Post on the DS board by a lapbander

Debra, Dr. Verboonen did my last pre-revision band unfill.  He was the FIRST LapBand surgeon who was able to see* and document that I had esophageal dysmotility.  He was so sweet.  I had already figured out what was wrong and he was trying to find a way to break it to me.  He was so relieved when I finished the sentence for him.  He asked, "Do you read  lot?" Sue *He emptied the band and I swallowed the barium and he was explaining to another doctor how everything was now going to go RIGHT through the banded area, But it didn't.  It just bounced around in the esophagus while his eyes got bigger and bigger and then the barium swallow just sat there.   But at least two doctors and my husband got to SEE that I wasn't making up the symptoms...made me feel better.

I like Dr. Verboonen a lot.  He's a very caring doctor.  Did he perform your DS surgery?

No, Keshishian did it and I was fortunate in that I was able to browbeat my insurance into paying for it.

Kahia. You obviously are very unhappy therefore thrilled about any trouble you can make.  You did not understand my post and took it totally out of context (of course emphasizing all the negative you possibly could) I did not burn any bridges infact I've made more.  You could have replied to my post at the forum I posted it on, you did not have to be a fire starter and post it on other forums.  I'd hate to be your friend (I can't imagine how many knives you have thrown into backs).  You probably have started a ****load of trouble with those who think they are close to you. Good Day & Good Luck Misery loves Company!!!

And Ms. Kahiah  you've had a distal NOT a proximal RNY  You may never gain but most likely you will have some sort of issues. That is not at all from me wishing it because truly I can only wish you the best. Who in the world said I was perfect and would never have any issues?  I have and do not know what is in my future.  I just know that I will always give the best I got - that is all I can do. And yes God Bless you Honey. I am not from the South neither.

Leila, You have a LapBand.  So you know about your experiences with the LapBand.  And, really, that's ALL you know for sure.  All of this warning other people about how they are going to have trouble with THEIR post-op behaviors is most unbecoming.  Please consider sharing YOUR successes with YOUR choice of wls and give up on telling other people who have had other procedures how they have to live like you do or they'll be sorry.  This is SUPPOSED to be a place where we can share how we are doing...not a place where someone who has no training and no experience other than their own surgery can predict health problems and weight gain for those who are not conducting themselves they way SHE has decided that EVERYONE should conduct themselves. You, a LapBand person, started all this stuff by going to the DS board and posting about the "poor" RnY people.  And your point was? Next time you feel inclined to share how bad someone else's surgery is, send yourself a pm, for cryin' out loud. Sue

This thread is  just another great example of how one type of surgery may work for one person but not another. I researched all the options before I made my choice and I had to get really honest with myself.  My first inclination was to go for the lapband, as it was the less intrusive but after researching it, I knew that I would have out ate it or  i guess a more accurate term would be out drink it with high calorie,sugary drinks. Then i looked at the DS and I thought that it was a good choice but once again not a good choice for me because I do have a food addiction and if I was still allowed to eat what ever i wanted to like a cheeseburger and in larger amounts then I was gonna run with that and go overboard. So I decided that I needed the option that had the most forced behavior modifications to help me work on  my "food issues" and that was the rny. We are all at different levels as far as what  level or degree of help that we need to accomplish our weightloss so it's great that we have the different options to choose from. 

Jennifer, I'm not challenging your choice for your surgery.  I'm just trying to explain that this "problem" is probably based on the fact that the DS is difficult to understand and factor in after years and years of dieting. You wrote:...and if I was still allowed to eat what ever i wanted to like a cheeseburger and in larger amounts then I was gonna run with that and go overboard... Why would eating a cheeseburger--if your body thought a that a cheeseburger had less fat  and WAY more protein than a Lean Cuisine dinner--be going overboard? Comparison:  Lean Cuisine Steak Tips Dijon for un-DS'd people vs. Carl's Junior  Famous Star w/ Cheese for a DS person: Lean Cuisine for most people: 320 calories, 70 g fat, 8 g protein 44 g of carbs Famous Star Cheeseburger for a DS'er: 320 calories, 68 g fat, 27 g protein and 53 g of carbs I can still eat the Lean Cuisines, of course.  But I can ALSO eat the burger..and, givenmy protein intake the rest of the day, the burger might be the BETTER choice for me. This does NOT mean I think the DS is better for everyone.  But for me, given my inability to go without such stuff as cheeseburgers without developing other interesting quirks, it was MY better choice.  A friend with RnY asked me before my revision, "Why are you going for the more dangerous surgery with the higher rate of complications?"  My answer, "I'm most likely way crazier than you are...I need all the help I can get." Sue 

Sue~ I guess using a cheeseburger as an example was not a good one since a cheeseburger for a ds'er would be a good choice      my point was basically that I personally didn't just want a bandaid for my weight problem. I  wanted to go with a weightloss option that would help me to work on my food addiction and overeating. I know that if I had the ds... that I would take advantage of the fact that I could eat more whether that be cheesesburgers or pizza or chocolate. Yes I may have still lost the weight but I would still be indulging in my compulsive overeating. 

Yup...compulsive eating.  That's me.      And, at age 60, I don't know how long it would take to make a dent in THAT behavior.   There is probably a part of me that feels "safe" with that behavior and a more than a little afraid of what I might be inclined to begin as a variation...gambling maybe?  Compulsive scrapbooking?  I'm not so sure how I'd go over in the compulsive sex department given my age and the fact that my abdomen looks like a crazy quilt!! I have no idea WHAT I'd do, but since I usually have two speeds--full speed ahead or dead stop--I'm pretty sure I'd go after it with enthusiasm!  LOL So, my satisfaction with my choice is at least a little bit based on the fact that I can lose weight AND keep my old habits...and your satisfaction with yours is at least a little bit based on the fact that you MUST change your behaviors...and that's why my USUAL speech is that if we are brutally honest with ourselves about what we want and what we are willing to do to get there, we may just find the right surgery.  (I hope I did the second time.) Sue