rory's mom

My friend Amy thinks lapband surgery is for her. This is a little bit about her and if you could share why you think LB surgery is for her or not for her...thanks

She is a wonderful person who deserves to be free of this weight burden.

Current weight 320 at 6'3" goal weight probably 185 to 200

She lacks discipline in general. She refuses to excercise unless we are talking about walking around Disneyland. She continually makes poor food choices and counts on me to be the food police. She gets anxiety when the house has no snacks. She works 12-16 hours a day and gets almost every meal from a caterer buffet line or snack table. She is almost always tired and achy. She can't maintain a strict diet for more than 3 weeks...her last attempt, Medifast on and off for 2mos... If there is an opportunity to overeat then she will...especially if I'm not around to be her food conscious.
She typically eats without thinking much about it and constantly feels hungry...
thanks for any input....She has asked me to research this for her so please help

soon2bthin

For me gbp was the only option. With lap band you can cheap the system. If I had not been cheating the system my whole life I would not have been overweight to begin with. She sounds alot like me. Bypass is permanent and a lot less forgiving. Just my two cents

Cassie

rory's mom

what about her sounds like you...

how quickly did your weight come off? thanks.

Wow, I just got that you said Gastric Bypass because you can't cheat the system....like how?

kellyMASS

I chose the bypass because I have seen alot of people in my support group struggle with the lapband.They can get things that are soft or liquid down.If she is an icecream lover such as myself she will still be able to gorge herself on it.With the bypass there is something called dumping syndrome.When you eat something you should not eat you feel sick.Some people do not have this but many do.I am hoping that I do.That is just my 2 cents.I wish her luck in whatever she chooses.Kudos to you for being a good friend

__________________
Kelly

highest 400

now 363 = 37 pounds lost on my own!!!!

surgery ?????????

goal 180


I am doing well on my pre op diet
Thyroid is now under control.I have made the duodenal switch my surgery of choice.
37 pounds so far......

TT Bear - Lucky Bear

fisher1000

In all kindness and respect, this seems a bit strange.

It doesn't sound as though Amy is ready for something as drastic as surgery. Many of us have had to hit rock bottom in order to consider this surgery, because discipline is required. If you can't commit to it, you'll be sick, have complications, etc. Additionally, her lack of commitment is obvious since she asked someone else to look up the information for her. I'm sure you mean well, but your actions enable her to continue doing what she's always done. I'm sure it's difficult to "help" but no one should be in the position of being someone else's "food conscience." If Amy is unwilling to make these decisions independently, then she will be miserable post-operative.

Amy should be investigating this information herself, and she should be absolutely ready to make a commitment to doing something this drastic. When SHE'S ready...we'll be here for her. Otherwise, you should tell her that this is HER journey, one that you will support, but you cannot do it for her. It's time to step back and let Amy take control.

-Mike

__________________
FISHERBEAR MIKE
402/249/under 200 (As of 05/10/08)
Highest/Current/Goal
Open RNY - September 24th
153 pounds GONE, BABY, GONE!

BMI: 63 (was) / 38.8 (is)

rory's mom

This is what Cassie meant by cheating....?

soon2bthin

She sounds like me in the sense she works alot or is always on the go and eating fast food so to speak. Also not really caring about what goes in your mouth or how much. Honestly I could have ate until I made myself sick and swore to you the whole time I was starving. I just sounds like to me she has no control. With bypass some of the control is predetermined. My stomach is now the size of a walnut. I eat my meals on a saucer if that puts it into perspective. I have lost 84 pounds in just shy of 8 months with about 31 more to reach goal. With bypass you are very limited on your sugar and fat intake. You will get sick, and you will dump. trust me once or twice and you will not want it to ever happen again. This does not happen with lap band. Again this is just my personal testimony. There are plenty on here who have had lapband and have done great. Also with bypass you will lose upwards of 80 % of your excess body weight within 12 to 18 months, whereas lapband it comes off alot slower and not as much. Hope this helps. keep posting about your friend this is a great place to become informed. I wish her the best of luck.

Cassie

soon2bthin

Kelly, the ice cream example is a great one. Ice cream was my most favorite food of choice. you had better believe if I had lapband and new I could still eat it I would. Now since having bypass I have not even tasted it in soon to be 8 months for the fear of dumping.


I agree with you to Mike. Sounds like your friend needs to take responsibility for herself and do her own researching if she truly does want to win this battle.


Cassie

rory's mom

While it may seem strange I have been asked to research because she is away from a computer on this job. Because it is an out of pocket expense...I am trying to help. I know nothing about the struggles she is having and felt confident there would be people who could advise on their personal experiences and that I could share this thread with Amy upon her return.

I did understand your concern and what you said about potential struggles for her thanks for the input.

fisher1000

It really is such a personal decision, and I'm glad you didn't take what I wrote as patronizing. Being a good friend will be essential if she does indeed pursue this track.

That said, there is a good book that would be a good introduction for her called Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies. If you click on the link, it will take you to the Amazon page where you can get an inexpensive used copy. Also, this month is "Dummies" month at Amazon, and they are offering the series with a $5 rebate, meaning you can get a new copy even cheaper than a used one!

Also, I'd like to direct you to a post that our friend Gwen put together for new folks to the forum. You can access it HERE. It has a lot of useful information that may be helpful for your friend.

Good Luck,

-Mike

__________________
FISHERBEAR MIKE
402/249/under 200 (As of 05/10/08)
Highest/Current/Goal
Open RNY - September 24th
153 pounds GONE, BABY, GONE!

BMI: 63 (was) / 38.8 (is)