Question:
I am having trouble deciding which surgery to have the by pass or the band i am
very confused!! — JVANLAN60 (posted on May 3, 2011)
May 3, 2011
Most importantly, speak to your surgeon and go to some support groups. Ask
all the questions you can. Honestly evaluate your eating habits. There
are guidelines as to which surgery is the best for you. My lapband is
almost 4 years old. I initially lost 107 pounds and I have kept off
102-105 pounds of that-depending on the day. There was no vertcal sleeve
when I had my surgery. If there had been, I would have selected that. My
insurance doesn't cover wls. the bypass is the gold standard. I still
attend support group at least twice a month and I walk 6-8 miles, 5 days a
week. After spending many hours with people who have all three surgeries,
it really seems that we all have the exact same issues this far out. So,
long term, I don't know if there are many differences. My band has almost
6cc at the moment and it can hold 11cc. So, I could actually have a fill
and get more restriction. Bypass and sleeve patients only have a revision
option to reshrink their pouch. So, there is much to think about. Good
luck. WLS is the best thing I've ever done for myself. Gayla
— gouldsfiya
May 3, 2011
Research, research, research! Visit both the message boards and see how
life is for those who had either. Explore the other options as well
(Gastric Sleeve and DS). Personally, with my limited experience, I would
not recommend the band to anyone. Folks who have had a revision would tell
you their story...I had RNY and am very satisfied after six months. I have
lost 88.5# (from 252 to 163.5). As long as I make healthy choices, I have
had very few limitations on what I can eat and I don't get sick. My friend
who had the band at the same time lost 20 pounds pre-op and has only lost
20 pounds post-op, with a starting weight of about 270. She vomits almost
daily and can only eat soft foods, like yogurt and soup.
Blessings on your journey...
— [Deactivated Member]
May 3, 2011
The responses above are right on the nose! You have to do research and
decide for yourself. I had RNY four years ago, lost 136 lbs and am very
happy with the results. A number of people choose the band because it is
less invasive.
— Muggs
May 3, 2011
Again, another research, ask many questions, visit support groups.
I'm a satisfied bandster. 2 years out, have lost 200!! lbs and only about
5.5 or 6 cc's in a 10cc band. Can eat anything I desire, just much smaller
portions.
The band can be slower to get the weight loss started. I say can be,
because although some report no WL until they have more than one fill, I
lost weight from the day of surgery.
I can't tell by your name if you are male or female, so I don't know if
this applies, but if you are post-menopausal, you want to think very
carefully about the issues of malabsorption and bone loss, as
post-menopausal women are already subject to thinning bone.
Good luck to you whichever you decide.
— Lisaizme
May 3, 2011
I was told in my my pre-op seminar to choose wisely. Think about how much
weight you want to loose 50 go for a band more then 50 go for a sleeve or
bypass. See what your insurance will pay for. Also think of this, if you
loose 50 will you be happy or want to loose more? DO you think you will be
happy at a smaller amount loss? Then think if you want a revision of any
sort WILL your insurance pay for or they will be like, we gave you what you
asked for so now you have to pay out of pocket. That is one reason why I am
going all out for a bypass.
— That_816_Princess
May 3, 2011
I am a band patient and am 1 year out. I have lost 85 lbs and am very
pleased. Feel free to check out my profile I really love my band!
Stacy
— trying2findmyself
May 3, 2011
Lots of good advice here already. I was initially thinking about getting
the lapband, but after my research I decided on the RNY bypass. While many
think the lapband is "non-invasive", I didn't like the idea of
having a foreign object inside me for the rest of my life. (Funny that
this bothered me so much since I already have an artificial knee and a
metal plate in my neck! Perhaps it's that the lapband materials don't seem
to be as sturdy as the metal implants.) The lapband is not necessarily
"reversible" as many assume and doctors won't do a removal
without a very good medical reason. It also seemed to me that the lapband
is rather high maintenance. It may take several "fill"
adjustments to get it right initially, and then you will probably need
"fill" adjustments for the rest of your life. To me, that is
like being tethered to the surgeon for life. Keep in mind, too, that if
you move out of your doctor's geographical area, you'll have to find
another doctor who is willing to take you on as a maintenance patient.
This may not be easy.
So my decision was to have the RNY, follow ALL the rules to be sure that I
healed properly, and make the commitment to change the way I eat forever.
I have been very fortunate in that I haven't had any difficulties. I can
eat anything I want and have never been sick. On the down side, I do seem
to be able to eat quite a bit more at a sitting than I thought I would, so
I have to have discipline with what I eat and how much I eat.
The RNY was one of the best things I've ever done for myself. (The new knee
ranks right up top, too.) Both changed my life dramatically for the better.
The key to a good decision for you is RESEARCH! Going to a support group
BEFORE surgery was a huge help for me. The folks are so open, friendly and
helpful. Also attend orientation sessions given by a few different doctors.
Not only do you get to meet the medical folks you'd be dealing with, but
they'll explain the available surgeries and all the pros and cons of each.
Good luck with your decision!
— Gail T.
May 4, 2011
My suggestion is to ask the surgeon who will be doing the operation. They
are the best person to ask that question to. They will have the information
on your health and the best knowledge on which procedure that would be best
for you. The surgeon and their staff will be your best friend(s) before,
during and after the surgery. Take the opportunity to use their expertise
& knowledge. Can't go wrong there. Good luck!
— SPIRIT2002
May 4, 2011
I loved my band the first year and have hated it the last 3 years. Way more
maintenance than I expected with fills and unfills. Wish they had the
sleeve when I did mine. I am talking to Dr today about a revision to the
sleeve. Good luck to you!
— pattyann
May 4, 2011
im a month out from a rny bypass, and its been rough to say the least,
ive lost 50 pounds, the bypass is for the serious and not for the weak of
heart like me,
you must follow the eating and diet directions religously,
or you will suffer, beleive me you will,
the band i think and ive really looked at it is for the the not so serious
person that wants to lose weight but doesnt want to work at it,
the band is easily reversable, you will not lose the weight that you would
with a bypass, and the band will not punish you when your bad like a bypass
will,
if i had to do it over, right now at this very minute i would not get the
bypass,
but im told everyone that gets the bypass for about the first 2 months
hates it,
— dixienormous
May 4, 2011
I just spoke with a woman at Puget Sound Surgery center in Washington. She
told me she had the band first, and got the flu about 1 year after she got
it. She said the band slipped and she had to have it removed. A year
after she had it removed she got the Gastric Sleeve done. She said she
wishes she would have had the sleeve done the first time around. The band
was a bad choice in her opinion.
— taracarter42
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