Gastric banding

**SBG** · September 17th, 2008, 04:03 AM

Has anybody on here had or know somebody personally that has had gastric banding? I'm very overweight and have been considering this for a while now. I've done a lot of reading on it and talked to my doctor about it but I thought it might help to hear about other people's experiences with it. I realize it's not as serious as gastric bypass but I'm still a little nervous about it. I'd appreciate any info be it on open forum or in a pm.

**imported_elp6n** · September 17th, 2008, 06:45 AM

I have one friend that had it done. It enabled her to lose about 60 pounds in one year, and she's still losing a little at a time.
It won't make her a stick figure but it helped her get some of the bulk off. Can't say she really had any bad side effects from the surgery - is safer than the bypass.

**burton2019** · September 17th, 2008, 07:50 AM

Dont you have to be a certain amount overweight before you can have the surgery?

**cosmo99** · September 17th, 2008, 09:56 AM

I think that you have to be at or over 100 pounds or more. I have been considering this too and have even had some of the tests and things to get it done but most of the time you have to pay the surgeon before the surgery (even with insurance) and that will take a a lil bit to save up. I do recommend Dr. Hodge and the Surgical Group of JC. http://www.surgicalgroupofjc.com.
They are really nice and personable. Hope this helps.
http://www.obesityhelp.com is also a good website that you can go to that has information about other types of surgery and forums that will explain the pros and cons.

**LCAS_712** · September 17th, 2008, 10:20 AM

IMO I would rather opt for a good diet and a tredmill. Not as many risks involved and cheaper.

**cosmo99** · September 17th, 2008, 10:26 AM

While I am saving the money for the surgery thats what I think I will do (diet and treadmill). If it works then the money saved would be great for vacation money.

**1inStripes** · September 17th, 2008, 10:31 AM

I have a friend thats had it done pretty successfully. He has lost about 80 pounds I believe in the last year. I also new a guy that graduated a few years ahead of me at RC, that passed away from the bypass process. Quite sad, and definitely a dangerous procedure.

**duckmeat** · September 17th, 2008, 11:43 AM

had a pastry chef who had it, and it didn't help him.

he did the gastric and came very close to dying. he tried to start cleaning himself out two days before surgery instead of one day like he was supposed to. he got very dehydrated and then all kinds of things started going wrong. he was in ICU for about two weeks afterwards.

**SBG** · September 17th, 2008, 01:39 PM

100 pounds? I've got that covered. I could lose 150 pounds and still be ok.

Treadmill? I've tried it. I'm so out of shape and my weight is so bad that just walking a few minutes makes me feel like my back is breaking in half.

I'm being referred to a Dr. Kramer (I have no clue how he spells his name). I'm told he's done a beaucoup of these surgeries and has even had the surgery himself.

And yeah, the bypass is some pretty rough stuff. Stories like what I'm hearing here and similar ones I've heard elsewhere helped me make the easy choice no to go bypass.

**CoeburnCane** · September 17th, 2008, 01:52 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Some Bald Guy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm being referred to a <u>Dr. Kramer</u> (I have no clue how he spells his name).</div></div>

Better be careful with him--may be a proctologist. I hear he has personalized license plates on his car that say "ASSMAN".