Will the band work?

Hi,
  I keep going back and forth on either the Band or the sleeve. I am 5'0 and I'm about 235-245 I would like to lose about 100-110 pounds. I have read alot about the band, I know pretty much you have to work for the band to work. But for me the RNY and cutting my insides up just doesn't sound right :) I was looking into the sleeve but again with a smaller amount of weight to be lost do you think the band would work. I guess I'm hoping to hear from other bandster and hear your story. I want this to work. I came on here 100% for the band then I read so much and change my mind. The sleeve would be OK. But still think the band is better...I have my first doc appointment on the 21st of Jan. He doesn't most RNY's. I don't want that and I know he can't talk me into it.....I'm OK with losing weight over a period of time. That doesn't bother me. I don't cave alot of sweets. My brother is depression. I eat when i get depressed. I have been able to control that now for a few months. But this extra weight just isn't coming off. I don't want the WLS to do it for me. I want to do it for myself but have a tool so I can see the results. I swim and work out now...but just don't see the results. In the end my goal isn't to be stick thin...I just want to be healthy!

Please remember this is my personal choice on which WLS to have. If you reply and want to bash my choice please don't reply. Several people who are over weight has self confidence problems to begin with. I'm just looking for support!

The good think about being a LW is that the various WLS will work for us. You pick the WLS that fits your eating demons and will give you the most bang for your buck and the least chance of complications. You might want to visit the revisions board and see how folks are doing further out with their initial choices.

I think you might want to take a longer look at the VSG if for no other reason than ease of maintenance and less complications. Good luck with your research.

--gina

I myself started out thinking the band was what I wanted.  I too felt RNY was too invasive for me, with the malabsorption and plumbing re-routing.  I had fogotten all about the sleeve until I came to this site.  Once I came to this site, I perused all the threads for the band and that made me rethink my decision.  I started researching the VSG and realized that was the right choice for ME.

Different WLS are right for different individuals, while others just wouldn't work.  I second Gina's referral to the revision forum.   Being an informed consumer is the best thing you can do for yourself.  Good luck in making the right choice for YOU!

PS- This is a very friendly and helpful forum.  I am certain you will find no bashing.

Welcome to the LW board.

Whatever surgery you decide on getting, make sure you go and read the board involved, even if you don't post on that board and then go and read the revisions board and the regrets board as well.

IF I hadn't had comorid conditions to worry with and my insurance would have cooperated, the VSG would have been my number one option.

There is just so much about the band I don't like, esp the fills, the possible slippage issues, erosion, ect that can happen to so many people. I know there are successful bandsters but look for the "old timers" and see what they are saying about their band, not the newbies who still have stars in their eyes, ok?

The one thing about this board is regardless of your choice, no one will tell you that you made the wrong one because whatever choice you made is right for you as long as you make it after doing your research.

Liz

Welcome to the LW board! 

Its a very personal, and emotional decision.  Its one you'll have to live with for the rest of your life, so you're doing the right thing in doing your research!  I had RNY, but wish I knew more about the sleeve and DS before I had my surgery - I didn't do my research.....

We had some very successful bandsters on this board, but they're further out now and don't come around much anymore, but if they do I'm sure they'll jump in with their experiences.

Whatever form of surgery you decide on, just know that we're here to help you and support you through your journey!

Best wishes going out to you. 

I too started this journey thinking I wanted the band.  When I researched the data, I found that I didn't want the potential problems associated with it.  About 5 weeks ago I has my sleeve surgery and am glad I did it.

The band has a 15% failure rate which is abysmal.  I'm not bashing this choice, I am stating facts.  Keep reading on OH of people's experiences with the band, and you'll read about a lot of unhappiness with it.  If you read the VSG board, you'll get the vibe that people are generally very happy with it.  That made my mind up for me.

I have read of some people who love their bands, and it works for them.  I just know it wasn't for me.  Read, read, read before you make a decision.

I too, like many others, started out thinking I wanted the band. After some extensive research and knowing my behaviors, I decided I wanted the VSG, well unfortunately our insurance only covers RNY or Band, so of course I went with the RNY.

I suffer severe depression, she is my greatest frenemy, I have felt motivated and active and have much more energy, I do not regret my decision at al.

You are completely correct when you say it is a highly personal decision, in fact that is exactly what we all say to anyone who comes looking for information. We all give our personal experiences and let you decide.

This is the most amazing board of wonderfully supportive people who will not bash anyones choices. They/we ae not judgemental and if we are, we keep it to ourselves.

Welcome to the LW board and please tell us later what you have decided on!

Oh I do mimic what the others have said, check out the regrets board, revision board and the surgery you are looking into board,  not only that google stats of your surgery and come up with added info.  Good Luck.

Welcome to the LW Board!!!   You don't have to worry about being bashed on this board but I can understand why you are leery. 

I am so glad you found OH before making your decision and you are looking into what is best for you.   Although I LOVE my RNY, I  wish I had joined OH before making my decision to have the RNY because I think I would have went for the sleeve or the DS.  By the time I realized that one of them  might have been better for me I would have had to switch surgeon and possibly start over.

I never considered the band because of going in for the fills....I HATE needles and after sitting in the Surgeons office hearing patients talk about getting filled and unfilled kind of made me nauseous.  

I have several friends who have gotten the band and even though they never got to a normal BMI, they are very happy with their weight and they are a lot healthier than they were 60 pounds ago.

Let us know what you decide so that we enjoy your journey with you. 

After church I will PM you a couple of the names of our bandsters that don't post often but love to help newbies.

I also wanted the band.  Many people have sucess with it....just like any WLS.  Lightweights are lucky in that we tend to be even more sucessfull with whatever WLS we choose.

After spedning some time reading up in the band vs RNY, I decided to go for the RNY.  Had I more time (I had some timing issues with insurance ending and needed to be done by May 2010)...I would have spent more time looking into the sleeve or the DS.  Having said that, I am very happy with my decision to have RVY....I have very good restriction and I am carbohydrate intolerate...which is a good thing because carbs were not my friend!

I started at 212 lbs.  A normal BMI for me is 109-137.  I am currently 129 and very pleased with my progress. 

Reasons I decided I needed something other than the band:
1) I decided I would be able to eat around the band.  There is restriction, but many people can eat anything...I would have been eating anything all day long!

2) The idea of fills bothers me...I did not have time to be messing around running to the doctor for fills and unfills....I also an not a huge fan of getting stuck with large needles

3)The port for the band is quite visable...even when wearing clothes.  I wanted to be able to wear a swimsuit or body skimming blouse and not worry about medical junk showing through.

4)Many complaints of band issues such as slips and erosions

It is a very personal decision and you have to do what you think will work best for you.  Also you have to consdier what you are willing to live with.  Good luck with whatever you choose!

 You never have to apologize for needing to lose 100 pounds....any amount of weight that makes your life miserable or keeps you from living the life you want to live is too much.....100 pounds is an ENORMOUS amount of extra weight to carry around...regardless of what the insurance companies have gotten us to believe....they make us feel bad because we ONLY have 100 to lose and they don't  assist us in getting healthy until we are so sick that they have to to avoid liability!!!!.
Anyhow make the decision that is right for you...advocate for yourself with your insurance companies if you decide you want something they do not cover.....stay with us...you will get good support here...and NEVER apologize for wanting to be the best you can be...by the way I ONLY had 70 pounds to lose ....but my life has been transformed...SEAVIEW