Will the band work?

Thank you all so much for the support! I have posted stuff on other boards and didn't get very nice responses. After some replies from others postings I didn't want to mess with the bashing. But WOW this form is great! My 100% only concern with the band is the Erosion. I know the band can work for me. But honestly it sounds like the VGS is a great option. For me the DS is still to much. I'm sure after I talk with the surgeon it will make things more clear. The RNY is 100% out for myself. The surgeon I will be going to does all 4 of the WLS!  Again Thank you all so very  much. Please request me for a friend on here so I can keep track of your progress. I will not have a surgery till I am 100% about my choice~ Your story's are so helpful!!

God Bless

WOW - your surgeon does all 4 of the WLS options?  That's rare to find but its definitely in your favor.  Some surgeons will only educate their patients on the surgeries THEY do!

We also have a Lightweight facebook page - its secret, so the posts won't be seen by your friends.

Heather, Kathy and I think Stacey are the FB administrators.  If you want to join, let one of them know.  We have discussions over there too!

I'm going to give you my honest opinion (as a former bandster), obviously you'll need to do whatever "feels right" to you.  However, I would run from a band.  I had a band placed in 2007, things were good for the first 8-9 months then I started having problems with keeping anything down that was "good for me".  I got an unfill, then I could eat whatever I wanted, i got a fill, couldn't keep anything down, got an unfill, fill, etc.  Over 3 years I had over 11 fill appointments (at $125 a pop).  Gained back all the weight I had lost and then some as it got to the point where even unfilled I couldn't keep anything down that had any kind of substance to it, so hence I was eating slider foods.  figured I had just blown this too, like all the other "diets" I had tried before.  Stayed away from my surgeon for over a year because I was embarrased that I'd gained back all the weight.  Finally went to see them and discovered there are quite a few band people who have had similar problems.  Oh I forgot to mention, the band also caused me to have esophageal spasms, feels just like a heart attack and ended up in the ER 3 times with that.  So..... his PA mentioned that there is a newish (well kind of, it's the first part of the DS that they've been doing for a while) and I went home and started looking into it.  Became quite the stalker on the VSG boards and finally decided to go for it.  I had my VSG surgery, approved by insurance, band was self pay, on December 8, 2010.  Surgeon told me that my band had "scarred onto my liver" and that that was probably part of the problem. I LOVE not having that band anymore.  I feel so much better.  It's been like night and day difference and I've lost 35 pounds since then. I did have some minor complications at the hospital but even with that I would do it all again.  No more fills and unfills - yeah!  It's working from the moment you're done, you just have to learn to live it. 

Now this is just my story but I wanted to share with you since you asked.  My surgeon, who is a leading bariatric surgeon here in WA state and the first to place the band here (2000 or 2001) is becoming "disenchanted", his words, with the band.  (Dont look at his stats on here, he doesn't update so they are all skewed).  He's had quite a few people revise and many more that are having problems but cant revise due to insurance woes.  I also have two good friends who got the band, one had to have it removed 18 months later due to severe slip and the other is struggling with weight gain again due to problems with keeping food down so she's reverting to slider type foods again.  

there are many people that the band works great for but there are also many whom it doesn't.  Please just do your research well and like I said, go with your "gut feeling" about whats right for you.  

Good luck to you on your journey.  

I decided against the band for all of the above mentioned reasons. I just didn't like the idea of a foreign body inside of me, that had the potential to cause a myriad of complications. In addition, I didn't like the idea of going in for fills. Too high maintenance. The RNY wasn't for me, after I started doing more research on the procedure. I wasn't convinced that I needed the malabsorption. When I started researching the sleeve, it sounded like it had potential, although, few long term results are available. They have been doing procedure in Europe and Australia for several years, so there is data available for several years out.

I belong to a large HMO in CA, and when I went to the orientation, I had already decided that the sleeve was for me. The surgeon who was presenting that day, said that the HMO was getting away from doing Lap Bands, because of the complications and need for revisions.

WLS is a highly personal and emotional decision, but make an informed decision. I read research articles, as well as read many posts on this website and others.

Why do you think the band is better? Yes, one can have it taken out, but that is another operation and the vast majority of people will regain their weight.

The surgery he does the most of is RNY...But he will and has done the Band, Sleeve and the DS. He dosn't do that many sleeves. But with our insurance for me to be able to do the WLS I HAVE to stay with in 4 hospitals or they will not cover nothing. My husband works at the hospital. The insurance is through the hospital but they use Anthem as the 3rd party. Anthem takes care of claims, payments, billing....At least that is how I understand it. There is another doc in my area that has/does all 4 of them. My concern was I was going to walk in there and him try to get me to go with the RNY. Its not for me. The sleeve or the band. I don't like the sound of the DS. Again its to much. I would love to be added to the FB site also....Thank you very much

My surgery was only 3 weeks ago, so I can't provide you with some great success story (yet hopefully!), but I can tell you part of why I chose the band.  I am 29 years old and cutting my insides seemed too drastic for me at this point. I don't view the band as a short term fix, but I do like the fact that it can be removed if necessary.   I have 100 (or less) pounds to lose and I don't mind losing weigh more slowly.  In fact, I am terrified of hair loss, so a slower rate of weight loss is preferable for me.   I like the idea that if I regained some weight in a few years, I could still work with my doctors for a fill to help me lose - - it is an ongoing tool.  The band doesn't do all of the work for you - - you definitely have to do your part.  But if I was willing to have surgery and go through all of this, I am willing to make the effort for the band (not to say it is/will be easy!).  All of the surgeries are imperfect, and some of the band statistics/complications scare me, but I talked to my doctor about all of them and what to look out for.  But for me, I thought the band was the best choice right now. Good luck with whatever you chose, and this forum is a great place for information and support!
-Kylie

I tried to write on your profile, but I couldn't find it.   Try writing to kerniec she hasn't posted lately but she lost over 100 pounds with the band.  She might be able to help you more than those of us who have had other surgeries. 

If you get to talk to her, tell her we miss her!

Hi Roz,
   I found out my profile was set to private. So you can look again for me. I will send you a friend request.

Thanks for your help.
God Bless

April,

I am a RNY'r but understand your not wanting to have it.  It's a HUGE surgery!  I chose it because I and my surgeon felt it was the perfect choice for me.  I have friends who have been successful with the band and some that have had nothing but problems.  The friends who are several years out are the ones who are very unhappy with thier decision.  I also see where one friend has the biggest issues with not losing weight being her food choices.  She is able to eat whatever she wants and does!  Yet she doesn't understand why she is unable to lose weight.  AND she's had a band revision done.  So I think working with your surgeon to find the best option for you based on your "eating personality" is a great step!  Research, research, research.....all surgeons love to work with someone who is informed and feels more comfortable in talking the pros and cons with someone who understands what they are saying.  I would definitely tell him what you are telling us in that you DO NOT want the RNY or DS.  He wouldn't be a good surgeon if he didn't discuss them as options as well but don't take it as him trying to convince you to have one or the other.

Good luck in your search for YOUR perfect surgery!

BTW you can friend me on facebook to access the chat group!  Just follow the link from my signature!

Honestly it sounds like the band is either hit or miss? My insurance will revise as long as I am 18 months out. But to be honest I want to do it right the first time. I have started to prepare my body for lower  foods drinking more water working out and so far I have been doing it great! The only down fall are the McDonald's sweet tea's lol....Soda I have cut that out 100% anyways. My desire to have snack foods right now have gone away. I'm just down right tired of being over weight. So with or without the WLS I want the weight off! I will have a talk with my surgeon. My family doc is great! She wants me to do what I feel most comfortable with doing. 4 years ago when I first looked into this. I told her I wanted the band. She was 100% for it. I have to see her again anyways and plan on talking to her about these things.

Thanks again so much!