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Hi everyone,

I am in the beginning stages of the process-just received approval from my PCP.

Anyhow, I love reading all of your posts and comments. I have learned sooo much (thank you). I am wondering what helped you make the decision between the band and bypass surgery? For myself I work with a bypass patient and to be honest in the year since her procedure she has wasted away, she really looks pretty sickly. So seeing her journey sealed the decicion for me.

How about the rest of you?

Thanks again for all the great advice, and I know as my time comes nearer I will be begging you for more!

Good luck...:)

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For awhile, I had a very hard time deciding between the two. Before I really did my research, I wanted bypass surgery and I wasn't even considering the lapband. I thought of the band as a step-sister of bypass. But then I started diving into the research. I went to seminars and support group meetings, read every medical column and on-line post-surgery blog I could find, watched You Tube surgery diaries, and watched the surgery being performed on You Tube.

The more I learned about gastric bypass, the more I started thinking of it as drastic bypass. Taking healthy organs and cutting them an re-routing things didn't seem right. The life-long malabsorbtion issues concerned me also. All in all, the risks seemed overwhelming to me. I kept telling myself that lots of people have very successful bypass surgery, which I know is true. But I couldn't get rid of my underlying anxiety about it.

Still, I spent several weeks changing my mind every 30 minutes, it seemed..... bypass vs. lapband. I was driving myself crazy.

In the end, the decision was sort of made for me. I was self-pay, and bypass was really more than I could afford to spend. Also, I knew that if I had any surgical complications, treatment for those would come out of my pocket too.... so not only was lap band less expensive, but the risk of complications was lower. I was relieved to have the decision made for me that way.

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Annie:

It's all about the risk factors for me. The risk was much lower with lap band. I've lost 142 pounds in 15 months, so it's been great!

I don't think I would have lost alot more with Gastric Bypass, anyway. I feel great and I don't look sickly. My before & during just got posted today if you feel like looking.

Good luck.

Sue

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I am a nurse and after researching both procedures, I also feel that the band is the best choice for me. Both surgeries are tools, you still have to put forth the effort to lose wt.

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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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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