Hello to all,

I am in the early stages of starting my wls journey and jut when I think I know which surgery I will opt for, I read some of your threads and it completely makes me question which one to go with.... Pleeeease share your own weight loss journey and which surgery you chose, why you did so.....and if you could change it would you?! Please can you tell me how long it's been and your current weight loss total? Thanks for any advice, experiences and wisdom shared!

I have really enjoyed reading this thread and seeing other perspectives. My decision to go with the sleeve was based on a lot of research and talking with people that have had every surgery out there. It wasn't one that I made arbitrarily at all.

I originally was going to go for the lap-band but after talking with a few friends that had it as well as my mother, I decided it wasn't for me. I didn't want to have to return over and again for fills and removals of saline, and I didn't want to give myself a way out (if this doesn't work, I can always have it reversed ...) FOR ME - that wasn't an option (I have a tendency to give up and not finish what I start...). The other thing for me was that I was terrified of the bypass. I knew three people that passed after having it done, two of which were from malabsorbtion (sp?) complications. The sleeve was the best choice for what I wanted out of bariatric surgery.

EACH of the surgeries have their merits. For every band that slips, or doesn't work right there are fifty that work beautifully. For every RNY or duodenal switch person that has had severe complications, there are hundreds whose lives are saved from it.
For each sleever that has had a leak or other issue, there are many, many that have better lives from it.

It depends on what YOU want out of your surgery - that's the beauty of it! There really is a good option for everyone.

Just to add my 2 cents....

I had lap band 4 years ago. Had a total of 24# weight loss. A lot of it was because the port was difficult to access and most times, required numerous sticks, so I just gave up.

Then on 11/25/13, I had VSG - its a decision I do NOT regret and wish that I had considered this years ago instead of the band.

Drew

Just to add my 2 cents.... I had lap band 4 years ago. Had a total of 24# weight loss. A lot of it was because the port was difficult to access and most times, required numerous sticks, so I just gave up. Then on 11/25/13, I had VSG - its a decision I do NOT regret and wish that I had considered this years ago instead of the band. Drew

Thanks for sharing! I'm pretty much sold on the sleeve, after attending my seminar at kaiser and seeing and hearing information on each, AND with this forum's help, it seems the sleeve is what will suit me best, canNOT wait....!

She lurks...

Oops.. That was supposed to have quoted Laura

Edited December 10, 201312 yr by Ms.AntiBand

I'm glad you said that. I hear certain things against each surgery all the time. The same things.

Against the sleeve it's ....."I don't like the idea of having 85% of my healthy stomach cut out."

Against the band it's.... "I don't like the idea of having a foreign object in me."

Against bypass it's .... "I don't like the idea of having my digestive track rerouted."

There are others, to be sure. And to all those I could say. "That's why they work damnit."

I think using such reasons to have or not have a particular surgery may not be the best way to decide. The best way, IMHO is to look at the protocol for each surgery and decide which one you'll be able to follow FOR LIFE. Each protocol is different and following them will make or break your success regardless of which surgery you choose.

And btw....my sleeve had no staples. Dissolvable stitches.

You're funny lol lol lol ))