I’ve checked around on here, and have found some very informative information.
I’ll give some background on me-I am 21 years old, 6’2, and 325 or so. I also live in Mich.(I’m not going to India or Mexico) On my fathers side of the family, there is medical problems such as diabetes and heart. They are also on the heavier side.
Anyway, I have exercised and tried various things, and lost a little bit of weight, but nothing much. I’ve been looking at both procedures and have been wondering a few things, such as, which one has the better results?Average weight lost? 1 week-1 month-1 year?
What do you have to change/can you keep the same/moderation after? I drink pop, and have tried quitting/Moderation, but its hard. Can you drink a pop here and there after?
I don’t have ins right now, do they offer payments (in Michigan).Will they check your credit?
Again, just want to see, what would be better for me in your opinion? I plan on talking to a Dr, just been researching
Thanks
Thanks all for the information. A few things I would like to add is I’m going into Law Enforcement and possibly even the Coast Guard. From what I’ve read either procedure won’t keep you from joining.
Another thing I’ve read is most people won’t even want to eat or drink pop or sweets after.
Thanks again
I had the lap band done about a year and a half ago. The only down side that I have had is that I have to go in for a fill about every 2 months or I don’t loose any weight. When I have a fill I usually loose about 20 to 30 pounds within the first 2 weeks. As far as pop goes, I gave it up for the first year and now I am starting to crave it again. As long as you get the carbonation out of any carbonated beverage you will be fine. The other thing is stay away from alcohol. It will not help you loose weight. If I could give it up I would loose a lot more that I am. Because of your age I would definitely go with the lab band procedure. It is reversible and less intense of surgery. I went in at 5 am and was home at 7 pm the same day. I would not have changed anything. Remember one thing, either surgery is a tool to help you loose weight. You have to make the lifestyle changes to loose and keep it off.
Hope this helps. Good luck
Unfortunately, once you have weight loss surgery (lapband or Gastric) you are disqualified for military service. There are no waivers for it. You just can’t serve.
I had my gastric Bypass 6 months ago. I’ve lost 100 pounds so far. You ca drink soda, alothough not for several months and only diet soda. You can’t have large amounts of sugar ever again. You can’t have any sugar at all for several months. Low fat, low carb, no sugar, high protien! It is hard, very hard even with Gastric. You have to exercise at least 45 minutes per day. If you eat the wrong things, you will dump and it is very painful from what I understand. You will throw up if you eat too much or the wrong foods. You will have to take all medications chewable since you will never be able to take pills again. Flintstones mutivitamins and Tums will be your best friends! I had no complications. The lapband didn’t appeal to me because once you take that band off, you can gain the weight back in a flash. it takes a LOT of food and overeating the stretch the pouch. People make it sound like you don’t keep the weight off with gastric but you can! It all depends on how you eat. Any large amount of weight loss with result in excess skin, not just due to a bypass. If you lose 150+ pounds, you are going to have excess skin! I’[ve lost 100 pounds and really don’t have that much excess skin but I do have some. I’d rather have excess skin than be as large as I was. Another 45 pounds to go until I am at my goal weight :0)
Good Luck! My surgery was covered by the military as a dependant so I have no idea of the costs! My plastic surgery is covered as well.
my mom had gastric bypass about a year ago. She weighed about 300 and now she weighs 130. you do have to eat like tons less. but you wont be hungry because your stomach is so much smaller. it goes from like football size to golfball size. and they tell you that you shouldnt drink pop because it could stretch out your stomach. and another thing you cant have like hardly any sugar or it will make you sick.my mom is so happy she did it. with a lap band they may have to go back in and mess with it.
I’ve had the lap band. My doctor explained that people with the lap band lose weight slower than those with gastric bypass, but in the end, the total weight loss is the same. People with gastric bypass have more initial complications, and the mortality rate from the surgery is higher, but lap band has a greater risk of ongoing complications, especially if you’re non-compliant.
Average weight loss for lap band is 1-2 pounds per week, and 50-100 pounds during the first year.
You really have to comply with the dietary changes. If not, you can stretch your pouch with a gastric bypass, or displace the band with the lap band. Pop isn’t the worst thing for you, but you need to at least switch to diet, especially if you have the gastric bypass, because all that sugar can cause "dumping syndrome", which is very unpleasant. Also, with the band, the carbonation can cause you to vomit if you drink too soon after eating.
Check with a bariatric surgeon regarding payment options. Like with any other loan, they will check your credit. Both procedures are quite expensive. I was lucky to have insurance that covered the majority of it.
I think that the band is the way to go, because of the fewer initial complications and the longterm potential. Some people who have had gastric bypasses end up ruining their surgeries by stretching their pouch, and then they end up getting a band as a second surgery.
I’ve included a link to a good website that has information on both procedures, and message boards where you can talk to people who have been through it already.
Well, I think a LOT depends on how much each procedure costs. I have a GOOD friend who had the lap band, and he’s about 8 months out now. He’s losing weight SLOW, but his surgeon is happy with his progress, cause he said that he’ll most likely KEEP the weight off.
I have SEVERAL friends who had the gastric bypass, and no, they aren’t allowed pop/soda. However, they lost on average one hundred pounds in about 6-10 months, and the rest is more difficult to lose. Because of the FAST weight loss, there is usually loose skin in the belly, so you’ll need to plan on a tummy tuck after you lose the weight as well (you don’t have that with the lap band).
I’m hoping they do some sort of combination gastric bypass/lap band thing, cause that would take care of any weight gain after the weight loss…just my opinion.
Do a google search on the support groups for these procedures and ask people who have had the surgery
Either way, it’s best to get it off, especially if there’s familial diabetes or heart disease.