Until Kelley (and others!) share their personal experience with gastric bypass and gastric banding, I found some information on MedlinePlus.gov and Mayo Clinic's websites to answer a few of ampiep's questions.
1. Mayo Clinic: Lap Band ("gastric banding") is a safer surgical procedure and healing time is faster than gastric bypass. You can expect to be in the hospital for 1-2 days (or up to 3-5 days) after surgery. The healing time for your stomach is 2-3 days (not sure what this means!).
Cleveland Clinic: You can expect to resume normal activities within 1-2 weeks.
I'd be interested to hear from women who actually had this procedure done to see how quickly they were back on their feet, taking care of children! Also consider the side effects of surgery after the "recovery time", which can last 3-6 months (listed below).
Mayo Clinic: You may experience one or more of the following changes as your body reacts to the rapid weight loss in the first three to six months:
* Body aches
* Feeling tired, as if you have the flu
* Feeling cold
* Dry skin
* Hair thinning and hair loss
* Mood changes
(...but isn't that exciting to think of "rapid weight loss"?! plus, I would assume that you may already have some of these side effects with excess weight)
2. Q: My doctor is "making the surgery seem like it is easier than it really is".
Do you feel like your doctor is listening to your concerns and really answering your questions? Don't hesitate to get a second opinion; you can still "stick with" your primary doctor, but talking to another doctor about a surgical procedure may not be a bad idea.
3. Q: How much would I potentially lose?
Mayo Clinic: Within first 2 years of gastric bypass surgery, you can expect to lose 50-60% of your excess weight; gastric banding weight loss is slightly less. Additionally, other conditions that are associated with obesity may improve or resolve, including:
* Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes
* High blood pressure
* High blood cholesterol
* Obstructive sleep apnea
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
4. Q: How would this surgery affect my future choices on getting pregnant? I am wondering that my husband and I chose to become pregnant again that I would not be able to properly eat the supply the right nutrition for the baby. Any advice would help.
There was no mention of becoming pregnant during the 1-2 years that you would have the lap band, on any credible health sites I reviewed. What did your doctor say about this? Would you need to have the lap band removed before you become pregnant? (I assume your insurance would have something to say about this, too?) Be sure to check with these sources, and share what you learned with us...other women can learn from you, too!
Lastly, MedlinePlus.gov has AMAZING resources on lap band procedures...there is even a video of one (or, you can click on "View Transcript" to read about the procedure, instead of watching the taped surgery).
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Until Kelley (and others!) share their personal experience with gastric bypass and gastric banding, I found some information on MedlinePlus.gov and Mayo Clinic's websites to answer a few of ampiep's questions.
1. Mayo Clinic: Lap Band ("gastric banding") is a safer surgical procedure and healing time is faster than gastric bypass. You can expect to be in the hospital for 1-2 days (or up to 3-5 days) after surgery. The healing time for your stomach is 2-3 days (not sure what this means!).
Cleveland Clinic: You can expect to resume normal activities within 1-2 weeks.
I'd be interested to hear from women who actually had this procedure done to see how quickly they were back on their feet, taking care of children! Also consider the side effects of surgery after the "recovery time", which can last 3-6 months (listed below).
Mayo Clinic: You may experience one or more of the following changes as your body reacts to the rapid weight loss in the first three to six months:
* Body aches
* Feeling tired, as if you have the flu
* Feeling cold
* Dry skin
* Hair thinning and hair loss
* Mood changes
(...but isn't that exciting to think of "rapid weight loss"?! plus, I would assume that you may already have some of these side effects with excess weight)
2. Q: My doctor is "making the surgery seem like it is easier than it really is".
Do you feel like your doctor is listening to your concerns and really answering your questions? Don't hesitate to get a second opinion; you can still "stick with" your primary doctor, but talking to another doctor about a surgical procedure may not be a bad idea.
3. Q: How much would I potentially lose?
Mayo Clinic: Within first 2 years of gastric bypass surgery, you can expect to lose 50-60% of your excess weight; gastric banding weight loss is slightly less. Additionally, other conditions that are associated with obesity may improve or resolve, including:
* Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes
* High blood pressure
* High blood cholesterol
* Obstructive sleep apnea
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
4. Q: How would this surgery affect my future choices on getting pregnant? I am wondering that my husband and I chose to become pregnant again that I would not be able to properly eat the supply the right nutrition for the baby. Any advice would help.
There was no mention of becoming pregnant during the 1-2 years that you would have the lap band, on any credible health sites I reviewed. What did your doctor say about this? Would you need to have the lap band removed before you become pregnant? (I assume your insurance would have something to say about this, too?) Be sure to check with these sources, and share what you learned with us...other women can learn from you, too!
Lastly, MedlinePlus.gov has AMAZING resources on lap band procedures...there is even a video of one (or, you can click on "View Transcript" to read about the procedure, instead of watching the taped surgery).
Resources:
May 11, 2008 - 7:18amMayoClinic.com
MedlinePlus.gov (searched "lap band")
ClevelandClinic.org
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