Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Doctor begs me not to have LapBand 2 weeks prior to surgery!



Recommended Posts

Go, no RUN, and kiss that surgeon. I can tell you firsthand that your surgeon just did you a huge favor. The sleeve is far superior to the band not just with weight loss stats, but with far less complications, and minimal follow-up and maintenance like you'd have with the band. I've had both, and can tell you that the sleeve is amazing ! ! !

Pre-op advice:

Stop eating and drinking at the same time now so you can break this habit before the sleeve.

Sit your eating utensil down in between bites so you can slow down your meals

Start eating your meat first, and make your meal last 20-30 minutes

Prepare mentally for the changes, if you have food issues i.e. emotional eating, reward eating, tackle those issues now, don't want for the sleeve to do it for you because you'll be disappointed when you realize that they've operated on your stomach, not your brain, and it takes time for your brain to catch up

Do not compare yourself to other people. You are an individual, your body is different than everyone else, and you might not lose at the same rate as others, BUT you will lose

Get Protein samples (check out the Protein Drink forum for places to order samples and do not buy in bulk, your taste might change, and you might not like or be able to tolerate that huge tub of Protein that you loved pre-op)

Take measurements of your body, neck, breast, waist, hips, thighs and calves

Take before pictures

Prepare yourself mentally for stalls, and weeks where you may only lose 1 pound, but Celebrate that 1 pound as it's 1 less pound you have to lose to get to goal

Come here often, read, read, read and reach out for support and questions

Post-op advice

Use common sense and stick to your post-op diet (your stomach has just been cut, sliced, stapled off and removed from your body) don't put food in there too early

Do not eat and drink at the same time

Take your Vitamins

Walk, walk, walk, walk

Sip, Sip, Sip, Sip

Set a schedule, make a menu, be prepared

Come here often, read, read, read, reach out to us and questions

Edit to add: You're starting off with similar pre-op stats that I had. I'm 5'2" and started with the sleeve at 263. Got to goal in 6.5 months with 115lbs lost, and then continued to lose another 23-25lbs over 4 months which got me to my current weight of 123-125lbs on any given day. I bounce up and down on a regular basis, and have gained up to 131lbs (which did NOT freak me out because I knew what caused it, DAMN that Halloween candy, parties, and several mixed drinks LOL), and I went back to eating my normal foods, and dropped 8lbs in less than a week. So, don't get discouraged because you are starting off with a high BMI. If I can lose all my excess weight so can you, and I did it by sticking to the rules, and listening to my body. I went from a size 22/24W pant, 3-4XL top, to a size 0/2/4 jean(depending on where I buy them, but I wear 0 at the Gap, 0 and 2 at Old Navy, and Levis are mostly 3-4s), and an xsmall to small tops ! ! !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

to Newnatalie or anyone else -

I am having the super-sleeve surgery though BeLiteWeight and after reading it seemed the absolute best choice because:

It is reversible;

it involves no cutting;

there are no foreign bodies;

no nutrient deficincies through lowered uptake.

The following is some of the info they sent me:

Laparoscopic total gastric vertical plication (TGVP) is a new restrictive technique for the treatment of morbid obesity. This operation may be considered as an advancement of the well-known sleeve gastrectomy and is carried out with the use of pure non-absorbable surgical sutures.

In TGVP the gastric capacity is diminished without gastrectomy (removal of the stomach,) or foreign implants. Due to the lack of gastric strictures TGVP does not cause any food intolerance nor impair patient’s dietary habits. The excess weight loss is about (62-67% EWL.)

In comparison to other modern restrictive bariatric techniques, (laparoscopic gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy,) the advantages of TGVP are minimal risk of acute or late complications, and it’s reversible, (removing the gastric sutures will allow the stomach to go back to its normal form.)

As I said in an earlier post, I tried with my health provider Kaiser - went to all the classes, saw the psyc, read all the materials but was unable (my husband said unwilling) to lose 10% of my body weight which is an absolutely mandatory requirement. I have weighted within the same 10 lbs for the past 10 years and within the same 20 lbs for the past 20 years which would be great but it is 100 lbs over what I should weigh. Now as I am aging, this weight is beginning to slow me down, make getting up and down difficult and my blood sugar is slowly rising ie it is killing me. If I could have lost it without surgery, I would have and here I am.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Tiffykins!

Thank you so much for all the advice and encouragement! Did I mention how much I love this site?1?!

It seems like the first 4 weeks are really difficult because of recovery and afterward, things get better. Is this a fair assessment?

Go, no RUN, and kiss that surgeon. I can tell you firsthand that your surgeon just did you a huge favor. The sleeve is far superior to the band not just with weight loss stats, but with far less complications, and minimal follow-up and maintenance like you'd have with the band. I've had both, and can tell you that the sleeve is amazing ! ! !

Pre-op advice:

Stop eating and drinking at the same time now so you can break this habit before the sleeve.

Sit your eating utensil down in between bites so you can slow down your meals

Start eating your meat first, and make your meal last 20-30 minutes

Prepare mentally for the changes, if you have food issues i.e. emotional eating, reward eating, tackle those issues now, don't want for the sleeve to do it for you because you'll be disappointed when you realize that they've operated on your stomach, not your brain, and it takes time for your brain to catch up

Do not compare yourself to other people. You are an individual, your body is different than everyone else, and you might not lose at the same rate as others, BUT you will lose

Get Protein samples (check out the Protein Drink forum for places to order samples and do not buy in bulk, your taste might change, and you might not like or be able to tolerate that huge tub of Protein that you loved pre-op)

Take measurements of your body, neck, breast, waist, hips, thighs and calves

Take before pictures

Prepare yourself mentally for stalls, and weeks where you may only lose 1 pound, but Celebrate that 1 pound as it's 1 less pound you have to lose to get to goal

Come here often, read, read, read and reach out for support and questions

Post-op advice

Use common sense and stick to your post-op diet (your stomach has just been cut, sliced, stapled off and removed from your body) don't put food in there too early

Do not eat and drink at the same time

Take your Vitamins

Walk, walk, walk, walk

Sip, Sip, Sip, Sip

Set a schedule, make a menu, be prepared

Come here often, read, read, read, reach out to us and questions

Edit to add: You're starting off with similar pre-op stats that I had. I'm 5'2" and started with the sleeve at 263. Got to goal in 6.5 months with 115lbs lost, and then continued to lose another 23-25lbs over 4 months which got me to my current weight of 123-125lbs on any given day. I bounce up and down on a regular basis, and have gained up to 131lbs (which did NOT freak me out because I knew what caused it, DAMN that Halloween candy, parties, and several mixed drinks LOL), and I went back to eating my normal foods, and dropped 8lbs in less than a week. So, don't get discouraged because you are starting off with a high BMI. If I can lose all my excess weight so can you, and I did it by sticking to the rules, and listening to my body. I went from a size 22/24W pant, 3-4XL top, to a size 0/2/4 jean(depending on where I buy them, but I wear 0 at the Gap, 0 and 2 at Old Navy, and Levis are mostly 3-4s), and an xsmall to small tops ! ! !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Aquamama,

This is the first I have heard of the Super Sleeve. It sounds great! Is your insurance covering the procedure? What are the chances of the sutures breaking?

Thanks for sharing!

to Newnatalie or anyone else -

I am having the super-sleeve surgery though BeLiteWeight and after reading it seemed the absolute best choice because:

It is reversible;

it involves no cutting;

there are no foreign bodies;

no nutrient deficincies through lowered uptake.

The following is some of the info they sent me:

Laparoscopic total gastric vertical plication (TGVP) is a new restrictive technique for the treatment of morbid obesity. This operation may be considered as an advancement of the well-known sleeve gastrectomy and is carried out with the use of pure non-absorbable surgical sutures.

In TGVP the gastric capacity is diminished without gastrectomy (removal of the stomach,) or foreign implants. Due to the lack of gastric strictures TGVP does not cause any food intolerance nor impair patient’s dietary habits. The excess weight loss is about (62-67% EWL.)

In comparison to other modern restrictive bariatric techniques, (laparoscopic gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy,) the advantages of TGVP are minimal risk of acute or late complications, and it’s reversible, (removing the gastric sutures will allow the stomach to go back to its normal form.)

As I said in an earlier post, I tried with my health provider Kaiser - went to all the classes, saw the psyc, read all the materials but was unable (my husband said unwilling) to lose 10% of my body weight which is an absolutely mandatory requirement. I have weighted within the same 10 lbs for the past 10 years and within the same 20 lbs for the past 20 years which would be great but it is 100 lbs over what I should weigh. Now as I am aging, this weight is beginning to slow me down, make getting up and down difficult and my blood sugar is slowly rising ie it is killing me. If I could have lost it without surgery, I would have and here I am.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Your Dr is a very smart man!!! Wish mine was. I remember being banded only a year... my weight stalled and creeping ever so upward even then. I'm lying on the exam table looking up at the ceiling. Getting ready for my umpteenth fill... wondering WTH I'm gonna find that ever elusive "sweet spot". Well, I'd recently then only heard about the VSG, and said to my Dr...

"Hey, I just heard about this WLS called the VSG"

His reply?

"That is total BS"

Silence.

Well here I am two years later with my BS -- but guess what? I'm losing and I'm losing really good too! I'm loving my sleeved life. Better than the band? Oh... the Band doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the sleeve.

Read all you can! We are here to help! You have already gotten super information from other posters before me. Just be prepared for a rollercoaster ride... while you are in it it has it's ups and downs, but when you get off the ride - you think... SWEET!!!!!!!

A great majority here loves their sleeve. More than anywhere I've ever read regarding other procedures. The Sleeve ROCKS!!!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Tiffykins!

Thank you so much for all the advice and encouragement! Did I mention how much I love this site?1?!

It seems like the first 4 weeks are really difficult because of recovery and afterward, things get better. Is this a fair assessment?

Yeppers, totally fair assessment at least in my experience.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Go, no RUN, and kiss that surgeon. I can tell you firsthand that your surgeon just did you a huge favor. The sleeve is far superior to the band not just with weight loss stats, but with far less complications, and minimal follow-up and maintenance like you'd have with the band. I've had both, and can tell you that the sleeve is amazing ! ! !

Pre-op advice:

Stop eating and drinking at the same time now so you can break this habit before the sleeve.

Sit your eating utensil down in between bites so you can slow down your meals

Start eating your meat first, and make your meal last 20-30 minutes

Prepare mentally for the changes, if you have food issues i.e. emotional eating, reward eating, tackle those issues now, don't want for the sleeve to do it for you because you'll be disappointed when you realize that they've operated on your stomach, not your brain, and it takes time for your brain to catch up

Do not compare yourself to other people. You are an individual, your body is different than everyone else, and you might not lose at the same rate as others, BUT you will lose

Get Protein samples (check out the Protein Drink forum for places to order samples and do not buy in bulk, your taste might change, and you might not like or be able to tolerate that huge tub of Protein that you loved pre-op)

Take measurements of your body, neck, breast, waist, hips, thighs and calves

Take before pictures

Prepare yourself mentally for stalls, and weeks where you may only lose 1 pound, but Celebrate that 1 pound as it's 1 less pound you have to lose to get to goal

Come here often, read, read, read and reach out for support and questions

Post-op advice

Use common sense and stick to your post-op diet (your stomach has just been cut, sliced, stapled off and removed from your body) don't put food in there too early

Do not eat and drink at the same time

Take your Vitamins

Walk, walk, walk, walk

Sip, Sip, Sip, Sip

Set a schedule, make a menu, be prepared

Come here often, read, read, read, reach out to us and questions

Edit to add: You're starting off with similar pre-op stats that I had. I'm 5'2" and started with the sleeve at 263. Got to goal in 6.5 months with 115lbs lost, and then continued to lose another 23-25lbs over 4 months which got me to my current weight of 123-125lbs on any given day. I bounce up and down on a regular basis, and have gained up to 131lbs (which did NOT freak me out because I knew what caused it, DAMN that Halloween candy, parties, and several mixed drinks LOL), and I went back to eating my normal foods, and dropped 8lbs in less than a week. So, don't get discouraged because you are starting off with a high BMI. If I can lose all my excess weight so can you, and I did it by sticking to the rules, and listening to my body. I went from a size 22/24W pant, 3-4XL top, to a size 0/2/4 jean(depending on where I buy them, but I wear 0 at the Gap, 0 and 2 at Old Navy, and Levis are mostly 3-4s), and an xsmall to small tops ! ! !

Thank you so much for this post! It is filled with so much information and excellent advice. I'm hoping to be sleeved in late January if all goes according to plan. I think the hardest thing for me will be the not drinking while I eat. I don't even know if I CAN do that! I need to start being more mindful of that now as I eat.

Thanks for all the advice!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

after seeing so many complications that are occurring with the lap band that people have. I'm surprised more doctors aren't opting out of performing that surgery. Just seems like a slew of complications and annoying things you have to do if the lap band is life long.

I hope you make your decision wisely and I hope that you have a very successful surgery with either option you chose.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a similar experience with my surgeon... went in resigned to have the Lap Band, and I had read all the complications it but was that desparate, and my surgeon basicaly said "You don't want that."

He then drew me a picture of the sleeve and explained about it, and said, "I know it sounds extreme but it is actually only about 15 minutes more surgery." And then he drew me a picture like a graph, and said that in the beginning, and during surgery, the lap band is much safer than the sleeve.

BUT, over time, the risks of the lap band increase, while the risks and problems with a sleeve decrease. So for me.. it's the sleeve.

Now, just to get my hands on that insurance letter!!! Glad to hear that my surgeon is not alone in his opinion.

GOOD LUCK!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Bryn,

I am having VSG this Tuesday! After talking with my doctor and others on this forum, it was an easy decision. Keep me in your prayers!

I think many doctors still perform LapBand because so many patients are adament about having it. My sister had LapBand about a month ago. She would not even consider anything else. She likes that it is reversible. The thought of altering her stomach was not appealing. I hope she does well.

after seeing so many complications that are occurring with the lap band that people have. I'm surprised more doctors aren't opting out of performing that surgery. Just seems like a slew of complications and annoying things you have to do if the lap band is life long.

I hope you make your decision wisely and I hope that you have a very successful surgery with either option you chose.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for sharing your story Rain! My surgery in this Tuesday!

I had a similar experience with my surgeon... went in resigned to have the Lap Band, and I had read all the complications it but was that desparate, and my surgeon basicaly said "You don't want that."

He then drew me a picture of the sleeve and explained about it, and said, "I know it sounds extreme but it is actually only about 15 minutes more surgery." And then he drew me a picture like a graph, and said that in the beginning, and during surgery, the lap band is much safer than the sleeve.

BUT, over time, the risks of the lap band increase, while the risks and problems with a sleeve decrease. So for me.. it's the sleeve.

Now, just to get my hands on that insurance letter!!! Glad to hear that my surgeon is not alone in his opinion.

GOOD LUCK!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×