Band not for me

Hello all! I had the lap band in July of 05 and to this day have only lost 38lbs!!!! And what makes it even worse is I get sick 90% of the time when I eat!!! I went to my surgeon this past Thursday, had an upper GI and everything "looked" ok. He said that the band is not for everyone. I am seriously thinking about waiting a few months and then start pursuing having the bypass done. We are waiting for my husband to get hired on permanently and to have insurance. I know with his insurance I will have a better chance as his company is worldwide, mine is not, I have a HUGE deductible and nothing to do with weight loss is covered. I am just so disgusted and tired of being sick and hungry. I gave up on trying to eat today because I am sick of ! I did a huge protein shake and felt full so that is where I will leave it. You would think that as little as I am able to eat that I would have lost a lot more. I am scared of the bypass but if that is what it takes I can do it!! Any suggestions to get ready will be greatly appreciated. I am thinking pre-natal vitamins beginning now to possibly keep me from losing my hair. I took pre-natals a few years ago and my nails and hair were very happy! Anything to help... Take care, Paula

Hang in there Paula, your doc is right, bands don't work for everyone. It entirely depends on your eating issues... I'm sorry you're having such a hard time... if it helps encourage you at all I'll share a bit of my experience... It took almost 4 years for me to get from concept to surgery... I had lap RNY done 11 days ago. I have healed excellently well. After the nausea was over (first 24 hrs) then I did really well. I have had no complications, healed rapidly and am up and nearly normal functioning now. Granted I'm only "eating" full liquids and some yogurts with my protein drinks, but I am ready and willing to try more In that short time (2 weeks preop liquids and 11 days postop) I have lost 32 lbs!! My clothes are actually a bit big for me and I'm quite thrilled. My biggest "pain" is the vitamins... I'm very bad about remembering meds, so it is really a task for me to remember vitamins... but I know it's necessary, so I try very hard. Good Luck Oh and as for what to do in advance? My doc suggested start walking now to build stamina for postop, he also suggested vitamins for 2 weeks before surgery, and protein drinks for that 2 weeks also.

Oh Paula! I'm so sorry! I have 2 friends that are having a love hate.........well more like hate hate relationship with their bands and are ready to throw them out the nearest window!! Hopefully you get revides to the bypass soon if that is what you desire! Allie

Oh Paula we could be sisters!! I had my band placed in July of '05 and only lost 20 lbs (and that was due to shear determination, a liquid diet and exercising my butt off). I NEVER felt full, have vomited almost everyday for the past 1.5 years and gained back what little I lost. Dr. Barker did not place my band but I am seeing him for a revision to the RNY. I now have a hiatal hernia (small) and esophageal distension due to the food sitting in my throat and not going through the band. I think the reason I gained weight was because I found myself eating nothing but junk as it was the only thing that stayed down and kept me full. Please try to pursue the insurance thing when your husband gets settled. We have been through so much and deserve this. I am in my second month of a 3 month medically supervised diet, then they will resubmit to my insurance...I just pray I get approved this time. Good luck and keep us posted. If you need to talk, PM me. Steph

Hi Paula, I'm so sorry for your frustration. I can't imagine how tired you must be. Looking at the band vs RNY on a physiological standpoint, both surgeries create a tool, and it can only be used as such. We are the facilitators. My main concern is that you get a revision only to find that your weight loss is slow with it too. Food is an evil that we deal with every day. I know that there are days that I choose to eat better than others. Everyday is a new battle. We are allowed to eat differently than bypass patients, unfortunately from what I understand, some bypass patients don't dump and can eat sugar like we can too. (My luck, I'd be one of those people) I'm sure you doctor knows your body and what it needs to lose the weight. You probably have this all under control and my words are needless, but I'd hate for you to undergo a second surgery only to be frustrated with it too. I'm not saying this is the case, but just something to think about. Have you told your doctor how frustrated you are? Good luck sweetie.

(((Paula)))))))) I am so sorry you have struggled with this, I too did not fair well with the band. I had a revision to DS and I can not tell you how happy and free i am!! If I can help in anyway just holler deborah

Paula, I wanted to add to what Tracey said about your relationship with food. Since I am a RNY person I cannot help you with the problems you're having with the band. The only thing I can offer is my experience. I believe the only way we can succeed is to change our relationship with food. When you get stressed or bored or whatever...we must find something else to do except eat. I isolated so much when I was obese. I went to work of course and shopped at Wal-Mart so I could do grocery shopping and clothes shopping in one store. My computer skills were excellent because no one had to see me. My computer was also the way I created art which gave me pleasure. When I want to eat and I shouldn't I must redirect whatever is happening to something other than food. It is important that you pick something you like. It is also important to avoid stress because our body will put every calorie to use as fat storage when we eat and are stressed. I was told I would probably get sick if I ate sugar so I didn't ever start. You cannot be perfect but know that when you participate in behavior that is not directly headed to your goal, you are heading away from your goal. I do not know much about the band but I had a friend who was taking 5 carrots and liquefying them and drinking it. If he were to just eat them, he couldn't have possibly eaten that much. Once he quit doing that, he started losing weight. Good luck. Read all that you can before doing RNY so that you use your tool to it's fullest capacity. hugs, Y