Decision process

[SandraVA30 0]

Hello! I have been lurking on this site for weeks now and figured it was time to post. I am 30 years old and my BMI is 47. I have always been on the heavy side, although I've lost a substantial amount of weight twice in my life. The first time was in college, I lost about 50 lbs and was down to just being a little overweight. I kept that off for less than a year and ended up gaining it all back plus a lot more. Then about 3 years ago I lost about 140 lbs which brought me down to a healthy weight of about 145 lbs. I felt great. I was HEALTHY. I was eating right and exercising. I started running, even ran a half marathon. Don't ask me what happened, but I GAINED it all back plus more. So basically, my deal is, I can lose the weight. I know how to do it, I know how to eat healthy, but for some reason I can't keep it off. It has to do with emotional eating - I eat when I am happy, I eat when I am sad. It's something I haven't been able to sucessfully control.

So, I made the decision that my next step is weight loss surgery. I have had my initial consultation with the surgeon and have started my 3 month multi-disciplinary program (Aetna insurance). But here's the problem. I literally change my mind every day regarding whether I am going to do the bypass or the band. I know people who have had both and hear the pros and cons of both. Like I said, my mind goes back and forth daily, but here are my thoughts as of now. I just want to get opinion and hear what others have to say.

Bypass - I will lose weight and will lose it quick starting from right after I have the surgery. Weight loss is pretty much a given. But boy are there side effects and complications. And major complications, where you end up back in the hospital, more surgeries, sometimes even shortening the life you were trying to lengthen. It just seems like there are much more serious complications that can occur. And that's short term. No one knows what the long term effects are. My guess is they are not good. You are taking your digestive system and re-routing it. But, the weight loss is so tempting. I think the bypass has greater rewards, but it comes with greater risk.

Band - I am much less scared of the band. But, from what I've read the initial success rate is no where near as what it is with the band. I mean, some people get the band and lose like 30 - 50 lbs. That just wouldn't cut it for me. I also might have a hard time with the healing process, you have surgery, but don't get your first fill for quite a while, so instead of having surgery and immediately losing, you have to wait. That could be hard mentally. But with the band, though there are complications and some of them are major, you haven't screwed with your whole system. If something horrible happens, you can get it taken out and most likely there would be no permanent damage. That is the selling point for me.

So, my newest thought process if that I will get the band and if it doesn't work I could always get it taken out and then get the bypass. Either way, there is risk involved and it is so hard to come to a decision. I am afraid that no matter what decision I make, I am not going to be ok with it and will always wonder if I should have chosen the other.

This is a hard decision. Any words of wisdom would be so appreciated! I have been reading through this forum for a while and you are all so amazing!!

[Maggie225 0]

I think only you can answer which way you want to go with this, but if it was me I would go with the band. If something happens later in life the band can be removed, if your not losing weight in can be replaced with a smaller band. I just think the lap band is a much safer route to go, just my 2 cents :thumbdown:

I have a friend that had the bypass done and she was one of the unlucky one's that had a horrifying experience, I'm sure you've heard a few of them, but anyways she is fine now and the only thing she has to on a regular basis is get B12 shots monthly.

Good luck to you I'm sure you will make the decision that is right for you:wink:

[KarenFY09 0]

I chose the band mostly because of the lower mortality/complication rate. I didn't have any other health problems and didn't feel bypass was worth the extra risk.

Also because I too have a history of losing and gaining it back. I feared I would do really well with bypass at first, but I would be one who would gain it all back after a few years because I would have a bad couple of months and stretch out my stomach. The band is always adjustable and if I screw up a little a few years down the road, I can get back on the wagon.

I wish you the best of luck whichever you decide is right for you.

[ashgoodman 0]

I was once in the same position that you are in...but then my husband finally said "NO" to the bypass because of all the complications and the mortality rate is much, much higher...like 1 in 200 and the band is like 1 in 1200...so this kind of made my decision for me...but you are right about the intial weight loss but if you do research this you will see that they have done studies that at the 3 year mark that the bypass patients and lapband patients are at the same place in their weight loss..and also remember sometimes faster isn't always better due to the extra skin...I'm going to be getting my band in Feb and I can hardly weight! If I only lose 2 lbs a week I'm ok with that because I know that I'm doing it the safer way...but this is just my opinion after having researched both surgeries in depth!

Good luck to you and the decision is yours and both surgeries have a lot of success and change lives so I'm sure you will choose the best one for you and will be on your way to a healthier life!!

[rapunzle 0]

Wow, your story reads nearly exactly like mine. I've lost 40 to 60 pounds FOUR separate times in my life. Then I lost 110 pounds and kept it off for two years. But as always, I gained it all back. I have chosen the band in large part because I know I have it in me to really work the tool. I know when I have made a decision to loose weight, to make better food decisions, to exercise daily, to drink Water, that I absolutely will do it. . . for a while. The last time I did it with reasonable consistency for four years. I cannot tell you how much I wish I had a band back then, so when I started to fall off the wagon I could call my Dr., discuss "the rules", perhaps do the 5 day pouch test to shrink the pouch, and consider a fill to nip the re-gain in the bud. I will love having the band to loose weight, but really I am choosing it for the long term maintenance assistance. That is why I made my choice. Only can make a your choice. I wish you success. Kimberly

[PSJ71 0]

You know Sandra, when I first decided I was going to have WLS, I had my mind set on the band. Then somewhere down the road (with the help of Youtube) I found myself so confused. I found people who had had the gastric bypass and they were dropping weight like ice melting. I was so against having bypass because I didn't want anything rerouted. I had also read some of the scary posts of people who had the band who were going through so much and getting discouraged because they weren't losing weight like they should that I had made up my mind to have the bypass. However, after looking into both and the risks, complications, etc. I have found myself 100% sure that I will have the band.

My reasoning for my decision is:

1. I don't want my insides rerouted. I have read horror stories of people having gastric bypass, losing bunches of weight, then their pouch stretching and regaining most of their weight back, then having to undergo another procedure to put a band around their stretched pouches.

2. My husband and I want to have another baby. I feel that by having the band this would allow for me to have a more natural and healthy pregnancy.

3. I want to lose weight slowly. I know i will most likely have flabby skin, but I want the weight loss to be slow enough that maybe at least some of it will shrink back.

4. Less complications, quicker healing time, and if I start gaining weight I can always get a fill.

I do know I will go through bandster hell as it is called. I know I will get hungry before I hit my "sweet spot", but I would rather go through a few months of being hungry and finally hit my sweet spot then try and go this alone. I too have lost a very substantial amount of weight but ended up one way or another gaining it all back and a whole lot more. I know that I am going to be responsible for adopting a healthy way of life for the rest of my life consisting of diet and exercise. I just bought an elliptical for my home in addition to a gym membership for the supervised thing. So, I'm trying to make some serious changes before my surgery.

You should sit down and make two columns about which things are important to you regarding both surgeries and see what you come up with. I bet it will make it a little easier for you to make a decision.

I wish you the very best of luck and let us know what you decide!

Paulette