Why did YOU get lap banded?

[Dreamjeans 0]

I'm still working on my six month pre op diet for insurance approving mine but I can choose from lap band, RNY, or DS. I have to admit that I worry about a foreign object being inside of me the rest of my life.

What will happen in 20 years?

What if I slip and I don't have the money to pay for a resurgery? (insurance won't cover resurgeries at all),

What if a natural disaster happens and I have complications and there are no doctors around to operate? (please be nice about this one, I know it is silly but I have general anxiety and it helps me to talk it out so I can face the fear head on, other peoples perspective really helps me)

Even though the other surgeries have a higher complication it would just seem like less of a hastle to have restriction and not worry about the band failing or going in for tedious fills.

With that said I have SO MUCH respect for the band! I love that it is an outpatient surgery, that there is no cutting involved, that you can fill or unfill as necessary, That it will help with long term results without changing your internals etc.

I would like to hear your thoughts as to the reasons why you chose lapband over anything else. I think it would help me with my decision.

[ALuv82 0]

I went back and forth between bypass and the band for a while but I had pretty much made up my mind on the band before going in for my initial consulations. The surgeon I wound up choosing only does lap-band, although I went to info meetings with other doctors that do both or only bypass.

The reasons I had settled on the band are many. 1st, I had been at my job less than a year and did not feel I could afford to take several weeks off from work. Also, I didn't like the idea of having my intestines all re-routed which is very permanent and scary especially since I am young and I don't know what will happen in 10, 30 or even 60 years down the line. Who knows what 50 years of malnutrition will do to you? Also, they say there are a higher rate of resurgeries to fix complications with the band that with other WLSs, but here's the thing--that's because they CAN. If there's a complication with the band, there are options. Sometimes that option involves going back to surgery, sometimes it even invovles having the band taken out. But at least there are options. And what if I get sick and need to up my nutrition and I can't because my body not only doesn't fit much, but also doesn't absorb much? Or what if I get pregnant? My doctor told me there were higher than average rates of miscarraige in bypass patients due to malnutrition. A major part of why I wanted to have WLS in the first place is because I want to be able to live a normal life which hopefully someday means falling in love and starting a family. I would hate to go through all of this and then suffer through the unimaginable pain of something like that. Ultimately, every person is different and will need to make the decision on their own as to which WLS is best for them, but so far I do not regret or second guess my decision at all.

[sarae 0]

I was really scared about getting the band too and I wondered what the negative affects would be in 5 or 20 or 50 years I mean.. I'm only 20 and I didn't want to make a stupid decision that would lower my quality of life later on. Ultimately, I decided that I would do it and take the risk because the band is reversable and a lot less dangerous than any other procedure. Plus I plan on having kids in a few years and pregnancy seems to be an easier journey with the band. :thumbup:

It took me a year and half before actually getting the band and that gave me lots of time to think about it. It's always nice to get other peoples opinions and thoughts on the matter but at the end of the day, for me atleast, it was all about educating myself and really looking at WLS from every possible angle then deciding what was truly best for me.

Good luck to you with your decision!!

[Jachut 487]

I was aware of the possiblity of slip and erosion but not of the major pain in the ass the band could be if your body does not like having a band in it!

However, here, the possibility of a resurgery is not that bad - you dont want surgery again, but it will be paid for, no problems. I dont have insurance problems etc to worry about. If I need surgery I get it. I was entirely aware that the band probably wont last in my body until the end of my days, if it wears out, I'll just get another one but if I get 20 years out of it, well, I'll be over 60. I'm not sure I'd bother. I think after over 20 years of healthy eating and exercise, enough of the habits have a chance of sticking, my body will be USED to being light, not heavy and my family on my dad's side all tend to get alarmingly thin in old age, and I have the general body shape of that side of the family, I suspect that's in my future too. It sounds better than it is, my nanna looked pretty hideous, sigh.

I knew that the band required a LOT of work on the part of myself - I had people I knew who were banded. I liked that. I wasnt after an easy answer, I wanted to change my habits and my outlook - I know now a bit more about other surgeries and realise nothing is easy or automatic, however that was my thought process at the time and I still feel very proud of what I've achieved.

Unlike many others here, I had NEVER been successful at losing weight, I had never ever lost more than about 15 lb on any attempt. I wanted to do this ONCE more and ONCE only. Keeping the weight off was a huge part of my decision to have surgery.

Also, the biggest factor - the band is the only really common WLS here. I dont even know where you'd go to get a bypass and sleeves havent taken off yet.

Edited June 28, 2009 by Jachut

[esposa13 0]

Hello,

I was a teenager in the 80s and know all about fear of mega disasters. This was one of many considerations that went through my thought process as well. I decided that I need to get to a healthy weight now. I am looking high blood pressure, diabetes, and joint pain in the face. I decided the band will help my over all health quickly....as best I use it. For me these benefits out weigh the possible negative occurrences that could possibly happen or not.

I hope my rambling helps!!

[Cathy S. 0]

I'm in the 6 month pre-op program as well. I have been overweight for the last 16 years, since my last child was born. At various times throughout the last 16 years I thought about gastric bypass and lap band surgery, but the possible side effects and after effects scared me too much. Earlier this year I was transferred to a new position within my department (law enforcement). This position is exciting and definitely a career advancement, but does require standing for hours on end at scenes. I came to the realization that I could not physically do that, and that basically snapped me out of my denial. I am obese. I am not a big girl, or big boned, or heavy. I am obese. I investigated and researched gastric bypass and lap band and decided that lap band was the right choice for me. In fact, once I had decided, I was so excited that I wanted to cry when I found out that I'd have to go through a 6 month supervised program first! It's a good thing though, I think it helps prepare you and get you in the mindset that you need to be in to make the band work. Mostly, I want to stop feeling crappy: all the aches and pains because of my weight. (Throw in a ballistic vest and duty belt and it just makes it worse.) The fatigue at the end of my work week because of lugging all this weight around. I want to do it while I'm still relatively young enough to enjoy it. While overweight I have always felt "less than" around anyone smaller than me. My accomplishments or talents didn't matter, I automatically felt inferior because I was fat. I am not "less than"! On this journey of a thousand miles, I have taken the first steps to regain the "me" that feels trapped in this body.

[jms462001 9]

I'm still working on my six month pre op diet for insurance approving mine but I can choose from lap band, RNY, or DS. I have to admit that I worry about a foreign object being inside of me the rest of my life.

What will happen in 20 years?

What if I slip and I don't have the money to pay for a resurgery? (insurance won't cover resurgeries at all),

What if a natural disaster happens and I have complications and there are no doctors around to operate? (please be nice about this one, I know it is silly but I have general anxiety and it helps me to talk it out so I can face the fear head on, other peoples perspective really helps me)

Even though the other surgeries have a higher complication it would just seem like less of a hastle to have restriction and not worry about the band failing or going in for tedious fills.

With that said I have SO MUCH respect for the band! I love that it is an outpatient surgery, that there is no cutting involved, that you can fill or unfill as necessary, That it will help with long term results without changing your internals etc.

I would like to hear your thoughts as to the reasons why you chose lapband over anything else. I think it would help me with my decision.

What if you have a heart attack tomorrow? Life is a risk and obesity is our biggest risk. Which procedure you choose to overcome it depends on your own lifestyle and personal preferences. It also is dependent on the reasons you became obese in the first place. If you are an emotional or binge eater, the lapband may not be the best choice unless you overcome those problems first.

[greytz 4]

I took a long time to decide what to do. I am retired now but when I was working, it was the "thing" to have gastric bypass. So many of my coworkers were doing it that I couldn't believe it. The thing about it was they cut your stomach away and if you ever need diagnostic testing, it is very difficult to find anything in that area that has been cut away. To scary for me. When the band talk began, I started paying attention. I attended numerous seminars and ultimately when I had chosen a surgeon checked up with Better Business Bureau, AMA, etc. Then I called the office several times to see how I was treated. When I was satisfied with all of that, I went to my family and the very few people I had decided to be my support. The thing I liked most about the band is that if god forbid something should happen, it is reversible and not permanent. However, I didn't go through all of this to have it reversed. I made a lifelong committment. Granted I am older than most of you, but I will hopefully live to be even older than that by getting healthy. Good Luck and your reasons are your own as the commercial says. Only you can decide if it is right for you. Your committment, Your body.

[suzetteherrera 0]

I chose the band because of the cost. Insurance would not cover me because I didn't have enough to lose. And because of the recovery time being shorter....but, now I wonder if I should have gone to Mexico and paid out of pocket for the sleeve.... I'm only one week post op and I'm starving... so I'm not too happy right now

[watermelon seeds 0]

Hang in there Suzette!

I chose the band because of the cost. Insurance would not cover me because I didn't have enough to lose. And because of the recovery time being shorter....but, now I wonder if I should have gone to Mexico and paid out of pocket for the sleeve.... I'm only one week post op and I'm starving... so I'm not too happy right now