in-law had it done and almost died from it 6 months later. The band gradually cut off all circulation to part of her stomach, which then ruptured and started an infection. Over half of her stomach was removed in emergency surgery, she spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from that, and couldn't go back to work for almost four months.

In addition, the staff at the clinic that adjusted the band size seemed clueless at best. They never got the size right, and there would be some days that she could barely even drink water, much less eat anything, because the band was too tight.

I would recommend trying less-invasive methods to lose weight, such as eating healthier and exercising.

 

[ScoPro]

Being morbidly obese, my doctor & dietician have put me on a weight reduction program.
It's designed to keep me eating well, but with normal portions of food and wiser choices of dishes.....less than 2,300 calories a day (actually eat about 1,900-2,000).

Have been doing this since February and have lost 40 pounds so far without having been hungry once. Yes, the loss rate will slow down & plateau probably several times over the next year or so. But once my goal of 180-190 lbs. is met (I'm 6'), the program does not end there - it is a lifetime deal.
It will be nice to get back into my size 42 Long suit and 34" waist slacks from 1986. They'll probably be back in fashion.

As for my old size 54" slacks & 4X shirts, Mrs.Sco could make some tents or curtains out of them.

About 15 years ago, I went on a self-imposed diet of calorie-counting < 1,200/day. Lost 128 lbs in 7 months but was hungry quite often. Once my goal was met, I fell prey to Blue Bell, BBQ, and Vodka to make up for the deprivation. Gained it all back over the next several years.

 

[77horn]

I had by-pass surgery in Aug 2007. It has been a great success for me. (not a total success yet, but a great success)

First off, don't listen to any of the internet idiots who tell you doing it is a sign you aren't trying hard enough, etc. Most of them haven't been overweight to the extent we have and frankly they don't have a clue.

That being said, they are correct that ultimately weigth loss is all about how much you eat vs how much energy you burn. If you don't get exercise, and don't change eating habits it won't last.

Bariatric surgery is not for losing 20 or so pounds, it is for people who have their health endangered by their weight and therefore the risks of the surgery are outweighted by the risk of not having it.

If you want to know, more, PM me and I'll try to answer any question you have.

 

[chango]

ScoPro ---that's awesome! I have never been obese but I have high cholesterol and a history of diabetes in my family so I've had to control what I eat. I think most of us have an unhealthy emotionl attachment to food and until we addres that we risk falling back into bad habits. Tersm like "comfort food" give us the wrong idea about what food is supposed to be. It's supposed to fuel our body --not give us comfort. Anyway, good luck to anyone dealing with eating issues.

 

[GRhino]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions & opinions.

I've decided I'm going to wait on having the surgery & try AGAIN to rededicate myself to exercsie & diet. A friend suggested I become a member of Bob Greene's website (Oprah Winfrey's trainer), where there's a lot of help for people going through the same thing I am.

FWIW I've had to exercise my entire life just to "maintain" my weight from being obese. I had always been a little overweight, but nothing like this. In the last year I've had some leg injuries that prevented me from working out. Plus I had already started to put on some weight in the year or so before when I quit my 20 year copenhagan habit. And I've got a 26 month old daughter at home that wants my attention from the time I get home from work until she goes to bed. By then I'm usually too tired to work out. I'm just going to have to find a way to fit it into my schedule...and make myself quit eating after a certain hour.

Thanks again

Here's the reason why I'm desperate to lose weight & get healthy, so I can be here to see her grow up:

Sorry about the giant picture. Unfortunately, posting pics isn't something I'm real good at. And in case anybody's wondering, I believe the white stuff in her mouth is the last of a banana.

[/IMG]

 

[chango]

That's the best reason of all. I know whatever you decide to do, you will succeed for her!! Best of luck always.

 

[BA93]

As life goes on, we sometimes find our free time getting smaller and smaller. While being with your daughter is absolutely a high priority, maybe you need to take some time for yourself to get in better health in order to be able to spend more time with your family in the long run.

And that could also include cutting back in the office if you work long hours.

Good luck. You may want to make a commitment to posting your weight and goals on HF on a weekly basis. It will be a good peer pressure incentive. I know everyone here will do nothing but offer their encouragement.