Has anyone thought about switching from the band to a different weight loss surgery / method? Has the band been determined to be ineffective for anyone?

After a long and bumpy road and moderate success, I had my band removed August 1, after a severe slip. I was supposed to convert to a bypass at that time but I had so much damage and inflammation from the band that my doc decided I needed 6-12 months to heal before he could safely do the bypass. I did lose and keep off approx 50% of my excess weight with my band but I feel sooooo much better with that little beastie out! I believe any weight loss surgery has the potential to be successful as well as have the potential to fail. I'm choosing bypass simply because I am more comfortable with it than I am with the sleeve.

Good luck with your decision!

Why by-pass & not the sleeve? My doc has expressed that he want me to do the sleeve since my band has been problematic from the start. I'm very interested in your opinion. Thanks!

Why by-pass & not the sleeve? My doc has expressed that he want me to do the sleeve since my band has been problematic from the start. I'm very interested in your opinion. Thanks!

I'm a family practice physician assistant. Over the last 11 years I've watched numerous patients go through all 3 surgeries. I am just personally more comfortable with the actually RNY surgery (the procedure itself as well as risks, dietary changes, etc) as well as being more confidant in the outcomes that I've seen. I have a patient who is 400+ who had bypass years ago, I know it's not a guarantee (darn the luck!). It just feels right for me and my lifestyle. Also, after the last year of hellish GERD, the thought of that returning with the sleeve terrifies me (I know it's not a huge risk but the whole waking up at night with stomach avid coming out my nose really sucked!). (I also have 2 dear friends who were sleeved last year, no major problems but 1 is 6 pounds less than when she started and the other is about 30 pounds less and still has about 130 to go....this is 11 months later for both)

I actually originally signed up for bypass at my original surgical consult 3 years ago and then let my mom talk me out of it (she had gastric bypass in 1981) really really wish I had just trusted my instincts then!

On a side note, I still educate my patients on the pros and cons of all 3 procedures. I am very open with my own journey and struggles and I don't bash the band, but I do make sure people are aware that you don't just go get it taken out if you don't like it and that there's the potential for long term consequence.

Thank you for the info. I have been thinking revision and going the bypass way too. I'm going to chat with my doc and try more fills. I feel the band is not working for me. Good luck to you both

I feel the band is not working for me.

This could be part of the problem. Remember the band does not work for us it works with us. What are the problems that you are having and why do you think that switching may be more successful?

This may not be the case for you but I think there are a lot of people who think that the grass may be greener on the other side which of course is something we all know is generally not true. Switching because of complications is 1 thing but switching because we think that another type of surgery may be easier is generally not a good idea.

I have zero restriction and am hungry. Hungry to the point if I don't eat I get migraines. I'm not losing and I sometimes avoid my doc because he hurts my feelings sometimes. I have tried a weight loss program with my band nutrisystem and I bought an expensive trainer still nothing. I get discouraged after doc visits because I take his comments as he feels I'm not trying but I am.

I spoke with the office manager at the docs office and she said it won't work for everyone and it could be a variation of things. Like most folks here I have been trying to loose weight for years I have spent thousands on programs doctors meds etc etc etc. I NEED something to work for me.

How long have you been banded? What sort of foods are you eating?

It could be that you need another fill, it could be that you need to eat different types of foods in order to maximise the effects of the band or it could be that you need to find a different Dr. Yours doesn't sound as though he is being very helpful at the moment.

I am a RN on work on a med/surg floor, our bread and butter is wls. with the sleeve its not irreversible vs the gastric by pass is. but with gastric bypass you loss weight through malabsorption vs restriction.

if this lap band fails, i will do gastric. my co workers would be against it too.

I have been banded a year. I eat poultry no red meat or pork then veggies pasta normal food because I get sick of the same stuff. I am most successful on a plan with food provided I need the structure because my life is so hectic it keeps me from straying but my doc was against me doing nutrisystem so I stopped and started gaining weight.

I'm going to try to work with him, but I have already began researching other doctors in the event I have to move I need a motivator anything less than that will make me not want to hear it. I want the success so I will continue trying for me but I have no problem moving on

I am a RN on work on a med/surg floor' date=' our bread and butter is wls. with the sleeve its not irreversible vs the gastric by pass is. but with gastric bypass you loss weight through malabsorption vs restriction.[/quote']

I may be misreading this but the sleeve is irreversible, once they take a chunk off, it's gone...sorry if I misinterpreted what you were trying to say.

I'm a family practice physician assistant. Over the last 11 years I've watched numerous patients go through all 3 surgeries. I am just personally more comfortable with the actually RNY surgery (the procedure itself as well as risks' date=' dietary changes, etc) as well as being more confidant in the outcomes that I've seen. I have a patient who is 400+ who had bypass years ago, I know it's not a guarantee (darn the luck!). It just feels right for me and my lifestyle. Also, after the last year of hellish GERD, the thought of that returning with the sleeve terrifies me (I know it's not a huge risk but the whole waking up at night with stomach avid coming out my nose really sucked!). (I also have 2 dear friends who were sleeved last year, no major problems but 1 is 6 pounds less than when she started and the other is about 30 pounds less and still has about 130 to go....this is 11 months later for both)

I actually originally signed up for bypass at my original surgical consult 3 years ago and then let my mom talk me out of it (she had gastric bypass in 1981) really really wish I had just trusted my instincts then!

On a side note, I still educate my patients on the pros and cons of all 3 procedures. I am very open with my own journey and struggles and I don't bash the band, but I do make sure people are aware that you don't just go get it taken out if you don't like it and that there's the potential for long term consequence.[/quote']

Thank you Christie. I really appreciate how open & honest you are about your struggles with the band. I've experienced the ol stomach acid out my nose too! It's horrible. My band is so up & down & so unpredictable. At this point if I have the band out I feel like I'll be done with WLS. I've had a bad week can you tell!! When I'm in the green it's wonderful but then out of the blue I'll start having reflux & pain. Thanks again for posting- it's always helpful. :-)