*~Lap-Band Surgery~*

[Sharni]

Has anyone had this procedure done??? I'm seriously contemplating getting this

I'd especially like to hear from any Aussies.....Though any nationality is more than welcome to add the experiences

Thanx

[Lilith]

Is it to fix a "mother's apron" or sagging tummy? or is it a gastric bypass? Or is it where the band off a portion of your stomach?

I have no clue...very curious.

[maddy]

i believe it's a gradual and progressional band on your stomach. It's a surgery in wish a band of some fashion is wrapped around your stomach, and at certain time intervals you return to the dr and he tightens the band, thereby making the stomach capacity smaller. It's said to be less extreme than gastric bypass. I thought I read somewhere that only a certain level of overweightness can be handle with this procedure. I don't recall the numbers though. My sister had considered this but was to heavy and had the bypass instead.

[wyndhy]

i, too, was curious. http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/tecmain.html
and a test for eligibility http://www.lap-band.com:7778/lapband2/eligibility.jsp
sounds safer than gastric bypass
sorry sharni...not an aussie ;) and never had it done...hope you don't mind the links and the fact that i had nothing to add
good luck hun

[Sharni]

I thought I read somewhere that only a certain level of overweightness can be handle with this procedure. I don't recall the numbers though. My sister had considered this but was to heavy and had the bypass instead.
You have to be considered obese with a body mass idex of 35 or higher or their weight is 60% greater than their ideal weight....

Its not so much the weight that restricts if you can have this procedure

There are though, patients for whom banding is not suitable. The first are those who have already had open obesity surgery on their stomach. This group does not do well with a band.

The second big group are those patients who are addicted to chocolate and fatty food, ice-cream and sweet drinks - these patients do less well long term with the lap band and I believe that the best first option for these patients is the bypass procedure.

The third group is those patients who have had a band who are unable to tolerate the restrictive nature and have converted to liquid food. This occurs in about five percent of lapbands and these patients are also suitable to the bypass.

[Sharni]

The gastric bypass is not an option....things can go horribly wrong with that....not a risk i'm willing to take

But the Lap-Band is not as radical...its completely reversable too

[Sharni]

Feel free to PM me if you dont wish to post on here

[kathy1]

i looked around that site about the procedure. That almost sounds like the old baloon procedure from years ago...only updated. Anybody know if it is? I remember there were some problems with the old procedure but for the life of me, i just can't recall the specifics.

Now, i don't own a tiny hiney either but i just don't have the nerve to have a surgical procedure to fix the broad backside. I do wish you luck, sharni

[Sharni]

Its a relatively simple surgical procedure......The risks minimal

I definately dont have a tiny hiney! *LOL* Or tiny anything for that matter

If i continue the way i am heading i will be at a high risk of dying of heart attack or such....i dont want to obviously

Weight has been the bane of my existance since i was 19...i'm now 37.....life is passing me by....so much i want to do but am physically unable to

Let me tell you it SUX!

This is a way for me to gain my freedom and life....i want to grab it with both hands and hold on tight!!

[kathy1]

i do know what you mean.....i've never been tiny....ever ever ever....i've been littler than i am...and bigger and lots of spots in between but i still don't have the nerve to do it.....seems like every time i consider it, we get some patient in with dreadful after-affects and my nerve flies right out the window again.

[Sharni]

There arent many after effects i've seen to Lap Banding....being as its reversable ppl that have any adverse reaction to it just have it removed

[cherrypie7788]

I think you should go for it if it'll make you happier and healthier, Sharni. Good luck with it.

[Sharni]

I'll make a decision when some info i've sent for arrives....and some more questions are answered....i'll let you all know what happens

[denny]

Talk to a doctor about the procedure, some even present to groups of interested people. There are still risks to lap band as I am sure you will find out but good luck!

[Sharni]

I will be talking to a doctor and going to his seminars....there are also certain things you have to pass before they will do it.....

Risks are minimal...i am at more risk at the weight (i am what they class as morbidly obese....BMI of around 48) i am now, than what i could be in surgery

[GingerV]

Hey Sharni,

Just saw this. I was totally anti-weight loss surgery for ages...until I had a series of friends go through exactly this proceedure. Now I'm at least on the fence about it. The first has had amazing results with it...she's a walking advertisement. Lost over 100lbs in the first year after it, adapted extremely well to the lifestyle changes it required, is now much healthier, much more active and extremely happy with her decision. The others have been less dynamic, and one is really struggling to reach even her 1 year goal. That said, if you have specific questions you want me to pass on...let me know. They're the sort to be totally honest about the highs and lows of the proceedure. I think one of them was even talking about putting together a website about her experiences...she may have gotten it up.

G

[kathy1]

Last night after I lost my connection, I was thinking about this thread and I did remember one side affect of the old procedure that this reminds me of..... it was mal-nutrition......and now that i think about it, i do remember our office treating patients that suffered from mal-nutrition....particularly one that almost went completely bald because of it......are there those kinds of side-affects with the lap-band???? Is that sumpin that's monitored??? Seems like the mal-nutrition could be a problem with it too.

[LixyChick]

My best wishes to you Sharni!

[Sharni]

Malnutrition? I dont think so.......If you allowed it to get to the stage you need hospilization...well sorry....but your an idiot or have a shoddy surgeon.....or both

You must go back for check ups here....and i'd be ringing my surgeon if i felt there was something not right in between said checkups

[maddy]

Sharni, It sounds as though you are taking the "right" approach to this. And by that I mean you are doing the research and being very aware. I think this will serve you well. When kathy1 mentioned malnutrition, my first thought was of my dad (had bypass and I know they are very different) and through his difficulties has to take daily iron pills and a monthly b-12 shot. For him his system has a hard time keeping enough of the necessary vitamins and minerals inside his body. But so long as you listen to your body and stay aware it shouldn't be a problem, only that you may have to get some of these things from other sources as my Dad has. I hope you find answers to all your questions and that you make the best choice for you. As I truly believe this is a very personal decision.

[Sharni]

You are advised to take a multivitamin (liquid) whilst in the liquid phase of adjustment (approx 4 weeks) to ensure you dont get low on any of the essentials

I do not go into anything this important lightly.....i enjoy research and have no qualms about hounding a Doc with questions til i'm satisfied *L*

[Galatea]

Yeah, I know about the malnutrition. You have to take vitamins for sure if you have any procedure where you're forced to eat dramatically less. My sister had the bypass surgery and she lost every tooth in her head...but I'm beginning to think it had more to do with the fact that after she got thin she went bum fucking insane and started doing crack and several other drugs and was completely irresponsible.

[Sharni]

Update: Information arrived today in the mail that i have been waiting for....

I'm going to go ahead with the procedure....just organizing the finances then onto surgery i go

[Lilith]

((hugs))

[cherrypie7788]

Best of luck to you, Sharni.

[sodaklostsoul]

((((((((Sharni))))))))))

[airhog]

I cant wait to see the one year after pictures :D I will definately have to pass this procedures onto my fiancee as she has thought about the Bypass surgery.

[Sharni]

Well ya still got a bit of a wait....gotta get the money together yet....but as soon as i do.....i'll be there with bells on!

[wyndhy]

good luck, sharni! happy penny pinching!

[LixyChick]

Haven't read this thread in a while. So glad you are satisfied with your research and all is go Shar! I wish you the best for this to be a life decision that makes all your hopes come true!

[cowgirltease]

Yeah, I know about the malnutrition. You have to take vitamins for sure if you have any procedure where you're forced to eat dramatically less. My sister had the bypass surgery and she lost every tooth in her head...but I'm beginning to think it had more to do with the fact that after she got thin she went bum fucking insane and started doing crack and several other drugs and was completely irresponsible.
Yep, those drugs have been proven to do that to ya. Any amphetamines will do that.
Good luck Shar.

[fireman20]

Do you have any new info on this? I am really interested in how you are doing. I have personal exp. with this(wife has it now).
Thanks
Danny

[Fangtasia]

Well dunno bout Sharni ;) .....but all i'm waiting for is to get the money together and long enough holidays so i dont have to take excessive time off work

[Galatea]

I asked my sister about her gastric bypass that she had and why she didn't opt for the lap band or some other procedure where they didn't seperate the two halves and she told me that the reason she wanted the actual seperation was because the band had been known to break or roll down causing the stomache to go back to its original pre-op size.

Didn't remember if this had been mentioned as a factor in choosing it over the normal surgery but in case it wasn't it's something else to consider.

[Fangtasia]

The lap band cannot roll down...it is sown to your stomach....nor have i ever heard of the ones they use here breaking

Over in your country may be a different type of product or a different procedure of putting it in