Search the Community

That is kind of my point though. People just talk about complication, weight loss, and healthy life style changes. No one ever really talks about emotional or identity issues that don't involve breaking up your marriage, or transfer addictions. It is all the same old thing you can just read about.

Hi Lou. I read your story and you've really been through the ringer. I know I wouldn't be able to afford this surgery out-of-pocket, but 6 sleeves does not make for a good experience level. I know that a lot of people on this site go far away (Mexico etc...) for their surgeries. I would not want to be so far away from my surgeon. I'm lucky to have an experienced local surgeon who accepts my insurance- a sort of trifecta. It appears that you may need to give up one of those 3 things- insurance coverage, proximity, or experience. That's a really tough call that I don't envy. One thought is this: ask your surgeon who trained him in VSG, and ask if that doctor would be willing to be present in the OR. Also, ask your surgeon detailed questions about his technique, such as: size of bougie, method of closure (my bariatric practice has had zero instances of leaks b/c they over-sew the staple line, and then glue on top of that), etc... Ask if you can talk with other patients (do they run an ongoing support group?). Ask if they do a pre-op liquid diet (a responsible and conservative approach that reduces liver size and density, and evaluates patient ability and commitment to following critical liquid post-op diet). It's nice to have a surgeon with a good long successful track record in a procedure, but on the other hand, he's doesn't sound new at all to bariatric surgery, and VSG is less complicated than bypass. Just don't be afraid to ask ask ask. It's your body and your right. Good luck with this tough decision and hang in there!

Jan. 18, 2013 -- More than 200,000 weight loss surgeries are performed each year in the U.S. Several recent studies have questioned the effectiveness and safety of one type, gastric banding, which has led to a decline in its use as patients choose other surgical options. But the largest and longest study yet of the procedure found that patients followed for up to 15 years maintained significant weight loss -- an average of about 60 pounds. Study: Banding Effective for Weight Loss About half the patients in the study needed additional surgeries to adjust the bands or deal with other complications, but only about 1 in 20 patients opted to have the bands removed. Researcher Paul O’Brien, MD, of Melbourne, Australia’s Monash University, was a pioneer of the Lap-Band procedure, and his latest study was supported by Allergan Inc., which markets the gastric band system. He says gastric banding offers an effective, reversible, long-term solution for weight loss as long as patients get good follow-up care and are willing to carefully control the way they eat. The study is published in the January issue of the Annals of Surgery. “Placing the band is just the first step in the process,” he says. “Compliance and follow-up are critically important. There are plenty of people out there doing this surgery without a follow-up program for their patients, and they are setting them up for failure.” Banding, Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy The Lap-Band procedure is one of several weight loss surgeries performed in the U.S. and the only one that is easily reversible. The band is an inflatable silicone ring that is wrapped around the upper part of thestomach to create a pouch the size of a golf ball, which limits the amount of food that can be eaten. The band can be tightened or loosened to increase or decrease the size of the opening to the lower stomach. The most commonly performed type of gastric bypass surgery also reduces the size of the stomach to that of a golf ball. The surgery also bypasses a section of the small intestine, which limits calorie absorption. The gastric sleeve procedure involves the surgical removal of a portion of the stomach to create a "sleeve" that connects to the small intestine. Just a few years ago, gastric banding was widely seen as less risky, less costly, and less invasive than either of the other surgical options, and about half of weight loss procedures in the U.S. involved banding. But that has changed as the long-term data comparing weight loss surgeries has come in, says Ronald H. Clements, MD, who directs the bariatric surgery program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Fewer Lap-Band Surgeries Performed Clements says just five of the 360 weight loss surgeries performed at Vanderbilt last year were Lap-Band procedures. “We have essentially stopped doing this operation,” he says. “The sleeve and the bypass are just better for helping people lose weight and keep it off. That’s what we are seeing in our patients and that’s what the data are telling us.” A 2011 study from Belgium found that the bands eroded in 1 in 3 patients, while 60% required additional surgeries. And a study published last year that compared banding to bypass surgery found that bypass patients lost more weight and kept it off over six years and had fewer complications. Four years ago, as many as 40% of weight loss surgeries performed at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York involved gastric banding, says Mitchell Roslin, MD, who is chief of obesity surgery. Today, the figure is closer to 3%. “Last year we took out 80 bands and converted them to other procedures,” he says. “Patients do well in the short term, but they tend to have problems later on.” Banding Good Option for Some American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery President Jaime Ponce, MD, confirms that fewer Lap-Band surgeries are being performed in the U.S. Allergan’s sales related to its Lap-Band system reportedly fell from close to $300 million in 2011 to about half that figure last year, and last fall the company announced that it was looking to sell its weight loss surgery division. But Ponce says the surgery is still a good option for some patients. “The band is a device that requires a lot of maintenance and multiple adjustments, and one problem is that our insurance system is not set up to pay for this,” he says. He says gastric banding is much more popular and widely performed than gastric bypass in Australia. “In Australia, aftercare is covered by national insurance, so patients don’t have to worry about paying for adjustments,” Ponce says. And there are plenty of gastric banding success stories here in America, including New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who lost more than 100 pounds after having the procedure in March of 2010. Ponce says patients who understand that gastric banding will require careful compliance and frequent follow-up visits to their doctor can achieve good results with the gastric banding surgery. “Patients need to be followed, preferably every month or so,” he says. “If your surgeon doesn’t offer this kind of follow up, you need to go somewhere else.” http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20130117/lap-band-shown-effective-long-term-weight-loss?page=2

Generally speaking EVERYTHING carries a risk. Having a VSG and going through 3 months without and leaks or complications I would have to say that statistically you should be at perhaps only slightly higher risk of stomach issues like leaking or other troubles. You have afterall drastically altered the form of the stomach from it's natural shape and function, redcing it's capacity so that it can hold less than it orginally could. Should you force feed yourself you CAN do damge to your stomach sleeved or not. This all has to be taken along with the very real benefits of weight reduction and the possible elimmination of some health problems associated with obesety.

Rather than focusing on the very low risk of surgery complications.....focus on the very REAL risk of obesity related cancers, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and reduced mobility. If you frame it in your mind as something you must do to prevent harm coming to you....instead of something that could cause harm, you might be less afraid. The odds are in your favor of the surgery doing much more good than harm. PS...the first time I went in for a consult for weight loss surgery was almost 20 years ago:) Got it done in December and wish i'd done it years ago:)

Ask about complications... All the what if's and has this happened to you. Research the hospital my ensurance would only allow me to go to a hospital that was a "center of excellence/disctinction center" in bariatric surgery. Just know you can ask questions up until they put you out for surgery Blue Distinction Centers are available for: Bariatric Surgery Cardiac Care Complex and Rare Cancers Knee and Hip Replacement Spine Surgery Transplants

I stayed one night, but my surgery went super smooth with no complications.

I was banded October 2011 and had complications from day 1. I had a very large hiatal hernia that needed to be repaired, and it wasn't. It took me 5 years and 3 months and 4 doctors later to find one that would remove it December 2016. It then took me another two doctors to make the hernia repair and do the gastric bypass for me on June 18.

Hi, I found this forum when surfing the net for answers last night. I was banded on 5/28/13. I also had a BMI under 40 with hypertension and sleep apnea as well, and I'm convinced I did the right thing having this surgery. It is so great to not always be "starving" for food. I didn't have too much difficulty getting insurance to approve once my internist sent in records showing my 2+ years of struggling with my new co-morbidities. I'm seeing my surgeon @3today. Hopefully my complications are minor (constipation, and the largest of five incisions is swollen and black and blue). I'm already down 11 or so pounds as I'm still on a full liquid diet - hope that changes to pureed foods today. I stupidly tried to eat a hard boiled egg last night and it didn't get very far. Regarding your questions, small pills are fine post-surgery but anything larger than a tylenol won't go down easily.

Hi all. I am researching this procedure to see if it is right for me. I have read alot of your posts and everyone seems to be very glad that they had this done. Does anyone out there regret it? Maybe had a bad post-op experience? I am interested to know. I almost did the RNY years ago until two of my chat buddies passed away from complications due to their procedures. It scared the heck put of me and, of course, I did not have it done.:cry Here I am, 6 years later, looking once again for a solution. I had a baby 10 months ago. I was diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart) and was told that my heart was only functioning 10-15%. I also have high blood pressure and am a diabetic. I am at 261 lbs (last time I checked), possibly more. I need to do something before it is too late. I want to live long enough to see my baby grow up. Also, if anyone here is in the Miami area and has had or is in the process of having the lapband procedure done, I would like to hear from them. I would like to know what doctors they are seeing and what troubles, if any, they have had with insurance. I have United Healthcare but I do not know if they cover WLS. Anyways, I am sorry to have rambled on. I look forward to hearing from all of you.

I was also confused on what to do. I was 319 before I had my lap band. And I love my sweets. But I have a couple of friends who had Gastric Bypass done and I knew it was not for me. I dont know if that is the same thing you are looking into or not. But I know for me the band was the best choice. I am losing slowely now. But I have had no complications and feel better then ever. I just did not want to have to deal with all the side effects and complications that can come from the other surgery. But it is a very important decision. Good luck to you on what ever you choose.

I've been to (2) consults w/ different doctors. They both have given me the same statistics, even though one does primarily gastric bypass. RNY has a greater chance of complications and death, at the beginning. The lapband is the primary weight loss surgery, in Europe and elsewhere. RNY deal with restriction AND malabsorption (your body absorbs less calories). The Lapband just deal with restriction. Keep reading these message boards and gathering your information. You'll figure it out. Doctors who make you feel like a moron, should not be your doctor in the first place. Best of luck, Shawn

Oh Wow! Thanks so much for the advice! Congratulations on you being 5 weeks out. How are you feeling? I am so scared about having complications after the surgery. I have one friend who had the Bypass and had numerous issues the first couple of months, but is super skinny now and is a little over a year out. My other friend was sleeved and had no pain, no nausea, no nothing! I was like, "Really?!?!?" I want and am hoping for the same thing. My doc only put me on a 4 day liquid pre-op diet. How come I am seeing people posting different lengths of time for them? Does it depend on how heavy you are? Some say 7 days, some 2 weeks, etc.

I've had terrible GERD for years. I too have less than 100 pounds to loose but I have medical complications..( two hernias, one of which was giant along with gastroparesis and more) my doctor told me that the RNY was the best choice for me and that if I didn't lose and keep off the weight my hiatal hernia could return in as little as three months. I am two weeks post op and although it's a struggle, I'm glad I made this choice.

Hi...I am new. I attended info session Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Ma a week ago and thought I was heading toward lap band surgery option. Worried about all the complications I have been reading about. I am 70 years old and wonder if I am not setting myself up for possible further surgery at a time in my life down the road where I might not be such a good surgical risk. Today I met with an old friend who had her RNY gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago. I had actually tried to talk her out of it at the time. I was active in OA, struggling along...and she had been told by the team she needed to lose weight prior to surgery. I said "if you can lose 20-30 lb. prior to surgery, why do you need surgery? Why wouldn't you just keep going?" Needless to say I have put just under 100 of the 140 lb. I lost back on this body...and I know I need help to get my vitality and my body back before I am having to have knee and back surgery!!! My friend is thrilled with her choice of this surgery. She has lost more than 100 lb. and kept it off. She looks FABULOUS and says food and weight are no longer an issue. She loves how she feels and strongly recommended I reconsider thinking of the lap band and get the bypass. After talking with her I am thinking this is a better option. I will be meeting with my surgeon next Thursday, the 27th...and will have my mind open to whatever he tells me I should do. My hunch, right now is that the by pass surgery will be what he recommends . Looking forward to any comments and to reading more in this forum. Thanks. Christine (my user nickname is mojaleski)

Oct. 6,2016 I weighed in at 179. I'm 5'6". BMI OF 29. I'm diabetic and have high blood pressure. I was having complications due to diabetic neuropathy in my stomach. Before it could get to the point of needing a pacemaker I made the decision to have gastric sleeve surgery. This would illuminate or reduce the severity of my diabetes. I've only lost 20 lbs in 3 months time. I'm disappointed as I still have 20 lbs left to lose and can't seem to lose any more. I'm also losing a ton of hair. Can someone out there tell me what I'm doing wrong. I'm also exercising like never before. Sent from my LG-K550 using the BariatricPal App

Hey all...Im going in on monday as well...Good Luck to all of you...Praying we all come out the otherside with no complications and a future of healthy lifestyles!

You're very welcome - I wish I had found that BEFORE I did my two week diet! This is a good place, we've been where you are. Don't be ashamed about slip-ups, no one here is perfect. From what you've said, I think you'll be fine but I'm hardly qualified on medical issues. Call your surgeon on Monday, tell them about the cheating to avoid any complications, and see what they say.

Hi Leah! Thanks for the response. Here is the way to look at it... YOU DESERVE THIS! Have you been to any of the seminars? I really enjoyed the ones I went to when I was researching this procedure. They helped me to see I am not a bad person because I am fat. I have looked into WLS for a couple of years, like you, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to afford it. AND I wasn't prepared to have my intestines re-routed through by-pass. A friend told me about this lap band thing he heard on the news, so I started to look into it. First off, its alot cheaper then by-pass and I love the idea that its less invasive and adjustable. And the complications post op are much less. I am self pay as well. I don't have ins. and even when I did it didn't cover WLS. Even though I knew it was something I needed to have I wasn't prepared for a very long time to admit to myself none the less to anyone else. Being over weight is a constant struggle in every second of one's life. But you already know that. I decided on Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey for three reasons, first off, his experience, he has amazing credintials and tons of experience, along with alot experience in higher BMI patients, second was because he himself has the band, he knows how it feels to be us, he knows the day in and day out struggles, thirdly price. He was much cheaper than here in the US however I do know Tallgrass in Topeka is about the price of Dr. Rumbaut. For the first time in my entire life I don't feel ashamed to be me. I don't feel horrible from the mention of myself. I think I feel like this because of these boards, I no longer feel alone. I am so proud of myself and happy for myself to take on this new journey for me! There are several places out there that will finance this surgery, many programs that even offer it. I finally came to the decision I cannot nor will I deny myself this procedure, I cannot NOT afford to have this surgery. I want to live, and I want to be healthy. This is no longer an option. I had to come up with the money. And as you go through the process which I have, you will see that you deserve this more than anything. and you will find a way to pay for it. So hang in there, stay up to date on new information, talk with other etc... there are also some great chat sites on yahoo, one for Kansas lap band patients, I love the people there too! If ever you want to chat message me! hang in there and Good luck! ANNIE

Are you planning on going out of the country? Is the insurance offered through the doctor or something you found on your own? I know there are a couple of Mexico doctors who offer insurance for post-op...you might get more information on the Self-Pay Mexico forum. I had surgery in Mexico but haven't needed anything other than my regular medical insurance post-op. I also checked prior to surgery and my medical insurance does cover any complications, should I have any, from the VSG done out of the country. ~Kat

I imagine he's probably a great surgeon just less experienced. It's proven that the number of complications go down significantly the more experience a surgeon has. He's done about a few thousand which certainly isn't a newbie, but he's not in the league of Dr Kelly or Aceves.

Of course you can do it yourself. But there is no shame in getting help either. You said you gained a lot after your husbands death, just wondering if you have sought advice from a mental health professional? You may have some depression that could benefit from medicine. If you feel that weight loss surgery something that will help you get healthy then do it! You must do your own research to decide that you can make the lifestyle changes that you have to make with lap band. Are you ok with eating very small portions, possibly not being able to eat certain foods, becoming more active. When you think about the worst case, can you deal with those also? Some people dont lose very much weight, have complications. Good luck in whatever you decide! Take care of yourself

Fear of failure is quite common, and you won't know the success you are capable of if you do not make the attempt to be successful. Please learn early on that you can create undue negative feelings of failure if you compare your weight loss journey to others. We are all individuals, and as such will not have identical weight loss journeys. My life with the band has given me a life skill which eluded me for years...patience. If you follow the rules as given to you by your medical team, you will be successful. I have experienced some complications along my journey, and am losing weight slowly. I am focused on that the scale continues to move in the direction I want it to, not at the speed which it moves. There will be days when you will be less compliant than others, and you may from time to time encounter weight loss plateaus. It is important to stay the course and stay in touch with your reasons for opting for this surgery. The weight loss will happen...all good things in time.

It is very normal to have second thoughts....This surgery is not for the faint of heart...trust me....but! You must have done a lot of research about it and made a choice to improve your health and make your life better...This is one of the reasons we do it..All other options have been tried. Personally I was chomping at the bit to get the surgery done and I ended up with a lot of complications....You are feeling normal..This is major surgery! Your going to be scared but very happy when it is done and you are on your journey to a healthier and better you!

I liked that there isn't malabsorption, that our digestive tract stays "natural", and that it is "easy" to live with (not something that either bypass or band can say). IMO, the incremental improvement of weight loss that bypass affords over sleeve does not compensate for the additional risks and complications.