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!

Butterbean, my wife is in the medical industry and has seen many patients come in who had bypass surgery. Several died due partially because they couldn't absorb medications and food via tubes. This option is clearly a radical step but may also be a necessary one for those who choose it. I don't make judgments for those who choose this option as I'm sure they and their surgeons have looked at all options.

When I first started my research the sleeve wasn't popular and was not widely recommended locally here. I did very little research on the sleeve and looking back with what I know now I still would have gone with the band simply because I still had the option to remove the band and go with the sleeve if I failed to be compliant with my band or the band was rejected by my body for some reason.

The advantage, unless there was a catastrophic failure with my stomach and band, I could always return to my old 36 BMI or look at other surgeries. That was not the case with the other options. I also believed I had researched WLS as much as possible but looking back I knew very little compared to what I know now.

Question. As a sleever I've heard many lapbanders say that the band is removable and not permanent....and that this is an advantage. Obviously this is an opinion based on your point of view...but my question is why is this an advantage to you? Is it because of worst case complications? Or is there some other reason? This is a serious question. I'm not picking, just curious about this.

On that line let me say, when my band prolapsed (not because I'm a pig and did bad things but likely due to a GI bug...) I was supposed to revise to an RNY. When my surgeon got in to take the band out I had so much scarring and inflammation he couldn't do the revision at that time. He originally scheduled me for 12 months out but caved and did it after 6 months. I know of 2 banisters that had do much damage from their band that they've had to have them removed and are unable to have further bariatric surgeries....removable doesn't necessarily mean completely reversible. A point they seem to not share much when educating patients about the band.

Butter Ill give you my answer. I think the whole debate between all the surgeries is one that should be in our own hearts and not on a public forum as to which is better or why to choose one over another. I will say this though, I couldn't stand the thought of living with staples in me my whole life and knowing that the sleeve or bypass was forever. I liked the fact that the band was removable. Unlike many, I do understand the difference between removable and reversible. The band can leave scar tissue and many other things behind once its removed. I just felt more comfortable knowing I had options should I ever have any problems with the band and need it removed. I just didn't feel there were any options with the other surgeries. I may be totally wrong in that but its just what I believe. I had many try to sell me on everything but the band but its where I felt the most comfortable and I don't mind that the band is a chore to maintain. I felt that would keep me motivated in my head as time went on.

Good point! I still know very little about the sleeve, bypass or DS as far as maintenance, side effects, unintended consequences etc. The band certainly has a learning curve and demands a lot of attention to be successful. I think this is why many fail with the band. They just weren't up to the task of eating correctly and obeying the band.

Education may be the key to prevent or screen out the psychological profiles that may fail with the band. But, I know if someone could have painted the picture of how difficult this was going to be, I may not have gone through with it. In this case, ignorance is bliss.

tmf

I do have a question though and forgive my ignorance but, once you meet your goals with a sleeve, how do you stop losing? I've got a couple of people I know that are sleeved and they lost so much weight so quickly that they just look ill. They can't stop losing and have surpassed their goals. I'm just curious how to control the sleeve or bypass from a maintenance stand point.

Just from my experience personally and reading around the interwebz, most people hit a very natural metabolic balance at some point where their intake matches their output and they stop losing. The sleeve's size has been calculated to do just that with the average obese individual. I don't know for sure about bypass. But the great majority of problems I see are people who can't quite get to goal...not people going over it. That happens yes, but it's the minority. Unless there's a problem though, calories can always be increased. There are healthy sliders. Healthy fats that are high in calories. Weight gainer protein shakes.

. I will say this though, I couldn't stand the thought of living with staples in me my whole life and knowing that the sleeve or bypass was forever. I.

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.

Butterbean, I like the link to the 3 week stall. Do I have your permission to re-use this for bandster's who stall shortly after surgery?

I had a vague idea why I always lost weight on a diet or with the band initially but this scientific explanation is better than anything I can come up with?

tmf

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.

My sentiment exactly. I agree with you 100%. Decide what is best for you based on research and what you can spend the rest of your life with. Hell I did more research on getting WLS than I did my spouse and I have both of them for life......wishing I had done a little more research on one of those subjects at times!

The doc I spoke with used staples and I was out. Dissolvable was not an option for him or the others in my area. I really didn't have any issues with the removing of the section of the stomach. I just in the end felt most comfortable living with the band and its required maintenance for life. I can't honestly say that it was a decision based on science or proven fact, it was just where my heart led me.

I chose the sleeve. This was a hard decision for me as well. My surgeon felt that it was the best option for me being the fact that I was so young and I did not want a maintenance issue. I was on the fence about the band and the sleeve up till the week I had surgery. After several hours of research I decided I would go with my Dr advice. I'm so thankful I did!! I am 4m out (65lbs less) and I can eat anything I want!! Steak, chicken, pork, bread, take pills, anything! Nothing is limited to me, I just chose not to eat the way I did before. This is going to be a very personal decision. I recommend doing your research but either way no matter what you chose you are making a decision to start a healthy life!! Congrats

Butterbean, I like the link to the 3 week stall. Do I have your permission to re-use this for bandster's who stall shortly after surgery? I had a vague idea why I always lost weight on a diet or with the band initially but this scientific explanation is better than anything I can come up with? tmf

Thanks and please use it. I think it should be required reading. That information is all over the place but I like that particular link because it's straightforward and simple.

Thank you all for the amazing advice and your shared experiences... You all have contribute to helping me get a clearer idea of what will be right for me.... Thank you!

Hi hayley !!

So I am a sleever and my surgery date is December 18th. So when I decided to have wls I looked at it like this:

Lapband -

All of your body parts are in the correct place BUT you have a foreign objet placed in your body that could possibly slip , rot , etc. ~NO

Sleeve -

all body parts in the correct place , they are taking half of your tummy , and regular surgery risks ~ YES

Bypass -

your body parts are all moved around .. small and large intestines up and down and leakes between where your small intestine and large intestine got cut off.. ~ HELL NO

Also you should look at a picture of each one of these to see exactly what I mean by it. But at the end its definitely your decision and money don't let anyone tell you what to do because we all will be sitting on the losers bench one way or another !!

RE: Foreign objects in our bodies

I totally respect everyone's WLS decision but let me point out something. Very few of us ever make it through our lives without some kind of foreign object being placed within, or on our bodies. Here's a short list of medical contraptions many of us will endure before we assume room temperature:

False teeth

Dental implants

Fillings and caps

Joint replacements, knee, hip

Metal plates and screws for broken bones and spinal fusions

Artery stints

Heart valve replacements

Organ transplants

Silicone or saline implants

Ligament transplants(Cadaver and man made)

Penile implants

Ink(Tats)

Body piercings

Pacemakers

Defibs

Hearing aids

I'm sure the list can go on and on but if you're researching the band, take this into consideration as you check off pros and cons. There are certainly other issues with the band that might dissuade someone from the band but foreign objects in the body shouldn't be at the top of the won't do list?

tmf

RE: Foreign objects in our bodies

I totally respect everyone's WLS decision but let me point out something. Very few of us ever make it through our lives without some kind of foreign object being placed within, or on our bodies. Here's a short list of medical contraptions many of us will endure before we assume room temperature:

False teeth

Dental implants

Fillings and caps

Joint replacements, knee, hip

Metal plates and screws for broken bones and spinal fusions

Artery stints

Heart valve replacements

Organ transplants

Silicone or saline implants

Ligament transplants(Cadaver and man made)

Penile implants

Ink(Tats)

Body piercings

Pacemakers

Defibs

Hearing aids

I'm sure the list can go on and on but if you're researching the band, take this into consideration as you check off pros and cons. There are certainly other issues with the band that might dissuade someone from the band but foreign objects in the body shouldn't be at the top of the won't do list?

tmf

Whew, at least I could take penile implant off my list (snicker) but I guess that's negated by the breast implants (darn!)

RE: Foreign objects in our bodiesI totally respect everyone's WLS decision but let me point out something. Very few of us ever make it through our lives without some kind of foreign object being placed within, or on our bodies. Here's a short list of medical contraptions many of us will endure before we assume room temperature:False teethDental implantsFillings and capsJoint replacements, knee, hipMetal plates and screws for broken bones and spinal fusionsArtery stintsHeart valve replacementsOrgan transplantsSilicone or saline implantsLigament transplants(Cadaver and man made)Penile implantsInk(Tats)Body piercingsPacemakersDefibsHearing aidsI'm sure the list can go on and on but if you're researching the band, take this into consideration as you check off pros and cons. There are certainly other issues with the band that might dissuade someone from the band but foreign objects in the body shouldn't be at the top of the won't do list?tmf

Agreed.....most people would happily accept a foreign object into their body if it would keep them alive and standing upright for a few more years.

RE: Foreign objects in our bodies

I totally respect everyone's WLS decision but let me point out something. Very few of us ever make it through our lives without some kind of foreign object being placed within, or on our bodies. Here's a short list of medical contraptions many of us will endure before we assume room temperature:

I'm sure the list can go on and on but if you're researching the band, take this into consideration as you check off pros and cons. There are certainly other issues with the band that might dissuade someone from the band but foreign objects in the body shouldn't be at the top of the won't do list?

tmf

I am really happy about the foreign objects in my body, aside from my band, I have two artificial knees and would probably be in a wheel chair rather than a mountain bike if it weren't for them. Heck, feeling the port under my skin is very comforting, lets me know that it is real and things are different now.