Your Decision

[LastOptionAtty 0]

Ladies what helped you to make up your mind to go with the lapband procedures vs. gastric bypass or the gastric sleeve?

I will be honest, at the seminar I went to they seem to be in favor of the sleeve and they didn’t do a good job of “selling” the lapband procedure. I am really drawn to the lapband b/c of the long term accountability. I have known a few people who got gastric and slowly gained back a lot of weight. The Dr. made the point that the idea is to pick the best one that works for you and your lifestyle and not say let me try the lap band and if that doesn’t work I can do another (because there can be significant scar tissue in any procedure which would make a second surgery difficult). She also added that lapband is "this much help" as she held her index and thumb finger about 1 or 2 inches apart.

What reason/s did you have to get the lapband (where ever you are on your journey)? When you went to the seminar what if any vibe did they give you about the options available to you? Thanks!

[Jachut 487]

Biggest factor - its really all that's available here. Very unusual to hear of a bypass, and I certainly dont think at a BMI of 36 I would have been able to get one.

Due to the size of my weight problem, I would NEVER have considered something like a bypass, no way was it worth an irreversible change to my body to lose the weight I had to lose.

The lapband is pretty simple as far as surgeries go, its reversible, adjustable, I just didnt see it as "drastic" or "dangerous" like many seem to, for my particular problem it seemed sensible. And I must admit, it was very much a cosmetic decision as well as a health one for me.

I thought I would be able to eat normally and nobody would need to know and I would have no issues and for the most part that's been the case.

[LastOptionAtty 0]

Thanks so much for your post Jacqui! I think I feel the same way in terms of the pro's of this type of procedure. You look great btw!!

[sxevan9 0]

Just realized you are from Maryland. What part? I'm in Suitland.

I decided to do the Lapband Surgery because the procdeure was less invasive. I didn't want my internal organs rerouted. I also knew the weight loss would be slow and figured it would allow me the opportunity to work out at the same time so i could tone my body. I didn't want the weight to drop off so fast and than end up with the probelm with all that skin. I didn't know to much about the sleeve, they didn't discuss it in my seminar, but I did check just now to see what was the difference in this surgery and I must say I don't think I would have leaned toward this either. I don't like the idea of 1/2 of my stomach being removed and the remaining being shapped like a banana. I would think that you could stretch that out just like people are doing with the gastric bypass procedure. I feel this is best for me, because I understand that is just a tool and I will have to do the work to see the progress.

[wildercrews 0]

I choose the Lap Band because of the long term commitment and the less invasive procedure. I feel great. My weight lost has slowed to 1 lb per week and I am ok with it. It took me 20 years to gain the 100+ extra lbs - I figure it will take me 18 months to loose it. On my way to being a 'silver fox'.

[Minxz 0]

I am choosing lapband because its a simpler surgery. Less can go wrong and should something GO wrong it can be undone. The effects are less drastic as well. With GB you have to worry about malabsorption and dumping. Those are things I don't want to deal with 20 years down the road.

[Donna113 2]

I chose Lap Band for the same reasons as Jackie. I have to say, I do agree with your doctor that the Lap Band in the short term is probably not as effective as the by-pass or the sleeve. However, the Lap Band is adjustable and in the longer term I think is more effective for that reason.

[LastOptionAtty 0]

Just realized you are from Maryland. What part? I'm in Suitland.

I decided to do the Lapband Surgery because the procdeure was less invasive. I didn't want my internal organs rerouted. I also knew the weight loss would be slow and figured it would allow me the opportunity to work out at the same time so i could tone my body. I didn't want the weight to drop off so fast and than end up with the probelm with all that skin. I didn't know to much about the sleeve, they didn't discuss it in my seminar, but I did check just now to see what was the difference in this surgery and I must say I don't think I would have leaned toward this either. I don't like the idea of 1/2 of my stomach being removed and the remaining being shapped like a banana. I would think that you could stretch that out just like people are doing with the gastric bypass procedure. I feel this is best for me, because I understand that is just a tool and I will have to do the work to see the progress.

Thanks! I am in Baltimore County!! :wink2: Yes the sleeve seems to be what they are really "selling" and you are right it has the same possibility of stretching as with gastric. Its a shorter surgery and she explained that it was a procedure that has been used for years for things like stomach cancer and a side effect was significant weight loss so it slowly evolved into another wls and they have data on the weight loss effect primarily from these other type of patients. And this in not to speak badly of myself but I know myself if I do anything it would have to be something that gives me long term control.

[LastOptionAtty 0]

I choose the Lap Band because of the long term commitment and the less invasive procedure. I feel great. My weight lost has slowed to 1 lb per week and I am ok with it. It took me 20 years to gain the 100+ extra lbs - I figure it will take me 18 months to loose it. On my way to being a 'silver fox'.

That is great Silve Fox!!!!:wink2: I agree the weight does not come on over night so if it takes a year or so that is still great. It took me almost a year to lose 45 pounds so I am willing to be patient it would still be fastest (in theory) so that is still great!!!

[*slim* 2]

I chose the lap band because it was the less invasive procedure. I had never heard of the sleeve when I started researching. My insurance only pays for gastric bypass and lap band anyway. I didn't like the side effects and permanency of RNY. Also, I have a friend that had it done, and she has gained quite a bit of her weight back. All she can do now is either have her RNY revised, or get lap band on top of it. I would rather just get another fill.

[theninside 0]

I chose the Lap band because the side effects of the Gastric scared me. I was worried about losing teeth an hair, and worse being unable to control the amount of weight I was losing. I know I would rather had no surgery, if the alternative was to look like Paris Hilton. I personally think that with the GB because the weigh loss is so dramatic in a short amount of time that the head and facial areas stay large, while the body shrinks. So I didnt want to look like a lollipop.

[theninside 0]

Why aren't the ticker showing?

[Brinabrina77 24]

The main reason that I chose the lap band over gastric bypass is becasue I am in the medical field. I am a veterinarian. Most people have only seen or had procedures described to them. I am a little bit different. I have actually done surgeries on the digestive tract.

No. They don't do lap bands on dogs and cats, but we do have to remove a LOT of foreign bodies in the stomachs and/or intestines of dogs and cats. What usually happens is some dog or cat eats something (a large rock, ball, toy, etc. that gets stuck in the digective tract) and we have to open them up and surgically remove it. When you remove these foreign obects you either end up cutting into the stomach and/or cutting into the intestine. I have seen these surgeries when results are fantastic and I have seen them when the results did not turn out well.

So when the doctors explained what was to occur during a gastric bypass all I could think was simply..

....Hell. To. The. No. :wub:

I was not about to have someone cut into my intestine and re-route the natural flow of things and HOPE that by body adapted to it and HOPE that my body would absorb Vitamins, minerals, and vital nutrients like it was designed to and HOPE that I would not lose weight at an unnatural rate. I know how the body acts when it is nutritionally starved. I also know how the body reacts when it also suffers sudden dramatic weight loss. If you are brave, go take some disease physiology courses. When I say scared straight.... ::gives ya'll that look :: It will make CSI Miami look like Sesame street.

So pretty much, like most of the other posts here, I could not see putting myself through such an invasive, virtually non-reversible surgery and HOPE that my body would respond well to it.

I am aware that the lapband has its own set of complications as well, but when I actually saw the procedure being done (yes, I am that much of a nerd that I had to go online and actually watch one being done) I was surprised at how minimally invasive it was.

I am a big girl. Alright, Alright...I am an obese girl. However, I still did not want to undergo some procedure that could have me lose so much weight that I looked like a drinking straw. I don't want to be shaped like a Newport cigarette. I have no desire to have the T&A Fairy come by and steal all my girly goodies away. I like being shaped like a woman. :smile2: I did this to be healthy...not skinny.

[Minxz 0]

I am aware that the Lap Band has its own set of complications as well, but when I actually saw the procedure being done (yes, I am that much of a nerd that I had to go online and actually watch one being done) I was surprised at how minimally invasive it was.

Lol so did I! For the Bypass I had the same concerns. Sure you lose weight fast but what about after you hit goal. Is it nthen going to be a huge struggle to get enough nutrition?

[LastOptionAtty 0]

I chose Lap Band for the same reasons as Jackie. I have to say, I do agree with your doctor that the Lap Band in the short term is probably not as effective as the by-pass or the sleeve. However, the Lap Band is adjustable and in the longer term I think is more effective for that reason.

Thank you! I think the Dr. did say that over the long term the pounds even out so with the other 2. So for example they lose a lot up front vs lapband is more steady loss and in like 2-3 years they are basically even in terms of weight loss results. I like that I am not really looking to drop 100 pounds in 6 months anyway :laugh: