or untied, as the case may be.

that exchange about the calcium carbonate got me thinking: there are many other differences between the gastric bypass and the lapband that i have no clue about...


so lapbanders... either contemplating, committed, completed... have at it!!! tell everyone what life is like, the insurance issues. whatever comes to mind.

and if you'd like, i'd be happy to make this a sticky.. just let me know

Hi,
As someone hoping to be banded in the near future, I have all kinds of things to say about this!

I think the biggest difference between the two surgeries is that our "plumbing" is not rerouted. The surgeon laproscopically places a device around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch, but there is no cutting and rearranging of organs. The band has tubing inside it that can be filled or unfilled with saline solution to decrease or increase the size of the stoma (opening in the stomach). Lapbanders traditionally don't lose as quickly as RNY patients, but studies show that at two years out, weight loss is similar. We also don't have a "window" of weight loss time.

The band simply restricts the amount of food you're able to eat. You can definitely sabotage your weight loss progress by eating the wrong foods. You still have to be careful about your diet, concentrating on protein first. Depending on your fill amount, eating and exercise, you can lose all you want using this marvelous little tool.

One thing that really sold me on the LapBand surgery is that we don't dump. There is an unpleasant phenomenon called "PBing" (productive burping - where a piece of food is stuck and comes back up, but is not really vomiting) but to me it doesn't sound quite as miserable as dumping.

Just as with RNY, there can be foods that people have trouble with. From my reading on another board, I have noticed that quite a few people have trouble with bread, but everyone is different.

Insurance companies seems to be much more friendly to RNY than they are LapBand surgery. This surgery was approved by the FDA in 2001, but quite a few insurance companies are still calling it experimental surgery. Keep in mind that surgeons in Europe and Mexico have been successfully doing this for years and proctor surgeons here in the US, but yet, it's considered experimental by some insurance companies. Huh?

I think both surgeries have their merits and someone considering WLS should research both. I think doctors all have their own predjudices and thoughts and if you're thinking about having surgery done, you should research every possible option so you know that you're making the best choice for you. No matter what anyone says, neither one is "the easy way out".

That's probably a big enough novel for now!
Chickadee

*pulling up tee-shirt and modeling lap scars*

I was banded by Dr Pedro Kuri Santiago in Tijuana, Mexico, on January 31, 2004. I have an appointment for my first "fill" March 20, again, with Dr Kuri.

Two of my coworkers have been banded by Dr Kuri, and one of them has lost a total of 170 pounds (45 pounds were pre-op).

Dr Kuri is one of the most experienced Lap Band surgeons that I know of. He uses ONLY the Inamed Band (which is manufactured here in California!) and has performed over EIGHT HUNDRED surgeries. He is incredibly compassionate, kind, and surrounds himself with a wonderfully supportive staff. Patients come to him from all over the United States, and most of them are self-pay.

Any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer!!


(I'm so excited with my Lap Band, I just gotta dance!)
~VOW
Banded 1-31-04 by Dr Kuri
284/258 at banding/whatever God wants me to weigh

Hi...I just came across one of your old posts about Dr. Kuri. I just found out about him and I am wanting to have the surgery done. Did you have to wait very long to get an appointment and the surgery?

Okay, here's a question: I'm still deciding between RNY and the Band - my surg. told me that the band only really works for someone that was not a big sweet eater and had been physically active in the past. True?

Deb

Hmmmmm, never heard that one before......has anyone else??

Deb,
I've heard it (the part about sweets), but I don't believe it.

That seems to be a myth that just keeps floating around. I'm a big sweets eater, but with my band I choose to eat way less sweet stuff now. If I want some, I have a little, but with proper restriction, you just can't eat that much. The band has often been referred to as "thinking person's weightloss surgery" because you do have follow the rules to get results. The tool won't do it by itself. You can't count on the dumping that many bypassers have to keep you away from sugar.

The main rule for bandsters is: Protein first, veggies second, everything else third. If you're following the rules, there's just not much room for sweet stuff. You could always choose to sabotage the band and do lots of milkshakes and ice cream. I worked too hard to get this band though to mess around with it. Sometimes I think docs who say that the band won't work for sweet eaters think we don't have a brain in our heads and can't control ourselves. The band works if you work the band!

I've never heard anyone say it would only work for people who had been physically active in the past. That's a new one to me!

Has your doc placed many bands? I think people are partial to what they're most familiar with, so it might pay to check around with other surgeons and get other opinions.

Chickadee

Pooks,
I'm with you on the reversal thing. I really never considered that a benefit of the band. I think people mis-speak when they site that as a benefit. I think what a lot of them mean to say is that "if something goes terribly wrong and my health is deterioriating" or "I hate this stupid thing and want it out" it can be removed. I think they are comparing it to reversing RNY, which is very difficult.

As for the sweets thing - as we both know, it takes plenty o' work to lose, even with surgery. I wonder if the people who choose to outeat the band were mentally prepared for surgery? I wonder the same thing when I read about bypass patients who are testing their pouch just days after surgery. I am so thankful that the internet, this site and a couple of other favorites are around. I am positive that I would not have been nearly as prepared for all the changes necessary if I hadn't educated myself (and I know you went in as prepared as any WLS patient I've ever seen!). I guess it all comes down to mental readiness, whatever surgery you choose.

Your pal,
Chick

Hi All,

Thanks for the input. As far as my surg., he ran some of the clinical trials for the band when it was being tested by the FDA. So I don't think he's coming out of left field. My main worry about the RNY vrs. the Band is the drastic surg. I keep wondering if it's healthier to keep a the stomach intact.

On the other hand, I agree with Pookie. I can't see risking my life to have this type of surg and then eating my way around it.

Lots to think of.....

Deb

Hi there- i'm soaking in all the information i can.


I am considering wls and leaning towards the lapband. Insurance coverage is my main glitch that i have not an official answer on.

I am pregnant right now, and would want to have children again ( waiting a good 12-14 mths post the surgery...to try and get pregnant with baby # 2).

So, childbearing abilities is important to me. I've heard it is possible to still have kids with both, but it seems the lapband may be easier to adjust the ability to eat more foods as needed when i'm pregnant again.

you ladies seem sensible and have a good head on your shoulders.

I weigh 275 ( pre-pregnancy) i'm 294 today being 8 months pregnant.

Do you think it is realistic for me to lose 140 lbs with the lapband surgery?

That would be my goal weight loss? ( yes, basically a whole extra person i'm carrying around

Hi again,
I have read stories of a lot of people who go the lapband route because they want more babies (thank goodness that's not me sighed the mother of two teenagers!). I think it's easier to get in all the nutrition your growing baby needs with the band since there are no malabsorbtion issues. With the band, they just unfill you so you can get more food in and when the bun's out of the oven you get refilled.

There are lots of people who have successfully lost 140 pounds and more. Those who are that successful are generally people who work the tool the hardest - meaning that they carefully watch food intake and exercise faithfully. I had a total of 100 to lose (would really like to be down 120 pounds) and have confidence that I will get there. It's not always fast and it can be discouraging to compare results to bypass patients since they lose so much faster, but I have complete faith that this will work.

Check out these links:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobe...and/posts.html
There are lots of big losers here. Check out the journies of Kim Kreidler, Barbara Baez and SouthernBandgal. These are just a few of the names that come to mind when I think of big losers.

Also go to the Extraordinarybandsters group at Yahoo. It's a group specifically for people with BMI's over 50.

Ask more if you need!

Chickadee