Gastric Band discussion

starrrjo

Hi Guys,

I have made a big decision and have started the ball rolling in having a gastric band fitted. I have done a lot of research and think it will definitely suit me but it is hard to find success stories from real people anywhere online, it seems a bit flooded by the gastric Bypass which really isn't for me.

Has anyone here had the band and what do they think of it? any complications or problems you weren't expecting? Do you recommend it? What size were you before? How quickly did you lose the weight? What were the discomfort levels?

Really grateful for any advice you can offer, I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you

Jo

cyndican

good luck

Diatonic12

The gastric bypass is reversible and the gastric sleeve is not.

Read through this entire blog, every post.

http://suethsayings.blogspot.com/search?q=gastric+sleeve

If at the end of the research and reading you still want one going forward know that even though 1/2 stomach will be removed it does not take away broken hunger cues. The appetite control center is located in the brain and not the stomach.

Only 7% of WLS patients maintain their weight loss after 5 years and 5% of dieters that can maintain a major weight loss after 5 years.

boehle

My aunt and my cousin both got the band.
My aunt did all the correct steps.. Worked out, watched her food and lost 100ish lbs.
She fell off the wagon and gained it all back.

My cousin did not of the steps and didn't lose a lb.
Its a choice, just as any diet. It def isn't a miracle.
If that is what is best for you and you stay in the correct frame of mind, you can do it.

mom23mangos

Mari22na wrote: »

The gastric bypass is reversible and the gastric sleeve is not.

Read through this entire blog, every post.

http://suethsayings.blogspot.com/search?q=gastric+sleeve

If at the end of the research and reading you still want one going forward know that even though 1/2 stomach will be removed it does not take away broken hunger cues. The appetite control center is located in the brain and not the stomach.

Only 7% of WLS patients maintain their weight loss after 5 years and 5% of dieters that can maintain a major weight loss after 5 years.

I don't think gastric bypass is reversible either? Lap Band definitely is. My husband has one and lost 100lbs with it. He still finds ways around it and it still overweight/clinically obese, but is in a much healthier place. He would have been dead without it. The surgery/recovery was not significant and you can add/take away saline to find the right amount.

Diatonic12

Truth. My cousin died from the gastric bypass. She was young. I have 5 more relatives still living with the gastric bypass/sleeve, 1/2 and 1/2. Another cousin with the sleeve started eating it all back within 6 months. Not one has maintained the original loss.

When my cousin died that was the catalyst for me to research everything I could get my hands on and start this journey without dieting. No more diets. I'm going back to my original factory settings. That's the overall goal now.

kristingjertsen

Everything I have read about the procedure indicates that the surgery should only be performed if the risks of early death from extreme morbid obesity outweigh the risks of the surgery. The procedure impacts more than just your eating habits--it can affect relationships (there is a big risk of "bariatric divorce) and some people substitute other habits for overeating (alcohol or drug abuse). I have met 3 people in WW who had the surgery and gained most of the weight back, another whose niece had the surgery in her early thirties and died from post surgical complications and malnutrition. I researched this after a family member was told bariatric surgery was necessary due to extreme morbid obesity (over 300 lbs). After I did my due diligence, I realized that I would be much happier if the family member chose to use a healthy diet and exercise to lose some of the weight. Food is central to this person's life and I understand that my family member would be miserable living with the limits the surgery would set on food choices.

acmorris77

I've had several people I know have it done and while some have lost weight and kept it off, most of them have gained it back. But, also some of them have transferred their addiction to alcohol or another unhealthy habit. If you don't go into therapy before, during and after, you will not be treating the actual food addiction/emotional aspect and find another outlet that could just as well kill you.

kbmnurse1

Good luck. I am not a fan of the band.

Diatonic12

http://suethsayings.blogspot.com/2015/09/gastric-bypass-patients-should-consider.html

"One thing I've seen happen with the sleeve, is a staple line leakage. A patient I know, had to go through multiple surgeries to fix that and included in the dark side of the sleeve, is the fact that unlike the gastric bypass, there is no way to reverse it."

http://suethsayings.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-dark-side-of-gastric-sleeve.html

https://www.sages.org/meetings/annual-meeting/abstracts-archive/laparoscopic-reversal-of-gastric-bypass-with-or-without-addition-of-a-sleeve-gastrectomy/

Jackie9003

I can understand why this procedure is attractive to people but, as others have said, it doesn't cure the root cause of over eating and why the weight went on. A friend of mine has had one and lost a lot of weight but then she had to have further painful ops to get rid of all the excess skin. Most of her weight was lost around her middle so now she's trying to lose it from her arms and legs as she looks completely out of proportion, she couldn't eat proper food which made her miserable and she was constantly hungry. The only good thing about it was that she was struggling to walk but now she can and is a lot more active.
Good luck should you continue with it but please consider trying to do it slowly through a healthier lifestyle which will gradually change your habits.

Diatonic12

When you eat 2 oz of food, that novelty wears off quickly. My cousin, RIP, was eating all of her food measured with a medicine cup. I remember her initial excitement at measuring out her 2 oz., sick as a dog for months until she died. She was dropping it like it was hot. Self-induced starvation does that but what it does to your skin is a nightmare. Then you need more surgery to fix that and none of it is a walk in the park.

When WLS patients eat it all back with 90% or half of the stomach removed, the heartbreak is real.

Brain Training. The brain is not our friend when it comes to weight loss. It's a spoiled child and it can be a sneaky snake. The brain with its' messed up hunger cues doesn't care if you ever maintain a major weight releasing.

It's not that you keep making mistakes it's that your brain is driven to see to it that you eat it all back. It likes that, really. The brain will keep you dieting and rebounding for the rest of your life if you let it.

You have got to show the brain who is boss. Get that tiger by the tail and you can't let it coast on its' laurels. Nah. Once you've been down this road you will be managing it for the rest of your life. If you're up for a rodeo, let 'er buck. Get right in here, track your stats with reasonable restriction and not overrestriction.

Gooooing Ooooo sooooo slooooowly may not be fast enough but you'll have a much better chance of getting there and staying there. We're all in this together, might as well enjoy the ride.

lamm84416

There will always be good and bad stories with just about anything on the internet. There will be success stories as well as failures.

I had the sleeve gastrectomy last October and feel it's the best thing I've ever done. Was it easy? Uhm, no! My boyfriend had the gastric bypass in 2009. He lost 175lbs in 2 years and has kept ALL of it off.

When I was considering having WLS, I spoke with several people (family, friends and doctors) whom I trust. While the sleeve and the gastric bypass are both irreversible there is a better success rate with them than there is with the band according to the doctors with whom I spoke. It's hard to get the amount of saline in the band (too much, too little) just right for the best results.

Any of the WLS's are a tool. If you don't have the right mindset going into it, you can and will most likely will regain your weight. There are always ways to get around it - as with anything you do. You have to get your mind right and if you don't, you will most likely fail. This is why most bariatric surgeons (and insurance companies) want to make sure you are ready for it. You will have to most likely follow a doctor-directed diet for 3 to 6 months to prove you can lose weight. You will most likely have to see a dietician to understand what you are going to have to do after the surgery and for the rest of your life if you want to be successful. You will most likely have to see a psychologist to ensure you have the right mindset for both before and after the surgery. Also, throughout the process, you are asked what kind of support system you have at home (friends, family, significant others and support groups) and to get one if you don't. Of course, there also can be complications with the surgery as there are with ALL surgeries and you will have to sign paperwork to that effect.

My boyfriend and I attend a bariatric support group every month and support each other as well. We remind each other to eat the right stuff but also to exercise and do the other things that are important to taking weight off (me) and maintaining a healthy weight (him.)

Good luck and I hope that you find the answers for which you're looking.

lantana411

I had gastric bypass surgery in 2003. I lost 111 pounds. I kept it off - without working out but watching my food and participating actively in OA - for years. Then I had an issue with my thyroid meds (the only meds I was on) after 25 years of being on the same dose. It took a specialist a year to find the right dose for me (and took me off of generic and onto branded meds). In the meantime, I was packing on pounds no matter what I ate so I eventually ate everything. I kept eating everything for a year after he found my right dose. I returned to OA and struggled for a while. Then in 2016 I decided I didn't want to be fat. I downloaded MFP and lost a little under 90 pounds. My main reason was my knees and hip were killing me and the dr told me our knees take 5x our weight in pressure. THAT was just too much pressure for me. I maintained the loss until a few months ago when I had 6 months of emergency dental problems that left me unable to chew on EITHER side. I downed plenty of grits and cheese. And gained about 30 pounds. The dental work ended and I RAN back to MFP. I lost weight and am 20 pounds away from my lowest weight as an adult - I plan on hitting that and trying to lose more if my body will give it up. I found out I need a hip replacement and knee replacements and I"m going to do my best to be as light as possible before I give in to having the surgeries - which I plan on avoiding for as long as I can so I don't have to do it again, later. I also returned to OA because the surgery only worked on my plumbing, not my brain! And I had no complications - nor did several of the people I met who also had the surgery. Everyone's story is different - don't listen to scary stories but be aware that bariatric surgery only works on the plumbing!

Diatonic12

@lantana411. Wow. I am humbled by your journey.

Scary stories are not the norm. You are 100% correct, lantana. Find the best surgeon you can, get good references. That goes for any surgery you have. Do everything on your own terms and that includes surgery. WLS is a judgment free zone.

I feel honored to have you as my friend. I'm truly humbled and may your upcoming surgeries be a total success with a good recovery.

cyndican

Mari22na wrote: »

Truth. My cousin died from the gastric bypass. She was young. I have 5 more relatives still living with the gastric bypass/sleeve, 1/2 and 1/2. Another cousin with the sleeve started eating it all back within 6 months. Not one has maintained the original loss.

When my cousin died that was the catalyst for me to research everything I could get my hands on and start this journey without dieting. No more diets. I'm going back to my original factory settings. That's the overall goal now.

a reboot

Diatonic12

I honor lantana's journey. My cousin's death changed my life. I will never diet another day because of it and had to research to find my own pathway to healing. Your mileage and my mileage may vary. No judgment, we need to do everything on our own terms.

starrrjo

Jackie9003 wrote: »

I can understand why this procedure is attractive to people but, as others have said, it doesn't cure the root cause of over eating and why the weight went on. A friend of mine has had one and lost a lot of weight but then she had to have further painful ops to get rid of all the excess skin. Most of her weight was lost around her middle so now she's trying to lose it from her arms and legs as she looks completely out of proportion, she couldn't eat proper food which made her miserable and she was constantly hungry. The only good thing about it was that she was struggling to walk but now she can and is a lot more active.
Good luck should you continue with it but please consider trying to do it slowly through a healthier lifestyle which will gradually change your habits.

Thank you.
Believe me, I've tried a good 12 years of on off dieting. Had help from dietician,s medication, hypnotherapy and slimming world, weight watchers, personal trainer.
I unfortunately have a horrible cocktail of hormone imbalances and thyroid issues which make my body hold on to it's fat so I think it will help me. I'm definitely not the type to substitute for drugs and alcohol.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

starrrjo wrote: »

Jackie9003 wrote: »

I can understand why this procedure is attractive to people but, as others have said, it doesn't cure the root cause of over eating and why the weight went on. A friend of mine has had one and lost a lot of weight but then she had to have further painful ops to get rid of all the excess skin. Most of her weight was lost around her middle so now she's trying to lose it from her arms and legs as she looks completely out of proportion, she couldn't eat proper food which made her miserable and she was constantly hungry. The only good thing about it was that she was struggling to walk but now she can and is a lot more active.
Good luck should you continue with it but please consider trying to do it slowly through a healthier lifestyle which will gradually change your habits.

Thank you.
Believe me, I've tried a good 12 years of on off dieting. Had help from dietician,s medication, hypnotherapy and slimming world, weight watchers, personal trainer.
I unfortunately have a horrible cocktail of hormone imbalances and thyroid issues which make my body hold on to it's fat so I think it will help me. I'm definitely not the type to substitute for drugs and alcohol.

if you have a thryoid and hormone imbalance you need to see a dr if you dont already. with thyroid issues it can take awhile to be on the correct amount of meds before you lose weight,which a deficit is still needed. getting a surgery wont help with the imbalances or the thyroid issues. so you need to get those under control first and foremost. you cant let your thyroid stay out of whack or be imbalanced as over time it could mean severe health issues. with the surgery you stilll have to eat in a deficit.

fiftyshadesofneigh

Hiya I worked for a year and a half in general surgery - but specifically working with the bariatric department. I am NOT a qualified medical professional but I processed hundreds of patients each week and over my time there saw progress of various surgeries and even the ones that went wrong. I often spoke with the team of surgeons, dietitians and psychologists and their number 1 complaint: that all patients expect the surgery to 100% fix their habits. With the gastric band it is an ASSIST tool. It makes it hard to eat fast and forces you to chew properly because it's y'know squeezing your food tube But ice-cream, sugary drinks, melted chocolate... cheese. All these foods are EASY to stuff yourself with when you have the band. It is THESE patients that in my time there have struggled the most. Under the NHS you can replace the band 2 more times as they do stretch over time. But what patients don't realise.. is that their bodies will adjust. They can only have so many bands in their lifetime. So I saw patients in their 11th year on gastric band number 3 and starting to put on weight again. They had 10 years to try fix their habits... and now it's crashing back again because they never were able to work on the underlying cause. Oesophagus transplants aren't all that common.

Also the two biggest complaints about the gastric band: acid reflux and vomiting (from eating too fast usually). But it's genrally considered less invasive and easily reversible. Weight loss can be RAPID (one patient had to be admitted as he lost over a stone in a few days and was continuing the trend). But then if people continue to eat easy-to-swallow liquids etc then it wont make a huge difference. Hope that makes sense.

GASTRIC SLEEVE AND BYPASS: both totally viable. The bariatric team could never give a straight answer about which of all three procedures are better over the other. It REALLY does depend on the patient and it requires more than 1 consultation to actually decide.

My personal opinion: the band is temporary, easily reversible, not so invasive surgically.. but it's a real assist tool, not a true "fix" if you understand. Often the band was given first (I noticed) to heavier patients to assist in losing weight to make the sleeve/bypass surgery safer down the line. I would ballpark and say well over 70% of the people I met were happy with their gastric band. The other 30% hated the acid reflux, the vomiting (if they never curbed their eating speed) and then there were those that complained that the band sucked all the while they were eating a mcflurry... Then there were patients who were non-stop vomiting... vomiting is usually enough incentive to chew properly and not eat fast right? Well I hope it's incentive for you.

The band is to help DEVELOP NEW BETTER LIFESTYLE HABITS. DO ***NOT*** RELY ON IT TO LAST FOREVER! And TREAT YOUR BAND WELL! The better you chew and the slower you eat the more shelf-life it's gonna have. It's also less likely to stretch your oesophagus in record time. You might lose weight and be in UTTER shock. You might think that you're gonna be full of energy at the start your body is going to HATE you. Several patients also found their depression got WORSE with weight loss because they no longer had the comfort of eating when stressed (hence the psychologists). So pay special attention to your mental state as well.

Anyway. I'm no doctor but I learned some. Hope this helps and good luck with your surgery!

fiftyshadesofneigh

Forgot to add the gastric band can be easily adjusted if in the case you have acid reflux/constant heartburn. Do not hesitate to get that looked into if it becomes a problem.