New and Confused - Why did you choose the WLS you chose

I have had my consult with my surgeon and started my 6 month supervised physician diet.  I am having trouble deciding which surgery I would like.  At first I was convinced I would do lap-band but after talking to my surgeon today I am leaning toward bypass.  My PCP wants me to have lapband.  Would love to hear how you made your decision.  Thanks!

There are many reasons why I chose the surgery I did

1. My parents helped pay for my surgery and after seeing my aunt  after the Gastric they refused to pay for that one .   I did not feel comfortable having my insides cut out of me is another one

2. I'm not a sweets eater or I was never a snacker .  I would snack here or there but it wasn't a issue with me.  I can keep all the junk in my house Ice Cream   , Krispy Creme Donuts and not touch them.  Those kind of foods do nothing for me  .  The only time I crave them foods is when its that TOM . 

3.  I needed help and wanted to learn how to eat properly and I felt the band was the best surgery for that .

4.  I needed help with portion control that was it .  I didn't know how to control my portions at meal times .

5.  I didn't want to lose 20 or so pounds a month like my Aunt and my friend did with the gastric . I wanted to lose it slow .  I didn't put this weight on over night and I dont expect for it to come off over night.

6.   I use the band as a reminder on what I need to do .   I haven't gotten a fill yet.  The band is just enough of a reminder that I dont need to eat like I did before and I dotn have to stuff my gut anymore . As long as I lose my 6-8 pounds per month I will never go get a fill.  A little hunger dont hurt nobody I wont die from it . I have learned that also .

7.  And my Aunt is a big one why I didn't go with the Gastric.  She is so unhealthy looking that I would rather be fat then look like her right now .  And to be honest I dont know one person that has been successful with the gastric.  I know about 10 people that had it done and every one of them has gained their weight back expect for my aunt and she looks like death's door.   

8.  I love my band I'm honest to goodness learning something .   I'm making better choices, I'm learning how many carbs to eat a day, I'm learning I can still eat all my favorite foods IE pizza, chips , McDonald's., but I have learned to eat smaller portions, and how often to eat them foods.

that is what I wanted from the band and that is what I got from the band .  I didnt get the band to restrct me from foods. food is going to be around us the rest of our lives so I wanted to learn how to eat it not run away from it  and I am learning that :o)

My PCP was onboard with me having lapband.  With my research, it seemed the least invasive with no organ removal or rerouting or reshaping. If your problem isn't volume eating, as mine was, look thoroughly into all others, because that's what the lapband helps with.  I am only 5 months out, so I can only speak from that perspective.  My recovery was quick and easy.  Biggest problem was 3 days of gas (wish I'd gotten gas strips).  The lapband takes work.  Choosing healthy foods and exercise are up to you.  But with the weight loss and the good choices, you will feel so much better both physically and mentally.  The one thing I wish I'd done prior to surgery is come to OH 6 months before my surgery, instead of 3.  I don't think it would have changed my mind, but I would have been so much more informed.  Understand, each WLS has it's share of complications and failures, including lapband.  There is also a lot of maintenance to lapband.  My doc includes 18 months of fill/unfil in his surgery fee.  Check out your doc and ask about complications and his statistics compared with the national average. There are some extreme surgery arguments on this board.  Don't let it scare you, use it as an information tool and some, you just need to skip over.  Best of luck to you and your decision.

 

Why are the bypass and the band your only options? Please take the time to research the VSG and the DS as well. If your insurance will cover the band and the bypass, it is likely they will also cover the other surgeries with an appeal.

Also, I would not listen to your PCP on this one. He or she does not deal strictly with bariatric patients and is probably going on the band's manufacturer literaure with this recommendation.

I chose the lap band initially because I went into my surgery thinking that I just needed some help with portion control and that because I was an active person who had succeeded on diets before, that I would be able to do my part to work the band and reach goal. I also like the idea of the band being "less invasive" than other surgeries (although if I had done my research, I would have realized this is not exactly true). I wanted restriction, not malabsorption.

Then I had the band and it served me well for a year before I began to have complications eventually requiring a second surgery. After my complications began setting in, only then did I really research the band and realize how common post-op and secondary surgeries are with the band. I went into my surgery with rose-colored glasses on thinking that my behavior was the only variable that would play into my success...this was wrong. Despite my compliance, I required a removal/revision surgery after having my band about 3 years.

For my revision, I went with the VSG because I saw some VSG patients who were having fantastic results in my community. They had restriction without malabsorption and without all the problems/inconsistency of the band. Also, partial (and full) gastrectomies have been done for many, many, many years with patients living well into old age with no complications.

Take your time to research the different procedures. Consider the statistics on EWL and post-op complications including follow-up surgeries. Read the numbers on how many people are keeping their bands past 5 years...then how many past 10? Consider how much weight you want to lose and which WLS has the best stats to get you there. There are lots of things to think about.

Please come to the VSG board and look around as well.

Best of luck in your decision!
Lindsey

I was leaning toward the RNY once I found out that my insurance didn't cover the Sleeve but after great consideration decided that the band was the best option for me.  I had about 130 lbs I wanted to lose, no serious health issues other than sleep apnea and  foot and heel pain.  I believed that I could make healthy food choices if the band would help me control portion size, (which it does for me). 

I was also fearful possible life threatning side effects from re-routing and re-attaching intestines, etc.  It's a lot safer than it used to be but the mortality rate is still a lot lower with the Lap Band than RNY.  I also didn't want the life-time vitamin replacement regime, (I can barely remember to take my daily multi as it is!)

I think a lot of it depends on age, how much you have to lose and your general health.  RNY is absolutely the right thing to do for many obese patitents!

If you are considering the band, make sure you are willing to change what you eat as well as how much if you want the fastest possible results.  Without malabsorbtion YOU need to be able to control your food choices because your body will still absorb whatever calories you give it. 

You also must be prepared for the necessary follow-up required.  If you have a band you will need fills, (and unfills), over time.  It's just part of how it works.  If you don't have insurance this is probably not the surgery choice for you because fills are expensive and if you can't get a fill or unfill because of finance, then your band will not work properly over time.

I lost 115 lbs with my band and have been very fortunate to have very few issues, (none that I haven't caused myself).  I'm happy with my choice.  It save my life, but I'm a type A personality who likes to follow the rules, track my food choices and plan ahead.  The band works for me!

Best of luck on your decision.

Lisa O.

I choose the band because I heard horror stories about the RNY like vitamin absorbtion and you have to take alot of pills and I am not a good pill taker, also I am very vain and did not want to even think about losing my hair (they say it grows back but was not going to take a chance) but in the end it has be be a personal decision.  I had my surgery 4 years ago and have lost 90lbs and 15 to go.  The VSG was not an option when I was choosing surgery, but I would consider if something ever happens to my band.  Hope this helps any.
Joann

This isn't a choice either doc should be making for you, it's a choice you have to make for yourself. ALL WLS have risks associated with them: complications (long term and short term), side-effects, risk that you won't lose as much as you want, risk that you will regain. You have to decide which risks are acceptable to you and which WLS most fits where you are in life and what your goals are.
I personally went with a band because I was concerned about the serious risks associated with removing/cutting parts of my intestines, especially since I had not yet had a child. I also felt like the band was the least drastic option to begin with and the easiest to revise should I need to switch to something else later in life. Also, I was private pay, and the types of complications that you can have with a more drastic surgery are things that could easily bankrupt a person who is paying out of pocket.

I chose the band because I didn't want my insides rerouted.  I know RNY and DS works well for many, but it's not my thing.  Malabsorptive surgeries are often not recommended for those with a family hx of osteoporosis (me).  I've also had cancer and didn't want to change my digestive system in case of cancer recurrance.

I chose the band over the sleeve because I didn't know about the sleeve at that time.  Would I choose the sleeve now?  Maybe.  I'm a little funny about removing functioning body parts.  

If your PCP knows you and your health history well, he/she may have very valid reasons for recommending the band.

The band was suggested to me by my Gynecologist who was banded and doing well. 

All that Lisa O. said is also pertinent about upkeep with the band.  Do your research and chose what's best for you and your needs and lifestyle.  Go into this with eyes wide open, don't forget to check into the negatives of each surgery.. and they each have them.  

Best of luck to you!!

After my own problems and all the others I read about on here I would never suggest the band to anyone. It is the least effective form of WLS and has some very serious problems that seem to occur more and more often as the years go on. So I'd say any other surgery is a better bet than the band.

Thank you for all the posts. I have finally found a forum with members that actually post. As my surgeon told me it is ultimately my choice and that is why I'm doing the research. My PCP has a patient with a bypass that is not able to maintain his weight and that is why he is against bypass. I know there are horror stories no matter which surgery so I'm trying not to listen to the majority of them but see which one seems to fit me best. Thanks again!