Just a thought

Please be totaly HONEST with me when you reply to this post .  I have  85 lbs to lose . Since i am a  huge fence sitter & really cannot decide wether i want this surgery  (I definately qualify)......there are sooooooo many pro's & cons for me . I was thinking i could try to be on the pre-op lapband diet for  2  wks  Then try to be on the lap band post op diet to see if i could handle  this type of life style ....... after all it is for life correct ? I  will get all the foods i need the Ensure sf jello which i hate &  follow the plan to a T . I will still go to the mtg on the 14th of May just to see what more i can learn about this . So what are your thoughts  ? I am not trying to be a royal pain in the @SS to anyone i just cannot make up my mind . Thank you for anyone that responds.  Like i said be totaly HONEST you will not hurt my feelings .

Good am, Welcome to the VA Board! Could you explain a bit more about yourself and your thoughts regarding why you are unsure about which type of surgery? I personally had LAP RNY 5+ years ago and it was then and is now the BEST choice for ME and I would do it again. There are some Banders here on the boards and hopefully they'll be able to answer your questions regarding that surgery. Where are you attending the meeting? Is it the informational one to help you discover more about the surgeries you are interested? A bit more information can help us help you! All best!

Sure what would you like to know about me i can be an open book .....just ask away . The only thing is i dont know that i could eat like this for the rest of my life & i would want the band taken out after i am done losing ...yet another surgery . Another issue with me is i really dont want another surgery i have  had  4 of them not WLS related of course . I am such  control freak i dont like being put under & fight the breathing  tube every time . I don't know that i am fighting it the anes tells me so . I also am in the medical field & some say we know too much of what could go wrong. Then there is the recovery period & time off of work  . I do so desperately want to lose weight & know this is not the "easy way out" . A friend of mine had  Gastric by pass & had nothing but problems vomiting strictures & so on . Thanks for your response

Good am once again! What can we call you? *****ygal? I love to converse and a name certainly helps! Now, you mention you "don't know that I could eat like this for the rest of my life." Weight loss surgery IS for life and there is little margin for error if you want true success. Sure we are human and falter but that is where we dig deep, find that determination inside us, reach out for support and encouragement and the very much needed kick in rear and we DO IT! Again, I had Lap RNY and it was and would be again the BEST choice for ME. I wasn't looking for short term, I wasn't looking to have something removed once I reached a weight loss number but I was looking for long life lasting results and I'm an ALL or NOTHING gal. I'm doing things ALL the way or I'm not doing them (at least not well). This is a commitment and one which should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately I'm not well versed in the Band surgery so it is my hope that others will come forward (and they will) and speak openly about it. It seems to me that you are unsure about having surgery much less which surgery since you mention really not wanting to have another one. So, my thoughts are if you are this unsure its something you need to really dig deep and soul search over. I would suggest you attending informational meetings, talking with other folks here and off the boards about their experiences, researching and meeting with surgeons you find that meet your specifications and will work with the goals you have in mind, read anything and everything good AND bad about the types of surgeries and asking LOTS & LOTS of questions no matter what they might be. Being in the medical field as you know provides you with great knowledge and resources and its a tremendous benefit. Word of mouth is a another great benefit as far as gaining knowledge on surgeons, supplements etc and I truly believe if you are arming yourself with knowledge in all aspects your decision although not easy becomes more educated, you'll become more adamant and you'll know for the most part what to expect and what it all entails. In my opinion as with ANY surgery, procedure, medicine etc there are ALWAYS risks and of course things can go wrong but I am a living, walking, talking weight loss surgery experience and as many others here will tell you we are all at different stages and we have all had some sort of setback, something go wrong, and lots going right. Nothing is perfect and we have to remember that when it come to ourselves as well. This Va Board is full of supporting, loving, caring, encouraging folks who make up a GREAT FAMILY! So, welcome to the VA Board and please get acclimated with us here and familiarize yourself with OH and we're here for ya! All best!

I too was really worried about if I could handle it or not.  It basically came down to being my only way.  In the beginning it was hard to adjust but for the most part now it has just become second nature to me & is now just part of who I am.  There are many differences between the band & rny.  Pros & cons to both.  All you can really do is research them, decide what is best for you.  Talk to as many people as you can, read profiles, read research info, go to seminars & support group.  Arming yourself with as much knowledge as possible is so helpful.

Welcome to the VA board.

Ok...let's see...how can I answer this.......I would say that if you have these questions regarding whether you want the surgery or not, whether you can be compliant afterwards or not, and will want the band removed after you lose your weight I would suggest that you do alot more research and dig deep within yourself to figure out why you feel the way that you do and whether this is a good option for you or not.

This surgery is not for everyone and unless you are willing to make the lifestyle changes necessary, you will be constantly playing the fluctuation game. Have you dieted in the past?  Were you able to lose the weight?  How long did you keep it off for?  What caused you to gain it back?  These are questions that will help you get to the root of your decision. I had tried dieting in the past.  Often times fairly successful, but because I did not make the proper changes or other outside factors, I always regained it back, making it harder and harder to lose.  I was at rock bottom when I decided to have the surgery and even view this surgery as my last chance for weightloss and life.  Is this surgery for everyone?  No...it's not. I wish you the best of luck as you make your decision.

Good morning! What is paramount is to find the RIGHT surgery for YOU -- THEN find the best surgeon to do that particular surgery.  Most docs only tell you about the procedures they perform themselves.  Personally, I think that is unethical.  I mean, if you went to your doc for chest pain, and he sent you to a cardiologist and that cardiologist ONLY does cardiac caths (balloon openings) and did not TELL you there were other things (like bypass grafts) available, then that doc is doing you a disservice. That said, the only doc I have found who explains the FIFTEEN (or so) different types of WLS is Dr. Elariny in Vienna, VA. His initial seminar is FREE, with no obligation.  Do yourself a favor and attend one of his sessions.  You will get info on all the procedures, the risks and benefits of each, and the success rate of each one. He will tell you what criteria to use to determine what is best FOR YOU and your situation. I am not telling you to USE him as your doc.  Personally, I think the man is a genius, but YOU have to be comfortable with YOUR decision.  If you only choose between two procedures without even KNOWING about the other 13, then end up getting the wrong procedure for you, you won't have as much success.  There are countless, heartbreaking tales of folks having the wrong surgery and either not losing a significant percentage of their excess weight, and/or gaining it all back.  It is so sad.  PM me if you want to talk more privately.  I'll be more than happy to talk to you.

Hi *****ygal, I'll give you my opinion on some of your concerns.  How is your general health ie diabetic, hbp, high cholesterol, arthritis? Any weight loss surgery is a change for LIFE. Why do you think you could lose the weight with lap band and then have it removed? Have you dieted before and lost and regained? You should definately go to the meeting on the 14th. Go to more than one doctor/seminar.  Right now from what I am reading, you don't seem ready for any surgery. And that is OK! I was morbidly obese for years. It took me about a year to decide if surgery was right for me. I went through counseling to have another opinion. I had Lap RNY 11 months ago and I have never ever regretted one minute of it.

I'm only 1 week out of surgery, and wanted to give my opinion. This is a major surgery and not to be taken lightly. I researched this for about 3 years and kept thinking I'll just lose it on my own. I finally submitted my paperwork to my Dr. last Sept and hate to wait until January for my 1st appt. My intention were to try to lose enough weight during that period and if I did I would not get the surgery. Well I only lost 12 pounds during that time.  When I visited the dr in January, I was still undecided. He was not pushy, but gave me the statistics. If I lose weight on my own, there is a 95% chance I would regain the weight. If I had surgery, only a 20% chance. That pretty much summed it up for me. On the other hand, what is your BMI. Do you even meet the requirements for surgery? I think you have to be at 35 BMI, but check with an expert Just take your time and research as much as possible. I had such a peace about the surgery when I finally made up my mind. I never got nervous. And also, you'll want to be 100% sure because there will probably be some people who don't support you if you decide to have surgery. You'll need to be strong for both of you. Keep us posted and best wishes, Penny

Ok, you've heard the old adage, careful what you ask for...lol.  Well here goes.  First off, you have met several members of my OH Ohana (Ohana is the Hawaiian word for family), all of them bypassers.  I am a lapbander.  I cannot argue with a single thing they have said to you thus far.  I am a true believer that this weight loss game is 90% head work.  Its amazing how our brain can makes things happen or not happen.  Like you, I am in the medical profession too, so you already know two things...1, we are the WORST patients in the world.  Why?  Because number 2 is we have just enough knowledge to make us dangerous!! I have not regretted a single day since making the decision to have band surgery.  Have I been successful?  Not to my way of thinking, but that's because I'm STILL learning how to make this tool work.  And other health issues have interfered somewhat.  But am I still determinded to make it work?  Oh heck yeah!!  I chose band over bypass for several reasons.  I didn't have as much weight to lose as some here, I liked that it was less invasive, I liked that it was a more gradual loss, I liked that it's adjustable.  I have much more leeway in what I can consume than bypassers, but that doesn't mean that I haven't had to make lifestyle changes.  So while everyone so far has spoken clearly & diplomatically, I am going to be my usual bull-in-the-china-shop & shoot from the hip.  Ready?  Are you sick enough of lugging around an extra person yet?  Do you enjoying being out of breath?  Do you like the looks, stares, & nasty comments made behind your back or that you overhear?  Do you like feeling guilty everytime you sit down & finish off yet another huge bag of chips or cookies or overeating whatever is your favorite thing to gorge on?  Is it still fun to look in the mirror & KNOW that a different you is inside there somewhere screaming to get out but you won't do anything to help her?  I'm betting you ARE sick of feeling less worthy, less attractive, not taken seriously, knowing most people look at you & think "Gee, she ought to step away from the all-you-can-eat buffet more often."  And I'd like to know why the clothing designers decided that fat women suddenly need cute little teddy bears & birdies & dumb crap like that on their clothes?  Geranimals for adults?  No thanks!!!  Sweetie, the bottom line is how committed to YOU are you?  How much longer do you think you can cheat Death?  I don't care what proceedure you choose...just do the research, stop being a woos, make a contract with yourself & do what you know you need to do.  All we can do is share our personal experiences with you, but ultimately YOU have to live in that body & walk in your shoes.  It's not about oh man, I gotta give up eating anything I like...it's not about not eating...it's about LIVING!!!  So instead of trying to talk yourself out of making a decision, or trying to complicate things by making such demands as you'll have the band removed once you've lost weight, or coming here looking to us to make your decision for you, you just need to sit in front of the mirror & have a long discussion with YOU about what you want & what you're willing to do to get it.  It's not that difficult a journey, hon.  But you don't even have enough knowledge about this subject to make you dangerous yet...lol.  Keep coming here, keep asking questions, but be honest with yourself first.  To thine own self be true.  The more you learn about what you CAN do, the less daunting it will seem.  I don't know if I've helped any, but I hope so.