Lap band surgery: thoughts?

[Mikeymikemike]

So I would say my dad is a candidate for this surgery. Do any psb people have experience with it or thoughts on the procedure. + lifestyle changes and things to look out for.

We will inquire with the GP shortly, but real life experiences also count for something

thoughts?

[Desmo]

Does he exercise? Does he eat well and have a healthy, balanced diet?
If not then why should my tax dollars go towards helping someone who won't help themselves?
(No offence intended in this post).

[rc_sam]

Seen it fail epically because the person used this as a solution to their mental weakness.
I'd consider this an absolute last resort.

[Orson]

I think it's a last resort for those people who are so obese that they are bed ridden and have gone beyond the point of no return.

I've seen people slimmer than me get it done. Now that I'm on the path I'm on, I'd hate to have done it the "easy way"

[Stoneville]

Your chubby to skinny didn't inspire him to lose weight or has he put on too much weight for that??

My brother-in-law would have to have banding to loose weight, so that he could then change his lifestyle, I'd say it would be too hard to do it any other way when you get too large.

Hope your father finds his way to trimness and fitness

[THE GODFATHER]

Had a friend who had it done. Changed his life. But I think it is a last resort.

[TheonlyNinjabitches]

Does he exercise? Does he eat well and have a healthy, balanced diet?
If not then why should my tax dollars go towards helping someone who won't help themselves?
(No offence intended in this post).

yeah but what if there using there private health cover to cover it and no cost to you the tax payer

[MattyA]

Smiffys mum has it, But yeah its the easy way out. Cheaters.

[-Mark-]

Does he exercise? Does he eat well and have a healthy, balanced diet?
If not then why should my tax dollars go towards helping someone who won't help themselves?
(No offence intended in this post).

Well you're opening up all sorts of counter arguments with that remark.

For example - A non motorcyclist may say why should i spend my tax dollars fixing up your broken bones after you throw the bike down the road taking a corner too quick?

Or a non smoker yada yada

How much do you reckon it costs to treat smokers in hospitals? And what is the difference? They both amount to medical costs due to personal lifestyle choices.

Incidentally I think you will find that it will cost you more of your tax dollars not to help that obese person due to future medical complications such as heart disease, diabetes, knee and back problems etc etc.

Try telling a drug addicted, alcoholic, suicidal, anxious, stressed, self harming (the list goes on and on and on .........) person that if they can't help themslves then they don't deserve the tax dollar (AKA help from society in general).

Is there a big difference or is it always too easy to point to the fatty and say you did it to yourself, you wont help yourself so f**k off.

I am a big guy, used to be a very big guy and have lost weight the hard way through diet and exercise (and am still working on it). However I would never get on my high horse and judge another big person for not being able to do it the same way because I know how hard it is and I know how painful it is to be judged by people every day.

I know of one guy who works at my place who had the surgery. It literally saved his life and he is now a much happier person. He was very very big and actually had to lose 50kg the old fashioned way before they would operate.

My 2 cents.

[Mikeymikemike]

no offence taken Jim

i've done the hard work (lost 25+ kilos over 1.5 years and still maintaining) but in the case of my dad, it's different. He's at a point where his lifestyle and health would require some inquiry into this measure. From the sounds of it so far, there may be hope for other solutions and I really do hope the doctor will provide insight into the alternatives. But if lap band is what it takes, then we cannot go against a doctors advice. I will need to investigate some more and get more opinions.

[busa_bloke]

I've had it done.

I had to lose 35kg before they would do it, and I starved myself to get there.

So I got down to 110 from 185kg. Changed my life.

Had the band loosened a little before Christmas and I put a bit back on but I am working on that.

Before anyone judges others on "laziness", unless you are highly qualified in the area AND unless you have knowledge of the person's medical history, it is not useful to speculate on the merits of the procedure. Doctors will not do this or any other operation unless the medical indications are that it is a Good Thing.

There are risks in any procedure, but this one has helped a lot of people for whom persistent efforts have not been successful. There have been complications with a few patients but the same is true of any other operation. You might have heard of horror stories but it's the old story, they don't highlight the successes on TV.

Avoiding type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression brought on be morbid obesity are strong reasons to not be morbidly obese. If you have tried to lose the weight over years and couldn't, this can help. It can help you lead a healthy lifestyle by removing impediments to exercise etc.

For those who have been able to lose it without needing a lapband, good for you. I wish I had been able to. I wasn't able to turn my health around without it. Just like lots of people take blood pressure or hormone replacement therapy because the doctor has decided it is suitable for your circumstances.

[spazzm]

Well you're opening up all sorts of counter arguments with that remark.

For example - A non motorcyclist may say why should i spend my tax dollars fixing up your broken bones after you throw the bike down the road taking a corner too quick?

Or a non smoker yada yada

How much do you reckon it costs to treat smokers in hospitals? And what is the difference? They both amount to medical costs due to personal lifestyle choices.

Incidentally I think you will find that it will cost you more of your tax dollars not to help that obese person due to future medical complications such as heart disease, diabetes, knee and back problems etc etc.

Try telling a drug addicted, alcoholic, suicidal, anxious, stressed, self harming (the list goes on and on and on .........) person that if they can't help themslves then they don't deserve the tax dollar (AKA help from society in general).

Is there a big difference or is it always too easy to point to the fatty and say you did it to yourself, you wont help yourself so f**k off.

I am a big guy, used to be a very big guy and have lost weight the hard way through diet and exercise (and am still working on it). However I would never get on my high horse and judge another big person for not being able to do it the same way because I know how hard it is and I know how painful it is to be judged by people every day.

I know of one guy who works at my place who had the surgery. It literally saved his life and he is now a much happier person. He was very very big and actually had to lose 50kg the old fashioned way before they would operate.

My 2 cents.

well said.

[filbert]

it's not really an easy way out, it's a helping hand.
The procedure is only successful if the patient puts everything into it, the fact that the band makes the available volume of the stomach smaller helps with hunger, but they still have to consume the right foods at the right times for it to work, if they succeed with a lap band they still earned it they just needed a hand to get going.
I have met many who were unsuccessful in even getting to the point of having the surgery, and some who were so beyond help with compulsive overeating that after the surgery they stretched their stomach to the point of injury, maybe due to psychological issues.
If he eats the wrong foods he will feel ill, if he eats too much he will feel ill, if he does one or both too frequently he risks damaging his body, if that's what it takes to help him on the path to losing the weight he wants to lose, then kudos to him for giving it a go and looking for a hand instead of giving up because it's too damn hard or making excuses that he is happy how he is and won't change for anybody.

[jules_1972]

Hmmm, I would prefer to see better food being eaten with exercise
prior to any for of man made help...

Eat fruit, veges, go for walks....

In the event the band is installed obviously the diet will have to change as well as
a form of exercise recommended, so try the diet and exercise before the band..

[Perth_girl88]

The procedure is only successful if the patient puts everything into it,.

Agreed.. my mum had this surgery done in November 2008 (claimed on private health insurance so paid almost nothing to get it done )..as much as i love my mum i have to admit that it has become irritating after the surgery because she now uses the lapband as an excuse to eat crap food, apparently all the healthy food she cannot digest properly anymore and it is easier to eat 5 chocolate bars and 2 packets of cheetos a day.

I think to get it done you definitely need to be 100% commited to still exercise and eat right because although you have to eat less you can still eat badly making the whole surgery pointless.

[perdition]

I've had it done.

I had to lose 35kg before they would do it, and I starved myself to get there.

So I got down to 110 from 185kg. Changed my life.

Had the band loosened a little before Christmas and I put a bit back on but I am working on that.

Before anyone judges others on "laziness", unless you are highly qualified in the area AND unless you have knowledge of the person's medical history, it is not useful to speculate on the merits of the procedure. Doctors will not do this or any other operation unless the medical indications are that it is a Good Thing.

There are risks in any procedure, but this one has helped a lot of people for whom persistent efforts have not been successful. There have been complications with a few patients but the same is true of any other operation. You might have heard of horror stories but it's the old story, they don't highlight the successes on TV.

Avoiding type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression brought on be morbid obesity are strong reasons to not be morbidly obese. If you have tried to lose the weight over years and couldn't, this can help. It can help you lead a healthy lifestyle by removing impediments to exercise etc.

For those who have been able to lose it without needing a lapband, good for you. I wish I had been able to. I wasn't able to turn my health around without it. Just like lots of people take blood pressure or hormone replacement therapy because the doctor has decided it is suitable for your circumstances.

amen (fcuk there's some high n mighty people here)

[D'Artagnan]

I see a lot of people making all sorts of comments about this procedure including 'they're just weak' etc etc...

But as someone who has undergone this procedure, I'll speak from my personal experience.

I've lost about 39 kgs after having it done and that's after years of boot camp, weights, diets etc etc. Fact is the weight would come off and go straight back. So without blaming anyone else, I failed at maintaining a healthy weight and desperately wanted to hang around to see my kids grow.

Banding is NOT easy. You have to give up most of the food you love. In fact it took me two years to agree that steak wasn't worth dying for.

What do I eat now? Well I have VERY small meals which includes anything except if it has pasta, rice, white bread, potato etc. Mince is out but I do manage small (think tablespoon sized) steaks but only eaten slowly. Maccas etc are OUT! Another golden rule is no drinking 15mins before a meal and 1hr after. Final golden rule is no eating 2hrs before bed. The 'pouch' fills and cannot pass food while you're lying down.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat. My energy levels are sky high. My weight is now less than 10kgs off ideal (though with Maori blood, 'ideal' is debatable) and hasn't gone up at all.

As others have said, it's very easy to eat crap because you can. But you have to ask yourself why you did the procedure.

D'Art

[mcmurray]

Does he exercise? Does he eat well and have a healthy, balanced diet?
If not then why should my tax dollars go towards helping someone who won't help themselves?
(No offence intended in this post).

I don't think anyone that's had lap band surgery had ticks in those boxes mate.

[polonY]

My uncle had it done because he urgently needed a hernia operation that they couldnt do till he dropped some weight. I spent many years of my childhood excersising with him every day, he was really fit and was pretty good with his eating and could never drop a kilo.

[D'Artagnan]

I don't think anyone that's had lap band surgery had ticks in those boxes mate.

What a crock! You obviously speak from experience? Sure there are people who don't do any of those things, some even maintain a healthy weight, but to say all lap band recipients are fat, lazy, junk food eating slobs is just wrong, and pathetic.

Fact is some people need help and better to offer lap band than to pay for triple bypasses or years of insulin later. The cost of obesity in Australia is huge and some people, like me, are thankful for the help.

And before you pass judgement, I was under the BMI threshold and did it due to my higher risk of diabetes. I paid for the procedure out of my own money because of this.

D'Art