Last week my obgyn advised me to consider having the Lap Band procedure. He informed me that it would be my best option considering my PCOS, my weight, my age and the fact that my husband and I are ttc.
Is there anyone who has had this procedure done? If so, can you please answer some of my questions....
How long did you have to wait to have the surgery after your insurance approved it and you had your consultation?
How long did it take for you to recover from the surgery?
Did you have a lot of pain after your surgery?
How long was it before you started losing weight?
If you had the surgery 6months to a year ago, how much weight have you lost within that time?
How has your diet changed since the surgery?
Sorry for all the questions. I am just trying to get some information from those who have already experienced this surgery. I would greatly appreciate any feed back.
I believe I'm the newest lapbander here. So some of the longer term questions I can't answer. I'm only 3 weeks post op (officially tomorrow).
How long did you have to wait to have the surgery after your insurance approved it and you had your consultation? My insurance didn't require a prior approval, but if I don't meet their criteria, I'll have to pay myself. Thankfully my dr's are very good and made sure I'd meet the requirements. I started my lapband adventure the end of April. Had my first consult with anyone on the team June 5th, had my surgeon consult the week before my final weigh in (my team requires a commitment of 5% weight loss). I met that in 8 weeks, had my surgery a month later, and here I am.
How long did it take for you to recover from the surgery? I'm feeling great these days. I'm still on a mushies (puree'd meal plan for today).
Did you have a lot of pain after your surgery? Nah. I took tylenol 3 in the tablet form crushed (well minus the tylenol, since I'm allergic). I can't remember the brand name. But it was really nothing> I had the surgery on tuesday, took it pretty regularly the first day. Second day I took 2 doses, and third day and forth day I took one at bedtime. Then nothing. So it hasn't been bad at all. Plus I came home to take care of twin two yr olds, and one is completely reliant on me, so I had to lift on him.
How long was it before you started losing weight? I lost 9 pounds the first week post op. IN the last two weeks I've lost 3 more, BUT I've lost a total of 8 inches in my abdomin and hips. That's encouraging.
If you had the surgery 6months to a year ago, how much weight have you lost within that time? Can't help here. Three weeks worth is all I can share about
How has your diet changed since the surgery? I eat a ton less. Seriously I can eat no more than 1 cup or 8 ounces of anything at a meal. That generally has to be like a soup to get that in. Otherwise it's like 4 ounces or 1/2 cup. And surprisingly it's satisfying.
I think the thing I liked most about the band, is that the weight loss is more natural looking. And I needed the reinforcement of seeing my surgeon VERY Regularly. I have a myspace account with photos of my incisions, and pre and post op so far photos. In my blog (in my signature) I also share a ton of my adventure. Feel free to read it.
teri
__________________ Teri (35) & ds brandon 13 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. yr & twins Michael and Matthew born 2-22-06 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Angels :march + July 12, 2002
Chronic back pain, RSD, reflux, diabetes II, pcos,
lap band September 16, 2008http:// To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I had the full gastric bypass so I can't answer all of your questions. However, a good starting point is to call your insurance provider directly and ask them if the procedure you want is covered, what they require to approve surgery, if they require a 6 month physician supervised diet...stuff like that. Also ask them which surgeons they accept. Then you'll need to contact a qualified bariatric surgeon and ask if there is an informational seminar that you have to attend prior to a consultation, if you need a referral to be seen for consultation or if you can just schedule one. Getting some of these starting things done should make your journey go faster so that you're not thinking you're 'done' only to find out that your insurance requires more ya know?
TTC - I personally did not have the lapband, there are more cysters who have had it, and a few that are in the process that can answer more questions. Teri, who replied above, just had the surgery and worked very hard to lose weight and take care of herself even before the surgery. Even though I did not have the lap band I will answer the questions that I can in regards to myself and my surgery.
How long did you have to wait to have the surgery after your insurance approved it and you had your consultation?
My insurance approved my surgery in less than 15 minutes over the phone with my surgeons office. My surgery was scheduled for 13 days later.
How long did it take for you to recover from the surgery?
With my surgeon they want you up and moving as soon as possible, so I was within minutes of entering my room post op. I was tired for about a week, maybe a little bit longer, but that was also my body adjusting to the liquid diet, and all the changes it was going through. I would guess about 20 days all together before I felt like I was at 100%
Did you have a lot of pain after your surgery?
I can't give you the best answer here. I deal with chronic severe back pain, which seems to be worse than just about anything people toss at me. Waking up in the ICU recovery area my complaint was my back not my stomach.
How long was it before you started losing weight?
I was warned by my surgery consultant not to weigh myself when coming home from the hospital, many people come home weighing more than they weighed going in due to all the fluids they pump into you. I weighed myself the morning before my surgery and weighed 284, I was stupid and weighed right after I got home and weighed 297, at my one week post op appointment with my surgeon I weighed 264. I was completely shocked to find that I'd lost twenty pounds in a week.
If you had the surgery 6months to a year ago, how much weight have you lost within that time?
Again I did not have the lap band, I had the RNY but as I said I weighed 284 the morning before surgery. My surgery was on December 6th 2007 - so 10 months ago today - I weigh 154 pounds right now. So I've lost 130 pounds in ten months. With the lap band I know that the weight loss is slower, you can probably get more info other places.
How has your diet changed since the surgery?
My surgeon has a very strict post-op diet. My first three weeks post op was clear liquids only. I can say that it was quite hard not chewing anything for three weeks. The other things that they push is protein protein protein, and always making that the largest part of your meal, and always eat it first. Pre-op I was severely carb addicted, and lived off of them. The biggest change for me has been making sure I'm taking in what I NEED, not what I want. I cannot lie and say that I do not treat myself, but it's a small treat, not a super sized treat.
For more information I would check out ObesityHelp.com, it's a web site dedicated to weight loss, and surgeries for it. There are forums there for different things, and also forums that are state specific. Obesityhelp was how I picked out my surgeon, people on their rate the doctors, the hospitals, and also share the surgeons bedside manner and such. The people there are incredible, and awesome about answering questions to the best of their abilities. Also, you can find tons of information there on all the different types of surgery, so you can make sure the lapband is the surgery for you.
I would also suggest, as mentioned, for you to call your insurance company directly, they are going to be the people that will be able to tell you what surgeries they cover (mine did not cover lapband). They will also be able to give you information on what you will have to do in order to qualify for insurance coverage. Some require doctor supervised diets, and things like that. If your insurance company does not cover WLS, there are companies out there that give out loans specifically for WLS.
Feel free to PM me if I can answer any more questions
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~Christopher Allen Doern~ Forever Loved Brought into and taken from this world on July 4, 2009 at 22 weeks due to incompetent cervix. "The true measure of a life and love is not how long the flame burns here on Earth, it's how strong it burns in the heart. - Tammy Doern
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I appreciate you taking the time to give me some feed back on my prior post. I am really excited to have the surgery done, but at the same time I am scared out of my mind and I have so many questions I need answers to.
Thanks again! I wish you all the best of luck on your weight loss journey. Be sure to keep me posted on how well you are doing!!
I had RNY - not the lapband - but I wanted to wish you luck with the whole process. No matter which surgery you have it is a big deal and I think it's great that you are coming here looking for answers. I hope you find what you are looking for and are at peace with your decision.
__________________ TTC since 12/01 3 years on clomid, 1 letrezole cycle - no pg ovarian drilling 12/04 Finally BFP on 3rd cycle of follistim - our Triplets were born 10 weeks early and are home after 5 weeks in the NICU - Thank you GOD for our Triple Miracle!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I get the impression your from Hawaii? Am I right?
I love your name. It's beautiful.
I'd love to answer any questions you have yet for the band. I'm only 3 weeks post op, but it's still very fresh in my mind. On my second day of chewing food. That feels good.
Aloha
teri
__________________ Teri (35) & ds brandon 13 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. yr & twins Michael and Matthew born 2-22-06 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Angels :march + July 12, 2002
Chronic back pain, RSD, reflux, diabetes II, pcos,
lap band September 16, 2008http:// To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Kealani - Not a problem! Other things you can expect to do are consults with a nutritionist & psychologist, cardiac & pulmonary clearance, maybe an abdominal ultrasound to check liver size, but of course that will be determined by both your surgeon & insurance carrier. After thinking about it I'd like to give you my experience with the RNY if you don't mind hearing about it from a 4+ year post op...
How long did you have to wait to have the surgery after your insurance approved it and you had your consultation? I had my consult at the end of May, had approval from insurance in 4 business days in early July and had surgery 8/3. I think I went from approval to surgery in about 3 weeks.
How long did it take for you to recover from the surgery? I had surgery on Monday and went home Thursday. I felt good enough to go back to work at 3 weeks post op but due to a drain (g-tube that few patients get) I was not allowed back to work until it was pulled at 4 weeks post op.
Did you have a lot of pain after your surgery? Not a whole lot. But remember that pain is relative. It all depends on your pain tolerance. I was tender...like I'd done WAY too many situps. I was pain med free 2 days after coming home from the hospital.
How long was it before you started losing weight? For me immediately. I'd lost 12lb from surgery to my 1 week appt and was down a total of 16lb from my highest weight at that appt. I was down 100lb by my 6 month mark and was at goal of 114lb lost at 1 year.
If you had the surgery 6months to a year ago, how much weight have you lost within that time? I'm actually 4+ years out now and although I've gained 21lb it's all for good reason as you can tell by my siggy. I'm 7.5 months pregnant with my 2nd post op baby. However, when I'm not pregnant I maintain at goal and tend to gain/loose the same 5lb bouncing between 140-145. I was at goal at 1 year. What a difference to go from 254 wearing a size 24/26 to 140 wearing a size 6 in a year.
How has your diet changed since the surgery? For me a lot. Granted now I'm at a point where I can eat pretty much anything I want but a lot of the foods I used to love I just don't care for the taste of anymore. I've eliminated soda from my diet which was a big thing for me as before all I would drink was Mt. Dew. I don't even miss it to tell the truth. I stay away from fried foods & sugary foods as they tend to upset my stomach (and if I take in too much sugar I do get dumping syndrome which you won't get with the lapband). So that dumping helps keep me in line. I can eat/drink anything (except soda...bubbles hurt...I've tried it) now in moderation. I average around 1200 calories daily when not prego and around 1500-1800 while prego.
Anyway I hope this helps! Also one more tip...as you think of questions for the surgeon write them down so you don't forget them. Granted some of them may be answered at the informational seminar but at least if you have a listing of questions you won't forget to ask them at your consult! Good luck!
__________________
Kristy (33) & Adam (36) & DDs Alice Kay & Amanda Kay Founding WLS DIVA - RNY 8/3/04
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Oh...about the pain question...I'm not sure if you've had any type of surgery before but for me my gastric hurt less than my c-section or the surgery I had on my ankle/fibula (it was broken and needed surgery). Just FYI...
__________________
Kristy (33) & Adam (36) & DDs Alice Kay & Amanda Kay Founding WLS DIVA - RNY 8/3/04
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Lap Band 
It's beautiful. 
