Search the Community

you can definitely lose as much weight as you want through the lapband, it just depends on you. mortality rate for lapband is 1 in 2000 mortality rate for gastric bypass is 1 in 200, the thing about the bypass that i would not like is the dumping syndrome, I dont have time to stay on the commode all day long. with the lapband I have retrained my body on how to eat properly because that is what the tool does, my indigestion is gone, my bowels are regular and I can still enjoy all the foods I like just in smaller portions. the advantage of the bypass i would say is the weight loss if very rapid where as with the lap band it is slower for some. the lapband is reversable and the bypass is not. you should do some research and compare the 2 and then decide for yourself. I cant really compare because i dont know much about the bypass other than the things I have read but the lapband is good for me because I feel like for once in my life I am in control of the food that I eat. good luck to you and your decision

After having my bypass surgery postponed twice, it's finally going to happen on ELECTION DAY Nov. 8, 2016! The USA may be getting a new president that day, but I am getting a new lease on life and I am so thankful. Today is day 9 on my liver shrink diet and so far, I've done well. I am pleased with the weight that I've lost so far these past few days. It's been a long road since June with numerous blood tests, x-rays, ct scans, pet scans, and biopsies, to get me well today and I thank the Lord for this. I intend to do all that I can to be as successful as I can possibly be. I just wanted to share my happy news with you, and thank you all for your encouragement to not give up! ~Debi~

Hello everyone, and Happy Holidays to each of you! My name is Susan, I'm 41 years old, single with no children. I live in the South Suburbs of Chicago. This journey for me has been a long, but enlightening one. I've been heavy pretty much all my life, with my highest weight coming about 2 years ago after thyroid issues leading to thyroidectomy, discovering thyroid cancer, and being hypothyroid for several months while have treatment. Also going on anti depressant meds didn't help Anyway, bariatric surgery is not new to me as my mom had RNY bypass back in the early 1980's. She has been successful at keeping about 2/3 of the weight off, but has had anemia and B-12 deficiency since the surgery. I'm not sure how I started reading up on LapBand, for a long time I was kinda anti-gastric bypass. But I researched starting in Sept 2009 and attended my first seminar in Nov 2009. After all the requirements hoops and such I was approved and set for November 8th. I think some of you have heard this in the post op thread but technically I "had" the surgery, minus the band There was a little complication not related to the actual banding and my wonderful surgeon decided to hold off for a few weeks to make sure no infection came up. Sooooo I have been thru the gas pain, abdominal pain, etc, but got to go back on solids for 2 weeks and just have to do 3 days liquid now before Monday So round two the 29th... I am very anxious to get started with getting healthier. I have a few comorbidities such as hypertension and prediabetes that I trust will get better by losing weight. Also there are so many things I want to still do while I'm "young" lol most of them involve being ACTIVE. But in my head and what my body can do now and two different things. I thank God often for this gift and opportunity. Best wishes to you all and I appreciate your posts and updates! I think that support by others who are going thru it is important for all of us!!! God bless and see you around!

Hi: What are those "guidelines" you refer to? I'm just considering the Lapband. I'm really sold on the idea but I have a friend who is my "devil's advocate" and wants to have bypass surgery for herself. I guess my main concern is being able to eat enough to not feel light-headed, maintain nutrition, and possible continue taking my supplements for flaxseed/antioxidants (a rather large capsule) Any advice? Thanks!

My revision is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2015

The three most important elements after gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. Weight loss is achieved after surgery through meal volume control. You begin at 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal and gradually over the next year and a half increase the volume to 1 cup per meal. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your protein daily requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as protein shakes. Without sufficient protein, your body will scavenge protein from other areas of your body, such as your muscles. Protein is extremely important after surgery as its job in the body is to build and maintain tissues including your body's major organs and skeletal muscles. Protein deficiency, when continued over a long period of time can cause a disease known as protein caloric malnutrition. Common symptoms are poor healing, fatigue, hair loss and muscle wasting. Immediate post op, protein promotes healing of the staple line and incisions. Your daily protein requirement is met by a combination of the amount of protein you obtain from food combined with the amount of protein from protein supplements (protein shakes, protein bars)

I have $25 but since I'm revision I got very used to all my old vitamins and supplements. I'm willing to give it a month but pretty much know I will go back to my old stuff. Not big on the B12 nasal spray or taste of new ones Sent from my XT1254 using the BariatricPal App I have $25 but since I'm revision I got very used to all my old vitamins and supplements. I'm willing to give it a month but pretty much know I will go back to my old stuff. Not big on the B12 nasal spray or taste of new ones Sent from my XT1254 using the BariatricPal App Sorry $25 copay not sure what insurance pays BC do not know total Sent from my XT1254 using the BariatricPal App

Congrats and best to you. My visit was Monday for May 17 surgery. I agree there is a lot to take in, and the part about open procedure option made me nervous. I am having a revision an had open last time and did not want to go that route again, but with my past WLS problems, what ever it takes. I felt much better talking to surgeon and PA that they have done many of these revisions, and only with excessive bleeding (3% of time) do they have to go open.

By all means, make the lifestyle changes, as they will be essential to your long term weight stability and well being, even if they aren't likely to get your weight down to where you want it to be - once we get to the size where we are considering WLS. there are enough various factors stacked against us that we run into that 5% success rate noted above. The way I approached this problem, when my wife and I got serious about our respective weight problems and started toward WLS was to start doing those lifestyle changes that would help to ensure my long term success. We know what we have to do - be more active (it seems like you already have that inclination), cut the junk out of our diets, improve the overall nutrition while reducing the calories to a level that will maintain us (if not leading to total weight loss to normal.) Most have already found that the various fad and "book" diets (any book entitled "The _____ Diet", most particularly if it also mentions "miracle" and is authored by a "Dr.") don't work in the long term. They may get your weight down to something approaching normal, but they teach you nothing about how to maintain that loss over the years, and the weight builds up again when trying to go back to a "normalish" maintenance diet. I avoided those diets, but worked on moving my diet as close to the ideal as I could sustain in the long term. It was not "perfect" by any book or nutritionists' standards, but it was what I could do within my tastes and it was something that I could do forever, and it was much better than the normal American crap diet that got most of us where we are/were when considering WLS. I kept tweaking things to carve out a few more calories where I could, and improve the overall nutrition of what I ate. That was almost 13 years ago, and I dropped about 50 lb over six months (335 - 285) or so and came to a halt. I could make small moves down and then back again. But I did maintain that loss for several years. In the meantime, my wife had her WLS after the serial insurance denials and ultimately self paying for her DS, and we settled into a reasonable maintenance lifestyle, though I usually ate about twice what she did. Once our insurance started covering the sleeve, I went for it as it was clear that I was not going to lose the rest on my own in any sustainable manner. That was five years ago, and so far so good. I also used that interim period to test my maintenance ability and help choose which surgery, if needed, was most appropriate for me. Had I regained what I had lost over those few years, that was a sign that I should go for the DS, with its better regain resistance. With the stability that I had managed over that time, the sleeve seemed like a good bet that I could avoid any revisions due to regain problems.

I have not have it yet .. end of next month, I chose Bypass more rate of weight loss, my dislocated knee needs a break ASAP lol . And plus I get lots of heartburn from time to time and sleeve won’t be the best one for that. Like someone else said Sleeve is pretty new , even in the seminar the doctor mention they don’t have as much information. But if I were you .. ask your Surgeon .. he can give you more accurate info .. than us. I see people debating on malabsorption. “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits.” —Michael Phelps

Bypass is not a malabsorbative procedure. Duodenal switch is, but not bypass. Sleeve u can also end up eating more than u were initially (aka stretching) if ur not careful. I think the main difference is the rearranging of internal plumbing. [emoji6] As others have stated, some differences (good, bad, or indifferent) in the two are: With sleeve they remove the cut away stomach, with bypass they do not. With sleeve u can get GERD worse than prior to the procedure, with bypass u won't. With bypass u will have to take supplements forever (and not because of malabsorbtion, but because ur pouch is so small, u can't get as many nutrients thru food bcos u can't eat as much); with sleeve, I'm not sure. There is over 30+ yrs study and research on bypass, sleeve is newer. It probably sounds like i am talking up the bypass procedure but im honestly not trying to. I had the bypass and so far, im happy with my decision. That said, I think the sleeve is very successful procedure, as well, and is actually the procedure people are going with more now these days. Each procedure has its pros and cons (and horror stories), but it will end up being a personal choice for u after hearing and reading all the differences. Good luck!

Its definately hardest until you starting getting fills that make you realize you really WILL stop feeling hungry all the time and you WILL feel satisfied with a small amount of food - it was that way for me anyway. I am still on the liquid phase of my diet since my revision surgery but normally when I go to a restuarant I try to choose something healthy. Unless its Friday night. On Friday night I eat whatever I want (but I don't binge!) and that usually means Papa John's bread sticks with LOTs of garlic butter or Outback Steakhouse cheese fries. Ohhh yum. I like to eat at El Pollo Loco because the chicken is fabulous and its easy to remove the skin. I like Taco Bell because one soft taco is filling and a lot less calories and fat than a hamburger and fries. But for the most part I cut calories when I cook at home by using light or fat free substitutes as often as possible. I always eat low-cal, low-sugar ice cream and I always use "I can't believe its not butter - LIGHT" for the other things. So that helps a lot too I think. The thing I like so much about the band is that it puts control of food back in my hands. Before I had the band I would literally eat out of control and just gorge myself trying desperately to feel satisfied and never feeling it. Now food doesn't control me and I find it easy to make the right decision about what I eat or prepare for myself.

Welcome. This is an exciting, life-changing process. I see that you posted on the bypass forum. I highly recommend you be open-minded and talk with your surgeon about what procedure is right for you. There are other options besides bypass. I was sleeved April 20, 2015 and couldn't be happier with my experience and my progress so far. I still have a long way to go but my life is completely different than it was even a year ago. Also, keep in mind that the process for preparing for surgery can take a lot of time. Be prepared to be patient, persistence, and practice positivity and perseverance. If you get a chance to have an earlier appointment I recommend you take it. The pre-op process can take some time.

Hello there. My thoughts are just from what I have read and patients to whom I have spoken. The banding apparently is the first choice for sweet eaters. Is there a reason that you are not mentioning the gastric bypass? I will tell you a bit of my story, if you will. I realized that one of the main reasons for not considering surgery originally was that I thought it meant I had been a failure. No one else's opinions really came into my thought process. I had lost over 100lbs on my own in 2004. Healthy means - diet and exercise. It was not actually that difficult for me. I was just in that zone, I guess. Well, after having the weight off for about a year I ended up having a hysterectomy. I was laid up for several months and gained the majority of my weight back and the remaining portion of over the last couple of years. All but 25 lbs of it! Since 2006 it has seemed virtually impossible to lose anything substantial. The discussion groups, meetings with the various staff, etc. have been invaluable. So, sit down with yourself, keep a clear head and figure things out. Ask all the questions you need. The WLS is just a tool, a means to aid you to your goal. That is another important factor: what is your goal? why do you want to lose weight? and how important is it to you? Hope I helped a bit. Keep us up to date. I will be at the discussion group in November, I believe. Take care of your health!

My surgeon told me that by the end of summer, 9 months after sleeve surgery, I would be done losing weight. I'm just wondering if anyone understands this. Is this bc my metabolism will be used to my low calories? I still have about 40 lbs to lose yikes! Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 199 GW: 160

Thank you for your insight on this [emoji4] have you had many issues with dumping syndrome? It sounds pretty scary, that's the main scare factor for me in regards to the bypass Sent from my SM-G920T using BariatricPal mobile app

Chose sleeve, because I did not want malabsorbtion. You may want to think about how you would have adequate nutrition if you want children, as the bypass would make that a lot more difficult. Also the nurse practicioner at my PCP had bypass and she developed ulcers in the unused stomach that is left in after bypass, she also has B12 deficiency. The pouch created in bypass still has the fundus part of the stomach and it can stretch, whereas this is not an issuebw the sleeve. I was sleeved 5 days ago and doing very well.

Irene revised due to uncontrolled reflux. I can't recall her screen name, it has diva and Irene in it - she is a great resource.

I had severe acid reflux prior to surgery, so I had gastric bypass because sleeve will only make the condition worse. Many on this site had sleeve only to have it revised to gastric bypass because of problems with GERD after they were sleeved.

My name is Tammy I live the in Kitsap County Washington state. I am getting prepared for gastric bypass surgery I have not had the surgery yet. Just getting through all the stages. I still have to get my goal weight for surgery. I have finished all my tests and now I have 3 behavioral therapy sessions to complete and I finished my physical therapy and nutriontist appointments. I am nervous about not able to eat the foods that I love and don't want to give up. I am nervous about going through the surgery and having the dumping syndrome. I am having trouble with foods that I am suppose to eat. I have trouble with skipping mealsand Snacks. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App

I just had to have an esophageal manometry completed to assess for swallowing and GERD. It was very traumatic for me! OMG I can't even explain! Has anyone else had this test? If the pressure in the esophagus comes back too high then I can't have the sleeve. I'll have to switch to the bypass which I don't want. Thoughts? Input? Dawnie_doo

My band slipped a few weeks ago due to a stomach virus and my ignorance of not getting unfilled. I am getting my band removed and replaced this Thursday. So, yeah...I am getting another. I believe the band is an incredible TOOL for weight loss. I am 3 years out from my original surgery. I have not reached my goal as I expected in this amount of time but it is still the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have been unfilled for a week and have had uncontrollable urges to eat like my prebanded years. I can not go back to that or I will be back to square one...and that isnt going to happen. You have to weigh the pros and cons and do what you feel is best for YOU. The new bands are supposed to be a lot better. My doc says they are supposed to be better against slipping and such. Talk to your doctor and discuss your fears. I told myself that if I fail with the 2nd band that I will consider a mini gastric bypass. I pray that will never have to be an option. Good luck to you and please keep us updated.

I have heard from more than one person (they both, incidentally, had gastric bypass, rather than lapband) that when they hit a plateau on the scale, they have found they are losing inches - even though the scale is steady. Good luck on your journey...

My default is to recommend sleeve unless a person has pre-existing heartburn, or a food addiction. The malabsorptive/dumping aspect of the bypass helps with the occasional slip-up.

Well, I was verbally told that they approved me for the lap band surgery but the doctor wouldn't set the date until they had the letter in their hand. Well I got the letter today and they approved me for the Gastric Bypass not lap band. Guess I have to wait until Monday to see next steps I have to jump through. I'm so tired of this crap and so emotionally shot.