Gastric Band or similar surgery has it helped?

kateetak207

Hey everyone, just wanted to know if anyone has a gastric band or similar and if it has made a lot of difference and been able to keep your weight of? Plus any Pro's or Con's X

jgnatca

I had the bypass. The surgery team in my city won't do the gastric band as it tends to slip, requiring multiple surgeries. The patients I know who had the band have had it removed and had a revision besides.

I am very happy with the new lease on life that the bypass has afforded me. I lost over eighty pounds and I am far more active than I ever was. I have to watch how much I eat at a sitting, and I must take vitamins for life. A fair trade-off I figure.

The surgery is not a cure-all. The habits have to change too.

VeronicaA76

I've know people that had incredible success, and people with massive failures. WLS forces you to eat less so you end up in a calorie deficit. If you do not change your lifestyle particularly high calorie foods, it'll be a short term and other than the sleeve, irreversible solution.

If you can change your lifestyle, then kiddos, if WLS is the route you want to take, go for it. If not, I can't really support it (just my opinion as I'm seeing one person gain back almost everything they lost).

highlightshadow

I had a band 11 years ago and has ruined me in many ways. I'm desperate for it to be removed but can't afford it private and doctor won't do it until I'm normal weight anyway... Kinda ironic have to lose weight fighting the band instead of using it

bigjonb4116

my sister had the gastric bypass about 2 yrs ago and lost the 8st than she needed to lose,but in the last 6 months has gained back 3 stone. she is focused on losing it again now, buts its not an easy fix, you still have to work at maintaining it .

T3NACI0USM3

I worked in a bariatric clinic for a year with the consultant surgeons. I saw patients on the waiting list, pre op and post op. I'll share some of what I have learned and discussed with my amazing colleagues.

I'll begin with the fact that we are fat coz we lack discipline. But the gastric bypass and bands are only AIDS. They are massive, life changing aids that help you develop good habits. While you're developing those habits they curb your appetite, teach you control and in some cases directly assist in losing weight. But you only have one stomach and one esophagus. In 10 years time we cannot tighten that band again or redo that bypass. In 10 years time your time is up. You had better have fixed your habits by then otherwise it was all a big waste.

In the short run they are amazing. The band literally is a band making a smaller tube to fit food through (no more speedy binging!) what you can eat and is the most common choice I've noticed; the sleeve makes your stomach smaller and the bypass literally bypasses it almost altogether. Which one suits you can only be determined by the bariatric team but since I'm not an expert I won't be advising anything on that.

Initially all of them have absolutely huge results with some patients losing a stone a week EASY. But they will not work if you drink your calories or eat foods such as ice-cream, chocolate, cheese etc... easy to swallow calories are the bane of all bariatric patients. Your stomach will rarely be full on ice-cream so the physical aspect of your surgery is wasted. That's why you need to show discipline. You have to eat so we're can't just take your stomach out and be done with it. I literally wanted to pull my hair out at the number of fat post-op gastric surgery patients that complained all the while eating a chocolate or drinking a coke. They completely lack understanding of how their surgery even works.

However, I've also seen HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of long standing successes day in and out at the clinic for their yearly reviews. People who used the surgery for what it was - a chance of leading a new, healthier lifestyle. So at the end of the day it's not a quick fix. It's a long-term, very efficient aid in succeeding. Good luck

nenecris

Looks like everyone is on the same page, if you can change your habits and attitude towards food with the surgery you can be very successful.

highlightshadow

nenecris wrote: »

Looks like everyone is on the same page, if you can change your habits and attitude towards food with the surgery you can be very successful.

But similarly the lesson i'm now finally learning is that if you changed your habbits and attitudes before the surgery it saves a lot of pain and (in some cases) irriversable consequences.

The lessons you have to learn sooner or later .... i found out too late... my band went wrong and causes me a lot of trouble to this day which has led to a massive psychological battle .... over the 10 years i've developed an utter loathing for food which then led to me focussing on the foods i can eat which tended to be (hollow) comfort...

I'm now in a mess .... i've finally taken control of the situation but its taken counselling and a complete change up on how and what i eat..... one day when this is removed i'll then have to slowly (and it'll be years i guess) relearn to enjoy food again ... and maybe in the process relearn to love myself.

evajmiddle

I had the gastric band. I had it removed as I was having complications. It was sticking out of my skin and was not placed correctly. I found it difficult to swallow any meats, bread, eggs, some veg, fish. I had to cover food in a small amount of sauce to get it to go down. I lost 5 stones initially and a lot of hair. In having it removed I can now eat what I choose to. Portion sizes have remained small. 3 years ago, I was taken into hospital malnourished and dehydrated. 3 weeks later I was released after removal of the band. with time I healed and I still need to address issues that led me to the eating disorder in the first place. I've come a long way. I feel like ive been given a second chance. I am now actively working on not having the gastric bypass. Food is something I have always had a love/hate relationship with. My closest friend died 5 years out from complications of the bypass. It should never be taken lightly as it can rob you of a life . I am still adjusting to the fact that the 1 person in the world that gets me is gone. Her dying wish was for me to not get the same op. One day at a time. I'm happy I got the band but I will not be so fortunate if I fail a gastric bypass or it fails me. Just my thoughts.

Sophsmother

I got the band in 2003. I lost over 100 lbs. then have slowly gained it all back. I want it removed but can't pay for that. I have a hernia from it, terrible GERD from it ... it's awful. I changed my eating habits and kept the weight off for years, but then fell off the wagon and started eating sweets and pasta, everything that can slide right through the band. You're supposed to eat a high protein diet with the band so the pouch can stay filled longer and you eat less. But I didn't stick to that. I would not recommend it.

fitmom4lifemfp

I'd never recommend it. A close friend of mine had a bypass, about 3 years ago, and she made her decision without informing friends because she knew we would be against it. Thankfully, she has stuck to her changed habits. She lost 50 pounds before, and 50+ more after the surgery. She is literally half the person she used to be. I hope she continues with her new habits, and honestly, in her case, I think she is a strong enough person, smart enough, and determined enough, to stay on the right path. Unfortunately so many others are not. And the complications can be awful. It's a discipline/gluttony issue - plain and simple. Such a shame to see people lose control to the point that their own health is put at risk. I know it's hard to lose weight. It's difficult to ignore the foods you have come to love. I think grit/determination, and having a LOT of support at home, and with friends, are 2 of the most critical basic requirements for success - whether you have the surgery or not.

garber6th

I've posted this before on this same topic but here is my experience - Like most things, people talk mostly about the negatives. I had surgery almost 4 years ago. The reason people fail after surgery is the same reason people fail at CICO weight loss approach - they don't do what they are supposed to do. Surgery in and of itself will not be the answer. It's a tool. Like with any approach to weight loss, there has to be commitment and and understanding of the process. Speaking for myself - I knew that pushing 400 lbs wasn't normal, so before choosing surgery I chose to have a year of therapy. I knew that I had to get things right in my head before I would get things right with my health. I am healthier than ever now. I had zero problems post surgery. I take regular vitamins, like MANY people do who never had surgery. I watch what I eat like MANY people do who didn't have surgery. The surgery helped me get out of danger faster than I would have on my own. I am grateful I had this option. All this said, surgery is NOT for everyone. It's not a miracle, it isn't going to do all the work, and like any other tool, you have to take care to keep things working properly.

All that said - gastric band is definitely going by the wayside, even 4 years ago my surgeon wasn't offering it as an option.