Anyone have the Lap Band Surgery?

I'm investigating this surgery and would like to know first hand from people who have had it done. I'm considering on having it done myself. I have done all I know and have been on all the diets ever invented. Nothing is working!

1. How is it working for you?
2. Any complications?
3. What are your Doctor's orders?
4. Would you do it all over again?

 

I have a good friend who has had lap band surgery and she is doing very well.  As a result, a few of my other friends are considering it.  She did not have any complications.  She says she can't eat a lot, which helps control her weight.  The only problem I've personally heard is that people learn how to "eat around it." 

My dad just had this done a couple weeks ago, and so far he's doing great.  He just moved past the liquids only phase a couple days ago, and has now moved on to being able to eat mushy foods.  He's also not allowed to lift anything heavy yet (over 25 or so lbs.), but he never really felt that bad except for the first day or two.  He went back to work on the third day I think.  During the first couple weeks I made him protein shakes all the time because that's pretty much all he was eating.  He was only able to hold about 4 ounces of it at a time, so it was actually hard for him to get in the required 60-70 grams of protein each day.

Thank you....So far so good!

How long before you can eat solids?

My aunt had it done almost 2 years ago.  She has lost close to 100 pounds since.  She was, I'd say, in the neighborhood of 350 pounds when she had it done.  Maybe a little more, no less.  She has not had any complications per se, but she is always complaining that she "can't eat anything."  As with most stomach/weight loss surgeries, she has lots of intolerances,  things that just don't go down well or at all, things that she knows not to eat because they don't agree and cause problems, etc. Speaking as someone who has had gastric bypass, I can TOTALLY relate to all those things, which I told her ahead of time to be prepared for.  Any weight loss surgery is HARD WORK.  She got mad at me when she asked me for the "truth" about my gastric bypass, when I gave her the unvarnished truth about it.  About 2 months ago, she came to me and said, "I'm really sorry.  I understand what you went through now, and I really didn't support you the way I should have." 

She has to drive 6 hours 1 way to the doctor to get the adjustments done once a month because there currently is not a local doctor to do it in this area. 

She has lost a lot of weight.  She has not had any life-threatening issues or complications from the surgery itself.  She has had to learn behavior/eating modification, just like with any stomach surgery, in order for it to be successful long-term and to reduce day-to-day "issues" related to not being able to eat/tolerate very well.    I will say, though, that she tends to overdramatize sometimes and if she really "couldn't eat anything" they way she always swears she can't, after 2 years' time, she would not still be around complaining!  So, she's able to eat SOMETHING.  LOL. She has lost a lot of weight.  It has been slow.  It has not been easy.  No surgery for weight loss ever is. 

A significant number of people who have underlying addictive issues, may just switch addictions to drinking gambling or other things. But I also know a woman who had this procedure... and she has a whole new life.

I had lap band surgery on June 18th.  I started the whole process back in January: pre approval, meeting with the surgeon and dietician etc.  Since then, I have lost @ 45 lbs.  Believe it or not, with all that weight, I am still only down one clothing size!  I must have really been packing!  I am 5'2" on a good day and was well over 100 to 150 pounds overweight.  I just had my first "fill" which hasn't done much to help me feel full.  I need to get at least another.  Check out lapbandtalk.com for all sorts of answers and information.  I love that site.  I am glad I did it, but it is slow.  It's not a magic bullet.  Most of my weight has come off because I started walking almost an hour every day back in January, and I keep a food diary which is crucial for me.  I am a teacher, and I think when I am back in school with a routine, things will be easier.  I just learned from this site that a cup of pistachios is 700 calories.  Holy sh#@!  They are my downfall, and I just had gotten a BIG bag at Costco.