Desperate for a change--Need to know

Has anyone elected to do Gastric Sleeve procedure rather than bypass, even with higher BMI? I have BMI of 49 and feel more comfortable with the sleeve, but know it is experimental/investigatory with no long-term results available. One reason is cost--it is cheaper, but also it seems to be getting really good initial results without the severe side-effects of intestinal bypass--according to staff at Dr. Hargroder's office. I may not be able to get financing for anything. I work for the state and they won't pay! If anyone has any helpful info I would appreciate it! Desperate for a change!

Hi Jodie, It's really not that new. It used to be done as the first part of the DS for patients who were not well enough to undergo the entire process at once. Doctors saw that there were some good results with just the sleeve portion of the DS and it became a new, but old, procedure. I'm a band patient and my husband and I have inquired about it for him. Right now, the costs with my surgeons are the same as the band and that makes it appealing. I also like what it has to offer in less risk and no malabsorbsion. Check to get the best self-pay price amongst the leading surgeons in this area and if funding is an issue, you might speak to AMSouth Bank. A representative has spoken to our group before and they provide a program for medical procedure funding. My BMI started at 57 and I think I would have done well with this procedure. I like restriction without malabsorption, but I do realize this is mere personal choice. (No desire to debate the pros/cons of malabsorption -- just not my choice) I look forward to hearing how things turn out for you. Onward! Frances

Hi Frances, Thanks for the response. I did read about the history of the sleeve and also like the idea of no malabsorption. The surgeon actually recommended gastric bypass, but I'm afraid of side-effects and complications. Also, cost is an issue and with a poor credit standing I will probably have to borrow from my parents . We will see. Hargroder's office is doing it now cheaper than the band--total cash price $11, 900. I was wondering-- how is the LAP band working for you? Did you get the results desired so far? Any problems? Have you heard of Dr. Hargroder? Thanks for taking time to give feedback. Jodie

Hi Jodie, Considering the band costs 3K, they could do the sleeve even cheaper than that. I'm surprised anyone gets a band in Baton Rouge. The surgeons will perform it, but go out of their way to argue against it. It's a safe and doable procedure, but the compliancy issues scares the doctors and many patients. Lap Band patients have a very useful tool, but we *could* eat sugar everyday and we *could* eat junk to fill our little spaces without much backlash. Just the help with portion control and behavior modification has been invaluable to me. It does help to eat smaller portions and stay fuller between meals. Seems to easy for many and when we fail and are not compliant -- nothing happens...well other than the butt spread. Here's a visual on my journey up until about six months ago. This is my blog and this page has pictures of me then and now: http://francesspencer.blogspot.com/2006/07/celebration-100th-band-aid-post.html I love my band, but my experience isn't the norm. I had a serious staph infection a few months after my banding and I spent the first 18 months having unrelated surgeries, being sick and not having many fills or any exercise. With fills and exercise, I think I could have done much better, but many argue I've done very well. I'm happy. My signature picture in the blog shows me first in a size 32/28 and finally in a 22 top and 18-plus bottoms. I've lost more inches and about another half size in pants. Life with the band is fairly normal to me. I eat normal food in normal portions. I have unrelated swelling and inflammation issues so I can't tolerate very tight fills and I've gone months with no fluid in the band and not gained the weight back. My band has been empty all but 3 weeks between September and now -- about five months. My goals was to be somewhere around a Size 16. I think I can achieve Size 14 after another year or so, but I have redundant skin that needs removal in my arms and tummy before I can fit properly. I never wanted to be thin -- Size 6 or 10 -- I just wanted to be fit and mobile. In this regard, the band suits my purpose totoally. My doctors also operate at Vista, so I have had contact with the other doctors and some of their patients. I'm a big, big fan of Vista Hospital. Please let me know if there's anything else I can do. We have a local OH chapter that's not tied to a practice, so look for notices about meeting in and around Baton Rouge. I wish you well in your journey -- sorry if I wrote a book. Onward! Frances

Hey Frances, Did you say the band cost 3k? I think Hargroder and Vista are charging $12,900. Is that a typo? I am wondering b/c that obviously is a major difference. I wanted to say I looked at your blog history and you look amazingly different! You go girl. You are beautiful. I have not posted any pics yet, but will before I go under the knife. So what do you think about the sleeve compared to the band? Jodie

I'm so sorry. The band costs $3,000 -- the device, equipment. The doctors in my practice are charging 12,400 for the band surgery. There's no device or lots of equipment with the sleeve -- just some rings. My bad...if I confused you. Thanks for the kind words. I see the band and sleeve to be about the same for me -- the sleeve just would need no adjustments and it seems there's no fudging on that stomach capacity. I'm leery of cutting away stomach, but other folks are leery of foreign objects. I like the idea that when I've had issues with my health, I can kinda go "un-band" by removing the fill. Removing the band would be a total reversal and no better or worse and everything still in place. The sleeve is fairly permanent, but I really like the no malabsorption. I could do this and I'm suggesting it for my husband, but he's a sugar addict and that's something he will have to just deal with on his own. Let's continue to keep in touch...I hope I can help Frances

Thanks for clarifying! Looks like the new prices at Vista/Hargroder's office is less. I am also a sugar addict in that once I start I want to eat sugar daily or too much at once . In that case some would say the bypass is necessary? Anyway, hargroder told me the stomach would be hard to stretch after the sleeve is done due to the thickness of that part of stomach that is left intact. Also, I like the idea of hormone production being reduced or eliminated. Not sure the same thing happens with bypass. I wonder if that works on sugar cravings? anyway, I hope I'm not repeating myself here and really appreciate you taking time to respond. I was wondering does you Dr. in Baker do the sleeve now and how much are they charging? I did call Houston Dr. office and asked about it and lady told me her Dr. was only doing it as a revision for failed surgery or the first part of DS surgery. This Dr. Ferrarri is part of Bariatric Center of Excellence also (like hargroder), so it made me wonder. Jodie

Band and sleeve patients can overcome sugar addictions without dumping. It does happen. I've found that less uncontrolled hunger helps with controlling sugar intake. This seems like voodoo to folks who believe that we can't overcome that without some policing, but I pass up treats and snacks all the time because I'm not lured by deep-seeded hunger through out the day. Did the docs explain that only about 30 percent of bypass patients have permanent dumping and there's no guarantee that the sugar sickness will help you avoid sugar postop. Being less hungry, having a greater sensation of fullness and good, old-fashioned lifestyle changes works wonders for patients with bands and sleeves. Sugar works like a drug on those addicted to it. Get it out of your system and your ability to limit or avoid it will be greatly increased. I'm in Baker, but my doctor practices in Baton Rouge and performs wls at Vista and OLOL. The Bariatric Center of Excellence nod doesn't distinquish the best programs, but it does note those centers/doctors who have been approved to accept Medicare patients and have agreed to accept the amount of compensation mandated by the program which is much less than standard rates. That said, I can't say enough wonderful things about Vista because the smaller and more caring environment meant the world to me when I was in dire conditions. There's a doctor in Zachary performing wls and I will be attending an information meeting tomorrow evening so I can get some information for other members on this board. Let's keep in touch because this isn't a diet or training session for me -- it's for life and I'm developing life-long friends in the process. Onward! Frances

Thanks again for the information. I think I need to find out more about what all is included in the price of each surgery. They say they have a nutritionist, physical therapist and support group also. I did stay for the support group on Wed. night and found that helpful to hear what everyone said. I am still interested in the sleeve despite the Dr. recommendations for bypass. Is that bad? Jodie

Dear Jodi - I am scheduled to have Vertical Sleeve at Vista on Feb 14th. I learned so much about the two surgeries from the Vertical Sleeve forum and the Lap band forum. Went to seminar here in Atlanta and after talking to the surgeon & further research decided the sleeve would be best for me. Come on over & lurk (& post) in the Vertical Sleeve forum and see how all the folks are doing. I am traveling to Baton Rouge for my surgery because of the good price & specialty hospital. I work at a hosp in Atl, but even with employee discount the price was MUCH higher. I was also able to use Capital One Healthcare Finance to pay for a part of my surgery with Dr. Bellanger. Good luck in your decision making process. Jackie