Would you do it again? Everyone please answer

I will have to add my agreement that this is by far one of the best decisions I have ever made and I would do it again in a heartbeat. While my insurance covered the surgery, knowing what I know now I would gladly pay cash for this. I do eat most things that I want. The things I don't eat or try are ones that I have made a choice not to do so. One of my biggest downfalls was soda. I have not had one since early January 2009 and frankly no longer think about them. I have them in the refrig for my husband and have no desire to even try it. I have not tried bread or pasta because frankly don't need them and don't want to find out if I can tolerate them. I am not depriving myself, I am simply choosing to not include them. Other than that most everything I have tried has not been an issue. I have lost 86 pounds since January and could not be happier. You do have to be ready for this surgery and wiling to make the tool work for you. The band is not a magic answer. You have to provide the support that it needs to work. If you do, it will work. I have not PBed one time and do not have any issues with reflux. Except for my husband, no one knows about the band and frankly no one is able to tell from when we are out together. It just appears that I eat much smaller portions than I once did. That is a change that we can all live with if we are ready to make this committment.

I am almost 4 years post op, I think if you ask those how are OVER 3 years out you may get a different answer, don't get me wrong I STILL LOVE MY BAND, and would not trade it at this point for another surgery. But if given the option of having the sleeve, I probably would choose the sleeve, simply because they tend to lose a bit quicker there is no "waiting" for fills and the band CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE if you pay out of pocket for fills and IF something happens.

That said, I had EXCELLENT insurance when I first got my band and I still do, the only difference is that my new job does not pay for anything regarding obesity surgery, they will pay for Upper Gis but will NOT pay for fills and unfills. So I have pay a LOT of money out of pocket for $200 a pop for fills and unfills in the last 2 years.

Now regarding PB and vomiting that is NOT NORMAL and those who keep their bands too tight tend to do this regular and if it happens TOO regular the band can slip.

I am VERY pleased with my results from the band and overall I am happy but I think I would do the sleeve if given that opportunity today, but AGAIN the sleeve its issues too, and they are ALL TOOLS, but the BIGGEST advantage with the band is that IS ADJUSTABLE and the sleeve MAY stretch out over time, this again would be a good selling point with the adjustable band, there is NO window of opporunity to get back on track if you gain weight years out as long as it does not slip.

Good luck with your decision - I am happy bandster at 4 years.

I was just noticing that every enthusiastic response on this thread, except yours, comes from someone who's a few months to less than a year out. To the OP and others who are considering WLS: ASK THE LONGTIMERS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND IGNORE THE NEWBIES' ENTHUSIASM.

It's what happens years down the road that counts, not the thrill of pounds dropping in the first months.

Bette and I have both replied enthusiastically and are both well over three years out.  Kate

Oops, sorry, I missed you guys. That makes three of you to, um, how many who are under a year out?

And all the very many vets who post on the band grads forum but rarely come here because they can't be bothered with idiocy from a very, very small number of aggressive people from other WLS groups.  Kate

I hardly consider quoting peer-reviewed medical literature idiocy.  It is unfortunate you see the truth as so threatening.   The facts are what they are and if you are a successful bandster, you are in the minority.   If you are close to goal, you are in a very small elite group.   You are fortunate, but please don't delude yourself into thinking your good fortune is generalizable to the population at large, because it isn't .

No, peer-reviewed studies are not idiocy! And when there exist some longitudinal studies which cover the new bands and the newer implantation tehcniques, I will be interested to read them. As a science graduate (masters level) I worked with peer-reviewed studies all the time and accept their value.

The idiocy I refer to is the speed with which a very small number of posters leap onto their personal anti-band crusade whenever they can. They discount the large number of vets who (like me) have been at or below goal for years.

It is very easy to eat round the band and even the most fanatical band supporter is deluded if they try to argue that that is not the case. To be a band success, we do need to have will power in the way that is not the case for other surgeries. And that is why the stats show lower loss. I fully accept that! And people can not only sabotage their loss but also do themselves harm by not adhering to certain "rules". The band is not a solution; it is an support. Other types of WLS may be much more of a solution.

But for many people, that is a choice they are happy to make because they are comfortable with the band as their WLS. For the majority of those who adhere to guidelines the band does work. And all sensible bandsters, when asked about this, do make the point that if you feel that you will not be able to stick to those guidelines, the band is not the best surgery for you.

We are all individuals with individaul needs and preferences. The idiocy I refer to is the blind belief that one WLS is the best for every obese person.

Kate

Kate,

Well, at least we agree on the value of peer-reviewed studies.  I do, however, doubt you will ever see either comparative or longitudinal studies from the band manufacturers.   Here is my reasoning.   If they compare their new products to their old and find that the old products are better, the same or nearly the same as the new products, they automatically devalue or derail their current product offerings.  Even if the new products out shine the old ones, it may be due to the fact that the older ones are worse than originally presented which could raise liability issues for the manufacturers.   In addition,  longitudinal studies could demonstrate higher levels of re-operation than the manufacturers would care to discuss.   If anything, I think the current position is the ideal position for the manufacturers.   Having a new product out there is no reason to continue any longitudinal studies on the older devices.  This would help them down play issues surrounding life-expectancy of the device and mounting re-operation rates as time goes on.   Not having comparative data allows people to make whatever claims without anything to substantiate it against.

I don't agree that non-compliance is the cause of all band failures.   These things are devices and devices do fail, even when properly installed and maintained.  A lot of things about the band are still unknown - like why erosion occurs, why does the time of day make such a difference in band tightness and how to find the "sweet spot".   Essentially the last item is just trial and error with some patients never realizing an optimal fill level that provides good satiety without vomiting.  Anyone considering this surgery needs to know this.  

I am glad you acknowledge the band is not a solution.   I wouldn't really call it weight loss surgery.  It is, basically,  a very sophisticated diet aide.   You don't get a lap-band and lose weight.  You get a lap-band to help you diet to lose weight.   If you look at the manufacturer sites this comes across in how they push how this device requires healthy eating habits, etc.  Realize has even gone so far as to promote its own form of on-line diet assistance claiming that people who participate experience a greater degree of EWL than non-participating members.   It sounds like weigh****chers for bandsters. 

I think real idiocy would be not giving newbies all the facts.   People post here not to criticize those who have made their choice, but to inform those still to have surgery or those looking for revisions, what their options may be.   Once they understand all of the options and requirements, then they can ask themselves if they can be compliant with the demands of each surgery.   For sure, there are certain contra-indications for each option.   A good surgeon should weed those folks out, but the patients really need to be aware of those things too.    Knowing the efficacy of each surgery is a critical component in any decision making process.    For most people, unless they can not be compliant with one regimen or another or have a contra-indication, the choice of options is pretty clear based on the evidence in the literature.   Sorry if this is disconcerting, but it is, after all, what all of this research is designed to lead one to.   The final decision is the patients, but the overwhelming scientific evidence points to the DS as the superior surgery with regard to excess weight loss, avoidance of long term regain, resolution of comorbid conditions and affording the most natural quality of eating.    People should go to the NIH pubmed database or visit www.dsfacts.com or www.duodenalswitch.com if they want more studies than I have cited in my initial posts. 

Wishing everyone good luck with their selections.

Peace,

William

P.S.  I am an American.   Let's not forget that money drives everything in health care over here.   Often surgeons will misrepresent surgeries they do not perform to patients because so much money is at stake.  It is very sad, but very true.   It pays to be your own advocate in this country. 

William, we will have to agree to differ on several issues but we actually agree on quite a lot as well. I always point out to new bandsters or pre-ops that the band does not make you lose weight and that if they want surgery which will actually be the cause of weight loss, they need to look at other options. What the band does is help those who find it almost impossible to control their eating take that control. Some might argue that this is then a part-measure and not a solution. But the point is that for many obese people, that help is what they are seeking. They do not want the more radical surgery. They may know the that latter will give more weight loss and mush faster, but they simply do not want to go that route.

My own route has not been to consciously diet, I have just eaten small amounts of healthy food and not counted or weighed or measured food. So in the sense of a diet programme, i have not done that. Buit many bandsters do and that is what works for them. I have been below goal for over 18 months now following my won way of eating.

I am totally tolerant of all WLS surgeries and share your desire to inform. One of the problems is that some people (not just from any one surgery) become over aggressive and blind to the strengths of any surgery other than their own (I am not applying this to you).

Kate