Anyone Had Experience with LAPBAND Surgery?

Hi D.,
Congratulations on becoming a mom and for making the decision to get help with your weight issues. After battling a serious weight problem most of my adult life (200-400 lbs.) Through the years I tried almost every diet with mixed results. Sometimes I would lose a lot, with other programs I would only lose a small to medium amount, but in the end I gained every pound back plus more. It was difficult to do even normal activities and I missed out on so much. I finally decided I wanted my life back so I could enjoy doing things with my kids and grandkids. After talking to my doctors and doing research for several months on all the available procedures, what each entailed, potential problems, long term success rates, and finding the best surgeon and program, I made the decision to have a gastric bypass because it offered the most benefits to me. This is a personal decision that I'm sure you have put a lot of thought into as well. You will certainly need to wean your baby before you have the surgery. Each person and situation is different but I can tell you that my surgery went so well that when I woke up in recovery in no pain I thought they hadn't been able to do the surgery! I had a laproscopic procedure with 5 very small incisions, virtually no surgical pain and went home from the hospital within 23 hours. I did have some shoulder discomfort for a couple of days but that was the extent of it. I didn't have small children at home so lifting was not an issue for me but your doctor will guide you as to what you can and cannot do and for how long. Surgery is definitely not an easy cure-all but it is of great help and gives you an opportunity to instill healthy eating habits. Three years out I am at a normal weight and healthier than I have been in 15 years. The most important considerations to me were the experience and success of the surgeon and ongoing support programs as this strongly determines your outcome. The absolute best surgeon in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area is Dr. Joseph Kuhn. He is a nationally respected surgeon, a leader in gastric procedures and was recommended to me by all my doctors including several other surgeons. Besides being an exceptional surgeon, Dr. Kuhn is kind, compassionate, and truly cares about his patients. I had my surgery at Baylor Hospital and I strongly urge you to contact the Baylor Weight Loss Surgery office. The phone number is ###-###-#### and they also have a website which is www.wlsdocs.com. I truly wish you well and hope to see you at a support group meeting in the future!

2 moms found this helpful

My husbadn had it a little over year ago and recovery was very simple. He pretty much was running around next day.
However you have to be careful if you have kids at least for the week.He had to make a lot of sacrifices but it is sooo worth it.
He dropped over 100lbs and laid off a lot of RX pills.
I would recommend it greatly.
Go to trueresults.com to research more.

Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

D.,

Children are such great gifts from God! I don't have any experience in this area, but I wish you the best of luck in your journey. I would do a lot of research before doing it while I was still breastfeeding.

Ged bless!

D.,

I would love to share information that has worked for many without going through the Lapband surgery. I know some people do go through difficulty of keeping food down and other issues. Please take other alternative before you go for surgery.

Do let me know and I will share a very effecive way of shading the unwanted fat without side effects or limitation.

Blessings!

Maybe you can wait until after you are done breastfeeding?

Where do you live? There is a bariatric doctor here in Wichita Falls who has support meetings here and in Lawton. If you don't live near either of those two places maybe there are support groups in your area. This doctor even has meetings for people who are considering the surgery. If you want to call them to ask, call Dr. Kenneth Warnock ###-###-####. Their website is www.bariatricsoftexas.com. Good luck!

My mom had it about 1.5 yrs ago. You have to stick to the rules is all I can say for her. She convinced herself that she could drink milk shakes instead of the protein drinks. Needless to say, she hasn't lost much weight. I think recently she has been gaining again. But she sits in her chair and eats miniature candy bars. I'm not sure why she went through it all to sabatage herself. I've seen others have fantastic results, just stick to the plan.

M.

I doubt if you could still nurse. Congratulations on your two wonderful babies. Before you go into surgery, try not A(dieting) I think it messes up metabulism, and makes it harder to lose, but do try this. Eat more vegetables and fruit before you eat the rest of your meal, try to have a smaller plate, so the portions can be smaller. Try to not have as many sweets or junk food. Have a small snack no bigger than the palm of your hand mid morning and mid afternoon. Walnuts, left-over little peice of chicken etc. is an example, and you won't be so starved for the next meal. And if you live where you can stroll your babies, go for a walk with them in the storller every day, the fresh air will be great for them, and that exercise will be great for you, and it may take a year for weight to come down, but what is a year that will then be the start of the new you, and the surgery would take time also, and this way you wouldn't of had to undergo surgery. If you do exercise, don't over do, work up to it or it will be discouraging and you would be temped to just quit. I'm sure God will help you too if you ask. YOu have a wonderful husband and two beautiful babies to not have to use food for comfort now, as I know that can be used as comfort. I wish you the best on your decision.

I've had two friends do lapband. One was very successful and is living a happy, well-adjusted life and watches what she eats. She is in her late 40's. The other is 28, completely and totally obsessed with what she looks like and is addicted to plastic surgery. Her Dr. should have NEVER done lapband on her...she probably only needed to lose 20-30 lbs. She has had nothing but trouble. She won't eat right, doesn't exercise, and doesn't "get it" that it was a step in the right direction, not a miracle. I pray for her because she is consumed with herself and her looks. It seems to me, like anything new you learn...you must work the plan! Good luck! I'd love to have it done, but I'm chicken.

If you have emotional eating issues, surgery won't fix them. You need to deal with the issues then the weight loss. A healthier solution would be a supportive program like Weight Watchers to help you get your eating under control before surgery. WW has helped me realize when I am hungry and when I just need comfort or am bored. I wish you the best.

I am set to go in on Monday on the 23rd! I will message you back and let you know how it goes. Check out my blog at ajourneytoachange.blogspot.com it has info on it.

My friend had it done and it was a disaster. She had had stomach trouble before - a lot of heartburn, etc. - and it got much worse. She couldn't eat ANY solid food without severe pain. She lost 100 pounds, but her stomach got so bad that she had to have it undone a year ago and now she's gained all that weight back.

She didn't learn to eat differently because her diet was so screwed up (only liquids) during the time she had the lap band. And so when she got the lap band removed, and was able to tolerate real food again, she slowly slipped back into the old routine of using food to comfort herself and to deal with stress and to deal with the lack of time (fast food). (Her stress level sky-rocketed as the economy and her husband's health went down)

Don't know if this will help - not trying to discourage you - but thought you would want to know: if you have some kind of condition or pattern ahead of time, you'll still have it afterward. I've heard that Weight Watchers is very effective because of the emotional support it provides.

D.,

The Wise County Messenger has a reporter, Robert Morgan, that has done an entire series on his recent weight loss surgery and his struggles with that. It is definitely worth the read and might give you some encouragement. You can find it online at www.wcmessenger.com. Ultimately, the choice in which direction you choose for your weight loss needs to be a personal decision that fits you and your family.

I just had to write to you. I am a 40-year-old mom with an almost-three year old, Emma Grace (03/24/06), and am due to deliver our much-anticipated Abigail Claire just any day now. I think you have picked wonderful names for your girls! My husband and I were married in August 2004 (4 1/2 years ago). The similarities were just hilarious to me!

Good luck and God bless! I wish you the best,
L.

D.,
You will be giving you and your family the greatest gift if you do this for yourself. I did not have the lap band but I did have gastric bypass in 1991. It changed my life. My sons were 21 months and 4 years at the time. It is about a 6 week recovery time. It is rough and you will need help. I have 2 friends that have had lap band. One was very successful and one didn't do so well. You must be committed to make it work for you. It is only a tool, not a miracle cure. You will always have to work at it. I highly recommend the gastric bypass. They can do it laproscopic now days. It has been 18 years since my surgery and I am a healthy 47 year old mom who has enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing, etc. with my kids. I know that it would have not been possible if I had not had the surgery. Check Medical City in Dallas. They used to have a monthly free seminar with great info on the surgery. Good Luck.

Before doing something this radical might I suggest you check out Tru Chocolate? Call 1-###-###-#### and press 1. Then contact me at ____@____.com if you want to learn more.

Congrats on the precious little baby girls!

D.,
I have not had the surgery, however, I have been over-weight all my life too. If I was you, I would really consider waiting until your youngest is a few months older, I think breastfeeding is the best thing you can give your child. If you have the surgery, you are going to be under, then you won't eat as much because your stomach has been cut in half more or less, so if you milk supply decrease, you might increase your food take which defeats the whole purpose.
I've seen a lot of people who have had this done and do great at first but fall back into their old habits. You have to change your way of life, just as you did with your fist child. I'm not going to preach to you on eating better and exercise, I know I need to do that in order to be healthy. One thing I did hear, is that after the surgery because you will lose weight at a much faster rate than if you just changed your habits, eat healthy and exercise regular, you will have excessive skin.
I read your bio- and what a blessing and testimony you have about being a mom now, God just knew when was the right time for you to be a mom!
God Bless!