Ready for Lap Band

On July 9, 2012 at 4:14 PM Pacific Time, NanceC wrote: Congrats!  I was scared too before surgery, it is normal to be scared.  I have had my band for 3 1/2 years and have not had any problems.  There are lots of people out there that have not had any problems, they don't post because they are going on with there lives everyday.  The band is a commitment that you will need to decide if you can make that commitment.  The sleeve is newer than the band and does not have enough people that have had it to say there won't be problems long term with the sleeve.  Most insurances don't cover the sleeve because it is so new some insurances are just starting to cover it.  All WLS have risks so does having a high BMI!  The commitment to the band is are you going to not drink when eating, eat slowly, exercise,and not keep the band to tight follow Dr. orders completely measure all your food?  If you don't see yourself following all the above steps you should look into another surgery.  Research and ask as many questions as you feel comfortable with this is your body nobody else is.  Good Luck with whatever surgery you choose!

Nance I to am about 3.5 years out.  I agree with most Nance. 
Many Insurances are now covering the sleeve.  Mine was a long time hold out.
The sleeve isn't really newer but, has been the first part of a 2 part surgery (DS)   Insurances used it's "newnest" as a stand alone to not cover it.  Many that got it did so well they never went back for the 2nd have but they weren't included in the "official" study.

I loved my band and was a big supporter for the first year too.  The staff said I was the perfet band patient.  Than...

Good luck with your surgery OP.  The best to you with a speedy and healthy operation and weight lose.

~There are lots of people out there that have not had any problems, they don't post because they are going on with there lives everyday.~

Nancy how many LONG TERM bandsters do you know in real life??? True a lot of bandsters have not had complicatons, but they are not that far out. I am VERY active in the WLS community and I seldom see LONG TERM bandsters in real life. And when I do............most are having, or have had complications. :-(

Yep...all WLS have risks.  Some are much worse than others.  WLSs are not created equal.  The band has the highest complication rate and the worst weight loss.  OP-please research all FOUR WLSs thoroughly before deciding what is best for you.

There is so much misinformation in your reply to the original poster, and I'd like to discuss each and every point with you, if you don't mind ?

For now I'd like to address this part of your reply,

" The sleeve is newer than the band and does not have enough people that have had it to say there won't be problems long term with the sleeve.  Most insurances don't cover the sleeve because it is so new some insurances are just starting to cover it. "

History

The first successful gastrectomy was performed by Theodor Billroth in 1881 for cancer of the stomach.

Historically, gastrectomies were used to treat peptic ulcers.^[1] These are now usually treated with antibiotics, as it was recognized that they are usually due to Helicobacter pylori.

In the past a gastrectomy for peptic ulcer disease was often accompanied by a vagotomy, to reduce acid production. Nowadays, this problem is managed with proton pump inhibitors.

Christian Albert Theodor Billroth (26 April 1829 at Bergen auf Rügen in the Kingdom of Prussia – 6 February 1894) was a Prussian-born Austrian surgeon and amateur musician.

As a surgeon, he is generally regarded as the founding father of modern abdominal surgery.

 

NanceC, not sure where you are getting your information from... Sleeve is not NEW... sleeve has been around for many years just not as a stand alone weight loss surgery. It has been used to treat stomach cancer and ulcer disease long before bariatric surgery became common. MOST insurances are covering the sleeve as a Bariatric option now, including Medicaid.
The sleeve is also the first part of the DS surgery, which if completed in two parts on a SMO patient, they would first receive the sleeve to get to a safer weight, then have the switch added to it to complete the weight loss.

 Ask alot of questions at the dr.
All surgeries carry a risk. Read some posts on here good and bad.
But you make up your own mind.

I am not here to argue with the Sleeve Surgery Board!  I am here to give feedback to a member of the LAP BAND FORUM!   What I will do is say sorry when I am wrong.  If I am wrong, about how new the sleeve is I am sorry:)  However, I am not sorry for giving my advice for the many people who don't post here that have had and still have good success with their band.

Nance

That's right, Nance!

You have the right to give your advice, just like everyone else does.   Unfortunately, only those of us who like our bands are having success with our bands are the ones being made to feel as if we know NOTHING about the band.  Ironic, isn't it?? 

 C-C... no one is saying that you know nothing about your band. Every experience is valid.

But trying to suppress the "negative" things will not do anyone any good in the long run. And some stuff here on this forum is just downright wrong and bad information, no matter how you slice it.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that if someone who was around the block a few times was trying to help by giving info, I wouldn't discount what they had to say, even if you don't find it agreeable. Instead, you've chosen to sequester yourself in a "happy band" group. And what happens if you should experience something less than "happy making?" Wouldn't you rather have all avenues of communication open to you?  I'm not saying that you're GOING TO have band problems, but just "what if?" 

I got used to my band but it took some work. You can't really understand up front about some of the minor complications like slimming and productive burping and having to hit yourself in the chest to get unstuck. I had my band for a year and a few months before I had major complications. Just know that it can and does happen. The place that did my fills charged my insurance $600 a pop for a fill. I could have never afforded that on my own. Luckily (all how you look at it), I had dilation and a slipped band and was able to revise to the sleeve. I can't eat as much as I could with the band but I don't get stuck, puke, slime, or have PB's anymore so it makes it so much more enjoyable to eat with friends and family. Good luck on your decision. I'm hard headed and probably wouldn't have listened to anyone warning me about the band before hand, but I sure wish someone had of tried.