Torn between Lapband and Gastric Sleeve...Help

[lindagg63 0]

I am 48 Years old and have been married for 28 years. I have three grown kids and one grand child named Aden. I weigh 260 and am so afraid of dieing youngish. I want to get the lapband surgery or the Gastric Sleeve surgery but do not know which is better. I have watched several different videos of success stories on you tube and have seen many of people who first had the lap band procedure and then went on to have the sleeve done. Is this typical? I for one, don't have the money for more than 1 surgery so which is the best in terms of weight loss and less complications? I trust those of you who have actually gone through these kinds of procedures and have suffered the good and the bad of it, ya know? so any help or advise it welcome. I thank you in advance.

[loserbob 11]

I chose the Lap-band because I didnt like the fact that my stomach etc. would be cut and rerouted. The risks during surgery are much greater because theres alot more involved.. Im very happy with my decision. I think people who have the band and switch to sleeve or whatever might have complications like slippage or erosion(the band rubs a hole through your upper stomach, % is pretty low). I would not have gastric if my band failed, I would either try again or have it removed. I have a friend who had gastric about 2 years ago and lost 137# in about 6-8 months but last I talked to her she gained 25 back. Im not sure but it seems like she found a way around the procedure if she gained weight, I would think she'll have to rely on will power to lose but I can get adjusted 10 years from now if I need it(again not sure about the will power thing just a guess, will power has always been a problem for me).

The best thing to do is attend seminars at hospitals and question drs., Ask your dr their opinion, Attend support groups. Dont rush, do your research and in the end the decision will be yours to make.

Also talk to someone who has gastric, my opinion is biased towards banding.

Good luck, I hope this helped.

[Dave_NW 92]

I was originally going to have gastric sleeve surgery, and in fact, spent a fair amount of time exploring that option. I'm in my late 50's, and felt I wanted the sleeve to do the work. Everything was fine till I met with my surgeon, and I discovered my insurance wouldn't pay for it. So I regrouped and moved across the aisle to lap band. In retrospect, the band turned into a better choice for me. I was banded December 6th. So far, so good.

My feeling about both surgeries is that they each have thier place. The sleeve used to be the first step for gastric bypass patients, who would start with the sleeve, lose a hundred pounds or so, and then have gastric bypass, and lose another hundred or two. If you don't need to go that route, you may be happy not having that severe of a surgery done.

As to which is preferable, you need to ask yourself what kind of person you are. Do you like to move around, be active, and maybe even exercise? If so, the band may be a better choice. If you're a total couch potato, or if you have physical limitations on your activity, then the sleeve may be better.

You don't have much more than about 100 pounds to lose, so what happens if/when you reach that goal? With the sleeve, you may have to keep working to get your nutrition in to stop the weight loss. With the band, you'd be more likely to be able to maintain your weight once at goal. And there are plenty of people here who have lost over 100 pounds with the band.

For me, the idea of having 85% of my stomach cut out, and the remaining parts reattached into the sleeve shape was one heck of a commitment. I really had trouble with that, because there is no going back. Once done, that's that. Not as severe as a gastric bypass, but still a major rearrangement of things.

The band, by contrast, doesn't cut anything. It's the least invasive, and if problems arise, it's removable and/or replaceable. I'm very much in favor of that. And as you noted, if the band doesn't work out, you *can* have it revised to the sleeve or bypass. If you start out with the sleeve, you don't have that option.

There is a fourth surgery being done now, called a vertical sleeve plication. It's different from the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. You may want to look into that.

So my vote for you is to start with the band. You may find you will have the success you seek from that, without a lot of wear and tear on your body.

Hope this helps,

Dave

[camille01 2]

I am 48 Years old and have been married for 28 years. I have three grown kids and one grand child named Aden. I weigh 260 and am so afraid of dieing youngish. I want to get the lapband surgery or the Gastric Sleeve surgery but do not know which is better. I have watched several different videos of success stories on you tube and have seen many of people who first had the lap band procedure and then went on to have the sleeve done. Is this typical? I for one, don't have the money for more than 1 surgery so which is the best in terms of weight loss and less complications? I trust those of you who have actually gone through these kinds of procedures and have suffered the good and the bad of it, ya know? so any help or advise it welcome. I thank you in advance.

Hi there,I was reading as well where some people that go through slipping or erosion of the band went ahead and had the sleeve done but thats something that you really have to give some thought about because it is not reversable but the lapband is,If you havn't attended a siminar yey Please do because the info is so important and informational with this,the gastris bypass and the sleeve removes a part of the stomach but the band doesnot,thats my only problem with thise surgerys,and the recovery time is longer....but you have to talk to the surgeon and your PCP about what you want to do......good luck with your desision.........camille01 ,by the way I am 44 yrs old and married for 4yrs(weight in at 267 and I am 5'6 ),I am going to do the lapband,I am still waiting on the insurance and my appointment to come around

[Cocoabean 430]

The sleeve wasn't available when I was banded. To be honest, I am not sure what I would have chosen if it had been.

I have done very well with my band, and do not regret it at all. Bypass was too drastic for me. Talk to your doctors, see what they say is best for you and why. Spend time here and on other board for the various procedures.

Only you can decide what is right for you. Each of us have our own preferences. You will find people on the boards who says their choice of procedure is "the best" and please don't get any other one! I don't believe that. Each procedure has its plusses and minuses.

As Dave said, the sleeve has been around for quite some time as step one of gastric bypass for extremely obese. The newer Plication procedure, I don't know much about.

This site: http://www.thinnertimes.com/weight-loss-surgery/wls-basics/weight-loss-surgery-comparison.html has a chart of various type is procedures, except Plication.

Here's an interesting article about the sleeve: http://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/gastric-sleeve/

Best wishes for your decision.

[lindagg63 0]

The sleeve wasn't available when I was banded. To be honest, I am not sure what I would have chosen if it had been.

I have done very well with my band, and do not regret it at all. Bypass was too drastic for me. Talk to your doctors, see what they say is best for you and why. Spend time here and on other board for the various procedures.

Only you can decide what is right for you. Each of us have our own preferences. You will find people on the boards who says their choice of procedure is "the best" and please don't get any other one! I don't believe that. Each procedure has its plusses and minuses.

As Dave said, the sleeve has been around for quite some time as step one of gastric bypass for extremely obese. The newer Plication procedure, I don't know much about.

This site: http://www.thinnerti...comparison.html has a chart of various type is procedures, except Plication.

Here's an interesting article about the sleeve: http://www.yourbaria...gastric-sleeve/

Best wishes for your decision.

Thank you all for your responses. I don't feel so alone in this. I have been doing alot of reading on this and have set my appointment for the 7th of January. I intend to go to one of the informational seminars. I love seeing some of the before and afters and the only fear I have is the left over skin. I think I'll take it one day at a time though, and think about the benefits first and how wonderful it will feel to not lose my breath just going for a short walk. Thank you all again.