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A friend of mine said that she is getting the bypass done instead of the band, because it is too easy to cheat on the band. Is this true?

I know, it doesn't. I think they are in the process of revising their policy or that's what I got from reading other posts last night. I went to Rite Aid and did the little blood pressure test, and it said I was only 124 over something... I don't remember, so that means I don't have high blood pressure.

I joined WW last week. So far it realy seems to be helping me stay on track. I also feel like I really need the weekly weigh in for accountability. My weight control center has monthly eeting but they seem to be targeted to bypass, so I really like having a weekly meeting!

Misinformation about Weight Loss Surgery If you have ever who has discussed weight loss surgery with uninformed individuals, you know that the initial reaction is likely to be negative and backed by false information or no information at all. Many people who have not investigated weight loss surgery believe that the surgery is a quick fix for lazy people. They may think that you can walk in off the street and leave from bariatric surgery a couple hundred pounds lighter; that you chose to ignore your weight for years; and that all bariatric surgery is the same;. Wrong, wrong and wrong. These misperceptions contribute to the stigma associated with weight loss surgery. People may look down on surgery as the “easy way out” for “lazy people,” instead of as a tool for hard-working people to have the opportunity to lead the healthy lives that everyone should have the chance to lead. You already know that you’re not lazy and that bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet; the next time you run across an uninformed, disparaging individual, you can patiently explain to them the steps of the process and the hard work you and every other successful weight loss surgery patient puts in. Not Everyone is Eligible for Weight Loss Surgery You can’t just “go get bariatric surgery,” and this is an important fact to understand to reduce the stigma associated with weight loss surgery. Each weight loss center has strict eligibility requirements that you have to meet before you can become a candidate. In general, patients must be morbidly obese, with a BMI over 40, or have a BMI over 35 and have health complications related to being overweight; for example, you might be eligible if you have a BMI of 35 and already have type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol levels. Most clinics have additional eligibility criteria that you need to meet before being considered as a potential bariatric surgery candidate. You need to have been overweight for several years, usually over five years. You also need to show that you have tried, unsuccessfully, to lose weight multiple times through diet alone. You cannot be a smoker or be an abuser of alcohol or drugs because the additional health risks from surgery will be too great. Pregnant women or women who want to become pregnant soon should not have bariatric surgery because pregnancy is only safe after your weight is constant. The decision to have surgery requires significant consideration and planning. Bariatric Surgery Requires Preparation Bariatric surgery itself does not guarantee permanent weight loss success, and much of the responsibility for losing weight will be up to you. Even after going through the screening process and learning that your clinic agrees that some form of bariatric surgery is right for you, several steps remain before you can undergo the procedure. The steps are in place to ensure that you are likely to succeed with the surgery and are not signing up on a whim. You will meet your bariatric team members, including your surgeon, dietitian and psychologist or psychiatrist. In most cases, you will undergo a psychological interview or series of tests to make sure that you are capable of sticking to the required diet. You may be asked to follow a specific diet for weeks before your scheduled surgery to demonstrate your commitment and ability to succeed after the operation. This step may also be required by your health insurance company for your bariatric procedure to be covered. There are Risks People need to understand that you can’t take bariatric surgery lightly. Each type of surgery has risks, although different processes are riskier than others. The lap band is relatively low-risk, with minor concerns of the band slipping out of place or infections at the incision site. Roux-n-Y gastric bypass carries a higher rate of complications, including ulcers, spleen injuries, leakage through staples and deficiencies of micronutrients, such as vitamin B-12 and iron. Nobody would choose to have a bariatric procedure if they weren’t convinced that they had tried all of their other options to get healthy. It’s a Long Process Bariatric surgery is a crucial milestone, but it is early in your weight loss journey and bariatric care plan. After surgery, you will continue to have follow-up appointments with your surgeon as dictated by your health and type of weight loss surgery. You will also meet with your dietitian regularly to stay on track with your diet. Most clinics have optional or mandatory support groups to motivate you and provide opportunities to ask your surgeon and fellow patients questions in a group setting. The surgery does not take off any weight. It’s a tool to make it easier for the patient to follow the proper diet for the long term. Contrary to what some people may believe, you do not lose any weight during the surgery. All of the weight that you lose is because of changes to your diet. The surgical procedures help you eat less by limiting the size of your stomach and making you feel full faster. Even if you lose 100 pounds in your first year, which is a standard benchmark for success, you may still have more weight to lose. Once you reach your goal weight, you still need to watch your diet and exercise regularly to keep the weight off. In Conclusion You’re already familiar with the intensive efforts required for weight loss surgery, but unfortunately, most people are not. This often leads to negative reactions when you tell them about your procedure. An important step you can take in reducing the stigma is to explain that the procedure is a component of an overall program to improve your health through lifestyle modifications.

EVERYONE does! Everyone across the board. I'm going to go out on a limb and say without exception EVERYONE needs to learn to slow down. It's a learning curve. Those that were banded and revised to a sleeve have advantages that newbie sleeves don't have. We already went through the chewing learning curve. What you are experiencing is completely and totally normal. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Hi, I had my gallballder removed in 2000. Almost a year later developed pancreintitus (sp?) due to either a stone being left when gallbladder was removed or another one formed (unsure of which) It was HORRIBLY painful!!! The pain you described is exactly what I had. Unfortunatly, I have had to be hospitalized 3 more times since then due to having stones in my bile duct. Fortunatly I have not developed panc. again. I was banded in Oct 07. I didn't want the bypass and it was a good thing because my surgeon didn't recommend it in the chance that I formed another stone (he said with the bypass they wouldn't be able to perform the procedure I have to have done to remove the stones) Occasionally I have bouts of the same pain but thankfully they go away. I've done alot of research and found thru that research and thru discussions with different docs that some people who have a history of stones can also have "sludge".. meaning that you may have a blockage that can cause the same pain as a stone but it eventually passes. Angela

I think that's a point a lot of people forget. The way I found it to be was if you want rapid weight loss go with gastric bypass (you will lose more initially than gastric banding), but if you want long term and body adaptable weight loss go with gastric band (where you choose if it works for you or not, and yes I know that could incite a flame war). One to two lbs a week is a calorie deficiency of 3,700-7,400. If you were eating 2,200 calories a day prior to surgery then reduced yourself to 1,500 calories a day that's a loss of 5.28 lbs/month. So those people who are losing 20 lbs/month are both drastically limiting their calories and working out to expend more calories. Unless you do the same, don't expect those results.

^^This^^...and is something that happens with bypass patients as a result of rerouting around their upper intestines. It's not something that happens with banders.

During my initial consultation, I wanted a sleeve. My family was very anti-sleeve because it is permanent. My doctor actually agreed, saying my health was fine and that I didn't need to lose so much weight that I would need a permanent surgery like the sleeve. When I saw my doctor last, I asked about revising to the sleeve as I have concerns about the band longterm. She said again that if I was having no problems, I did not need to revise. Maybe the weight gain since then would change her mind? In the band's defense, despite not being great for actual weight loss, I did not experience many of the horrible complications I have read about online. My gallbladder actually had nothing to do with the band, but with years of extreme high protein/low carb dieting and quick weight loss. Still, I want to lose weight! Maybe I will see what she says. I don't really have time right now for a revision, but I want to be healthy and if that is what it takes... It is hard because she is so glamorous and I can really tell when she is disappointed. Well, I worked up the courage to reschedule the appointment I cancelled this week. I have one in a few weeks. Maybe by then I will have lost a couple pounds from restricting calories? Yeah, that feels right to me! I am shooting for that as I find it difficult to meet Protein requirements (and be a pleasant, functioning human person) at 600-800. If I find that I'm not losing weight, I can restrict down.

Of course it's up to you how much time you feel is necessary to recover, but generally speaking 4 days seems to be the recommended amount. Example: have the surgery on Wednesday, take off Thurs and Fri and have the weekend to recover and be back by Monday. For those have bypass surgery, it may take longer but the lapband surgery is less traumatic to the body than gall bladder surgery.

Thank you all. I work at the same hospital that my PCP works at so I emailed her personally on Friday demanding answers. I think up to that point her nurse was interceding my messages. I also got the Upper GI disc just in case. I tried calling the bariatric team where I work and none of them would take me on because "they don't fix other surgeon's messes." A friend of mine who was bypassed let me vent last week and then sent me a list of about 5 surgeons in my area who may be able to help. I am going to start calling their offices tomorrow to see if other people can take me on. My other problem though at this point I'm disregarding is because I work for a hospital my insurance is geared for that hospital so if I go to any other hospital in my area they will only pay a small portion of what I need. I'm hoping tomorrow I can get some answers tomorrow.

I understand how you feel. I think we go through this surgery and we want to lose the weight as fast as we see some other WLS patients lose it. Those that have the bypass etc. It's just not like that for us, and that might be a good thing given all the complications I have read and witnessed from other alternative surgeries. We chose to do this differently, and we chose the band for whatever our reasons were to choose this path here we are living it. I have been reading a lot posts where people have given up and don't make the life style changes. They go back to old eating habits, and let me tell you it is HARD to make those changes. I am only 2 months post op, and I have had those moments where I am right back to the old eating mentality. I try to catch myself and sometimes I get caught up in it. I want to give up, not be on a diet not care about what I am putting in my mouth, but you know the band doesn't let me give up! I love that about being banded. When I am at my most frustrated, and I just want to say the heck with healthy, the band steps in and says NOPE you're going to have to do it right or I am going to let you know you are doing something wrong and it does! I just had my first fill today 2 months post op. I don't have any discomfort and I am able to drink my Protein shakes just fine. Though I am noticing I am not getting beat up by the hunger demon as much, and that is a welcome relief. Right now I'm fighting with my fatigue and my conviction to do what's right for my body and forcing myself to the gym in the 90 degree heat to walk a bit on the treadmill. As my husband just said it's better than sitting in the car in traffic for an hour in the 90 degree heat. He's right about that..so I will go to the gym and muster up the energy to walk it out. It's a bit of a struggle every day, don't give up your doing great and you're going to keep on doing great! I just know it!

At the end of the day, you have to make the decision that works best for you. But here are some of the things I thought about: Lap Band - reversible, no food was completely off limits (later learned that carbonation is bad), less invasive, less risky ( in terms of # of deaths per surgery) and adjustable. Bypass - not reversible, not adjustable, higher risk of death during surgery, food issues (dumping with sugar). Do what's right for you. Good luck.

I'm in Laplace outside of New Orleans. I was banded in August but had a port revision done at the end of november and my first fill mid December. I am wanting to drop about 50 lbs before July when I go to California...

Yes. Different names, but the same procedure. What makes the sleeve work well is that your digestive tract is left intact. Your stoma and pylorus are not changed. Your intestinal tract is not modified. Basically, everything is left alone, except the stretchy part of the stomach is removed, so you can't eat very much. But if you're experienced eating with a lapband, you already know how to eat small. One of the biggest advantages to sleeve surgery is removing the stretchy part of the stomach also removes the grehlin, which is where hunger pains come from. Imagine a life where you have to remind yourself to eat, because you never feel hungry. And before you ask: I would love to have this surgery for myself, but my insurance won't cover it yet. I don't want to wait, so I'm having band surgery first. If I need further help later on, (and if my insurance will pay for it), I'll have it revised to the sleeve. Good luck! Dave

They are all tools... If one failed for you it wasn't because it wasn't the right surgery for you... It was because you were not ready to make the lifestyle changes you needed to in order for the tool to do it's job. No matter what surgery we have, we all have rules to live by. Don't follow the rules.. Don't get results... They are all tools that will work! If you do your part. If your stuffing cake, soda, chips down your throat being lazy not working out, whatever. It isn't going to work!!!! You are better off asking for a feeding tube than to keep having these revisions thinking that there going to do anything different than the last surgery did... It's what you put into it.. Yes I can go get bypass and definitely lose the weight. But It will alllllll come back if I don't follow the rules. There is no easy way out for us! We have to come to terms and make a life long commitment to change everything about our lifestyle and eating habits. I support every one of the surgery's there are out there... They all will help you... Pick the one you are comfortable with doing... Don't think one is better than the other or one you don't have to work as hard at.. blah blah.. Sure if you have a sweet tooth... I might consider the ones that cause dumping.. But I should know enough by now, to realize I can't eat that crap anymore if I want to be healthy! In moderation.. ha... I wish it were that easy... I sure as heck wouldn't be where I am today If I had the ability to have that kind of stuff in moderation... That's like telling a ex smoker, just one cigarette every now in then is okay... Yeah maybe for a few times, then it's back to the full blown addiction eventually... Food is like drugs... We are addicts.. Oh gosh... I can go on and on.. But.. I just felt like venting a little.. LOL

Dave, the gastric sleeve that you're talking about is the one where they actually remove part of the stomach and suture the rest of it into a tube-like structure, right? I just checked. My insurance company does cover that. And it looks like I won't have to put up much of a fight for it since I've already had two band surgeries. They will cover a different procedure if you've already tried a less invasive method and it didn't work for you. Now just to convince the hubby and find a doctor who'll do the procedure. I'm going to call my doctor's office on Monday to discuss this option, see if they're willing to do the procedure or whether they'll need to refer me to another surgeon. They don't list that as a procedure they do, but I know one of the surgeons has done them in the past. As far as finding another doctor, this surgeon is the best bariatric surgeon in the region as far as his skill in the O.R. There are nurses that come all the way from Columbia University Hospital, a two hour drive just so this guy can do their bypasses. It's his bedside manner that sucks. He does have a new surgeon in his practice that I like a lot. I know the newer patients opting for the band are not being treated with the same disrespect as I have been now that the new doctor is here. I wouldn't mind if the (insert foul word here) does the surgery as long as my post op care is with the other guy. Off on a road trip. Will be back tomorrow to read any further posts! Thanks so much!!

Did your dr say why this happened? And did your insurance pay for both revisions? I didn't even question my insurance because it all happened so fast. Had the 2nd surgery the day after we tried to do my 3rd fill. jazie

Hi Tracy, I am 26,5'5 and was 235 before banding. I have been banded since Aug. I have lost 20lbs. I had a similar sweet tooth. I did notice that once I was banded it wasn't as bad. About a month after surgery I was at the grocery store with hubby and he wanted some ice cream and he asked me what flavor I wanted, well after spending about 10 mins in the ice cream isle I didn't see any flavor that tickled my fancy and he just got a pint of what he wanted. I can't garuntee that your cravings will stop but I do know that for some people their tastes kinda change. I chose the band personally because I have a little one less than a year old and could not afford that much down time. Also I am not done having children and I wanted to have a way to re loose the pregnancy weight. I knew if I got bypass I would most likely be skinny up until I got pregnany then gain alot of weight back. With the band, I can get a fill after pregnancy and start all over again. Not true with bypass. To tell you the truth, I had no recovery time. I was back to normal activity the day after I got back from surgery. I think you would probably only need a week of recovery if that much. I am 100% happy with my band. Only you can make the choice for you. With the band I can still enjoy the things I like to eat, but most of the time 2-3 bites of it satisfies my craving and I am done with it. I know with bypass you have to be careful what you eat and change your eating habits completely other wise your body will start dumping, which doesn't sound fun to me. Only YOU can choose what you think is best for you, do your research though and go into it knowledgable and 100% sure that you have made the right decision. I would encourage you to explore all the threads on this board and maybe find a bypass forum and explore their threads too. Good luck!

nina - thanks alot for the link. i went through and read it and it was very helpful. at first, 6 months ago, I was thinking about RNY. But here in the last month or so, particularly after finding this messageboard, I've been liking the band more and more. But after going to see the surgeon the other day, I starting doubting, and thinking maybe I should go with the bypass. Now, after reading all these posts, I'm leaning towards the band again. I've got 4 months to go before I can get the surgery, so I'll probably change several times again.

Thanks for replying guys. I have heard "but your're not that big" once, this from a co-worker who had gastric bypass at 500 lbs., but after I told him my real weight (he was shocked) of almost 200 lbs., and the fact I was almost half that weight as a teenager (I have a very small frame that was clearly NOT built to be carrying 200 lbs). However, he totally supports me now and is even going to do my pre-op diet with me to jumpstart his weight loss which has stalled (I'm guessing at around 275). I remind everyone that I have gained 30 lbs in the past year despite working out 5 times a week and that I can wait but why wait until I'm morbidly obese? I've already got the health problems and told my family I want to see my son grow up...that helped them get on board. Shauna

I am looking into a lap band after gastric bypass. I had the Roux-en-Y bypass 12 years ago. Lost 100 lbs., kept it off for about 3 years and then started to gain a little bit back each year. I gained about 85 of it back and have been at this weight (290) for 3 or so years now. What I have learned (a little late, of course!) through my journey...NONE of these procedures are some magic thing that will keep the weight off forever. Everything can be sabotaged and pushed to failure! They are just one tool that can help but we have to change our lifestyle. I have gotten smarter as I've gotten older and hopefully have figured this out...not to late. I am not even sure if the surgeon I am seeing at the end of the month will even to a band after bypass. He needs to put a scope down into my stomach to see if it is possible. We are doing that April 23. I have joined Weight Watchers and Curves to help me change my lifestyle. It seems to be helping but sometimes I feel like I need the restrictions from a band to keep me in check. Jenniferhlee: I don't mean any disrespect but it seems to me that choosing to go to Mexico for your band wasn't the best decision. I am curious as to why you would go to Mexico for this surgery? You said that everything goes straight through you or comes back up--how could you gain any weight this way? It doesn't make sense to me. There can be complications with bypass surgery too. The band is simply put around the top part of your stomach-bypass surgery re-routes your intestines. It is major!! Please make sure you have a top notch bariactric surgeon from the US help you.

Thanks rebandit. That's good advice. How did the cost of the revision cost compared to original banding? Also-- just to be sure I understand, are you saying you had a slip because the band was too tight, and then you didn't eat properly because you weren't aware of how to properly take care of the pouch? Thanks very much-- I really want to learn from those who have been through it! Jim

well first cost---the cost of my original was $16,000 the cost of the surgery was more like $25,000 because well I was ill also and I had a hospital stay in one hospital then they shipped me to the band dr. Im still not sure all what its going to cost me but the first hospital was right at $6,000 but that part was just to get me some potassium and rehydrate me. then I got my anesthesia bill at $1760 then the dr bill came in for the new hospital $15,500 but I still havent recieved the actuall hospital bill for the second hospital. so far we are about $22,700 and im waiting for a few thousand for the new hospital. now my dr. says that although my insurance didnt pay for the first band that it might pay for the revision because i was an emergency patient. now on to the other question, yes im saying I was choked off and i knew it. i was losing much weight fast and i was liking it but i didnt know that it wasnt safe to keep throwing up. it doesnt feel like th rowing up. it more feels like bending over and opening your mouth and food just comes back just like it went in. smooothly. i thought who needs it. till band eroded and my stomach looks like crap now. but this all sounds negative. truth is all i could think of was please dont leave me without this band cause i knew id gain it back. and with this new band imnot restricted yet and i have gained 35 lbs. so there we go, id gain the whole 150 bank without it. just know all the things you need to know before presuming that you are ok.

There is a fill person in AZ that wouldn't be too far away from you but I have to say, I don't like her. But the distance from ABQ to her isn't bad. Not great, but not impossible. Some do fly back to their surgeon for fills. I really feel for you, you are in a situation that isn't great. Due to that crappy mesh - a sleeve or bypass would be soooo risky. Bands do require aftercare unless you want to go with minimal restriction which would be better than nothing at all. It would make the weight loss a bit easier. I know me and I know that I can't lose and maintain by myself, I can't do it. I am a person that has to have WLS to lose/maintain. Most of us are in the boat, if we weren't we wouldn't need WLS. If I were you I would rather have a band than nothing. Even minimal restriction is better than none at all. I can only tell you what I would do in your shoes. *I* cannot tolerate bands, I'm one that does have band intolerance. But if I were in your shoes you already know you can do it with a form of a band... the old procedure you had. I'd go for it. I'd have the surgeon look for the mesh, if it isn't there I'd get a sleeve, if it is there then I'd get a band. He won't be able to tell you until after surgery what he found, but something is better than nothing. At least then you'll know about that crappy mesh stuff they used. What if by chance they didn't use it? You can have your sleeve. If they did, you get a band and at least have some help losing weight. My opinion only.