Hello - Introducing myself

I've been reading posts for awhile and found the information and conversation to be both helpful and encouraging.

I'm 52 years old and I've been overweight for a little over 20 years. When I was younger my weight was around 175 - 185 because I worked a physical job and exerted myself enough to burn off my "lumberjack" size meals. About age 30 I got a job where I sat at a desk for most of the workday, but I continued to eat the same way. Well, needless to say, I began to pack on the pounds.

I climbed on the scales a couple a months ago and weighed 297 lbs. I'd alway promised myself I'd do "something" before I got to 300. Over the years I have done a lot of yo-yo dieting - lost some, gained it back plus some...

Finally realized I need some help, so I've decided to have lapband. My surgery date is 2/9/2011. I started the process on 12/3/2010 @ 295 lbs. I've lost some weight since that time, but I know me...give me another month or two and I'm likely to be back to my old way of eating. I'm hoping with lapband, good support, and the grace of God I'll make it to goal.

Good luck with the Lap Band from a fellow lap bander.

My advice though - do you research on surgery type. Don't go to other boards and let the surgery wars get you down. Find what is right for you!

GOOD LUCK!

 I'm glad you decided to have WLS.  My former sister-in law who is a nurse convinced me to go for an RNY when I was 50 and weighed 575.  It saved my life.  I grew up thin also.  So, we don't all have the experience of having been overweight all of our lives.  I didn't start to gain weight until I got engaged to be married.

Keep posting here.  We like helping each other.

I've never met anyone that was successful with the lap band long term and I've been on these forums for over 5 years. There is perhaps someone out there that has been successful, but you're better off with a different type of surgery.

I am not diagreeing with you, but by not encouraging this poster to do his researcher, simply by BAND BASHING, you are doing him a great dis-service! I personally know of SEVERAL long term successes on these forums.

He SHOULD do his research, but your BAND BASHING is not cool!

Dude...you use to come on OH and bash us DSers constantly...telling us how we were all going to die of malnutrition and how the band was GODS gift to the world (yes you are remembered). Now you're sitting there with a major regain saying that the band is a viable surgery? It sucks.....there are very few people who can make it work long term...probably very close to the same percent of people who can make diet and exercise work long term. At least with the sleeve, he'll have a reduction in hormones that cause hunger, and he eliminates the possibility of band slippage. The RNY is old technology, more and more doctors are moving to surgeries that maintain the pyloric valve (VSG and DS...although the DS is not the old style one like I have but rather in many cases they are moving to a smaller stomach and a much longer common channel).

This is just my opinion, it's not medical advice, and he can feel free to do his research. I'd recommend going to www.dsfacts.com see the long term statistics of the DS they are fantastic.


http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/3713846/Band-Revisions-can-you-put-your-story-here/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/3538116/Just-published-lap-band-study/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/3740302/Gastric-remnant-was-the-cause-of-the-horrible-pain/
Scott

Dude, I NEVER bashed any surgery type. Never once. I DO remember you from surgery wars on the Lap Band forum several years ago. But I NEVER ONCE bashed any particular surgery.

IMO, ALL Weight Loss Surgeries are God's gift! We all used to be FAT people, and were given a 2nd chance at life thanks to our surgery!

I congratulate you. You were obese, if not morbildy obese (I do not know your story only typical OH ones) and lost the weight down to a happy place. That is AWESOME!

But I know I never bashed any surgery.

PS....ALSO I know a lot of the facts about DS. And I encourage EVERYONE to do their research about which surgery to get. NO ONE should make such a major decision un-informed.

One more thing. You are doing the OP a dis-service by saying this like the Band only works long term for as many as diet and exercise works long term. Well, I can name MANY, yes MANY, names of people who have made it work long term. So don't say things that aren't true.

Fine I won't say anything about the crap band...I'll just say the proof is in the pudding...10 of the first 20 posts on the revision forum are from lap band people that need revisions. THAT IS FREAKEN INSANE!!!!! Notice no DSers want a revision...although people do want revisions to the DS.


I think we are doing a major disservice by NOT warning people of this terrible surgery. Look at the post from the woman who had 2 lap bands and both failed!!!! THAT IS INSANITY AT IT'S PEAK!!!!

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4314229/6-yrs-out-with-2nd-lapband-and-considering-revision-but/

Here's the link to the revision forum for anyone interested in saving themselves pain and suffering:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/a,messageboard/board_id,5360/

Scott

PS MY MOTTO IS THINK TWICE CUT ONCE...GET A SURGERY THAT WORKS!!!!!!

Devil's Advocate:

Duodenal Switch is the most aggressive procedure and as a result, also carries the highest potential for complications. Potential Duodenal Switch complications include:

• Leaks
• Blood clots forming in the legs
• Pulmonary embolus or blood clots traveling to the lungs
• Infection
• Abscesses
• Bowel obstruction
• Pneumonia
• Problems with healing at incision site

Additional potential complications include:

• Kidney failure
• Injury to the spleen which requires removal during surgery
• Bleeding

As a result of these complications, some patients may need to spend extra time in the ICU. A patient may also require extra time in the ICU if their health is poor initially.

Some complications of Duodenal Switch are more long term, and may not become evident for some time after Duodenal Switch. These potential long term complications of Duodenal Swit*****lude nutritional and vitamin deficiencies that are generally preventable with adequate supplementation. Deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium and protein may occur which can result in osteoporosis, anemia and poor health in general. Duodenal Switch patients should be dedicated to taking supplemental vitamins and minerals, consuming a high protein diet and having their blood tested each year.

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Look, I'm not ragging on DS.  If you want it, fine.  But my point is, EVERY, EVERY, WLS has it's risks. 

That said:

Sure .....up until recently people that get the DSer are in general heavier and have had more comorbidities. Add to that the fact that the DS is the revision surgery of choice when a person fails another WLS then you have a general increase in possible complications.

BUT if you look at more recent studies for risk of complications you will see that the DS has the same complication risk as the RNY.

check out www.dsfacts.com

For instance, considering that you have had a MAJOR regain, and are sitting at a weight where it seems like you didn't even had a WLS, if you had another WLS now, you'd be at an increased risk because of the potential scaring in your abdominal area, AND on (in) your stomach. The Band is very dangerous and can scar the stomach and pierce your abdominal lining.

I'm not arguing, I'm sending out a warning to anyone who will listen.

Scott