introduction and question
I am not sure if this is true for ALL dr's but mine said if I did the band and it failed I would no longer be a good candidate for RNY GB. THey reccomended the RNY for SMO folks. I have seen big people there with the band though. They will do it. :)
Start: 487 lbs (8/07) Lost 81 lbs pre op on South Beach. 406 lbs at surgery (6/08). 179 post op, by 2011. I lost 308 lbs. Gained 98 while pregnant (2012-13) lost all but 25. My goal is to be 179 again!
Two years after that....
I could not be happier.
Hi, StarrNichole! I haven't had surgery yet (hopefully scheduling tomorrow for Mid Nov) but am opting for the Vertical Gastric Sleeve (VSG). I weigh 385 pounds with a BMI of 60.3. If you go to the Lap-Band or Realize-Band Forums you'll see a lot of people who started out with high weights/BMI's who've been successful. In fact if you go to almost any forum you'll find people like us who’ve been successful with all types of WLS. People can be very opinionated about which surgery is best and that's somewhat understandable given that the decision is such a personal one. One reason I chose the sleeve is that restriction is immediate which means at least faster initial weight loss. Of course, the success of any WLS is dependent on the individual’s discipline and commitment to life-long change.Here's a link to a WLS comparison chart: http://www.lapsf.com/weight-loss-surgeries.htmlIf you want to know more about VSG, you can go to http://www.lapsf.com/vertical-gastrectomy-weight-loss-surger y.phpYou are doing the right thing by asking questions. Research all of the options and then make the decision that is right for YOU!Amy
I know how you feel because I was in the same boat. I was 28 years old, 455lbs and wanted the Lap Band because I didn't want to go through RNY. My family begged me to just get the Lap Band and I was dead set on having it instead of RNY. Then, I went in for my first consultation and changed my mind instantly. The doctor didn't necessarily push me either, he told me to just think about it and decide what I wanted to do. He said, given my age and good health he would do the Lap Band on me, but he didn't think it would be good for me long-term. So, ultimately I decided on the RNY. One of my main reasons was because my doctor is 2 hours away from me and I didn't want to commute back and forth to adjust my banding. Of course there were many other reasons too though. But it's just something you have to talk about with your doctor. I'm happy with my decision to have RNY so no looking back for me.
Now - here's another viewpoint on this.... My sister-in-law's sister was around my size (440lbs) and had Lap Band 3 years ago. It's taken a while, but right now she has lost 220lbs and is doing great. She's actually pregnant with her first child at 37 years old and looks fantastic. She had a few minor complications, but nothing major. She does not regret it at all and is glad she chose Lap Band.
So there you have it - two different views. I hope everything goes okay for you and you make the right choice for you.
Now - here's another viewpoint on this.... My sister-in-law's sister was around my size (440lbs) and had Lap Band 3 years ago. It's taken a while, but right now she has lost 220lbs and is doing great. She's actually pregnant with her first child at 37 years old and looks fantastic. She had a few minor complications, but nothing major. She does not regret it at all and is glad she chose Lap Band.
So there you have it - two different views. I hope everything goes okay for you and you make the right choice for you.
During my orientation for WLS, I found out that the three surgeons in the practice would not place a Lapband in a BMI over 50. Their reasoning was the shelf-life of the product (about 5 years), and the data that showed average EWL to be 50%. Most people with a BMI over 50 would be very disappointed with those results.
Personally, I was not considering the Lapband -- know too many people that have had issues with getting/keeping food down, slipping of the band, scaring of tissue from the band, the shelf-life even the manufacturer's brochure outlines, and the long road to losing all I wanted to. Besides spending some time on the Lapband board, I would encourage you to spend some time on the revisions board. Most on the Lapband board are extremely happy with their choice, where as the Revisions folks might give you a differenct perspective. While some consider this the least invasive procedure, I saw it as the complete opposite -- opening me is opening me up, and I would find the fills to be invasive on my person and on my time, not to mention the decent chance that a slip, erosion, or device failure would occur and back in they go.
Also, I knew RnY was not an option for me -- again, know too many people personally who have had so many issues with food getting stuck, dumping, not able to medicate with NSAIDS, feeling 'punished' if they ate certain things (to each his own, but I got to a 60 BMI loving food, and I have been punished enough in one life time by fatty-haters, thank you very much).
So, my choices were VSG or DS. I spent a lot of time on the decision, and decided that how I wanted to live my life post-op required that I have the malabsorption portion that comes along with the DS. The restriction only and lack of grhelin would have been great, but it would have required me to be constantly on a diet, and I have done that for more than 20 years -- no more!!
I am speculating, but considering that you are only 25, you may be thinking that you just need a little something to get you on the right path to a healthy body, and once there you can do it all on your own. I was there, the first two times I looked into WLS, once in my 20s & once in my 30s. While I wish I would have known about and had the DS much sooner, I am so thankful that I didn't go any other route than the one I took 10+ months ago. It was just the perfect surgery for me.
Please check out your options. I cannot stress enough that you should FIRST decide on a surgery type, THEN the surgeon -- and remember: think twice, cut once!! Especially consider the long-term success rates and spend some time on each of the boards to see if the life-style post-op is realistic for you -- especially spend time on the Revisions board to see what problems people are experiencing with their initial surgery choice. Here are some peer-reviewed studies for you to consider:
www.dsfacts.com/long-term-studies.html
www.dsfacts.com/Duodenal-Switch-for-Super-Morbid-Obesity.htm l
http://www.dsfacts.com/Duodenal-Switch-Compared-to-Gastric-B ypass.html
All the best on your journey,
Kimberley
~ I am the proud wife of a Guatemalan, but most people call me Kimberley
Highest Known Weight = 370# / 59.7 bmi @ 5'6"
Current Weight = 168# / 26.4 bmi : fluctuates 5# either way @ 5'7" / more than 90% EWL
Normal BMI (24.9) = 159#: would have to compromise my muscle mass to get here without plastics, so this is not a goal.
I 
my DS. Don't go into WLS without knowing ALL of your options: DSFacts.com
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