ASK YOUR SURGEON IF REVERSIBLE PROCEDURES ARE RIGHT FOR YOU- TAKE IT IN...
Unfortunately, my cousin had very bad leak WITH SLEEVE SURGERY (LSG) and has been in and out of the hospital several times.
The doctor had the choice of giving her a gastric band ( its a FDA approved device that goes around the upper past of the stomach) the band is good, you have to change your life style otherwise you will fail to lose weight long term.
Unfortunately, the doctor thought that the Sleeve surgery will be better for my cousin, turns out gastric band would have been better.
My appeal to everyone, ask your doctor if a gastric band or like device is good for you, if they say no! ask them to give the reasons and give them to you in writing, if the surgeon refuses to do it, that means he has special interest in giving you sleeve surgery, its easy for them to code for the procedure or other reasons ($$). If something goes wrong with the surgery like sleeve or gastric bypass, you can defend yourself better. These leaks can cost you a lot!!! Keep in mind sleeve surgery means cutting the stomach and removing it permanently. You don't want that!! do you? By cutting the stomach, you can have a lot of nutritional deficiencies, chance of leaks, many doctors don't report their leak rate, so literature search is not going to give you accurate results. All procedures banding or sleeve or bypass last for about 5-6 yrs. You can upgrade your banding to a sleeve, but if you have complication of sleeve surgery- they will have to do gastric bypass
The new mantra is: KEEP THE STOMACH, DON'T CUT ANYTHING- MY FIRST CHOICE IS SOMETHING REVERSIBLE - DON'T BLINDLY LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR- BE SMART- ASK QUESTIONS
I'm very sorry to hear about your cousin, but you are responding out of emotion alone and really don't know what you are talking about.
The leak rate for RNY and VSG is actually quite low, and statistically, out of all the WLS procedures the band has the highest rate of additional required surgery for complications (and down the road, often requires additional surgery to remove it). The weight loss and weight loss maintenance statistics on it are appalling (although some people do well with it).
Yes, having your digestive system altered with the sleeve or gastric bypass is more extreme than getting the band, and those surgeries absolutely should be considered a last resort for weight control (do you honestly think anyone has the sleeve without being told that they are going to remove the rest of the stomach and that nutritional deficiencies are a risk if they don't follow the vitamin regimen?!?) but there are MANY reasons other than money that surgeons recommend the sleeve (VSG, not LSG) or gastric bypass (RNY) surgery instead of the band. Better outcome is the biggest reason.
You might find the VSG to be barbaric, based on your cousin's unfortunate experience, but for many it is a lifesaving procedure!
Lora
(edited for typos... My iPad is acting up)
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
on 7/12/15 6:20 pm
Three peet
I am sorry about your cousin. It's very scary dealing with complications. The sleeve does have a very long staple line but leaks a pretty rare compared to how many sleeves are done each year. It is a relatively newer surgery.
The band has many more opportunities for complications. They aren't doing as many as they did. There are several posters on here who have permanent issues because of the band and scar tissues and there is no hope for revision for them.
I think your cousins surgeon was wise in advising the sleeve vs the band. Once they get over this hurdle, which could be a lengthy recovery process. The long term success and benefits from the sleeve will be greater.
Take care
Chili
"The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." --- Dorothy Parker
"You may not like what I say or how I say it, but it may be just exactly what you need to hear." ---Kathryn White
I was wondering the same thing. There has not been any "the band is wonderful" posts lately so someone decided to write one.
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
on 7/13/15 9:44 am
There is a new VSG leak post on this board also. I wonder if it's her cousin
"The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." --- Dorothy Parker
"You may not like what I say or how I say it, but it may be just exactly what you need to hear." ---Kathryn White
I'm with Lora on this. She was very analytical, but I'll be a little more blunt. If someone I loved told me they were getting a band, I would chain them to a post in my cellar until they changed their mind. It's a terrible surgery, with a horrible track record. Many more people suffer needlessly with bands than are successful. It's a torture device.
I'm sorry the sleeve didn't work out well for your cousin, but it's a much, much better choice than a band.
6'3" tall, male.
Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.
M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.
