I went on the lapband website, and my BMI is 31.99 so is obese. I don't feel obese though ITMS.
What is the minimum BMI to have lapband done? I have been struggling with weight my whole life. I am happy with my body, but honestly, if i can get this done, i would in a flash. I have PCOS so losing the weight and keeping it off cannot be done (well, i can't). Weight issues is what caused my depression relapse and i've been told to lose weight for my sleep issues. We have heart probs on both sides of the family, my brother having a mini attack at 38.
I don't know if i should see my GP?
if you've always struggled with your weight, and you are gaining more each year, it's not silly to want to try to stop it now.
Generally speaking, you need to be a BMI of 35 or more without co-morbidities (health issues). But you can still get lapbanding done if your BMI is over 30 if you have a significant family history of obesity-related health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
It won't hurt to speak to your GP and see where you stand.
Soosh, I gained like 15-20 kgs in about 5-6 months due to my depression. I have always been fat-thin-fat-thin-fat. i can never keep it off. I am so over it. I can put on weight by just looking at it
Dad has hypertension too. Thanks babes. I will see my GP.
TD my mum had lapband surgery 2 years ago at age 61. She said she was sorry she didn't get it done sooner, but said when in her 30s and 40s she never really thought uch about her weight (other than always trying to lose it). She said she didn't let it interfere with her life and didn't feel it did. But in hindsight she now feels she would have had a better 30s and 40s had she done it then. By the time she reached her 50s it really started to affect her (arthritis, diabetes, HBP, etc). So I thin my mum would say "go for it".
I wonder though if PCOS being a determinant in your weight would mean that you wouldn't loose weight despite having the lap band. Not putting you off at all, but just thinking that a hormonal issue could mean that by just reducing food intake would be enough to keep the weight off. It would be something you'd have to ask your Dr about. Would be a shame to go through it if the PCOS meant it wouldn't work as well.
Tril apparently the PCOS tends to operate in the same was as type 2 diabetes in that you get into the fat-can't exercise-slow metabolism-get fatter cycle. Often the drastic reduction in food leads to weight loss - you can still have PC ovaries, just not the "syndrome" part of it IYKWIM? But you are right in that it is something to bring up with a doctor.
One of the biggest probs with not losing weight after the surgery is people who want to be fat and sabotage the procedure by drinking milkshakes or eating melted mars bars and icecream (ie: easily digested high-kj food). Mum met a man who gained 5kg after the surgery by throwing up after each meal and gorging himself again.
So another thing to consider is being the the right headspace before having the procedure....
i went to my GP and got a referral to see a lapband surgeon. I will make an appt tomorrow.
Good point about PCOS. I will make sure i ask him about the procedure vs PCOS.
We have a guy at work, who does the milkshake/hot chocolate thing whilst having the lapband. He hasn't lost any weight for the 4 years i've known him.
My weight/appearance is a major trigger in my depression. Cailin told me this, and it is so true. I couldn't see it, but when she said it, i was there shaking my head. When i am light/skinnier, i have enough confidence, that i could be president. I have so much energy that i could run a marathon. But now, i have no confidence or energy. I am hiding from people, because i don't want them to see how much weight i have gained since September/October 2009. I am so ashamed, yet so happy ITMS. I know true friends will not judge on my appearance, but tell that to my brain.
One side of me is saying, dont go and the other side, is saying go. Dh is so against it.
Sometimes I think you tell yourself you are happy as a coping mechanism when really you aren't I have no idea about costs - there is another thread about it and I think that costs have been mentioned in that one. I think that if this is the one thing that will make you happy then you should seriously look into it and even get it done if you think that this is what you need to be happy
Hang on a minute. I think you misunderstood me. I can tell when you are entering depression because you stress about your appearance. Not that your appearance causes your depression. YOU ARE GORGEOUS! But of course you have to do what is best for you. But what I meant was you attack your appearance when you are becoming depressed KWIM?
I get it now. So when I focus on my appearance, that is a sign that will cause a dip. Hmmmm. Okay. I will watch out for it, next time. But, it appearance is very important to me as I mentioned. It's not appearance as such, but weight. I've made a time for tomorrow arvo to get the metformin xr.
so i made a time for friday to see the lapband guy. I don't know if i'm happy or not. I feel, i dunno...confused/scared/nervous. I'm supposed to feel happy...i think. There is a total of $4600 out of pocket expenses for the whole lot, which you pay as you go and see people and get things done.
Questions to ask... (please help to populate)
1. how will this help with my PCOS? Will it aid weightloss and keeping it off given my hormonal imbalances?
2. recovery time
Ask about the rates of complications at the surgery. How often do their patients suffer from slips/erosions (should be around 1%)
Ask about cost of fills, and how much you can claim back from Medicare
Ask how often you can do fills, and when your first fill will be post-surgery (ideally this will not be more than 4 weeks)
Ask about what they think your ideal weight should be. This is important because some surgeons put it at around a BMI of 27, and won't fill you anymore once you get there. But my BMI is around 22 now, and I think it's perfect. I have to fight with my Dr now to get the fills I need because he thinks I'm too thin. You don't want to go through all that only to lose 15kgs, you want to make sure you get to your ideal weight if you're prepared to work towards it, not what they think you should be.
Ask about post-surgery foods, so you can prepare prior to surgery.
Get them to tell you what scars will be left after surgery
Ask them about what sort of weight loss their other patients are getting
That's all I can think of for the moment. If I think of anymore, I'll post again.
I have been told by my surgeon that even though I've had great success with my band (size 20 to a size 6/8), I'm actually not a good 'representative' of lapband surgery. The reason is that my sort of weight loss is simply not typical. Most lose only 50 - 60% of their excess weight (i.e. if you have 30kgs to lose, you'll likely only lose 15-20kgs max). This needs to be taken into consideration, esp with low BMI patients. If you only have 20kgs to lose, and surgery will likely only help you lose 10-13kgs, is it worth doing, in that case?
Having said that, I do believe that your weight loss will depend on how you work with your band. My band is fairly tight (not as tight as when I was losing, but definitely not so loose I can eat without being careful). I exercised regularly, and I generally watch what I eat even now. I worked hard to lose, and I lost, and I intend to keep it off. The band helps me keep it off, as far as my appetitie is concerned, but the rest is up to me.
TD, if you feel like it, read my blog. It's quite comprehensive, but remember, the band worked amazingly well for me. It doesn't for everyone.
Last edited by sushee; May 17th, 2010 at 10:42 AM.
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Lapband for me??
I have no idea about costs - there is another thread about it and I think that costs have been mentioned in that one. I think that if this is the one thing that will make you happy then you should seriously look into it and even get it done if you think that this is what you need to be happy
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