I am seeing banding tends to be a trend more for woman and people of generally smaller size. Am I in error?

I know for most massively overweight men Doctors quickly run to bypass surgery and banding seems to be more-off the radar. I am not saying any Doctor I've gone to has forced that particular surgical path on me, though.

I understand bypass is generally used when the patient needs immediate weight loss or faces critical health issues. I am in a situation where, yes, I am hugely over weight. More so than your typical band candidate. But at the same time I am active and mobile. I do have some issue with my knees and my lower back will not tolerate any additional weight for sure.

I am wanting banding over the more drastic bypass because I use to be a more normal level of "fat" for lack of a better term. And if I had focused on staying active and increasing it, may have not ended up where I am now. I also have personal and philosophical issues with redoing my insides.

So can I use banding as a tool to help limit my food intake, give me the energy I need when weight starts to come off, to then try at life all over again? Hit the gym, eat better, and so on? I tend to be a volume eater. Meaning in one day I may only eat two meals, but they are HUGE. I often forget to eat and when I do the result is disastrous.

SO, am I in denial and need to completely retool my innards with full bypass? Or will Lap Band be a tool that can work? I know it can take much longer for the weight to come off and I'm fine with that. That slower loss also helps with the "loose skin" issue too.

Finally, where are all the men? You ladies provide fine and important information but there are men specific questions I have.

While I've had my own problems with a "leak" that I'm waiting on insurance approval to have fixed, I have to comment on this thread. My husband also has a lapband, which was placed August 25, 2008. He has since lost 100lbs and LOVES his band. He has had no problems at all. He is 5'10" and started at around 350 lbs. Each person's story is unique and you just need to compare the pros and cons for yourself and decide what's best for you. Good luck in whatever you decide! :blushing:

Oh man, that is a load of info to digest. I am working with Cedars right now too! I chose them because I could do everything there.

I am aware of the "New Program" in Newport Beach. They are the #1 place for bypass and band but they are very far and you can't do all your testing/consultations there. But now you are making me rethink big time...ugh.

Incidentally, Khalili (the aforemetioned hack surgeon) is now the DIRECTOR of the Cedars Bariatric program, so THAT might tell you about the quality of that particular Program.

I'll be posting some more info and thoughts later, I'm just having a HELL of a week. Busy!!! and you know what? Most it is "catching up" on the years on life I lost because of those cretins at Cedars and the Lap Band fiasco I experienced.

HH

I'm also a guy, needed to lose around 100 lbs. I have about 25 to go at 9 months out. My waist started at a tight 46 and is now a comfy 34. My hemochromatosis, high blood sugar and low energy issues are all gone. I eat anything I want, just less. I didn't exercise, but as I lost weight I got a lot more energy and now I even jog a mile or so at a time and look forward to working out for the first time in my life.

My experience has been 100% positive. This forum will show people that had dreadful experiences and people that have had wonderful experiences.

My personal belief is that NO surgery is always superior to any other. One of my best friends had a bypass and had 10 years of pain, problems, dumping problems, blood sugar issues and additional surgeries.

IMO, the trick is to research mercilessly and find the best doctor, regardless of cost or hassle. Bands are relatively easy to place and have a very high profit margin, so there are doctors out there making a quick buck on them.

Find the best possible doctor and regardless of the type of surgery you will most likely have a positive experience. My doc has banded 3 Oakland Raiders and 2 pro MMA (mixed martial arts) fighters. These guys put more physical stress on their bands than anyone and are in fine condition even years later.

Best of luck!

Edited June 17, 200917 yr by AirKuhl

this is especially important after a fill... you may have a bit of swelling from the fill so the rule is take it easy for a few days after a fill and go slow to see what you can then tolerate.

Pixelsmack,

Have you researched the gastric sleeve? Maybe this would be an option for you. I am a 45 year old female. When banded I had a bmi of 53. The band was my first and only consideration for WLS. I have Kaiser insurance and Kaiser was pushing the bypass to me and I am completely against it. I know several people who have had bypass and all but 3 of them have gained most of their weight back. One of them is in ICU with liver failure brought on by her bypass 6 years ago. One of them died and one other has had serious complications and multiple surgeries to repair these complications.

I chose the band because of the low risk associated with it. I will use the band to its full advantage for weight loss and I will not give up. It will work for me because for me it is the only option I am willing to put my body through.

I had my surgery in Mexicali, MX done by a surgeon who has performed over 2000 of these proceedures. Everything went well and I have no problems and I am loosing.

Good luck to you and don't be discouraged. If I were you I would make gastric bypass my last option. Try the band first.

Banded 4/17/09

Start weight/surgery weight/current weight/goal

330/319/288/170

He is 5'10" and started at around 350 lbs. :blushing:

That pretty much describes me.

That pretty much describes me.

Pixel, that only describes your PHYSICAL characteristics. As I have said, the amount you weigh, need to lose, etc, is not always the indicator of WHICH surgery you should choose. It may have worked well for him. Might not for you! :blushing:

HH

You know I totally agree, the majority of people on here are women, but in saying that it doesn't mean that theres like a ratio of 90% women to 10% men. I'm pretty sure theres a men's forum on here so maybe you could try that out?

Sarah, it's funny, but I never noticed it until PixelSmack mentioned it.....this forum IS mostly women. I don't know what the percentages are...maybe Alex has the stats.....

I wonder why that is.....maybe women are more concerned about their weight than men? :blushing:

Who knows.....:w00t:

HH

I assume you have found the Men's Only thread.

Also, there are many High BMI bandsters out there, men and women, and we are doing great. There is also a link for those wanting to lose 100 lbs, 200 lbs. etc. Look down the list of all the categories off the main home page.

I too am glad to find some other guys to talk to. I was just banded on June 17th. I am big guy, 6'3 397 at the start, with a bmi of 51. I have lost 31 pounds since pre op liquid diet. Banding was the only option for me. Bypass scares the crap out of me. I hear too many horror stories from that. Plus I ask a personal friend who is a cardiologist sort of jokingly "am i gonna die from this surgery" and he said relax you have a better chance of dying on the way to the hospital than you do from the banding. He was very pro banding as a cardiologist and has seen alot of success with his patient who have had it.

Well, good luck guys. Hollar at me if you wanna chat or compare war stories.

So your problem was with the surgeon not the band!