Band over Bypass....or your band success or lack there of.

I am currently researching a band over my bypass. My insurance does not cover the revision I ultimately wanted from RNY to DS so this was next in line. So my questions, did you have success BOB? For those that just have a band, have you had success? I have read alot of horrible things from the DS forum in regard to the band or any other WLS that is not the DS.

I have approx. 80 pounds to lose to be *normal* weight. I figured the band may not be so bad that I don't have an extreme amount to lose.

Any advice is welcome. Thank you so much.

If DSers got graded in tenacity, perseverance, and loyalty to their surgery, they would definitely get an A.  And for some reason, the band really gets under their skin.  Unfortunately, it's led to some real battles and unkind comments on the main board.  I can't imagine what it's like on their own forum. 

With any surgery, do your research...lots of it!  You'll find lots of successful bandsters here.  Just like all the surgeries, there are risks, problems and complications with some, and people who don't use it correctly.  But that doesn't make the band a lost cause or failure.

And don't let statistics fool you.  Statistics show that smokers who quit cold turkey have the most success, so does that mean the patches, gum, and other medications that some people use should be thrown out completely?  Labeled as failures?  Obviously not.  The band is not for everyone, but it is a great tool for others.  

To answer your question, yes, there are many success stories with the band.  Hang around here long enough...you'll see.

And btw...welcome!   

"And for some reason, the band really gets under their skin. "

Perhaps it's because so many of us were formerly banded?  At least that's where I'm coming from.

The band is the LEAST effective WLS. Please keep that in mind.

If you want a DS go on the revision and DS forum and and some of the posters there can help you as far as info on appealing to get a DS covered by your insurance.

Good luck!

Jodi's answer is excellent!

There are very many successful bandsters. There are some total failures. Of these latter, some fail because their band malfunctions or because of surgical errors. Some fail because they sabotage the band.

But you have to be fully committed. It is hard work! That work can pay off but if you have doubts about the surgery, save up for the DS if that is what you wanted.

Kate

Or, because their bodies--for whatever reason--start reacting negatively to the presence of the band and, suddenly, they are dealing with an esophagus that won't work or erosion that wasn't there the first couple of years or some such thing.

And that's the damndest thing about the band...at any minute, after any period of time, it can go south on you.

Let me tell you that I have had a bypass and I now have a band over the bypass and my experience with both surgeries has been TOTALLY different. I was successful with the bypass and lost all the weight, no problems. Fast forward 19 years later, I gained all my weight back plus more. The only surgical option that I could afford was the band over bypass. So far it has been an epic failure and I am really disappointed. I have managed to loose 40 lbs (20 I had to loose before surgery) and with several fills (at $100 a fill) I lost another 20lbs in 8 months. I had another fill about 3 weeks ago and have gained 5 pounds. I log my food, I exercise yada yada yada. It had been tough for me to loose weight, I have gotten very little return on my the investment that I have put forth with this band. You may do well since there are others on here that have done well with the BOB. Its hard because no one likes to talk to someone that is having a hard time so support has been difficult. Word of caution the band is NOTHING like the bypass so be prepared. You will have to work very hard at it so don't take that for granted. If i had to do it over again I still would have made the same decision to get the BOB, I am praying and hoping that eventually I will have success with it so I am not giving up. Good luck to you!!!!

May I ask who your surgeon was or if you have had any changes since your last post?

 

LisaBeezee is the most successful BOBster I know, but she's taking a break from OH while dealing with a family tragedy. She lost all her excess weight, plus more, after her BOB. I don't recall her ever complaining about her band.

But as another poster mentioned, losing weight with the band is not like losing weight with the bypass. (Why would it be?) It is a lot of work. I'm OK with that, because I was ready to make some major lifestyle changes and I'm not afraid of hard work. Losing weight with the band has definitely been easier for me than losing weight pre-op through dieting or diet pills.

I'm not sure why the DS folks get their panties in such twist over the band. It seems that some of them are former bandsters who hated or were disappointed with their bands, and I can understand that, but otherwise I don't know why they're so passionate in waging their war against the band. If I felt that strongly about it, I'd be talking to the FDA, the ASMBS, and the manufacturers of the band about it instead of shouting about it to other WLS patients online. Perhaps some of them are addressing it with the FDA, etc., but too many DS members have me blocked for me to be able to speculate much about that.

Finally, if I were self-pay. I probably wouldn't undergo a 2nd choice surgery. I'd be saving my pennies for my first choice surgery. If I had co-morbidities that were affecting my health and quality of life, I might go ahead with the 2nd choice surgery if saving for the 1st choice would take too long.

Good luck,
Jean

Hi.  I, too, am a BOBster. I had mine on 6-23-11 with Dr. Kurian in NYC at NYU.  I was a very successful RNY patient, going from 305 in 8/02 to 175 in less than a yr.  Had several PS and then started to run in 2007.  After a year of running, I had a slipped disc/bluging disc in my back and I couldn't excercise anymore.  I began to eat more (volume has always been my issue) and I stretched my pouch. Additionally, I later found out that my surgeon was very conservative with pouch size and already had that against me.  I considered a full revision with Dr. Mitchell Roslin at Lenox Hill, but a full revision scared me. I was aty 246 and had no co-morbidities and didnt want to "risk' it.  I only needed to lose 75lbs or so, so, I went with the band.  I lost 12lbs pre-op with the liquid diet and am down 30lbs now. Its been 2 mos, I am really happy. My "happy place" is 189 as I will be able to get back into 10s but my goal is 175 where I was after RNY.  They say most Bandsters lose slow and its more like a diet, they are right.  I've been losing about 5lbs a month and I am thrilled.  This rate, I should hit goal by Xmas maybe sooner, maybe later.  I don't care. I can exercise again without discomfort and I got myself back.  Email me offline if you want to chat.

Heather
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