Does anyone wish they had never gone through WLS?

did ya have wls ? how r ya ?         

I hate the band.  I did everything I was supposed to and it seemed to be working for me.  I had to get one unfill because of a stuck issue, then I would get stuck daily on protein and throw up constantly.  I could eat cookies, sweets, and chips like mad, but couldn't keep down chicken, tuna, or any "good" food for that fact.  I really should've researched my options more.  I went with the band because of it being an "easier" surgery than RNY.  I didn't even know about any other surgeries then.  Now, I have done ALOT of research and I have decided that one day I WILL have the DS.  I read these boards everyday and you rarely see any real issues with the DS surgery.  I have a two-year old and want to be around for a long time!  Good luck with your decision, research is the key!

Go on the specific boards and read what people say. No WLS suits everyone! I love my band and, like many others have lost 100% excess weight and am maintaining without any real effort on my part.

Kate

Check out duodenal switch. No pouch.  No erosion, slips or fills. Highest Percent of EWL. Highest percentage of keeping off the weight.  

Check out the gastric sleeve, fewer complications and nothing left in your body and no intestines being moved.

yes - that is exactly what I want to get done! :)

My doctor told me that the gastric sleeve is not yet being covered by insurance. Have you heard differently?

Some insurances cover it but not as many as the other procedures. It's starting to change as more long term results are available.

Also some insurances that say they won't cover it and deny the first request will overturn on appeal if the doctor makes a good enough argument for why the sleeve is the right procedure for you.

Hi Megan... there are always complications particular to any surgery... the questions really iare for the results you get: A) Will you keep the weight off once lost? B) Will you have nutritional complications? C) Will you have other non-nutritional complications? D) Are you in a critical health state with co-morbidities? I currently have a band which served me well for the first year, but then I got horrible acid reflux and since have developed erosion of the band which means it HAS to be removed.  Since the band did well for me, I looked into the sleeve (which my cousin also has).  I didn't want the RNY because of what appears to be a high incidence of weight regain, and the complications of a non-fully functioning stomach with a pylorus.  For me the only reason I decided on a DS instead of the sleeve (the sleeve and the DS are similar in terms of the shaping of the stomach, but the sleeve has no malabsorption component) is that I am tired of waiting for my results... I had WLS almost 3 years ago and have been waiting for that result of complete weight loss ever since... of course, due to the complications, I've only had partial results.  My doctor said that if I was younger, he would have recommended the sleeve, but given that I'm 44, and given the band, he's agreed that a DS is right for me.  The stomach cutting doesn't frighten me at all... does the intestinal re-routing? sure a little, but I understand that that is the real key to KEEPING the weight off long term...and the stats for DSers keeping it off are pretty undeniable.  Having said that, there is also a MUCH higher incidence of malnutrition, which is why if you ARE gonna have a DS, you have to be ready to accept the responsibility for vitamin supplementation for the rest of your life.  But for me, the choice was clear... I am so ready to have this weight gone, I don't wanna waste any more time, and I want to KEEP it off long term. If you have time to drop the weight, you might go with the sleeve (its a great surgery)... if you don't have time, consider the DS (it's also a great surgery). Kyle

I'm another one that didln't really want surgery, but there just weren't any other good options. I had the DS on Jan, 31, and it has been life changing! I would do it every year of my life if I had to. Similar to the RNY, I need to have vitamin levels checked peridically and take vitamins daily, but it's a small trade off for having my life back!