New Person Here....Seeking advice

Hi, Rachel! Well, your story sounds so familiar...I had the same dilema. Since I was self pay, I chose the lap band--fewer complications, less down time, nothing that I couldn't eat (like high fat and sugar). I lost weight at a rate I was comfortable with--about 75 lbs in 9 months. If I wanted a SMALL piece of cheesecake, etc I could indulge. But, I DID I have complications...I had a severe slip in December. My follow up physician was in Charlotte--by the time I could get there (less than 24 hours later) it was so bad that I had to have surgery again to remove the band. I have made friends across the country that have lost from 50-400 pounds with the lapband. It is do-able but slower. Patience is a must with the lapband, as well as listening to your body about the correct fill amount. Just fyi--I am now looking into having the rny mainly because I do not want to have to self pay again. I also have been told that I would be more prone to another slip. Good luck on your search! Cyndi

Thanks Cyndi for your response and we are basically neighbors..I am in Spartanburg! What did the slip feel like and what caused it? Did you gain the weight back after having the band removed? Now Dr. Bour in Greenville is doing the Lap band but he really pushes the RNY. Do you know anything about him?

Rachel, I had the Lap band, and I am super happy that I went with it. For me, there wasn't even a struggle with the decision, and I know that the lap band was and is the right choice for me. Dr. Bour did my band, and he did an excellent job. I am hungry right now because I have not had my first fill (couple of weeks to go), but I chose the band for a variety of reasons: 1. I will lose my weight more slowly. This is a positive for me. I think it is a healthier way to lose weight. Less chance of losing my hair, malnutrition, skin sagging. Less chance of stretching the pouch and putting all the weight back on because it is adjustable. 2. I will not have problems with vitamin deficiencies or protein malnutrition. 3. It is a permanent (reversible, true, but it should be thought of as permanent) tool to help me lose weight. 4. It is very successful. 5. It is adjustable to me! 6. It has a very high success rate and evens out with bypass over 3 years (studies). 7. I can eat whatever I want and enjoy my love of food and still lose weight. 8. No dumping. 9. Fewer risks for complications and much, much lower risk of death. 10. The most performed weight loss surgery worldwide (not in the US, but worldwide). Take a look at lapbandtalk.com. There are some serious success sotries there! I know most everyone here is very pro RNY, but you need to make the best choice for you. Research, research, research, and talk to your doctor. RNY might be the best choice for you, but so might the band.

I also forgot to mention that with lap band, if you get pregnant (they recommend waiting 18 months), you can have it unfilled and have a very nutritious, fit pregnancy!

Hi Heidi Glad to hear you're doing GREAT!!! I know it's a long drive for you, but will you get a chance to come to some of the Post Op meetings? We'd Love to see ya Tonya

Hi Tonya! I really will try to come one of these days! It is super hard for me with two kids and the drive. I am even thinking of bringing my kids with me to my one month post-op check. Even though I have been told that is a strict no-no. I have used babysitters SO much, and I have to get one for 6 hours everytime I come, and it is really hard to do that. It costs me $40 in gas everytime I drive up there and babysitting. My husband is a surgery resident, and he is never home. My closest family member lives 2000 miles away, and so it becomes that much harder to make the trip! Sigh. I will come to one, one of these days! Thank you for thinking of me Tonya. You are so wonderful!

I am so excited to have found you...as corny as that sounds!! I am talking with Dr. Bour too but the lady there (lacy) is very pro RNY. She kept pushing that on me and said that a lot of people come in wanting the band but decide to have the RNY. Why is that? Did you find this to be the truth. I have looked into RNY and am not interested in that. I almost had it a year ago but the whole list of complications scared the crap out of me and my husband. Lap band is probably the only thing that I will consider for all the reasons that you listed. Let's stay in touch. When did you have your surgery? My e-mail is [email protected]

Rachel, I don't know Lacy. It has been my experience, that yes, people want to try to talk you out of the band for some reason. The biggest thing I have heard is, "I am only going to do this once." Well, so am I, but I guess it depends on you. RNY feels more permanent to people, I guess, and it is, in a way. I think of my band as permanent though. No, I am not losing weight as fast as the RNY people, but I am okay with that. I want to be healthy for the rest of my life! I have heard the lap band described as "the thinking person's weight loss surgery." I don't know how much validity there is to that, but with the band YOU have to be much more in control, and exercise it that much more important. With RNY, you will lose weight, with the band, you can not lose weight, but you have to work with your band, and not against it and you will be successful. You have to exercise. You have to eat the right foods. You have to follow up with your doctors and get fills when you need restriction. Follow-up is so extremely important with the band, and you will be their patient for LIFE. Other doctors do not do fills for lap band patients. I don't have any restriction right now, and I am looking forward to the full feeling after my first fill for restriction. In Dr. Bour's office, you are often the forgotten patient, because everything is tailored toward RNY patients, but I just told everyone I was getting the band, and I often got asked why by other patients, and I just commented that it is the right choice for me. Talk to Dr. Bour about it. I don't think anyone ever really tried to talk me out of it, per se, but my mind was made up anyway. I know that Dr. Bour only likes to do the band on patients with BMI's between 35 and 45. The band has sometimes been called a "staging operation" but I have seen a lot of people who have lost well over 100 pounds with it and look very nice indeed! I had my surgery on April 24th. I feel fantastic!

Heidi, What kind of Pre-Op diet did he require?