Surgical consult

[Dragonfly4u 0]

Hello all,

I went in for my surgical consult on Thur 3/10 and my doctor seem to be pushing the Gastric Bypass more than the band. I am more inclined to go with the band. The idea of having my insides switched around and cut away is very frightening to me. I want to lose 100 pounds and he kept saying that for that amount I should go with the Gastric and not the band. Has anyone else had their doctor push for this? Did you go with the band and get the results you wanted? I just cant wrap my head around having the Gastric it seems so drastic and end of the line kind of thing.

[ElizabethNYC 1]

I refused to go with the bypass, I just couldn't see myself getting my insides rearranged and I've only heard bad things about people who have had a bypass. I feel more comfortable with something that can be taken out. I have a lot of weight to lose myself but I feel like with this tool I can do it. I'm being banded tomorrow so I'm sorry I can't answer your question completely. Good luck with everything!

[Phranp 46]

Hello all,

I went in for my surgical consult on Thur 3/10 and my doctor seem to be pushing the Gastric Bypass more than the band. I am more inclined to go with the band. The idea of having my insides switched around and cut away is very frightening to me. I want to lose 100 pounds and he kept saying that for that amount I should go with the Gastric and not the band. Has anyone else had their doctor push for this? Did you go with the band and get the results you wanted? I just cant wrap my head around having the Gastric it seems so drastic and end of the line kind of thing.

Dragonfly,

While I would not begin to know what is right for "you", I do have a few suggestions.

First, let me say that I chose the band because is was less invasive than other WLS. I have had a few surgeries in my lifetime and the most recent (and most difficult) was back surgery. The recovery was brutal! I shudder when I think about it. To top it off, without losing weight my back problems continued. So, for me the lapband was a no brainer.

I would suggest that you do in depth research on both the lapband and gastric bypass. You can get lots of information here that will be helpful.

I would also like to remind you that this is YOUR body and YOU are the one that will have to live with the choice you make. So, if you feel like having your insides rearranged is not something you can live with ... well, you'll have give that a lot of consideration. I guess what I'm really trying to say is that if you know what you are getting into with the band, then you will know what it will take to succeed. Do your homework!

Lastly, I will tell you honestly that I have never worked so hard to lose weight as I have with the lapband. I have never exercised more, or given more thought to what I put in my mouth daily. I have also never been happier to exercise. And I now love to think of new meals to prepare. I am a slow loser compared to many on this forum, but I have never been happier with my weight. I started my journey on June 15, 2009. I was wearing a size 26; I now wear a size 14. I am thrilled! And I am still losing!

I wish you the best, whatever you decide to do.

~Fran

[Dragonfly4u 0]

1st off let me say I will be thinking about you tomorrow Elizabeth NYC hope all goes well. Would love some updates as soon as you feel able.

Phranp

Thats just it I have been doing alot of reaserch for the last year. I finaly made the decision this last Dec for the lapband and have started the process. I have gone to the introduction seminar and have had the first consult with my surgeon. Let me state that I know it will still be a hard long process because its a lifestyle change not just a diet. I want to be a healthier person not just a thin person. I guess he just made me feel like I would fail unless I went with the gastric bypass and the idea just really bothers me.

I so appreciate the replies from you both

[Phranp 46]

1st off let me say I will be thinking about you tomorrow Elizabeth NYC hope all goes well. Would love some updates as soon as you feel able.

Phranp

Thats just it I have been doing alot of reaserch for the last year. I finaly made the decision this last Dec for the lapband and have started the process. I have gone to the introduction seminar and have had the first consult with my surgeon. Let me state that I know it will still be a hard long process because its a lifestyle change not just a diet. I want to be a healthier person not just a thin person. I guess he just made me feel like I would fail unless I went with the gastric bypass and the idea just really bothers me.

I so appreciate the replies from you both

It sounds like you know what you really want to do. Trust yourself. You can do this!

We are all rooting for you! Bandsters unite!

~Fran

[honk 780]

I knew that I only wanted the band. When I went in for my first consult with a nurse she said that someone of my weight (334) that they normally recommend gastric. When I told her that was'nt an option she backed off.

In reality neither my surgeon nor my other doctors would have approved gastric anyway. I'd had a mini stroke a few months earlier (at 39). There would have been no way they would have risked another blood clot.

The fact is esp. with the band this is at least 50% a mental game. I think one reason many medical professionals don't recommend it for larger people is you have to choose not to eat sweet things. With gastric they get dumping (severe gastric response) to sugar. It's unpleasant so people avoid eating candy, ice cream etc. That's not true for the band. In fact anything that melts in your mouth goes right on down.

All that being said preband I lost 50 pounds on my own diet. Since surgery I've lost 37 more. But I am VERY conservative about my diet and I do an hour of cardio everyday.

[ElizabethNYC 1]

1st off let me say I will be thinking about you tomorrow Elizabeth NYC hope all goes well. Would love some updates as soon as you feel able.

Phranp

Thats just it I have been doing alot of reaserch for the last year. I finaly made the decision this last Dec for the lapband and have started the process. I have gone to the introduction seminar and have had the first consult with my surgeon. Let me state that I know it will still be a hard long process because its a lifestyle change not just a diet. I want to be a healthier person not just a thin person. I guess he just made me feel like I would fail unless I went with the gastric bypass and the idea just really bothers me.

I so appreciate the replies from you both

Thank you!!