Question:
I had a lap band May 2004. Now considering bypass but BMI at 30
Problems with my band. Need to take it out. Gaining weight daily. Love to eat sweets. Which you recommend-gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy??? Osteoarthiritis in my spine and nephrectomy. Lap band gave me tons of reflux issues. Currently 5'2'' and 165 pounds. Will bypass get me way too thin? Anyone here has had the sleeve done? Thanks!!! — msmorell (posted on February 4, 2007)
February 4, 2007
I thought you needed to have a high BMI to have gastric bypass surgery.
Why don't you lay off the sweets and go back to basic good eating and lose
your weight that way. Gastric bypass surgery is not a quick fix, and it's
alot of hard work. Rather than reroute your insides, learn how to eat
well. and take care of youself
— Diane C.
February 4, 2007
No doctor will do gastric bypass on you with a BMI of 30. I agree with the
previous poster, you need to consult a nutritionist and get back on track.
Everyone has slip ups but you have to take each day at a time. Many
doctors do not recommend lapband because it isn't restrictive enough. At
165 lbs you only need to lose about 25- 30 lbs....that shouldn't be
difficult if you are serious with dieting and exercise.
— Sheri A.
February 4, 2007
By taking the band out, my BMI will keep on going up (gain everything I
have lost in 3 years). Sooner or later my BMI will go back to over 40 BMI
again. If I could diet and exercise as a "normal person" (I have
been obese since I was 13 years old) I would had never gotten my lap band.
That is why I ask. I wish I could tell you that without the lap band I can
maintain my weight, but it has been a month since it was de-flated and I
have already gained 15 pounds.
— msmorell
February 4, 2007
Maria, what is your doctor's take on your situation? Has s/he thought that
a revision would help you? Your doctor would be the first person to contact
and ask your question of. Go the route of asking the doc first as to your
options. With your BMI I would not think that you would be eligble for a
revision, but I am not a clinician. It is best that you talk with your
doctor first. Chris
— ChristineB
February 4, 2007
My doctor is talking about a banded sleeve gastrectomy. Has anyone had this
done? I can not find much long term info about it and that is why I am
asking you guys.
— msmorell
February 4, 2007
There is no long term data on sleeve gastrectomy. What makes you think you
won't have reflux problems with a new surgery? I guess if I had to chose I
would chose the sleeve gastrectomy. Your anatomy is cut, but they don't
fool with your intestines which is very scary. A friend of mine had the
sleeve done 5 months ago and she is doing extremely well. Good luck to
you, so sorry you are having these problems. I have had such great success
with the band for 18 months. If you think the RNY will keep you from
eating sweets, think again many of the RNY patients can eat them. Dumping
is not a healthy thing. It throws you into hypoglycemia, this can be
dangerous. If you are having health issues you might check it out. Laura
— lmd
February 4, 2007
Unfortunately you will have to gain weight to get the gastric bypass and
you will have to gain alot I would think. I'm at 165 now after gastric
bypass and I can eat sweets. A little bit doesn't bother me so I have to
refrain from eating them just to be healthy. If I were you I would try
keeping the weight off without another surgery since you wll have to gain
so much just to qualify. I don't know anything about the sleeve. I did
lap RNY and it has worked out fabulous for me. Good luck to you!!
— Carol A.
February 4, 2007
I had my lap bypass last Feb. and have never dumped. I could eat sweets
every day if I wanted to, but I rarely do, and then only a small bite or
two. I never tried sweets until I was about six months out and was a bit
disappointed that it didn't bother me.
Please don't consider gaining weight to qualify for surgery hoping that
this will "cure" your sweet tooth. I've heard one post-op say
that she tried eating M&M's only a week after surgery. I haven't seen
her since that day (I ended up having my surgery at a different hospital),
but I always wonder how she has done since then.
Yes, most will dump -- at least at the beginning -- but there's no
guarantee.
Sorry the band hasn't worked well, but I wish you the best of luck in
finding a solution that does work for you.
— packrat
February 4, 2007
Hi Maria: We would all love to be below a 25 BMI. You are at 30 now? Sounds
like the lap-band did everything it was suppose to do. I think you already
won the battle. Get those "addictive" sweets under control and
you win the war.
Tom M
— 4re4me
February 5, 2007
Marla, i have a BMI of 34. My doctor told me that his liability insurance
would not cover him if something went wrong with the surgery. Therefore,
he will not do the surgery on me unless my BMI is 35, even though i have
OSA, HBP, GERD, PSOD among many other things. Some people dont understand
that you can have a BMI of 30 or even 34 and still be overweight.. I carry
all my weight around the middle of me my legs look like birds. My face
is very fat. if my legs matched the upper body there would be no problem
with having the BMI of 35. maybe this doesnt answer your question just
had to vent good luck donna
— donna957
February 6, 2007
I have seen this several times now. Since you are a sweet eater, I'm
thinking you know that it alone can make any surgery fail. With RNY, there
is a chance sugar will make you feel awful, but there is no chance at all
with the VSG. I don't think RNY will get you way too thin. You might get
to TASTE too thin, but I doubt you'll stay there. Because you're being
burnd from the inside out with the reflux, possibly your ins will pay, but
if you were a self pay, perhaps the surgeon will negotiate a rate with you
since you surely don't need to take it out, wait, and THEn do yet another
surgery to fix it. By your statement,, it sounds as if your doc has
advised you to get that band out NOW to prevent further damage?
— vitalady
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