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LapBand being Removed, Deciding Sleeve or Bypass



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Hi all, I am having my lapband removed after 11 years for acid re-flux issues while sleeping, my GI and my Bariatric Doc both recommend Gastric Bypass because of the sleeve issues with reflux but I am so afraid of dumping and the side effects. My mom had bypass over 10 years ago and still has to go to the bathroom for LONG periods of time after almost every meal. After being on lapband and experiencing the purge, I don't ever want to deal with ANOTHER embarrassing side effect, and my reflux issues now are exacerbated by my lapband so once that is out, I am hoping the reflux will not get worse. I am at 195lbs and still want to lose 30 lbs or so. How bad is dumping for regular people? How bad is the reflux for those on the sleeve, I really need to decide, all thoughts are appreciated.

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I would take your surgeon's recommendation since you have acid reflux issues. It's possible that if you got sleeved that this problem would dissipate as you lose weight—but that's definitely not a guarantee. As far as dumping, there are some who have bypass who don't experience dumping. In the same regard, there are some who are sleeved who do experience dumping. I haven't had surgery yet (tomorrow!) so I can't answer your other questions, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly to detail their experience 🙂 Good luck with whichever route you go!

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Thank you for your response, good luck tomorrow!

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I went from lapband with reflux to mini gastric bypass with no reflux (hallelujah). I have dumped a couple of times (due to stupid, stupid choices - repeat after me, a large regular Mocha and Pringles is not a good idea) but in the big scheme that's nothing in comparison to how miserable the reflux was making me. If I don't eat sugar, I don't dump - yay! Explosive diarrhea has happened to me a few times when I've eaten more fat than I should have (chicken wings and skin are from the devil) but again, if I don't eat fatty foods I'm fine.

Overall I feel really good and love, love, love my bypass when I'm following the Rules: Protein first, no sugar, no starchy or beige carbs, low-fat, few liquid calories.

That's been my experience :)

Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

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2 hours ago, JLondon11 said:

Thank you for your response, good luck tomorrow!

You're welcome and thank you!

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The risk of reflux with a sleeve is very high. Most surgeons won’t do a band to sleeve revision if you have a history of reflux

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Due to your pre-existing GERD you should definitely have RNY instead of VSG.

Dumping only occurs in about 30% of gastric bypass patients and is controlled by not eating the offending food, which is usually Desserts and sweets. Some GB patients are disappointed when they do NOT experience dumping as it can be a deterrent from eating food that may impair your weight loss/maintenance.

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      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.
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    • 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

        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

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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