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Surgical consult

Dragonfly4u

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Dragonfly4u    0

Dragonfly4u
Posted

Hello all,

I went in for my surgical consult on Thur 3/10 and my doctor seem to be pushing the Gastric Bypass more than the band. I am more inclined to go with the band. The idea of having my insides switched around and cut away is very frightening to me. I want to lose 100 pounds and he kept saying that for that amount I should go with the Gastric and not the band. Has anyone else had their doctor push for this? Did you go with the band and get the results you wanted? I just cant wrap my head around having the Gastric it seems so drastic and end of the line kind of thing.

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ElizabethNYC    1

ElizabethNYC
Posted

I refused to go with the bypass, I just couldn't see myself getting my insides rearranged and I've only heard bad things about people who have had a bypass. I feel more comfortable with something that can be taken out. I have a lot of weight to lose myself but I feel like with this tool I can do it. I'm being banded tomorrow so I'm sorry I can't answer your question completely. Good luck with everything!

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Phranp    46

Phranp
Posted

Hello all,

I went in for my surgical consult on Thur 3/10 and my doctor seem to be pushing the Gastric Bypass more than the band. I am more inclined to go with the band. The idea of having my insides switched around and cut away is very frightening to me. I want to lose 100 pounds and he kept saying that for that amount I should go with the Gastric and not the band. Has anyone else had their doctor push for this? Did you go with the band and get the results you wanted? I just cant wrap my head around having the Gastric it seems so drastic and end of the line kind of thing.

Dragonfly,

While I would not begin to know what is right for "you", I do have a few suggestions.

First, let me say that I chose the band because is was less invasive than other WLS. I have had a few surgeries in my lifetime and the most recent (and most difficult) was back surgery. The recovery was brutal! I shudder when I think about it. To top it off, without losing weight my back problems continued. So, for me the lapband was a no brainer. :)

I would suggest that you do in depth research on both the lapband and gastric bypass. You can get lots of information here that will be helpful.

I would also like to remind you that this is YOUR body and YOU are the one that will have to live with the choice you make. So, if you feel like having your insides rearranged is not something you can live with ... well, you'll have give that a lot of consideration. I guess what I'm really trying to say is that if you know what you are getting into with the band, then you will know what it will take to succeed. Do your homework!

Lastly, I will tell you honestly that I have never worked so hard to lose weight as I have with the lapband. I have never exercised more, or given more thought to what I put in my mouth daily. I have also never been happier to exercise. And I now love to think of new meals to prepare. I am a slow loser compared to many on this forum, but I have never been happier with my weight. I started my journey on June 15, 2009. I was wearing a size 26; I now wear a size 14. I am thrilled! And I am still losing!

I wish you the best, whatever you decide to do.

~Fran

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Dragonfly4u    0

Dragonfly4u
Posted

1st off let me say I will be thinking about you tomorrow Elizabeth NYC hope all goes well. Would love some updates as soon as you feel able.

Phranp

Thats just it I have been doing alot of reaserch for the last year. I finaly made the decision this last Dec for the lapband and have started the process. I have gone to the introduction seminar and have had the first consult with my surgeon. Let me state that I know it will still be a hard long process because its a lifestyle change not just a diet. I want to be a healthier person not just a thin person. I guess he just made me feel like I would fail unless I went with the gastric bypass and the idea just really bothers me.

I so appreciate the replies from you both

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Phranp    46

Phranp
Posted

1st off let me say I will be thinking about you tomorrow Elizabeth NYC hope all goes well. Would love some updates as soon as you feel able.

Phranp

Thats just it I have been doing alot of reaserch for the last year. I finaly made the decision this last Dec for the lapband and have started the process. I have gone to the introduction seminar and have had the first consult with my surgeon. Let me state that I know it will still be a hard long process because its a lifestyle change not just a diet. I want to be a healthier person not just a thin person. I guess he just made me feel like I would fail unless I went with the gastric bypass and the idea just really bothers me.

I so appreciate the replies from you both

It sounds like you know what you really want to do. Trust yourself. You can do this!

We are all rooting for you! Bandsters unite! :D

~Fran

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honk    780

honk
Posted

I knew that I only wanted the band. When I went in for my first consult with a nurse she said that someone of my weight (334) that they normally recommend gastric. When I told her that was'nt an option she backed off.

In reality neither my surgeon nor my other doctors would have approved gastric anyway. I'd had a mini stroke a few months earlier (at 39). There would have been no way they would have risked another blood clot.

The fact is esp. with the band this is at least 50% a mental game. I think one reason many medical professionals don't recommend it for larger people is you have to choose not to eat sweet things. With gastric they get dumping (severe gastric response) to sugar. It's unpleasant so people avoid eating candy, ice cream etc. That's not true for the band. In fact anything that melts in your mouth goes right on down.

All that being said preband I lost 50 pounds on my own diet. Since surgery I've lost 37 more. But I am VERY conservative about my diet and I do an hour of cardio everyday.

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ElizabethNYC    1

ElizabethNYC
Posted

1st off let me say I will be thinking about you tomorrow Elizabeth NYC hope all goes well. Would love some updates as soon as you feel able.

Phranp

Thats just it I have been doing alot of reaserch for the last year. I finaly made the decision this last Dec for the lapband and have started the process. I have gone to the introduction seminar and have had the first consult with my surgeon. Let me state that I know it will still be a hard long process because its a lifestyle change not just a diet. I want to be a healthier person not just a thin person. I guess he just made me feel like I would fail unless I went with the gastric bypass and the idea just really bothers me.

I so appreciate the replies from you both

Thank you!!

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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