Need inpot. Lap Band or VSG

I am a woman over 65 who became obese after starting antidepressants.  I used to love exercising and watched my weight like a hawk. I started with the SSRI meds about 25 years ago because I suffered from a panic disorder since I was seventeen.  After a while, and while going through a divorce, I became obsessed with carbs.  Not just carbs, but soft things like chocolate ice cream, etc.  My weight fluctuated for a while; I was as overweight as 192 at 5'3 but that was right after my divorce a long time ago.  I loved loved to exercise, so for the next ten years, my weight fluctuated from 150 to 170.  Growing up, I was underweight, in my 20s, I weighed 115, thirties, around 130.  About fifteen years ago, I became a size 1X.  I was so unhappy about that.  I had a ton of ongoing stress in my life and I ate.  About 6 years ago I lost my job and balooned up to 225 to 250, way overweight for me.  I had no insurance so tried to diet the bet I could.  I have been this weight for the past five to six years, am in my sixties and am terrified I will die from this weight.  I would like to know, because of my age, is the lap band the best route to go, or is the Gastric Sleeve the route to go.  My niece had the lap band and was initially happy with it.  Her doctor was a great surgeon, but was bad with aftercare.  She is now unfilled due to erosion of the esopageus.  I would love input from both types of patients.  I do have to take my age into consideratin.

Please bear in mind that I am a very happy and very successful bandit now 8 years post-op.i do not regret my band, would do it all over again and if I ever have to have it removed, I would hope to have a replacement.

When I was banded in 2006, it was a miracle surgery. And for some people, who accept that they will still have to work hard, it is just that. It was and still is for me. But over the years it has become clear that serious complications necessitating further surgery are much more common than originally thought, some of these are avoidable by careful eating and by not keeping the band tight; unfortunately others are beyond our control.

We used to be warned about band slips, leaks and about ( very rare) erosion into the stomach tissue but it turns out that a build up of scar tissue round the band (causing it to tighten) is common. It can be very difficult to get the right level of restriction and some people are tempted to keep it tight enough to physically limit food, in fact it was once thought this was how it should be. But this causes food to back up into the oesophagus and that risks problems such as oesophageal dysmotility which may be irreversible. It can also damage the vagus nerve.

We still need lots of will power. The band makes it easier by dimming hunger, but it does nothing for head hunger and, contrary to popular opinion, it does not and should not physically stop us eating. If it does it is too tight!

Having said all that, I love my band, I know many successful long term bandits. I was 55 when banded and am now 63 1/2. 

As I do respect those like Kate who have had a wonderful relationship with the band, my time with the band is ending this coming Tuesday as I am having it removed in favor of the sleeve.  I did lose 80 pounds but it took 2 years to do so and then I started having problems.  So, along with personal issues that had taken me down, I gave up and stopped playing by the band rules and regained all my weight and then some.  I am now at my heaviest weight ever and not happy that I gave up control back then.  I didn't come back to the OH boards and should have because had I, I would have known about the sleeve and revised a few years back.

However, I want to point out that my problems with the band were NOT A RESULT OF MY NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES, I FOLLOWED RELIGIOUSLY. They just happened as many others did and it became more than I could deal with.  I was and still am so tired of vomiting, even now.  My band is not too tight, it's just that I regained enough weight that it actually does restrict at times. 

The band is finicky, like a worst nightmare cat.  But you have to do the research and make your own decision.  For some, it is a wonderful tool.

I have had a band and I now have the VSG. The band is a lot more high maintenance.  You  need frequent follow ups with the doctor to adjust the band. So far for me the sleeve has been much easier, granted I am just about 7 weeks post op.

I also had a complication with the band. It slipped, resulting in another surgery.

I encourage you to check out the VSG and the lap band boards and to do lots and lots of research.

Kate knows I adore her but we definately have had different experiences with our bands. I wouldn't wish a band on satan himself and as I sit here I'm still suffereing daily pain from the band even tho I had it removed in Feb. (at my own expense I might add) My band started tightening after a couple of years, until then I was very pro band, then after a couple of small unfills I had it emptied and tried to wait until I got on medicare to revise to the sleeve. During this time I started getting reflux and it got so bad that I finally HAD to get it out or go insane from the pain. Mind you I also have to be on pain meds and a pain patch for other pain issues and I still had this horrid pain from the band. I was never able to revise because of other issues.

I had hoped getting the band out would end the pain and it did one part of the pain but now my stomach is messed up with gastroparesis (slow emptying) and I'm still in pain 24/7. So no, I would never advise anyone to get a band because I'm only one of literally thousands who still suffer even after the band is removed. The majority of people in know with the sleeve are very happy with it!