<p><p>I can understand your confusion scanj05. I was originally going to get gastric bypass. However after talking to my family, the doctor and dietician I finally decided on LAP-BAND®. I happen to like eating sweets and you cannot have them w/ Gastric bypass--it will make you sick. I can control my portions of sweets when I choose to eat them. I have not had a fill yet but I have lost 30 pounds so far Surgery was 7/16/07. I have 96 pounds to go. LAP-BAND® definitely requires more effort on your part, in the begining but as you start getting restriction (fills) the band will assist you since you won't be able to eat as much as before surgery. Exercise is crucial. The weight for me is coming off slowly approx. 2 lbs./week. I get frustrated when I hear how quickly the GB people in my support group are losing weight. They are not even hungry post op. They do say at about 6 months post op they start getting hungry and crave all the foods that led to obesity. They struggle daily with it. The problem w/ GB is their pouch will stretch and unlike LAP-BAND® patients they wont be able to rely on the quantity restrictions we Lapbanders will have after we get fills. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So w/ LAP-BAND® you work harder initially, then the band willl start working. You will be able to tolerate a wider variety of foods and your body will be closer to its' natural state. You have to take special baritric supplewments post op. For life. I take multi-vitamin. There is no dumping syndrome. No major rerouting of stomach and intestines. Shorter recovery period.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I started with over 100 lbs. to lose and I am confident I will achieve this. Just not as rapidly as with gastric bypass. You will also feel hungry. I find that as long as I'm eating my protien requirements 56 grams /day I am not hungry between meals. I still get cravings for sweets, but that is just head hunger.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>My doctor said about 2 years out LAP-BAND® patients and gastric bypass patients will be about even as far as weight loss goes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I hope this helps you. Good luck!!</p></p>
