Any input whatsoever...
Hi,.
New here. I have not yet decided between VGS or Lapband.
I thought my mind was made up, until I started researching more. Did alot of looking on various forums here, too. I took the first step this week, sent in a request. It can take 8-12 months I was told.
I like that the band is not permenant,.If I want or need it out, it can be done, no irreverseable modifications to my body. However, I am not crazy about a foreign body in me, I'm also thinking frequent visits for fills/unfills, sounds like a pain. There is no LONG term info, as many have been removed.
VSG: It is a drastic permenant FIRST step. Cutting out a piece of my body ...
There is also no long term info on complications , over time. What happens to staples in a body 20 + years. Please, I am sincerely looking for experiences & facts,. Thanks
lapband failure is really high. a lot of hospitals/doctors do not even do it anymore RVH in montreal did not offer it as an option). failure happens because
1) they do not go in for refills ... which you HAVE to do or it jsut wont work
2) people eat too much or too frequently because they are still hungry.
With the VSG, a large fraction of the hunger signals are removed when the stomach is removed (grenulin i think it's called). you really just do not feel hungry 90% of the time. VSG doesnt have a really long term history by itself. but the procedure itself is actually the first half of the DS procedure which they have been doing since the 70s or before. So in terms of medical problems with the VSG long term, i dont think the worries are there. Effectiveness for longer than 5 years in weight loss and keeping it off is a bit less certain ... but even with a bit of relaxation in the sleeve, your stomach is 20% or less in size than what it was previously ... kinda hard to gain a lot of weight back with that. Also, A lot of people who had the lapband 5 years ago and failed, are now revising to the VSG - that's got to tell you something
Ya the lapband is reversible with another surgery. but do you see yourself even wanting another surgery? probably not. Plus it leaves a lot of scar tissue and makes going to other WLS options later more difficult. There is also a bit more risk of ulcers where the lapband constricts the stomach (erosion they call it). There are risks of ulcers with the VSG also, but since the bottom part of your stomach is basically unchanged, the risk approaches that of a normal person without WLS (As far as they can tell with the data at least).
It's 2 months,1week since I had my VSG, it was a bit rough getting used to it the first couple weeks. but now i'm on full food menu and it's fine, i dont think i'll have any problem keeping this up for the rest of my life. I'm vigilant about eating my protein, keeping carbs low, and capping my calories. Other than that, I'm basically able to eat whatever i want ... jsut in a lot smaller proportions. it's great if you ask me. It's a little less than 3 months since I started my pre-op diet and i've lost 58lbs. I lost 10lbs before that on my own ... but it took me over 4 months! so i'd say that is pretty effective. I know quite a few people on this forum who have lost 120lbs in less than a year, and 200lbs in a year and half. millage varies with how big you are to start with of course ... but it's hard to argue with the numbers. Its a tool and you have to remain vigilant and disciplined ... but with all those hunger signals removed, it's a heck of a lot easier imo.
I have a lap band and to say that extremely unhappy with it would be an understatement ...I hate it!
I got operated 3 years ago and I have lost 20lbs and those 20lbs is because I did the hcg injections.
from the day I had the lapband done I knew I had made a mistake they sent me home around 4 pm and by 7 pm I was hungry, no lie, yes the operation was nothing I was not in pain just some discomfort but buy was I hungry and it only got worse.
I never felt satiated but my food would get stuck , my mouth will fill with saliva and my food would come back up ..gross I know.
when your food gets stuck its painful, uncomfortable and disgusting and people around realize that there is something wrong with you and then just run to the bathroom because your food will come up or hurt like hell all the way down.
I went for 10 fills and un fills and nothing I could not find my "sweet spot" and know my shoulder hurts all the time, I have some acid reflux which I never had before the band and I can feel my port under my skin..which is horrible! you can actually touch it and feel the foreign object in you, if you are prone to panic attacks be aware! it will happen.
sorry about all the rambling but I just want everyone out there who is thinking of getting the lap back to think again and google lap band revision and you will see THOUSANDS of people who are having a revision done because the lapband didn't work.
I'm currently waiting to have a revision to get a sleeve with Dr Court at RVH
Best of luck in whatever you decide!
