planning lap band surgery

[Klee]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to this forum. I just so happen to run across it while researching information on the lap band.

I have an appointment Jan. 7, 2010 to discuss with my endocrinologist lap band surgery. Is there anyone out there who has had the surgery and it resolved their type 2 diabetes or perhaps knows of someone who has had very good results with this? I would like to lose weigth AND come off some of the medication, if not all of the medication, that I now take. All of my weight gain is in my tummy. My arms, legs and hips are very slim. I lost 50 lbs. on Byetta, but becasue it is not an insulin, it did nothing from my blood sugars OR my A1c. I want to be healthy again. I know that the lap band is only a tool for which to help me in weight loss and that I have to do my part. That I am ready to do. I exercise about 5-6 days a week, I love veggies and it is very rare that I have sweets. Sweets simply do not appeal to me. I just want to lose the weight, have my clothes fit properly and be and feel healthy.

Can anyone tell me what to expect immediately (as in the first week) post-surgery?

[orockz99]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to this forum. I just so happen to run across it while researching information on the lap band.

I have an appointment Jan. 7, 2010 to discuss with my endocrinologist lap band surgery. Is there anyone out there who has had the surgery and it resolved their type 2 diabetes or perhaps knows of someone who has had very good results with this? I would like to lose weigth AND come off some of the medication, if not all of the medication, that I now take. All of my weight gain is in my tummy. My arms, legs and hips are very slim. I lost 50 lbs. on Byetta, but becasue it is not an insulin, it did nothing from my blood sugars OR my A1c. I want to be healthy again. I know that the lap band is only a tool for which to help me in weight loss and that I have to do my part. That I am ready to do. I exercise about 5-6 days a week, I love veggies and it is very rare that I have sweets. Sweets simply do not appeal to me. I just want to lose the weight, have my clothes fit properly and be and feel healthy.

Can anyone tell me what to expect immediately (as in the first week) post-surgery?

Hello and welcome. This forum consists mainly of people who were banded at the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana Mexico by Dr.Ortiz. I believe that most of the information is pertinent to anyone who is going to get banded though. For OCC patients we are on a liquid diet for three weeks after surgery, it may be different for you. The first week we can only have things such as broth, tea, juice diluted with water etc. Nothing thick. We are allowed full liquids such as yogurt. And creamy soup after a week. No foods with chunks in it. All this is done to help the band heal and scar into place. You may feel very hungry, you may not. I felt very hungry. If you are hungry like I was you may also feel tired and weak. Most people on this forum seem to dowell with that though, I may have been the exception to the rule. You may also experience gas pain, most people on here feel it in their shoulder. You will most likely have soreness at the port area, but it shouldn't be pain. For me it wasn't that hard after surgery, just a little bit of discomfort. Diabetes runs in my family, my mother, one of my four sisters, and a few of my auntsand uncles have it. My grandmother also had the disease as well, I know it can be tough. I have read in other places that weight loss surgery can help or even resolve Diabetes. If you lose the weight and become healthy after surgery, I believe that it can only help you. Good luck.

[jhawkchick75]

Yeah, it really depends on what doctor you are going to. I know some that only do about a week of liquids then mushies, but I am so glad I went to Dr. O. His post op diet is the most strict, but it seems that he has so many fewer patients with complications. So even though it was tough, i'm so glad I did it!

You have made a good choice to get the band! Best of luck and if you have questions definitely read through old posts in this forum and if you don't see them there ask away!!!

[Klee]

Yeah, it really depends on what doctor you are going to. I know some that only do about a week of liquids then mushies, but I am so glad I went to Dr. O. His post op diet is the most strict, but it seems that he has so many fewer patients with complications. So even though it was tough, i'm so glad I did it!

You have made a good choice to get the band! Best of luck and if you have questions definitely read through old posts in this forum and if you don't see them there ask away!!!

Thank you for your reply. YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!! I'm hoping to be much healthier in the year of 2010. I have weighed the pros and cons of this surgery and the pros definitely outweigh the cons. I'm doing this for me and to have the help of new technology is aweson. Someone said that have this surgery is a cop out. I disagree. She says that being overweight is the result of too many calories in and no activity. I disagree, but that is her opinion. This is not true for all. I work out 5-6 days a week. I just plan to move ahead and get myself healthy and enjoy my life. Again, thanks for the support. I'm planning to have the surgery done at The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. My husband is employed there and they waive the co-pay and a major amount of the charges, and the insurance pays the remainder. How good is that?!! I will be out of absolutely no out-of-pocket money. You'll be hearing from me as to when the surgery is scheduled and how I'm doing on my journey. In the meantime, I hope I can come here and ask questions as they occur to me.

Klee

[suzpars]

This will be the best gift you can give yourself. I was banded in Feb. 09. I remember thinking how hard the pre and post diet was going to be. I can hardly even remember it now. I have lost 68 lbs. My back and knees don't hurt anymore. I just feel better in general and my hubby loves the new me. I still want to lose another 20-30 lbs, but what a difference already. I was banded in NE Texas and had a wonderful experience. I only took a 1/2 dose of pain medicine twice and was back to normal in a few days. Best advice. As soon as you get in the recovery room and they give you permission START WALKING! Walk walk walk. It helps with the gas pain better than anything else. Good Luck!

[jhawkchick75]

Thank you for your reply. YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!! I'm hoping to be much healthier in the year of 2010. I have weighed the pros and cons of this surgery and the pros definitely outweigh the cons. I'm doing this for me and to have the help of new technology is aweson. Someone said that have this surgery is a cop out. I disagree. She says that being overweight is the result of too many calories in and no activity. I disagree, but that is her opinion. This is not true for all. I work out 5-6 days a week. I just plan to move ahead and get myself healthy and enjoy my life. Again, thanks for the support. I'm planning to have the surgery done at The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. My husband is employed there and they waive the co-pay and a major amount of the charges, and the insurance pays the remainder. How good is that?!! I will be out of absolutely no out-of-pocket money. You'll be hearing from me as to when the surgery is scheduled and how I'm doing on my journey. In the meantime, I hope I can come here and ask questions as they occur to me.

Clee

Thanks so much! It's been the best decision i've ever made and don't you EVER let anyone make you feel bad about it. That is issues within themselves not yours to worry about. They don't understand that the band is not a fix all but merely a tool to help you there. It is still a lot of work on our ends.

Are you going to the Davis Doctors? I never miss that show! If so it looks like you will be in great hands. Soo lucky that you can get it all covered that is fantastic!

Glad to have you here and good luck!!

[Klee]

This will be the best gift you can give yourself. I was banded in Feb. 09. I remember thinking how hard the pre and post diet was going to be. I can hardly even remember it now. I have lost 68 lbs. My back and knees don't hurt anymore. I just feel better in general and my hubby loves the new me. I still want to lose another 20-30 lbs, but what a difference already. I was banded in NE Texas and had a wonderful experience. I only took a 1/2 dose of pain medicine twice and was back to normal in a few days. Best advice. As soon as you get in the recovery room and they give you permission START WALKING! Walk walk walk. It helps with the gas pain better than anything else. Good Luck!

You guys are absolutely wonderful here. My husband has been a big encourager! I'm lucky to have run across this forum. I have just had it with all the insulin, and oral medication I am on. When I lost 50 lbs using Byetta, I felt great. My back did not hurt at all from standing, because all of my weight is in my tummy area! Well...I wanted to take that weight loss even further but the Byetta stopped working and thus, I HAD to find another way and I KNOW this is it. The person who told me that it is a cop out had me rethinking. But I figure it this way, if there were not people who needed the help, there would be no such thing as lap banding...so if it is there, then I'm going to use the tool. I'm sure I'll feel the difference immediately with the weight loss. Yes, I've considered if I can do the post-surgery diet, but hey, if I want to better my health, there should be no issues. I am so excited about meeting with my endocrinologist. As a matter of fact, she is the one who suggested it!

[Klee]

Thanks so much! It's been the best decision i've ever made and don't you EVER let anyone make you feel bad about it. That is issues within themselves not yours to worry about. They don't understand that the band is not a fix all but merely a tool to help you there. It is still a lot of work on our ends.

Are you going to the Davis Doctors? I never miss that show! If so it looks like you will be in great hands. Soo lucky that you can get it all covered that is fantastic!

Glad to have you here and good luck!!

Thank you so much for the welcome! I feel like I now have quite a bit of support. It's great feel like I am not alone in doing this and to know there are others out there who are enjoying their lives without having to lug around extra weight, but more importantly, not being critized for the way they have lost the weight and keeping it off. Thank you much!!!

[MrsParris]

You will not regret getting a band. I lost 107 lbs. years ago only to gain them right back over a period of about 4 years. Now that I have the band, I know I will never gain that weight back again. It really helps keep me in check. I have quit losing right now, but it is my fault, not the band. I am not working hard enough. But, because of the band I have maintained within a couple of pounds the same weight for almost 7 months. For me that is a victory. My Blue Cross would pay for the band if I agreed to go through tons of paperwork, psych evals, weight loss classes, etc. Once I made my mind up that I wanted a band I didn't feel like messing with the insurance company, so I self-payed for the surgery. My husband followed suit and we self-payed for his band also. I just wish I had done it when I first heard about it 3-4 years ago.

Since you will get it for free, you have nothing to lose, but your meds and some ugly flab. Go For It!!!!!!

[Klee]

You will not regret getting a band. I lost 107 lbs. years ago only to gain them right back over a period of about 4 years. Now that I have the band, I know I will never gain that weight back again. It really helps keep me in check. I have quit losing right now, but it is my fault, not the band. I am not working hard enough. But, because of the band I have maintained within a couple of pounds the same weight for almost 7 months. For me that is a victory. My Blue Cross would pay for the band if I agreed to go through tons of paperwork, psych evals, weight loss classes, etc. Once I made my mind up that I wanted a band I didn't feel like messing with the insurance company, so I self-payed for the surgery. My husband followed suit and we self-payed for his band also. I just wish I had done it when I first heard about it 3-4 years ago.

Since you will get it for free, you have nothing to lose, but your meds and some ugly flab. Go For It!!!!!!

You too look fabulous!!!! I can hardly wait to meet with my endocrinologist. Like I said, she is the one who suggested it. She feels that I am on a lot of medication and would beneffit. When she first suggested it, I really didn't think much about it, but since then, I've had time to really think about it and it makes good sense. It's time to put a stop to the madness.