5 Reasons

elgrad · May 16, 2009

I am working my way through the process of getting banded and I have been doing a lot of research into the whole band versus by-pass question. So, for those of you that have also done your research, can you give me five reasons why you have chosen the lap band over gastric by-pass? I have issues which could make either choice reasonable. I just wondered what has made any of you make the decision to go with the lap band.

Thanks.

Elgrad

Sarah.R · May 17, 2009

Five reasons for me are

1. My hospital paid every single thing, only thing I had to pay for was the preop diet which was around $200 as I was postponed twice - They pay for all my fills as well

2. Health - this should actually be number one but oh well, I'm 21 and looking a transplant in 5-10 years and the weight I am now I wouldnt be able to go on the list.

3. Bypass is to invasive I think - I don't like the fact that my organs are going to be rearranged.

4. How quick you loose the weight after bypass - Yes I want to loose the weight but I think it's for extremely big people - I'm 125kgs which is 275lbs and I think I'm too small for it and I don't think that loosing 100lbs in a month is very healthy.

As for 5 I dunno, the benefits of health and a better life overall overweigh any of the negatives for me personally. Good luck =)

micheleangelina · May 17, 2009

thanks for the question. i am 6 days post op and thinking of what you said has allowed me to kind of solidify in my mind that i feel i made the right choice. i can give you more than 5.

1. i felt that by pass was too invasive.

2. hospital stay and time out of work simply too long for my schedule (i have a 5 year old and work and have my own business)

3. while i want to lose weight, like the other poster, i don't want to lose it too quickly. gall stones is a concern after either procedure but it is my understanding that what really causes gallstones is rapid weight loss and the band loss is more gradual

4. being more gradual there is a better chance for my skin to pull tight rather than sag and i don't just want to be thin, i want my body to look healthy.

5. i didn't want to worry about mal absorption, thinning hair

6. once i heard about dumping syndrome i knew it wasn't for me. i don't think i can go the rest of my life without EVER having ANYTHING with sugar in it (i can't stand artificial sweetners) and the thought of dumping scared me.

7. yes with lap band there is PBing which i haven't experienced and i know how awful it is, but i felt that it might be the lesser of 2 evils (we'll see after my first experience with it)

8. bypassers lose more weight up front but then gain some back. i don't want to continue to yo-yo.

9. knowing that the band is reversable and adjustable. in case of serious illness and i need to focus on my nutritional intake saline can easily be let out to allow for more calorie consumption.

10. if i start gaining in the future i can always have the band tightened again for continued results

11. complication rate/infection rate is lower with band

i think i could go on and come up with even more. i would join a bypass group and ask the same questions to them. i would be curious to hear their answers. i will tell you that my brother's girlfriend who is 27 and lost 115 lbs on the band told me some of the reasons she chose bypass over the band were that she didn't want to have to deal with such close monitoring required for fills (which is another thing i actually like. i like my surgeon to be involved as an additional support person for the rest of my weight loss journey) and she also had acid reflux which her dr. felt would be made worse with the band.

please post again and let us know what/if you decide. good luck

micheleangelina · May 17, 2009

didn't proofread before publishing. my brothers gf had the bypass not the band

socalfosh · May 17, 2009

I don't know if I can name 5 but I'll tell you my number 1.

No one knows how their body will "react" and if I had any complications it is a comfort knowing the band can be removed. If there are complications with by-pass it is my understanding there is no going back - that's it, done deal.

Something I didn't realize: The body really will take time to adjust. I thought once I could go on solids after the surgery I was magically "cured" of urges to overeat or that I wouldn't think about eating all the time but that's the not the reality. It is a tool that takes time to adjust to. It took me about 4 months but I love it today and I'm glad I did it.

Good luck.