Is there any other surgery REALLY better than the Lap Band? Long Term

Many surgeons are now pushing people from lap bands to Sleeves due to slippage, pouch dilations and poor weight loss....

Instead of FILLING their bands properly, educating Lap banders on how to PROPERLY use their bands -- educating them on how to prevent slippage -- I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SLIPPAGE HAPPENING ON MODERATE RESTRICTION (exercise, proper diet) without slippage and being too tight, many surgeons are just plain and simply sick of the AFTERCARE that the Lap band requires and pushing them to either Bypass and Sleeve and "waiting for their bands to slip" sadly.

REVISIONS nowadays is GOOD revenue in a bad economy........But Lap Banders BEWARE...I see a bad trend happening, you SHOULD read the REVISION BOARD and not really CONCENTRATE on those who are angry with their bands and want it out...

You should pay attention to the NEW TREND....THOSE WHO ARE NOW REVISING FROM THE SLEEVE, more than BYPASS seeking revisions...and it is ALARMING ..

There were a few lap banders that I followed over 5 years ago *****vised from the Band to the Sleeve, the GREAT BAND CONVERSION to Sleeve started back in 2007 and I followed a few for a couple of years, a few lost weight, BUT MANY DID NOT, they just silently disappeared from the boards, remember I had MANY FRIENDS here since 2005, and MANY lost their bands and revised to the Sleeve, I can only count about 5 that were successful WITH pictures out of about 50, that I was on my friends list.

Those *****vised to the Bypass or DS were more successful with their revisions than Band to Sleeve -- THAT IS A FACT.

But the SADDER fact is....MOST Bypass people are looking for LAP BANDS now especially after 5 years post op.

NOW....MOST surgeons don't lie to you, they don't care which surgery you pick, when they suggest a Bypass revision over the Sleeve you need to listen -- IF YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT without HARD DIETING and running weekly/daily marathons after your Sleeve revision...LOL.

Sure you will have some restriction after your surgery, but from what I hear....that will go away very soon, once all the swelling goes down from them removing your stomach.

Now after seeing this poster, whom I remember over 8 years ago who had her band place back in 2001, then she revised to the Sleeve in 2008 and NOW she is saying that MANY Sleevers are seeking the DS? That trend would scare me if I was looking into into a revision from Band to Sleeve.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4625931/Revision-to-ds- after-vsg-why/

 

Also many say they LOVE their new Sleeve stomach, but this poster is getting a revision quickly from the Sleeve to Bypass because of the horrible reflux which I hear is mostly bile. How can you LOVE the Sleeve when you have bile reflux, but HATE the band when you have regurgitative reflux?...see this is why I just can't believe band bashers when they SAY their Sleeve life is so much better than the Lap band, you can't make me believe it is SO much better.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4630414/Revision- Lap-Band-to-Sleeve-or-RNY-any-advice-or-had-to/

 

I looked at these TRENDS when I was making a decision last year when I was thinking about the Sleeve, I DON'T listen to disgruntle band bashers they are NO value, I look for TRENDS and read these revision boards IN-DEPTH, I did not concentrate on people hating their bands, I concentrated on THOSE who seeking revisions from the Sleeve, Bypass, from what I hear, you don't hear people seeking revisions from the DS they keep all their issues private on private boards and that scared me even worse.

My band to band revision from 4cc to AP Band is looking better and better each day. I don't have reflux, vomiting, nausea, heartburn or other issues, my weight loss is a bit slower than my original banding surgery, but HEY most revisions have slower weight loss regardless of which option they choose.....I AM VERY VERY VERY HAPPY I gave the lap band another chance.

One thing you REALLY NEED to REMEMBER, you MAY HATE your Lap band right now, and think ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN THE LAP BAND but AFTER reading the revision board as of late -- is there anything REALLY BETTER than the band?

 

 

I think that your observations could be correct about revisions from LapBand to VGS having mixed, if not, great results.  My belief is that since both surgeries are purely restrictive surgeries, the success will MOSTLY depend on the patient.  I know some people that revised and blew past their original goal weight.  The sleeve just enabled them to really be successful.  I also know some people that struggled. 

I believe some people don't have real, hard-core issues with food, and don't display addictive behaviors with food.  These same people probably ate healthy a lot of the time, but just couldn't control their portions.  For them, a restrictive surgery works beautifully.  For others, such as myself, showing addictive behaviors with foods, a restrictive surgery isn't always enough.  ESPECIALLY since the foods I have the most problem with are sliders.  Unless someone is able to really control their behavior through soul-searching or therapy, a mal-absorbative procedure might be the best solution.  Even then, the root reasons for evereating needs to be addressed, or regain is inevitable at some point.

Having had both of the restrictive surgeries, I can tell you that I like my sleeve best, because it is so low maintenance.  I also finally got my act together a few months ago and have been losing weight again.  I am close to my low with the LapBand.  At one point, after my second LapBand surgery, I had regained almost 60 pounds of my 105 lb loss.  EEK!

Whichever surgery someone chooses, I wish them much success. 

Melly I think you are dead on what you said.   I also think alot of people think just cause they had the surgery its going to be a cake walk and losing weight will be just as easy as the snap of the fingers and you wont gain weight back .  They might not admit that out loud to people but WLS patients think like that .  I did .

 

One surgery might not have the complications as another surgery but if you dont conquer them food demons you will gain weight back .

I know people from every WLS out there expect for the DS its not done around here and people have gained weight back from the gastrc, to the band and yes the most talked about surgery now the Sleeve.

People think they wont gain weigh back cause you had surgery or if you get this type of surgery done it wont happen but deep down we know that isnt the truth .

 

I have been very very lazy the last yr with my surgery . I have put on 20 pounds . It's from not eating the right foods, not getting off my lazy ass and exercising four days a week a like I use to .    It's my fault.

I went in to get my first fill and it made me more tighter then I wanted even just s a small fill and I had it taken back out .  I got scared that I would have problems down the line if I kept it that way it just wasnt worth it .

 

Can I eat more then I should yes up to 2 cups of food but I cant eat like I use to so I  am grateful for that .   I just need to get my head back into the game , get off the damn couch and start exercising again .

 

It's hard when you fall of the wagon and try to get back up again.  It's a ***** !!

Most all of us are so motivated, right after surgery.  It's extremely hard to capture that commitment and enthusiasm, the further out you get.  I am sure you can do it!!

I'm a total band supporter but to objective, I have to say, I don't think anyone is right or wrong. From the beginning people need to determine what the biggest contributors to their weight issues are. Moderately overweight and eat huge meals? Band. Moderately overweight, eat huge meals, and have compliance issues? Maybe sleeve. More overweight and/or diabetic? RNY. Want the biggest loss the fastest? DS. (I'm aware that's a gross oversimplification!!)

Every surgery has side effects and every one has limitations. Some people who have RNY never gain more than 10 lbs back. Some weigh more at 5 years than they did pre-op. some people cheat the band or don't get fills for the same reason others eat more down the road on other surgeries. Then when their surgery fails everyone wants to proclaim how bad it is.

That's sad. Every surgery is right for someone. The band gets a way worse wrap than it should here. People who mean well lose credibility because they have no objectivity. Hallelujia to everyone who is losing and/or maintaining, no matter what path they chose.

I'd have to say that a "better" long-term surgery would be one that doesn't rely on a foreign object that even the manufacturer admits isn't intended to last for more than about ten years.

I would also say a "better" surgery would be one that relies far less on the patient using it properly, since it seems so many people are incapable of doing that.

I agree with Nana B. There is good and bad in every surgery. Right now, I love my band, two years ago, I hated it. But, overall, I know it is the best surgery I ever had. It's adjustable and controls my hunger. I'm proof a long termer can still have this band without complications. I have had it for 6 years and still eat a high protein diet, exercise, and remember where I came from.

anything at this point is better than my life with the band. whether I get sleeve, roux en y, ds or NO other surgery, anything is better than living with this constant chronic almost debilitating pain I have had since February this year when my band tightened up to the point where it was painful and I could get nothing down but liquids!

I think your post makes the assumption that someone is going to trade off heartburn/reflux for bile reflux. it kind of assumes that you will have also have problems with another surgery so you should what just be happy and stick with your band? that isn't necessarily so. also you are human and as such we tend to see patterns when there is not, your so called 'trends' might just be that. random patterns that are not related.

I also find the general tone of your post to be apathetic. You've never heard of slippage happening with moderate restriction? are you a lap band doctor? just because YOU personally have not heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. my lap band has been randomly tightening up on it's own for no known reason. so based on my own empirical evidence, you can have a slip even with moderate restriction. exercise has absolutely no bearing btw on whether or not your band will slip.

ok so let's look at your own personal experience: "I don't have reflux, vomiting, nausea, heartburn or other issues, my weight loss is a bit slower than my original banding surgery,"

OK Did you have those things with the first band?? I must tell you, every band doctor I saw  said they would never do a band to band revision if the first band was causing such intolerance, whether or not there was successful weightloss. If you had those symptoms with a band, they considered that a failed band and would not reband, so I am questing why your doctors would even do such a thing?

You asked why I got rebanded? Because *I* wanted a new band, and I found another surgeon to reband me, that had a good track record of revisions and had placed many bands and was band-friendly.

My reasons for opting for a new band instead of the Sleeve or RNY were personal, I was successful with my old band, so getting a new band made more sense to me, and I am not good at taking a boat load of vitamins for life. Living with my band almost 8 years is pretty much care-free, I probably will not get any more fills in my new band, I am done, I only needed 6 fills to get to my sweet spot and I can eat every thing I like, I just can't eat much and this is why I chose the band, it works for me, and it may not be the best choice for you.

I did not have food intolerance with my old band, I had a undiagnosed hiatal hernia that was causing back/chest pain and reflux if it was filled optimally. When my old 4cc band was unfilled or moderately filled, I had no issues or food intolerance issues. Typically when someone have frequent vomiting, reflux, heartburn and misery, and cannot tolerate solids even on an empty band or near empty this means that they have band slippage, those symptoms are not normal with a healthy and well position band.

If you are experiencing reflux, vomiting, heartburn and food intolerances you should get your band removed ASAP, because the longer you wait, the more damage will be done to your body.

When my new surgeon fixed my hernia and removed the old 4cc band and replaced the new one, he said my old band was not fitted properly in the beginning and I had an undiagnosed hiatal hernia that was never repaired, so my old band was not meant to last forever in the first place due to those issues alone.

I really did not have permanent damage done to my body because I sought help immediately from my surgeon and I had to search for a highly skilled revision surgeon that was band-friendly to do my revision, and he was able to successfully repair my hiatal hernia, remove my old band, place a new band all in one surgery and I have not had ANY reflux, vomiting, heartburn or food intolerance with my new AP band, and I am over 7 months post op from my revision.

I am VERY happy I decided to get a new band, I don't know what the future holds, but I had burning and heartburn with my old 4cc band from day one and always had to be on a PPi or Prevacid or Protonix. So far with my new AP band, I have not had burning, heartburn or reflux yet or needed a PPi, and I have good restriction, SO...this give me great hope with the longetivity of my new band, I learned my lessons with my old band to never add more saline when I am at a good spot., I don't want to ruin a good thing.

Sorry if you felt I was being apathetic, that was not my point, my point was I was seeing way too many people seeking revisions from RNY and the Sleeve, and the Sleeve is still considered a new surgery and that is just not a good sign especially for anyone looking to revise to it.

The Lap band is NOT for everyone, and that is OK, get something that will work for YOU, you don't have to explain to anyone why you hate your band, if you have poor aftercare, please lash out at your surgical practice, if they did not fill your band properly you need to voice your concerns to your surgeons office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thin****ep reading NANAB posts about why the band is better or whatever her philosophy is, is because she is still trying to convince herself she made the right choice in surgery.

 

And all this blah blah seems like a lot of hearsay and OPINION... NONE supported by statistics or facts. If so its not noted!

There is NOTHING good abut the band I lived with it for two years SLIPPED after ONE stuck episode and I hadn't even been filled to my "sweet spot"

A lot of DSer's are two step patients. Get the sleeve first and switched later. Some of them want to see how well they do with the sleeve alone and then have the option to "revise" to the switch later. ITS AN OPTION!!!!!

There is nothing SECRET about the DS. anyone can lurk our boards and read about all of our "secrets"

The information about every surgery is available. Stop making excuses or  reason why the band is or isn't better.