You are all amazing Ladies! I am needing to make an important decision and am getting all kinds of advice..I have posted this in other areas of 3FC because I just love the women on this board.

So, I need to lose about 100 lbs, that would put me at the weight that I want to be. I have been attempting for the last two years to lose weight, but have been plaqued with problems with my stomach. I attributed all of my heartburn, pain, lethargy, high pulse rate all to my weight. In December, I went into a credit card and bought myself workouts with a trainer right by my house, and a food delivery service three days a week. I could not keep with either because I just kept getting sick. Finally my new doctor sent me for an ultrasound and I was diagnoised with an enlarged liver and gallbladder sludge, and probably the bouts of stomach issues over the last three or so years being caused by a gallbladder attack.

So, I went to an amazing surgeon, who is also the cousin of one of my best friends. It just so happens that he runs one of the best bariatric clincs here in LA. Before I met with him, one of the other doctors began to pitch me having either lapband or gastric bypass because of my weight and since I was having surgery anyway why not. So I am considering it right now but I keep going back and forth. I am not considering gastric bypass, but the lapband procedure, because it is reversable and no one has died from it, also it is a slower weight loss and your body still absorbs nutrients, unlike gastric bypass. However, because I am on a timeframe, I need my gall bladder out soon only waiting until April because of tax time my busiest time at work.

LapBand is not the answer, you still need to address all of the things that I have been reading about the emotional components of the weight, I know someone who had lapband who lost 100 pounds who worked hard, and another who lost 20 pounds and that is all.

I just need some input to help me think it through and though you all would be great feedback......I probably would not consider this procedure on its own, I don't like to be put under so that is why if I do it, this would be the perfect time....however I need to be confident that I want to do it.

any input is appreciated...
RB

I know very little about the procedure you're considering, TBH, though it seems to me that surgery to help shift 100 pounds is a little drastic at this stage. (I thought one had to be more overweight than that to be considered for it. ) Is it possible that after your other surgery, you'll find it easier to lose weight on your own? I understand what you're saying about wanting to get both ops done at the same time, but I think you're putting yourself under too much pressure to make a decision quickly.

Before committing yourself, I'd advise research, research, and more research. I bet there are plenty of people with first-hand experiences over on the WLS forum. The thing about WLS is that it's a tool, not a magic solution. You will still need to be careful about what you eat and drink, you still have to put in the hard work, and, as you said, you will still have to deal with the emotional side of things. If you're confident you can do all that it takes, WLS may be of enormous benefit to you. If not, well, there's your answer.

I don't know how long you have before you need to make up your mind. All I'm really saying is it's something you need to be fully committed to. So, arm yourself with some information about everything from pre-op to post-op requisites, and then think long and hard about whether it's all acceptable to you.

Good luck to you.

I too have 100lbs to lose, well I did I honestly thought surgery was my only hope, but as I read into it and realised all the lifestyle changes I would need to make, I thought I would try that first.

The weight has come off slowly, about 1lb and a bit a week. My body shape has completely changed, I have these weird long lumps over my body (apparently they're called muscles but I ain't never seen any before, not on me anyway )

I personally wouldn't have both the gall bladder and the lap at the same time. I had my gall bladder removed about 5 years ago, for similar reasons, ill all the time etc etc. I didn't lose weight following this, as I was still in denial that my weight was adversely affecting my health.

What you're about to make is a very personal decision. Lap band is a big step, it governs what you eat and what you do. I can have a day where I throw caution to the wind, and then deal with the consequences the next week. But with a lap band, you won't be able to just have a "hang it, I'm gonna have a bad food day today" without carefully considering the consequences.

Whatever you choose requires a pretty big commitment, and only you know the right answer for yourself. I know for me that the lap band wasn't the solution I was looking for, and that the tried and true eating less and moving more formula has worked for me thus far.

RB, I can not really offer you advice either with respect to the surgery as I know very little about it. I am assuming you have already posted on the thread on this forum to others who have already had the surgery. I also have more than a 100 lb to lose, but I have never really considered surgery. For me, I needed to change my lifestyle, and that meant for me learning how to eat differently as well as excercising. I would be nervous for the surgery because there are always risks, and from my limited understanding, you will have to monitor everything you eat due to the reduced size of your stomach. I echo everything else already posted, research, research, research, and find out all the risks associated with the procedure. Good Luck!

I've always considered weight loss surgery to be a last resort. It annoys me that doctors seem so quick to suggest it to their patients these days.

Like everyone else has said, do lots and lots of research if you're seriously considering the additional surgery. Definitely don't rush into it because of your work schedule.

It sounds like your gallbladder trouble has been interfering with your ability to eat well and exercise. Personally, I'd recommend just having the gall bladder surgery and seeing how well you can do on your own, once you're not always feeling sick. I had my gall bladder out almost ten years ago after getting so sick that I wound up in the hospital for 4 days. So I know how that kind of pain can interfere with your life!

I respect that for some people WLS is the right choice, but I worry that the procedures are getting so common now that people opt for them without really giving themselves the chance to acomplish their goals through changing their lifestyle. Eating less and moving more certainly worked wonders for me!

I will bet that once you are no longer plagued by gallbladder attacks, you will feel better and have a much better time getting around and exercising and sticking with any lifestyle changes you make.
Have your doctors talked about a medically supervised weight loss program and aftercare for the lapband procedure? Can they or do they offer support groups, nutritional support, behavioral counseling?
For as badly I want to and need to lose my weight, I would NEVER resort to surgery if my doctor did not offer a comprehensive weight loss/management program to go along with it. Surgery is not worth the time, money, and pain if the behavior and lifestyle patterns behind the weight problem isn't changed.
If I were you, I would do what others have suggested: research, research, research. In the meantime, WATCH YOUR FAT INTAKE!!!! (I know this because I have gall stones and have luckily avoided gallbladder surgery.)
When I consulted with the surgeon for my gallbladder, they did not know if they could do it laproscopically simply because of my size... they told me they wouldn't know until they tried and may end up having to open me up... That is something you may also consider... if your weight may interfere with your surgery, you could be in for a much longer recovery period than initially thought. Abdominal incisions take a long time to heal.
In the mean time, do your best to lose some pounds, your surgery will be better for it. I would not do the lapband now because I think you will have an easier time with eating/exercise/weight loss after you have your gallbladder problems taken care of.
I hope everything goes well for you!

To be considered for weight loss surgery, you have to be categorized by your BMI as morbidly obese. I believe that is a BMI over 40 is morbidly obese (over 30 is obese). You can have a lower BMI if you have at least 2 comorbidities such as diabetes and high blood pressure. So your actual weight on the scale doesn't determine your eligibility. And just because a person is eligible for the surgery doesn't mean their insurance will cover it (many insurance policies have a written exclusion).

Great input ladies, I appreciate it, I really am not feeling well and am leaning right now towards it being too much, two major things to recover from......I have posted in WLS and am researching and I appreciate the other side of the coin....I do think that if I was looking at more weight then I would feel differently, but I am still considering all....thanks again RB

Just and Update...I thank everyone, after considering all of my options I am not going to have the procedure at the same time as the GB surgery. I found out from the nurse that if I have any complications from the GB and infection could cause major problems (infection mostly) just didn't feel it was worth it.

I also realized that if I lost 16 pounds, that I would no longer qualify for the surgery, my BMI would drop below what would qualify me. As a matter of fact, I am losing about 2-3 pounds a week because I just can't eat right now, so I may be under that by the time of the surgery.

I am going to give myself time to heal from the problems that have been happening and give it one more go around on my own...it is nice to know that I have the lap to consider as an option if I want.

I am hoping that I will have good results with the laproscophic surgery being that the doctors does specialize in bariatric procedures, I feel that i am in good hands with my weight.

Thanks again and I will be around after my recovery to start eating proper and exercising again....

RB

Thanks for the update. I hope your surgery and recovery goes well, and that you'll join us again to let us know how you're doing.