How Often Do You Get STUCK ?????

Just a little curious incase I have the lapband I want the slevee but I can get the lapband for almost free with a 6 mnth pilot program.......I would like the sleeve if all I have to pay is $1500 out of pocket money........Which one do yall think I should get ???

Hi pamela,
I am 5 years out and released 130 pounds. Everyone has their own preference of course. Do your homework! My oppinion, If you have more than 120 - 130 pounds to lose, this probably not a good choice, higher bmi seem to do better with the other procedures. Everyone is different!

In part my family has a strong history of cancer, and I didn't want to reroute the organs or cut anything out either.

I choose the band as I knew it would be a slower process for me to wrap my head around and adjust to , plus it required more of my putting into practice life skills and habits for life.... Cleaner eating, exercise.

I also witnessed co workers with the other tools and they hadn't changed their habits , yes they lost quickly but they were not implementing the skills to keep them there, they are several years ahead of me, but quite a few regained too. Their poor eating creating serious problems later down the road. I didn't do it to be able to eat whatever I wanted, I did that for years and those were foods that contributed to my obesity.

A short time employee , a young girl where I work, had RNY she died 2 years after her surgery. Recently one of my preschoolers, mother had developed issues also related to her surgery ( she was also very young) she recently passed away. She had begun developing problems while her son was in my class. And about 2 months ago she passed away. I do not know the exact complications, but they did passed away from complications from their surgery . All surgeries can have complications either immediately or later on , band included. I guess I encountered that small percentage they speak of when we sIgn on the line. One former OH bander, had complications with her band, she later went in to have I believe RNY, she continued having serious issues and she passed away. She was a nursing student, I believe her name was Melissa. She hung around here a lot. Some of the veterans are very familiar with her. We all take that chance with surgery.

Again My oppinion, the band requires more of my participation. I have to pay closer attention to my body. It requires more matience, like a car! Lol! Too much air in the tires( too much fill), or too little air in the tires (not enough fill) and the car (band) won't work properly! So I have to pay attention and focus on the road. My tool is only as good as I drive it.

Also, FILL and UNFILL. Again, it's matience! Are you willing to commit?Depending on your insurance , your co pay and all that, you pay for fills and you pay for I fills.

No matter what WLS you decide upon, get professional help counseling, because it's the "head" we ultimately must get inline to make our tools successful. Also attending on going good supportive group from your doctors office .

Good luck in your decision,
Prek3

Sent from my iPhone

Oh...Pre-K, that was Alyssa her screen name was bornswimmer...who passed away after her revision from band to bypass. I felt so bad, she was so young and had her whole life ahead of her, she was a Medical student from Michigan, and was living in Florida, she was banded back in 2005 and used to be on the band boards a lot and I was so so sad about her death.

This is one reason I get so upset when people bash the band, I've seen SO MANY PEOPLE DIE from the bypass, or have horrific life long chronic problems with it, and IF SOMEONE GETS FOOD STUCK OR SLIME WITH THE BAND ...THEY CRY FOUL....THE BAND GETS A BAD RAP FOR NO REASON IN MY BOOK....compared to what I've seen others go through with other weight loss surgeries...MANY KEEP QUIET about their issues....which is a disservice in my opinion, I think people tend to keep quiet about problems with other procedures more often because they can't easily reverse the problem like you can with the band.

Oh, stuck? Not often, all procedures I believe require chewing your food well!That was your original question, but I felt their was a much bigger question behind your post when you where talking about $$$$, don't let $$$ determine which procedure you go with either.
Prek3

You SHOULD NOT pick a weight loss surgery because of a DEAL. Have you thoroughly research the Band and Sleeve? Nor should you pick the Sleeve over the Band because of potential getting food stuck, YOU CAN GET FOOD STUCK WITH BOTH THE BAND AND THE SLEEVE if you don't chew properly.

The reason the band may cause people to get stuck more often is that the band can be tighten MORE TIGHTER than the Sleeve. However, many people may lose weight quicker with the Sleeve than the Band because the Sleeve causes dumping syndrome in addition to restriction which is not freely discussed on the Sleeve board for some strange reason.

Also if you are willing to get most of your stomach removed the Sleeve is a good choice for many since you don't have to worry about getting fills, it's easier weight loss, especially the first year. Many people are now picking the Sleeve over the Band just for those reasons -- and that's a good thing, because in the past MANY people were getting the band and SHOULD NOT HAVE, the band is just not a good fit for many people that can't afford the aftercare, or problems that may arise from it.

It's a GOOD thing that many people now have a CHOICE to pick from since the band and sleeve are both restrictive surgeries, the Sleeve has an advantages of not having a foreign body in the stomach and most people have good restriction from the Sleeve out of surgery, I was lucky both times with my band, I had restriction right out of surgery with my old band and my surgeon put a big fill in my new band right out of surgery so I never experienced "band hell" but the band has its advantages too of being adjustable and removable, if complication occur.

The band is not a good idea for people with limited incomes or not willing to see their surgeon often, so you need to think about that. Also everyone is different how they react to the band, SOME people have different bands, sizes, esophagus, etc so just because a few people say they get stuck often with the band does not mean YOU WILL GET FOOD STUCK.

When I had my old band 7 years I got food stuck a few times, but it was not every week or month, it was every few months when ever I goofed up, but it was not very often to cause a poor qualify of life. So far with my new band I have not gotten stuck once, I feel normal like I don;t have a band, I just get full very quickly.....I love how my old band felt and I love how my new band feels too, I would not change to another weight loss procedure because the band works good for me, even though I had to get my old one replaced..

Please choose a weight loss surgery that you REALLY WANT and can live with, not because of cost or a deal.

Good Luck

 

 

When I was banded, I had a stuck episode every so often, usually because I wasn't using good band eating skills (take tiny bites, chew very well, eat slowly, don't drink while eating, etc.) because I was too hungry or too rushed or too distracted to eat carefully.

Interestingly, I revised to the sleeve in August and recently had a stuck episode after eating too fast. I've heard that gastric bypass patients can also have stuck episodes.

I'm not sure what you've been told about the sleeve or why it appeals to you more than the band. I'm not thrilled with my sleeve and I still miss my band, so I'm not unbiased about it, but if you want to know more about my experience with the sleeve, let me know.

No one here can tell you which is the best surgery for you. The occurrence of stuck episodes or other side effects is not (in my opinion) a good basis for choosing a WLS procedure, because it's something that's mostly within the patient's control. I think you should also consider efficacy and the potential for complications. Personally, I wouldn't choose a WLS procedure solely based on the out-of-pocket cost. Does that pilot program also include fills, aftercare, and future surgery to treat complications?

So, if what I experienced wasn't a stuck episode by your definition, what was it? Maybe this is just a semantic issue?

I agree that you need to do the research and base your decision on your sitution and what you are willing to comit to.

I was banded 1/31/2012 and am down 135 pounds. I have 25 to go. I have NEVER had a stuck episode. I did a lot of reading and continue to and when I hear about what others are going through, I just make sure I follow the rules so that I won't have to worry about it. I have always been afraid of that and of being too tight, so I have only had one initial fill and don't plan on any further. I feel that I have gone this long and learned how to manage my food intake, so hopefully that will work a long time for me.

Best wishes to whatever you decide to do. The band can work for people who have to lose more than 100+, it just takes a lot of dedication and commitment. I started out at 330 pounds.

I had my Lap Band for almost 5 years before I had to revise to the Sleeve.

I've had both, so I can tell you my experience.  I loved my Lap Band.  It worked for me.  I lost 270lbs and was probably stuck and slimed 4 times in that 4.5 years.  Then one day, I just started getting stuck on everything.  I had horrible reflux to the point of vomiting acid up during the night.  I would get so stuck even on protein shakes until late in the evening.  Then I was starving and I'd eat everything.  I gained.  I gained for the first time in over 4 years.  I had not gained once in those 4 years.  Sure, I didn't lose every day, I stalled a lot, this is normal when you have that much to lose.  BUT I never gained.  I was so frustrated.

Finally, I decided I better see the doctor, the frequent sliming and vomiting was out of hand and I was starting to be worried.  My doctor's upper GI showed nothing was wrong.  We requested approval for my Band to be removed.  I wanted it out.  I was tired of vomiting and I was gaining and felt there must be something wrong.

They approved my removal (I had been selfpay when I got it) and they approved my revision to Sleeve in one day.

In the OR, my surgeon found the Lap Band tubing wrapped around my internal organs.  He also had to make holes in my stomach to get the Lap Band out.  There was so much scar tissue,  he had no choice.  He said, even if I hadn't agreed to get the Sleeve, he would have had to alter my stomach just to get the Band out.  he said he had never seen anything like it.

I do not Bash the Band.  I loved my Band.  I feel it worked and did what it was supposed to do for a long time.  I don't think it's something that should be left in our bodies forever.  My surgeon said the more you lose the more scar tissue forms around the band and it becomes very tight, even if you haven't had an adjustment.  I hadn't had a fill in over a year when the sliming and vomiting started.

You need to do some research on the Sleeve.  With the Sleeve, you will permanently lose 85% of your stomach.  I do have Reflux now and it's something that some others with the Sleeve suffer.  I take Prilosec and it resolves it.  I am able to eat anything.  I have no sliming, no intolerances and no pain.  I love the Sleeve and I have no regrets getting it.  I haven't been hungry at all.  I was having the hunger sensation until the Reflux was resolved.  But now that I am taking the Prilosec, I never feel hungry.  I eat 5 - 3 to 4 oz meals every 3 to 4 hours.  I have to remind myself to eat or I feel faint.   I am losing weight and I have the hope of reaching my final weight loss goal.

Do your research - don't consider the cost - consider the lifestyle and consider which is right for you.  Take cost out of the picture.  This is a lifestyle change and it can alter your body for the rest of your life. 

 

If you are self pay I would definately say go with the sleeve, it is one surgery and then you are done. I would never advise anyone to get a band because they are only good for 5-10 yrs then you have to look at another surgery and that comes from the manufacturers, not something I made up. With the band you will have lots of fills and unfills for years to come and that is out of your pocket! I had to pay $225 for every fill and unfill!!! That is where the docs make their money. Personally I'm just waiting till I can get on medicare and revise to a sleeve because my band has never worked and there are hundreds of others in the same boat. If you ask on the sleeve board you will find there are many, many ex bandsters that have gone to the sleeve fir various reasons and I would say the majority are thrilled with their sleeves. The idea of a sleeve doesn't scare me since they have been done since the 1940's for cancer and ulcers so it is far from being a new surgery it is just newer as a weight loss surgery. It is your choice to make but I would advise you read both forums and see what people are posting about as far a problems.