kflan

Suepeeps, I agree with you! Hearing someone who sees patients everyday endorse one procedure over another would speak volumes to me, too. I'm going to ask my surgeon my tried and true question: "If I were your daughter getting weight loss surgery, which would you want her to choose...."

I debated between the band and sleeve too. Many of the reasons I decided on the sleeve have already been listed here but one of the huge reasons was that I talked to the nurse during one of my appts. She was pregnant and going to have surgery after the baby was born. I asked if she minded telling me which one she was doing and she said "hands down the sleeve". Another nurse there also said the same thing. She had the RNY 15 years ago and if she were to do it now she would do the sleeve. They work with patients every day with all 3 types of surgery and those words spoke volumes to me!

okay here are my two cents worth. I was banded in 07 i am down 190 pounds.. I started at 424 and was 42 years old. The band "saved my life" i still have 50 or 60 pounds i want / need to loose. I started talking to my RN friend who also turned into a coordinatior for our Doctor, about getting plastics in next year and what the costs would be and what would be able to do. When i had my band, they were doing 20-25 bands a week plus other surgeries. They are now removing 5-7 a week going to sleeve or bypass. so 25% are revising now. there are complications coming out and she says now that it is not if there will be issues but when. the band will fail and if it does it could be and ER surgery. So on October 16th, i will be going in for a revision. Praying that I am ready for those wonderful 30 days of liquids and mushys!!! Good luck with your decision it is a life changer!

I would look in several places for information...on this forum read throught the posts under lap band to sleeve revisions. Read Sleeve success stories. Also search for post about would you do it again on this forum to get the pros and cons of sleeve. Then go to the Lap Band forum and read the success stories, but also search for posts for the struggles people are having. I would look at success rates, weight loss totals, long term weight loss maintenance and complications. Finally I would ask your surgeon.
My two cents. I was planning on getting the lap band. Several reasons I chose sleeve instead:
1. better overall percentage of weight loss with sleeve vs band
2. faster weight loss with sleeve vs band
3. no maintenence (fills, unfills etc.) on sleeve
4. no foreign device in my body that could errode, slip or cause other complications.
I am 11 years older than you and had starting weight of 272 at 5'9". I had no health issues other than mild sleep apnea and being overweight. I am glad I made the choice I did.

It is what you feel comfortable with, speak with your Dr. about both.
I wanted Lap band at first but after speaking to my Dr. I realized I wanted more, with the band just from reading here and others I personally do not think the lap band is that great anymore. There is some Dr.'s that do not want to even continue with the lap band. It slips, scar tissue, the weight loss is more like 30% to 40% of your over weightiness (hope that makes since LOL) so say you are 100lbs over weight you will more then likely lose 40 or so lbs might be more might be less.
The Sleeve on the other hand is for life! There is no turning back, and if you have to many issues it will turn into a gastro bypass. The plus side, most people lost anywhere from 70 to 80% of there over weightiness or MORE. It is a life style change, it is major surgery I know people say they went back to work in a week but honestly at least take 2 weeks get used to the change in food and body. I did go find the bad side of the sleeve from this site to make sure I knew both sides and there is scary stuff out there but I spoke with my Dr. about all my concerns. Ask questions how many leaks have they had and how many sleeves turned into bypass.
Ask people questions on here, you read someone stories send a message ask questions!
Good luck on your choice!

The drugs take the edge off, or I'd never leave the house!!! Lol

Sorry, I've been in Weight Loss Surgery Lingo for too long ...RNY is Roux-en-y and involves reducting the size of your stomache and rerouting to a shorter section of the intestines, in shour gastric bypass.
I wish there were an easy answer too...My advice it to find a good baratric surgeon and go to a couple seminars maybe even schedule an appointment. Then, go to another surgeon and get another opinion. Get on the boards, read all you can, and attend a local support group....don't be scared to ask questions and be ready to get your feelings hurt. The uneducated world truly can be cruel...please let me know if you have any questions as well as those on this site. It is a great place to start.

Thanks Hun. I don't want to totally freak you out but I wish I'd have heard that this can happen. I went in as a zero risk, healthy "fat" person with a low bmi and no comorbidity issues. I should have researched it longer and I regret I didn't. The sleeve is a great choice for many but I probably didn't need something so extreme. Just be sure to really mull all of the possibilities and be sure you take time to make the right decision for you. Best of luck!

There is a thread specifically for Lap Band and pregnancy, maybe you should check it out? Then you can read the experiences of other who've been pregnant with the band.

I love my lap Band, Surgery date was November 15, 2010 and never looked back; I was a size 28, now a size 16. I picked the lap band for a quick recovery and I also didnt want any part of me cut, or removed, I was 57 years old and want to live life and watch it go by and let me tell you life is good.

Thanks! I'm trying to do some research, but it's nice to hear from ppl who've "been there"...

I apologize as well for my participation in taking this thread to a bad place. I won't go into explanations now cause I don't want to cause a flare up. I hope you find all the answers you are looking for. Do know that any WLS regardless of which one takes some nerves and patience.

Glad someone was able to chime in on the other side of the band. Yes, there are people who, the band just doesn't work for. Definitely look into all options and other surgeries out there. I haven't researched any others because when i got the band they were really only talking about the band and bypass...and me being young with only 75lbs to lose, the bypass didn't feel like the right fit for me which is why i chose the band. But everyone is different

Little did you know that a perfectly innocent question asked on a "support" site forum could stir up a hornet's nest of controversy that has nothing to do with you personally. I'm a veteran of the online support forum wars and first want to tell you that on the whole, the members of LBT are very kind and helpful people.

So, for a different point of view (FYI, this thread amused me greatly)
I am a failed band, had it removed almost 3 weeks ago secondary to slip. I was banded 12/2009 @ 295 with a BMI of about 50. I did well for about 6 months then had an episode of tightness leading to dehydration leading to total unfill and IV fluids. I had some restriction but was not too tight, I as slowly and consistently losing weight but it was the week before my period, 4th of July weekend and things just got tight. I went to liquids, but never recovered. After the unfill things were never the same. I NEVER could get to a comfortable spot with my band. We put a little in here and there but essentially any time I'd add anything I'd have to have it removed soon after. Upper GI was normal. So I played the band game. I ate mostly what I should but had great difficulty with solid Protein, I drank my Water, I exercised very little. I got down to and maintained around 225 with a BMI of 36 ish. I lost essentially half my excess body weight which is about average.
I did not drink through straws, drink sodas, eat a lot of crap..... I spent a couple years with almost nothing in my band and I maintained that weight. This summer I developed severe reflux, waking up at night choking, chest pain with any foods (soft or otherwise) and eventually difficulty tolerating liquids. I was found to have a slipped band. Was I a perfect bandster? No. Was I bad and did so etching to my band? No. Sometimes **** happens....
Do I hate bands? No. Will I have another? No way. When I had my band removed I had so much inflammation and irritation that my surgeon felt it unsafe to do an immediate revision and I'm now in a 6 month healing period before I can get bypass. In hind site I have a lot of problems with allergies and drainage and my band didn't like that. I catch every GI bug that comes through the clinic, and my band didn't like that....I was not the best choice for a band. Knowing what I know now, I would have gotten a gastric sleeve (except the weren't being done here yet).
The band works for some but there's a chunk of us out there that it didn't work for. It is reversible as they say but that doesn't mean there's not permanent damage being done that can ever be taken out. I know of 1 case where the band did so much damage the patients surgeon told her she can never safely have another bariatric surgery (1 out of a million yes, but still something to think about).
FYI I am a family practice physician assistant, my surgeon is one of the best in the area and who you go to if there's a problem or you need a revision. I went in to this well educated with a good surgical/bariatric program to support me. I again contend that sometimes **** just happens and you can't really predict who it'll happen to!
Best of luck with your decision. Get to know all 3 procedures and talk to people who have been successful as well as those who have not been successful.
As for bravo-omega-fatty acid dude, he's a freak, ignore him. I love how he talks about 'intel' cuz obviously he's important and in the know on all things lapband.

Thanks Justme9786! You've been really helpful. Also, thanks to the first people who commented on my questions! This is a stressful decision, and I appreciate any helpful commentary. I really don't care what Bravo has to say other than to make sure I do my own research... which I was planning on doing anyway (hence, asking questions and seeking advice on this forum). I'm not here to condemn anyone or call names! I just want to hear from real people who've had this done!

Hey there! It is completely normal to have fears and concerns! I did as well! But let me give you a little bit of my story. I am 25 years old and got the band when I was 21. It has not prevented me from doing the things I enjoy! I still go out with friends, eat, drink, etc. You start to learn what you can and can't eat once you start bringing foods back in the mix after the surgery. I'd say the beginning may be the hardest, but we've all gotten through it and i wouldn't change it at all. I am very happy with my band and glad i have this tool to help me in losing weight and keeping it off. This site is a great forum so ask as many questions as you want! As far as the port - its never been an issue for me and i am a stomach sleeper as well. If I am on a hard surface, sometimes I can feel it, but other than that, never a problem.

The lapband will not restrict you from any of your fears. You will simply eat less and lose weight. Unless you sleep on a slab of cement your port shouldn't bother you.
You can be one of the gals, only you will have to be aware of the foods you eat and eat less, chew more and do it slowly. I'm not sure what "bad" food is? You should be able to eat all the bad food you want, just be aware that too much bad food equals failure. That's why we are or were obese most of our lives.
Golf? It takes very little energy to play golf so that's not a problem. Running is OK too. Most high carb foods are slider foods and pass through the band easily. You should be able to live a very active, fun life with the lapband.
The band is not a ball and chain. It's a tool in your body that you can choose to assist in your weight loss or choose not to.
tmf