WARNING TO PRE-OPS: Think twice, cut once -- or else!

I had a lap band installed in 2003.  I lost 40 pounds, total.  I threw up a lot.  I tried to be careful how I ate, chewed, etc.  But something that was ok one day made me throw up the next.  On more than one occasion I threw up in public, in front of people.  In early 2008 I had to have the band completely loosened because I had developed the worst GERD, ever.  No matter what I ate I threw up, could not lie down....I'd wake up vomiting.  Once the band was loosened, I promptly gained 60 lbs.

I used my ONCE in a LIFETIME insurance benefit on the band.  I was turned down for a revision EVEN when my surgeon who placed the band told ins. that my band had failed and was making me sick.  Didn't matter. 

I because I blew my one time benefit on the band, I had to be self pay for my revision to DS.  I went to Brazil and had the wonderful doctor Marchesini.

I'm six months out and have lost 76 lbs.  I don't feel sick, I don't throw up, I don't have bathroom issues.  I eat wonderful food and can actually enjoy it now. 

Dr. M said they stopped using the Lap band in Brazil  before 2003 when I had mine placed.  He said the effectiveness rate there was too low and the complication rate high. 

I only wish I'd known before I had mine placed!

Wow that sounds like a terrible experience!  I am glad you are doing better with the DS and aren't so sick anymore!  Congrats on losing the 76 pounds so far!

DS sounds too good to be true but it isn't. No wls is. It really is all about personal choice and what you are able to live with afterwards. A lot of DSers suffer from nutritional problems caused by the drastic malabsorbtion.

I have a friend who has had DS and I would not want her lifestyle for a minute.. If she goes a day or two without her vitamins, she feel sick and if she were ti continue to go without vitamins she would becone very ill quite fast.

I on the other habd have gone up to 2 weeks without my 4 vitamins a day and sufer not at all. I;d choose RnY all over again in a half of a heartbeat, Nothing else would do for me anyway.

Oh yeah, she has some real bowel issues too that woukd horrify me. It does her too and she has to be so careful of what she eats because of this. It happens suddenly and she has to go now. Nope not for me. Some days she says she wishes she had RnY.

Don;t want to start an argument here but it is ALL about personal choice and what you can live with afterwards

ditto! 

Congratulations, you win the "Bull**** Post of the Day" award.

Why do you feel the need to be hatefully nasty? I would think that as adults we could engage in a healthy dialogue and even disagree without spewing venum. It speaks volumes to your emotional evolution.

While I think the DS is an amazing procedure, Millions of lives have been affected in a positive way by ALL surgical weight loss options. You're speaking of overall percentages of the masses losing their weight and keeping it off. I understand that, but everyone does not think in such a black and white manner. The people that you are verbally assaulting are speaking on an individual level.

Just because I had a male cousin die in his 20's from peritonitis from RNY complications in the early 90's, does not mean that the RNY is "all bad". Just because my little sister's lapband failed (the apparatus- not her eatin) does not mean that it was not a great option for a lot of people.Just because my work buddy has not lost an ounce since she had her VSG converted to DS but now has serious bone density issues because she refused to take her supplements.. does not mean that the DS is a terrible thing. Just because SMO folks with major food issues did NOT lose all their excess weight with the VSG alone does not mean that it is not the perfect procedure for someone else. Someone like myself.

I am not an international statistic for VSG success. I am an individual who knew that I simply needed volume control and and some ghrelin reduction to be a success.

I am also not willing to resort to ugliness if you, or anyone else does not agree with me.

Peace everyone,

Meg

You're right. I do think it's relevant which Weight Loss Surgery will result in the best weight loss, and you apparently don't.

By the way, denial of reality and whining do not constitute "emotional evolution".

Honestly, being so upset about this thread really reveals a poster's true colors. It is a thread directed at pre-ops to make sure they evaluate all their options, and here come people like you to say, oh no no no, don't do that.

Hm. Once again black and white. You're judging my relevance of which weight loss surgery will result in "the" best weight loss, vs what surgery was the best option for "me" for weight loss... or as this whole topic is guided.... what is the best option for "each individual".

Let me explain something which I'm sure you already know. Personal accountability of food choices and "self control" are absolutely necessary to successfully lose all excess weight with the VSG AND keep it off. That being said, and I "have" made it to my finish line... I hardly can understand then why in the world you would think that the most extreme procedure (this is not a slight to the DS) was what I needed.

I've spent the last 21 years of my life in nursing, and I will tell you that a bottle of blood pressure pills is not better for you than the minimal dose necessary obtain the desired result. More is not better for all. Being pre-op, maybe you simply have no faith in your own control over your eating habits to think that you could lose the weight without the aid of malabsorption.

We have many members of our board that started out well over the 300 lb mark and are huge successes. Old Medic being one (also a medical professional). He just celebrated making it under 200 lbs, and he's a self-described old retired couch potato that realizes that he must have self-control to be a success, which he is.

No, instead lets say "hey newbies, yall all need to run out and get the DS because it is the only way you will lose the weight and keep it off", no matter their individual cir****tances.

Your all or nothing, black or white thinking screams borderline personality disorder.

LMAO...I love the disdain for "black and white" thinking, which is exactly what you exhibit throughout your posts.

You want to be on a diet for the rest of your life? Knock yourself out. If the VSG works for you, then you go with your bad self. But that still doesn't explain why you are so bent out of shape about a post telling pre-ops to research all their options. One might even say you scream borderline personality disorder.

Now, if you did all your research, that's great--but are you sure you did? When you decided to have a VSG, did you know that your chances of maintaining your weight loss with a purely restrictive surgery are not good? Did you know that if (when) you fail with a restrictive surgery, your weight loss with a revision to DS would be slower than a first-time DS? Did you know you'd have to be on a diet for the rest of your life?

BTW if you are calling on old medic to make your case, then your case is pretty weak because that guy is a 100% certifiable nutjob.

speaking of nut job!  Lord.. I am actually quite sure that DS causes people to be evil, mean and nasty.  I wrote off DS for several reasons, one of which the awful attitude by so many DSers.  Go ahead, attack me, get nasty.  You don't exist to me, knock yourself out if it makes you feel better about your choice.  It is apparent that DSers are over compensating...but why?  I doubt you are in touch enough to answer.