Hello!

I just wanna know your stories. I'm going to guess that some, if not most are going to be similar. I'm just curious as to why you didn't get a gastric bypass or the sleeve? Why did you go for the LAP-BAND?

For me personally I was a little worried about the restriction being permanent. At some stage I'd like to have kids and having a good amount of restriction while pregnant worried me a little. I think the adjustable side of things makes me feel a lot more comfortable.

I'd love to hear your stories, opinions and experiences!

I chose the band because

1) I had not heard of the sleeve at the time I was making my choice

2) I've had cancer and did not want a surgery that caused malabsorption.

I've been very lucky that surgery was probably the cure for my cancer, but if it should come back, or if I develop a different cancer, I'll be able to tolerate chemo/rads much better with an intact gut.

I know of a woman who ended up with "short gut syndrome" from the aftereffects of radiation.. and her life was miserable (her words not mine). Not saying that bypass would lead to that .. but it's something I thought about when choosing surgeries.

My surgeon says that bypass IS reversable, just a rather difficult surgery.

Exercise not only helps with weight loss.. it also tones the muscles. Toned looks better than flabby any day of the week.

I chose the Band because I didn't like the idea of having my insides rerouted.

I thought about the sleeve, but my insurace wouldn't pay for it, unless I let the military Doctors do it. No Thank You! But, then I also talked to a friend and

she got the sleeve in May, her Mom got the Band in May. She says she really wishes she had done the Band instead of the Sleeve. She said she can really see how she can mess things up if she doesn't watch it. I guess she can eat just about anything she wants, and there is the chance of stretching her stomach back out. That was all I needed to hear, and so chose the Band!

I chose the band because, like a few others said, I didn't want my insides re-routed, have the malabsorption and malnutrition issues either, so right away, RNY wasn't even an option. Also didn't want to have to worry about leaks along the suture line with the sleeve. I was self pay, and the surgeon I chose did the band, and the sleeve for 12,500 inclusive for either.

It was the reversibility of the band, and the possibility for pregnancy that sealed the deal for me. My DH and I tried for 5 years to get pregnant, with no luck due to my size, and the PCOS that came with it. I want to be healthier, and loose the weight so that I can have kids. ...and that's my 2 cents as to why I chose the band.