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Your doctor may be tactless but isn't he correct in a sense? I thought people with extreme BMIs responded better to gastric bypass than to Lap band. At 450 lb (dependent on your height, of course) it seems as though you be a better candidate for bypass. Maybe if you could lose more weight (get down to 375 perhaps?) lap band would be a safer choice. If I'm wrong, please educate me. Regardless, your doctor should not have upset you enough to make you cry. As with anything else that pertains to your health...get a SECOND opinion.

Hi Chris.......I did alot of research and I chose the Lap Band and here is why.....It can be removed if you have problems.....and you do lose weight slower with the lap band which is good in my case as I have alot to lose. Your skin has alot of elasticity so while you are losing the weight slowly you can work out and wont have alot of the sagging that you can get with fast weight loss. Don't let a doctor tell what to choose...when it comes to your body you choose what you feel is best for you. I have a relative that did the gastric bypass surgery and she now has a huge hernia and is big again. Nothing is 100% unless you want it to be. I had a choice and I chose Lap Band...

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)

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Beth; I'm having surgery TUES at GWU. I haven't found a support group yet...seems that everyone that was in my pre-op classes at GW was having gastric bypass. Did you not like Dr. Pinnar's group? I have a friend that used him and went to his sessions a few times. I'll need to ask her why she stopped going. I think it was just too far/inconvenient with her work schedule.

Well done. ????. My surgery on 17 November 2015, so diet starts Tuesday not looking forward to this part. Love all the frank posts about life after, sagging skin ect but for mr the goal is controlling diabetes and hopefully living a few more years. ????

Hi there, I don't have a 4.0 band but I just wanted to suggest asking your doctor for an appetite suppressant. I was feeling hungry all the time and my doctor gave me phentermine. He toyed with the dosage for a couple months to see where I wasn't getting hungry and could sleep at night. I don't know if this is an option for you but it's worth checking into. I started at 326 and am now down to 224 less than a year after banding because the phentermine was such a HUGE help. I'm now filled so tight that I couldn't eat half the things I wanted to anyway ... but it took until November to get there (was banded in May '07) so I haven't taken any phentermine since then. I think it just takes a while to find the right fill place and get some appetite suppressants in you. Don't get discouraged. Keep at it!!!!!!!

What exactly didn't work? And what is going on that he thinks it wont work again? If she's eating around her band (which we all do at some point or another, I'm sure), I don't think the bypass is a good answer anyway, because you can out eat that too, and it's not adjustable. Was she too tight and having that soft food syndrome thing? If so, the unfill should help alot, because the solid protein will keep her full longer. I'm a slow loser, I know that it's 2 things, number 1 I've always been a slow loser on any diet, and number 2, I struggle to be 'good'. When I'm not good I don't gain weight, which is all thanks to my band, and when I am good, I lose slowly, which is frustrating, but it's the right direction and that's how my band works for me. I think she just needs to figure out how her band works for her.

I just got back clearance on my nicotine test. They've submitted my claim for surgery to GA medicaid. Any idea on how long before they call with a surgery date? I am have gastric bypass surgery at Emory Midtown by Jamil Stetler of Emory Bariatrics. TIA Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

I'm so excited! October 28th can't come soon enough. Can't wait to get the band out, have bypass, lose weight, and get healthy! I'm so glad for this support group. Best wishes to u all.

I have been preparing for my surgery for months, and my little sister has been very supportive. She is also very heavy, and has been taking Phentermine for a few months. She had a check in with her primary doctoday and told the doc the meds aren't doing anything for her. She asked for information about bariatric surgery and was told by her doctor that it is a cosmetic procedure that most insurance won't pay for!!!! I'm utterly shocked! When my sis said she isn't interested in a bypass but a sleeve, the doc then told her it's not called a sleeve, it's called a lap-band. I told my sis I would be looking for a new doctor. That shocked me!!

Yeah, if you google it's called "stomach saving gastric plication". They don't use staples, and it's supposed to be about as effective as a gastric sleeve plus reversible and without required adjustment follow-up like the band. They fold your stomach up over itself and stitch it so it remains contorted in place. You don't bypass anything, you can still absorb all nutrients... It doesn't sound bad, really, except it does sound more "dramatic" to me, and the fact that there aren't a lot of long-term results out there is also a little unsettling. I'm probably still going to go for the band. But the center seems to be such a fan of gp, I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on a much better option for no good reason.

I had my surgery in Aug 2005 and to date I have lost only 71 lbs. I'm so disappointed.:think I honestly haven't been consistent in seeing my surgeon on a regular basis because I live far from her office but I just fiund out that one of her associates sees patients in an office closer to where I live so I do have an appt in two weeks. I have two relatives who had WLS and have lost so much more weight than me. One had Gastric Bypass before I had LapBand and the other had LapBand after I did. They both look great and here I am with still about 130 lbs. still to lose. I know that I don't always eat the right foods but sometimes I can get so little down (my fill is 3.4) that rather than try to eat and end up throwing it up I eat ice cream or cookies or some other food that isn't good for me. I knew that I would have to work at this but I honestly didn't think I would have to work so hard. I really did think that just be eating less the weight would come off. Is anyone else experiencing this problem or can anyone give me some encouragement. I would really appreciate your comments. Thanks.:help:

Hi everyone, I am wondering what is required after insurance is approved? I saw my surgeon on July 9th, I was cleared by my PCP 7/8, nutritionist on 7/10 and the psychiatrist on 7/17. Everything was sent to BCBS on 7/22 and I have been calling them every day since for status updates…..pending. I meet all the requirements since my BMI is > 40 no supervised diet period, so I am confident I will be approved. I’m just wondering what else I will have to do before I can have my surgery? I know I will have to see the surgeon again, probable some blood work and I have been avoiding sugar like it is a plague (to shrink my liver). I’m concerned because I have to travel for work out of town for 2 weeks in September, home for 1 week and then the whole month of October. I will not be back in town for 30 days in October. I am afraid I will be approved but will not be able to have the surgery in time to recover before I have to leave , if that is the case I will not be able to get my band until November

I've been snapping on my family all week, I'm starving!!! I'm on a non-starchy veggie and non sugar beverage fast for another week (1week in). I'm running out of things to eat and with everyone eating everything around me including my boyfriend who had the full bypass 3 yrs ago and eats everything and offers it to me knowing I can't!!!! My surgery is on sept 16

I chose bypass because of the dumping, I needed that sense of secuity. Also I want my diabetes to go away. And with the malabsorbation period will help me the most.

Hi, pals. The basics first- surgery on August 29 gastric bypass. Two weeks after surgery had partial blockage and went back to beginning. After redoing liquid phase, I have worked up to soft food, which I started a couple days ago. While I did ok on puréed foods- soup, sugar free pudding, etc. but every soft food I have tried has made me very sick. Tuna, turkey, eggs. I throw up violently for about an hour after, then I’m fine. My nutritionist said just to take it slow and we would check in during our 6 week appointment (about a week and a half from now.). Anyone else experience anything like this? Any tips on what you did if you resolved the issue? Thanks, Angela

Several individuals develop a condition called reactive hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery. Here are some links: https://www.stjoes.ca/patients-visitors/patient-education/f-j/PD 7972 Reactive Hypoglycemia after Bariatric Surgery.pdf https://www.ridgeviewmedical.org/services/bariatric-weight-loss/enewsletter-articles/reactive-hypoglycemia-postgastric-bypass http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/060415p48tip.shtml https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/194130-reactive-hypoglycemia/

I am pre op for a gastric bypass but wanted to ask those of you who have had surgery this question. I had my endoscopy today. They found hiatal hernia, irregular line and non-corrosive gastritis in the entire stomach. I know the hiatal hernia can be fixed at the same time I get the gastric bypass, but has anyone had either of the other two problems delay or stop gastric bypass?

Thanks Laurigee for the encouragement and Congradulations! :thumbup: I am pretty discouraged because all I see is people that have lost weight but are now having to deal with loose skin. I watched a PS show on The Discovery Channel about this girl that had the bypass and I felt so bad for her because even though she lost all that weight she still felt terrible about herself b/c of the loose skin. She didn't even want her husband to touch her. I just don't want to end up in that boat, I have already spent too much time hating my body and not enjoying life due to my weight...I am glad to hear that there is somebody that lost weight and didn't have to deal with loose skin!

Hello all! I'm getting my gastric bypass 8/20/13, I was wondering what to expect going in, waking up and the first couple weeks after, any information will be helpful, thanks!

Hi all, I had my consult with my surgeon last week and wasnt sure what to expect..supervised diet, 3 months, 6 months...so when he told me I would be fulfilling the requirements in 6 WEEKS it kind of floored me. So, tonight I go to my first support group meeting, next week is my first appt with the nutritionist and the physical therapist. When I asked about my insurance they said I was "pre-qualified" and that when I finish the six week program that they will file for final approval and set my date once that came through. I'm a little nervous about what this means and I hate to do all this work and pay into these appts only to be shut down. Not sure if I'm overreacting and my insurance will be fine, or if ill be waiting in limbo for this to happen. I'm also concerned about having the surgery in late November as I would be coming back into work during the holiday season (I manage a VERY busy Starbucks). Any thoughts or words of encouragement would be great! I go back and forth on whether I'm doing the right thing (I'm a TERRIBLE worrier), but I've found that the more people I tell the stronger I get. Everyone has been so positive!!!

It's really difficult to stretch your pouch to the point that it will make a big difference. Or so I've read. I think the more common reason for weight re-gain is grazing, snacking, and slider foods. Of course do your own research, that's just what I've seen. I chose bypass because its been around longer and because the weight loss is slightly higher than with the sleeve. I also like the idea of possibly dumping. I feel I might need a little more incentive to eat right occasionally... Also because if all goes horribly wrong you still have all your parts floating around, and I assume they can put it back together if needed. Granted it still won't be the same as it was. but it makes me feel better to have all my pieces.

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I posted this on another forum and felt it might be useful for other people to have a read of, if like me, you like your scientific facts. Maybe the below will provide a bit of clarity as to the 'nuts and bolts' of some of the bariatric procedures and their long-term (within the limitations of the data) efficacy. This first academic journal quoted was published in May 2013. So, it doesn't get more 'up to date' with regards to evaluating the comparative effectiveness in the three biggest weight loss procedures. I have only reproduced the abstract and have quoted the source below as the abstract covers the salient information we'd be interested in. The second section is all about the metrics, with a snapshot of all the procedures being evaluated in a tabulated form (the table was removed from the cutting and pasting process, so read left to right) and the risks associated with the operations. The primary and secondary sources are also cited. Better to make decisions based on rigorous scientific research, than hearsay and charasmatic sales pitches, I feel... Hope it helps. Article 1: Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy (SG), laparoscopic gastric bypass (RYGB), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedures. Background: Citing limitations of published studies, payers have been reluctant to provide routine coverage for SG for the treatment of morbid obesity. Methods: Using data from an externally audited, statewide clinical registry, we matched 2949 SG patients with equal numbers of RYGB and LAGB patients on 23 baseline characteristics. Outcomes assessed included complications occurring within 30 days, and weight loss, quality of life, and comorbidity remission at 1, 2, and 3 years after bariatric surgery. Results: Matching resulted in cohorts of SG, RYGB, and LAGB patients that were well balanced on baseline characteristics. Overall complication rates among patients undergoing SG (6.3%) were significantly lower than for RYGB (10.0%, P < 0.0001) but higher than for LAGB (2.4%, P < 0.0001). Serious complication rates were similar for SG (2.4%) and RYGB (2.5%, P = 0.736) but higher than for LAGB (1.0%, P < 0.0001). Excess body weight loss at 1 year was 13% lower for SG (60%) than for RYGB (69%, P < 0.0001), but was 77% higher for SG than for LAGB (34%, P < 0.0001). SG was similarly closer to RYGB than LAGB with regard to remission of obesity-related comorbidities. Conclusions: With better weight loss than LAGB and lower complication rates than RYGB, SG is a reasonable choice for the treatment of morbid obesity and should be covered by both public and private payers. SOURCE: Carlin A, Zeni T, Birkmeyer N, et al. The comparative effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric banding procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity. Annals Of Surgery [serial online]. May 2013;257(5):791-797. Available from: MEDLINE with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Article 2: September 2012: Morbidity and mortality associated with LRYGB, LSG, and LAGB from the ACS-BSCN dataset LRYGB LSG LAGB 30-d mortality (%) 0.14 0.11 0.05 1-y mortality (%) 0.34 0.21 0.08 30-d morbidity (%) 5.91 5.61 1.44 30-d readmission (%) 6.47 5.40 1.71 30-d reoperation/intervention(%) 5.02 2.97 0.92 SOURCE: Data from Hutter MM, Schirmer BD, Jones DB, et al. First report from the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Surgery Center Network: laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has morbidity and effectiveness positioned between the band and the bypass. Ann Surg 2011;254(3):410–20 [discussion: 420–2], in: Timothy D. J, Matthew M. H. Morbidity and Effectiveness of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Adjustable Gastric Band, and Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity. Advances In Surgery [serial online]. n.d.;46(Advances in Surgery):255-268. Available from: ScienceDirect, Ipswich, MA