Hi all

I had a LAP-BAND® placed in May 2006, and had lost over 50 pounds until last Labor Day weekend (2008), when I had a motorcycle accident.

Had a lot of trauma, multiple breaks on 6 different ribs, collarbone, shoulderblade broken, all on the left side. Had a chest tube, and a splenic embolization. Then after several months recovery, they determined they needed to remove my spleen.

All this time, i'd not had any problems with the band once I got to a good restriction level.

But during surgery to remove my spleen, they saw that the band had popped open, brought in a bariatric surgeon to consult, and determined the band was too damaged to replace. Also my insides were too injured to place a new one, so the band was removed.

it's more than 6 months later now, and I WANT MY BAND BACK!! But, the surgeons are encouraging me to also consider Gastric Bypass, primarily due to my age (44), and my very bad diabedes (A1C at 8.8 and 8.6 the last 6 months). According to them, most insulin dependent diabetics leave the hospital after a gastric bypass taken off of all insulin.

I wondered if anyone has any advice on this decision - band versus bypass - I made the decision once, for the Band, but now several years later, my health is not as good, and the main reason to do weight loss surgery is for my health. Doctors seem to think that the bypass would be better for my health.

i'm doing my own research, of course, and will make my own decision, but wondered about advice from all of you, as this board was instrumental in helping with my first Band decision.

Thanks for listening!!

Jill

Wow. That is a difficult place to be in. However, in my mind your thoughts would be correct in doing some research before making a decision like that. I don't really understand why age has anything to do with it though. I am 51 and have some very serious health conditions but I am still banded and loving it. As far as the insulin dependence, I cannot speak to that except to say maybe get a second opinion from a diabetic specialist. And just be sure you have all the facts before making a decision like that. Good Luck and keep us posted about what you decide to do.

Jill,

I don't want to sound like a broken record but I had the lap band and wasn't able to lose the weight like you had and also my diabetes was worse during that time and went back on my metformin. I ended having my band removed due to GERD and the fact I was gaining instead of losing and a few months after that decided to revise to RNY after gaining even more weight.

I was never insulin dependend like you but was probaby heading in that direction. They took me off my meds when I was banded because they assumed I would get better and didn't. They did the same thing after I had my RNY and my sugar levels have been normal. I'm also lucky in a way that I experience "dumping syndrome" if I eat too much sugar. Basically I feel very sick to my stomach if I eat too much sugar and it's not a good feeling.

Anyway sorry about your car accident and the fact you had to have your band removed when you didn't want it to be but I'm just letting you know that RNY doesn't mean the end of the world if you decide to go in that direction. It's made a positive change in my life and my daughter's also. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, Nancy.

Sorry you had to go through all of that.If the surgeons are suggesting the bypass, then consider it. If you were unable to control the Diabetes while having the band, then a GB might be your best bet.People on this board like to bash the GB, for a variety of reasons, but it is a proven procedure and has helped hundreds of thousands of people over the last 50 years.It is true that you may have sustained damage that would prevent you from having another band, and that is a shame, if it was working for you. But give some serious consideration to the GB....it might be your only option, and for most people who have it, it is a very good one.

50 pounds lost in 2 years is okay, but not great. I hope I'm not being too brutally honest here. If you're diabetes is so bad, I would go for the sure fix. Diabetes is a lot more dangerous in the long run than gastric bypass. I would also look into the gastric sleeve, which isn't as drastic and is still very effective. Good luck with your decision.

I agree with tantus and karey. Seriously consider having the surgery that is right for you. Do not discount anything because it seems scary or it removes part of your body or whatever. Living with a deadly disease like diabetes is much more scary than doing anything you can to cure it.

If you needed to have your appendix removed would you decline because it's removing part of your body? I wouldn't! I have it removed immediately to save my life. Well, the GB has saved many, many lives and if it's the best choice for you then you should do it.

First get a second opinion, but as I've been reading these types of boards for years and have gone to numerous GB and Band support groups for years - I know that GB works wonders for those that are diabetic.

All the best! :confused: Let us know what you decide (with your Dr.s advice of course!)

Bypass for sure, cure for diabetes...

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Jill,

I don't want to sound like a broken record but I had the lap band and wasn't able to lose the weight like you had and also my diabetes was worse during that time and went back on my metformin. I ended having my band removed due to GERD and the fact I was gaining instead of losing and a few months after that decided to revise to RNY after gaining even more weight.

I was never insulin dependend like you but was probaby heading in that direction. They took me off my meds when I was banded because they assumed I would get better and didn't. They did the same thing after I had my RNY and my sugar levels have been normal. I'm also lucky in a way that I experience "dumping syndrome" if I eat too much sugar. Basically I feel very sick to my stomach if I eat too much sugar and it's not a good feeling.

Anyway sorry about your car accident and the fact you had to have your band removed when you didn't want it to be but I'm just letting you know that RNY doesn't mean the end of the world if you decide to go in that direction. It's made a positive change in my life and my daughter's also. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, Nancy.

You also need to check into the sleeve--for just restriction--and the DS...for maximum results for resolving Diabetes. There are many normal weight people who have had part of the DS for JUST the diabtes resolution...so you really need to look at that, too. Try dsfacts.com

Just an update for everyone on my status.....

After a lot of careful thought, I determined that the Bypass would be the best surgery for me. Locally, only Bypass or Lapband are offered, so a Sleeve wasn't an option for my surgeon.

Starting weight before surgery was 235 (I'm 5' 5" tall).

Had my surgery 11/16/10 at UMass Hospital in Worcester MA. Very successful surgery (though LONG surgery), went home on time.

They took me off some of my meds before leaving the hospital, including taking me off insulin. Well, I"m back on insulin again, but MUCH less than before surgery - before surgery, I ws taking 100-120 units of long term insulin every night, and another 30-50 units in the monrning, plus supplementing during the day with short term insulin (between 20-30 units for each meal). That's a LOT of insulin every day, up to 200 units or more a day!

Now, 4/28/11, I'm down around 55 pounds, down to just under 180 lbs. That has met my first two goals - first goal was to get under 200 lbs, 2nd goal is to weigh less than my DH (6' 1", 180 lbs dripping wet). So I"m really close or have already passed my 2nd goal.

Insulin - down to 25 units long term at night, and 10 units long term in AM, supplementing only when I eat sugar with short term insulin. so maybe down to 35-40 units a day (down from over 200 units a day). I'm also hopeful that as I continue to lose weight, and excersise more (hurray for warmer weather!!), the insulin needs will contine to drop, and hopefully get off of insulin all together (even if I have to go back to pills).

I'm off of my blood pressure meds, no problems with blood pressure. Am still on cholesterol meds, but those numbers are MUCH better too. May get off of the cholesterol meds soon.

I don't have any problems eating anything, sugar, alcohol, no problems, except if I eat/drink an unreasonable amount - 1 cookie is OK, half a dozen Cookies, I do get dumping, but only if I overeat sugar. Of course, I try not to overeat sugar, but when I found out I was being laid off from my job, I did discover the feeling of dumping from eating too much sugar! But I've gotten over that, and am back on track with much better eating habits.

I'm happy with my decision, am feeling great, and already have had to buy a new wardrobe as my old clothes were all falling off of me. Will likely need more wardrobe adjustments as weight loss continues.

Sizes - I went from a size 24 women's pants, to nicely fiting into a standard size 16 pants at a normal clothing store! And bras - I went from a 46DD to a 40D!

So I wanted to thank eveyrone here for your great advice, and for just listening to me.

Jill

I just had the RNY and it was flawless. If you can travel to Arizona, you should have Robin Blackstone do the work. She is probably the top bariactric surgeon in the US / World and her program is great.

I feel great, diabetes is now easilyl managed and eventually I will be off the ONE med I am taking.

Don't waste any time. Go to obeisityhelp.com and read the reviews of Dr. Blackstone.

4000 patients and zero deaths. Complication rate is very, very low.

Good luck!

Jill,

I don't want to sound like a broken record but I had the lap band and wasn't able to lose the weight like you had and also my diabetes was worse during that time and went back on my metformin. I ended having my band removed due to GERD and the fact I was gaining instead of losing and a few months after that decided to revise to RNY after gaining even more weight.

I was never insulin dependend like you but was probaby heading in that direction. They took me off my meds when I was banded because they assumed I would get better and didn't. They did the same thing after I had my RNY and my sugar levels have been normal. I'm also lucky in a way that I experience "dumping syndrome" if I eat too much sugar. Basically I feel very sick to my stomach if I eat too much sugar and it's not a good feeling.

Anyway sorry about your car accident and the fact you had to have your band removed when you didn't want it to be but I'm just letting you know that RNY doesn't mean the end of the world if you decide to go in that direction. It's made a positive change in my life and my daughter's also. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, Nancy.

I HAD THE LAP BAND 2 YEARS AGO AND I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS.I AM NOW CONSIDERING THA BYPASS.WAS YOURS (GBP) DONE LAPROSCOPIC ? I AM A SELF PAY AND WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF MY POCKET.