Is Gastric Banding a better choice for those who have less to lose?

I would love to hear everyones opinion on this (especially from my on line sparring buddies!).

Do you think that gastric banding is a better choice for folks who have, lets say, no more than 100 pounds to lose?

Not sure if the amount of weight to lose would determine the success or lack of success, but the more weight you have to lose, the more adjustments you 'll need, which means having to re-acclimate yourself to "eating" all over again.

Let me explain.  In my experience, after an adjustment, I have to get used to being tighter- and therefore, for the next several days, I'm having to be a lot more strict about what I eat.  After several weeks, the band becomes less tight and I start eating larger portions, which means another adjustment is needed.

Do you think doing this process over and over and over can dictate the outcome?

Have I completely lost everyone or am I making any sense?
Your thoughts?

line sparring buddie stepping up to the podium. I may be a little shy.........but you know my view on the band. Any if one was to get the band I would prefer it was a lighter weight than one very MO or SMO. If they were the latter and were a "success" with the band.........losing the 40 or 50% average of a band "success" could still put them in the MO catagory, and I don't know why anyone would put theirselves through WLS to remain MO?

~Do you think doing this process over and over and over can dictate the outcome?~

Well this is the process for you so far. As to the amount of restriction (if it is ever acheived, that is), it's a crap shoot at best. You have been extremely lucky at this point, that's not the case with most. Most have to have several fills before they reach restriction (3-8 if they are lucky?). I have seen post of bandsters that state finally getting it at 1,2 or even 3 years out. Obviously most would not even bother at that point and just give up. And many never reach restriction at all. Hislady's last visit to the Dr. she was told that 20% never reach it.

Now on the other hand..........some get the band in and have perfect restriction after just a few fills and lose tons of weight. Then they have a band complication and have to be unfilled or have band replaced or repositioned. They automaticlly assume that the band will work the same for them, but they never have the same luck with the 2nd band. :-(

Then there are those that reach their sweet spot, but like some of us..........the band will tighten at any moment for no particular reason.

What I'm trying to say is that the band can be (and usually IS) COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE! :-(

So given these factored in.........if one is not a light weight, I think they stand much less of a chance considering that the band, if it does work, can be VERY late to start working...........and considering that most are removed by 5 yrs...........it could actually be a very short amount of time that the band has to "work" for them to lose weight considering that they would need a longer amount of time to lose the weight if they are MO/SMO.

Does that make any sense? I'm sure that can be explained better, but it just kind of came out that way, lol.

 
I don't believe the band is good for anyone.  One way or another it's a temporary weight loss method just like plication.  The number of people who still have their band after 10 years is very low.  The band has the most complications of all major WLS types.

The issue that bothers me more than anything... I think, is that people get a band with huge hopes of losing massive amounts of weight and with all the complications, people never getting restriction, never being able to find the famous sweet spot many do not lose well and they beat themselves up feeling like even WLS couldn't help them.  It messes with self esteem in a huge way.

The band has the highest regain of all major surgery types.  So people bust their humps trying to lose and then the regain starts.  There is a 5 year regain with ALL surgery types but it is highest with the band.  I just don't like seeing people try so hard, have high hopes, then find themselves regaining sometimes even more than what they started out.

You should read the band vets board, it's full of whining and complaining about the band.  Heck, nobody hardly joins there anymore because so many have revised to other surgery types.

You know I agree with you about the band. I wrote what I did because I view banding a lightweight as opposed to a heavyweigh "the lesser of two evils".

Now I especially agree with you on this point:

The issue that bothers me more than anything... I think, is that people get a band with huge hopes of losing massive amounts of weight and with all the complications, people never getting restriction, never being able to find the famous sweet spot many do not lose well and they beat themselves up feeling like even WLS couldn't help them.  It messes with self esteem in a huge way.

The emotional aspects as a result of banding can be devistating! Been through that myself, and seen soooooo many others go through it as well. :-( We are told to follow the band rules and the band will work for us. Not always the case. I know personally it was hell going every month to get that fill thinking.........."maybe this will be the ONE!"...........only to be let down yet another time. Very emotionally draining! To make matters even worse I would read threads on OH and they would say if the band didn't work it was b/c the bandster was doing something wrong! This can take a huge hit on ones self esteem!

 
Yeah, I have never been one to blame the banded person unless it's just bloody obvious.  I recall one person that swore she was only eating 600 calories a day but she was gaining quickly and wanted bypass.  She decided the reason she was gaining because her body was in (ahem) starvation mode.  I asked if she was gaining because she wasn't eating enough how is malabsorbing 200 of those 600 calories daily going to help?

Turns out, she was eating all day long and overeating at that.  You can't do that with WLS, all surgery types you barf it up and so her 600 calorie a day number came from what she estimated she was keeping down.  It wasn't really her 'fault' in the sense that she was in full denial but it wasn't the bands fault either.

One of my best friends has a band and she's been banded for about 5 years.  She eats her 800 calories a day in good food and then at LEAST a pound of chocolate daily.  She's huge.  I've never suggested DS to her because no WLS type fixes white carbs.  That one is all us.  I suspect she's going to be a big girl for the rest of her days.

My issue with the band has nothing to do with amount of weight lost. I lost well over 100 pounds while banded, myself. But it was due to the inability to eat solid foods. Ever. At all. No matter that my band was unfilled. Nothing solid was passing through.

My issue with the band has everything to do with the amount of damage it causes to the stomach, the esophagus and the way it affects how the Vagus nerves work. It tends to cause referred left shoulder  pain in an inordinate amount of people and that right there is cause for concern.


In theory it might be a stellar idea... control the portion size a person can consume and help them feel full longer. In reality, it isn't that simple. The human body doesn't react well to its presence.

I think it's dangerous and disturbing that the band is being used on people with insignificant amounts of weight to lose. It drives home the fact that it's more about profit than actually helping people get healthier.

 
Yep, it's damaged my esophagus for life.  There is no fix.  And that isn't really all that uncommon.

I kinda "flopped" down on my bed last night while horsing around with my hubby. IMMEDIATELY I felt my stomach climb up into my chest from the stupid hiatal hernia I got while banded. I could barely catch my breath. Nothing makes you feel older or more broken down than simply lying down and then being unable to breathe. Happens ALL the time.

After I caught my breath, the left shoulder pain started again, so yay for that. Just constant reminders of my time banded... can't quite escape them. But, at least I'm fat again. Wait. **** I guess I only have bad reminders of my time banded.

 
If you have insurance why not get that fixed and self pay for the sleeve?  Ins is already going to pay for the anesthesia, hospital, etc.  All you would have to pay is the surgeon for the sleeve portion.

I'm working on that. I just went in last week for the physical and all the prelim stuff (Xrays, EKG, blood work.) However, in doing that, some health issues popped up that I wasn't even aware of. Bleah. So, I'm consulting with a couple of docs in the upcoming couple of weeks to find out what's what.