Why I Chose the Band (repost from the archives)

I was in my 40s and headed for congestive heart failure. 

I had more medical issues/comorbidities than I could count.

I was 376 pounds with a BMI of 54, taking 7 meds a day for those issues.  

I could barely walk due to severe edema in my legs and feet.

Based on MY needs, the band was the right choice. Based on YOUR needs and hopes, perhaps not. But it was right for ME. And it worked beyond my wildest expectations.

Each of us needs to make the decision to have WLS at all, and which procedure to choose, based on extensive research of all the available options and how those options apply to our needs, lifestyle, medical issues, etc. Providing both pros and cons of each and every WLS is truly helpful to those who are starting their journey to a new life, and preops need to listen carefully to both sides of every procedure.

The band may not be the "gold" or "platinum" standard in WLS, but right now it is the ONLY option available to people who do NOT want their gastrointestinal tract altered, cut, dissected, resected, shortened, removed, edited (whatever). The ONLY one, and that is a big, BIG deal breaker for a LOT of people.

Prior to my surgery, I had decade-long digestive issues (which were, go figure! resolved after I had the band.) The last thing I wanted was any surgery what might exacerbate that, especially permanently. So RNY, sleeve and DS were all off the list. 

Does that make me ill informed, less intelligent, a puppet to my surgeon's whims, lacking in reading comprehension? No. It makes me the OPPOSITE. It makes me someone who has clearly made the right decision about MY life, MY body and MY weight loss.

Informing preops of all their options is a great idea. It's HOW that idea is presented that is insulting. People who HAVE weighed their options - ALL of them - and made their decision should not be made to feel stupid because they chose a surgery that is not the one someone else approves of. As I said, we've all had a life full of put-downs, and the last thing any of us needs is to experience MORE of it, especially at the hands of those who should know better.

Bette

I have to tell u , u are a rockstar ! Love ur posts! U  are always positive well educated and informed ! Nice to see !

                                                                Brenda

LOL - I don't know about all that, but thank you!

Congrats. It's been a long road for me too. Lots of hills and bumps. Off topic: my question to u and any other is now that its been like 10 years for you how often do u c your dr? And how often do u get fills or unfill a? And do week keep our bands like till death? Don't know anyone had theirs longer than you. Has there been any long term study on having it in for say 20 or 30 years?
Sorry, it's late and my mind is in overdrive.

 

I'm coming up to 7 years not 10 but I have been seeing my doc every year and get an annual barium swallow.

Some fairly small studies go back up to 15 years but they aren't much use to us as they were of people who had the now obsolete bands and whose bands were implanted using a now obsolete surgical method.

Back in 2006 when I was banded, I was led to believe the band would, barring bad luck, be inside me for life. Doctors actually told people that! I now believe that this may be true only for a very lucky few! I have no idea how long I will keep my band! Life would be good but I am just hoping for as long as possible!

i haven't need a fill for five and a half years and my only unfill was of 0.1cc about four years ago.

The band hasn't, I don't believe, been in use 20 or 30 years. It's just over 10 in the US.

Yes, the plan is that the band stays in forever, barring any problems that require removal. As for fills, I get one when I feel like a need one. I got one sometime last year (1.5 cc in, then .5 unfill) , and it had been a while since I had had another one.  If you feel like everything is working the way it should, you don't ever have to get another fill.

 

Thanks. I had my band placed in back in 08. There were 5 of us getting it done that day in the military hospital. We all have kept in touch for support. I am now the only one left still with the band. The others have had issues with it and have had it removed. Just makes me wonder.

I can tell the band has been helping me, but I do know I would have better results if I, myself would worker harder, but I do know it would be worse without the band. I have never been at a standing weight before, my weight before band always went up never down or at a stand still.

It is work and I am willing to keep the band as long as my body and doctors will let me keep it.

Thanks again for the info

Laurie

I love, love, love this post. I couldn't have said it better. Everyone needs to read this and take under advisement the way their negativity affects the people that are still on the fence about WLS. They make that crucial step and decide to go forth just to be slapped back by thoughtless comments. I was one of those people and i finally decided to undergo the Lap Band for me; no one else. 

Bette, I think this is the best post you've ever had! I could not agree MORE!!!  I chose the Band based on MY NEEDS, not some stranger on the internet that I will never meet. I based my lap band decision on ME, because I am the one that will have to live with it.

Like you I knew FULL WELL that the band was not considered the "Gold Standard" and because of this, I would have to work a bit harder with my tool and removing parts of my body or rearranging things would be a DEAL BREAKER FOR ME TOO.

If my band causes me problems I will just get it removed. I wish those who get other procedures would RESPECT that fact and quit shoving other procedures down others throats.

They got several boards for SEVERAL REASONS. It would be very disrespectful for me to constantly post on the Sleeve board and try to "Recruit" people to get the band. I am EXTREMELY suspicious of people trying to "recruit people to their surgery, I am firm believer that "Misery Loves Company"

I could care less which surgical option someone chooses, I am intelligent enough to know what I want done to my body.