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| Author | Message |
 Member Since: 02/01/12 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/3/12 8:21 pm I know this question must have been asked many times before and I did some research online but am still sooo confused. The good news is that my insurance approved my lapband today! So, I was ecstatic with the news until I saw this information and my family doctor (not my bariatric doctor) asked me why am I not considering VSG instead of the band. I did enough research to understand the pros and cons... but I have a very hard time making this decision. I know that ultimately it’s my decision what procedure to pick but any words of wisdom, reassurance, or advice are greatly appreciated.
"with 3-year follow-up reported, 88% of the 299 patients had one or more adverse events, ranging from mild, moderate, to severe. Nausea and vomiting (51%), gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) (34%), band slippage/pouch dilatation (24%) and stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage) (14%) were the most common post-operative complications. In the study, 25% of the patients had their gastric banding systems removed, two-thirds of which were following adverse events. Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function****urred in 11% of patients, the long-term effects of which are currently unknown." A third of patients had undergone reoperation after five years, increasing to 53% at 10 years. The incidence of band removal increased from 0.5% at one year to 11% at five years and 35% at 10 years. Conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass accounted for half of all reoperations, according to one AMSBS report
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 (09/30/05) Member Since: 07/11/11[Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 1:48 am Last Edit: 2/4/12 3:21 am Why are you confused? No one should make this decision but YOU, not your doctor or surgeon. My surgeon suggested I get RNY over 6 years ago and NOT the band. I chose the band because I did not want a life time of dumping syndrome and other possible complications related to that surgery. My surgeon would not have to LIVE with that surgery I would. Possible faster weight loss was not a decision maker for me. That said, you should not be asking strangers on the Internet to pick a surgery for you, you will get variety of responses, some responses will be bitter by those who did not have a great experience with the band and some responses will be positive for those who had a great outcome and success with the band. Because I did not want my insides re-arranged I KNEW that I would have to be more disciplined by taking a long hour walk each day, I limited my sugar intake, and focused on proteins and veggies in my first year for optimal weight loss with my band, it was not hard for me, the band just made sticking to a diet easier by limiting my portions. Here is a guide on how the lap band works for success and to avoid complications http://www.laplose.com/Media/Forms/LapBandDietGuideNew.pdf If you were ecstatic and STILL WANT the band, you should still GET the band, it's your body and your life. If your surgeon is pushing the Sleeve on you, then you may want to find a band friendly surgeon, the band works best with a surgeon that will follow your journey and fill your band properly and provides excellent aftercare, if your surgeon can't provide superior aftercare and fills your banded life will be horrible and you WILL experience some of those problems you listed in your research, your lap band and success WILL BE AS GOOD AS THE SURGEON WHO INSTALLS IT and how your fills are given. Have you thoroughly researched the downside of the Sleeve as well? Many people do well with with the Sleeve and many people do not, the SAME as the lap band, the Sleeve and Band are both restrictive surgeries, and they BOTH do the same thing. You may get faster weight loss with the Sleeve because of the mere fact that 80 percent of your stomach will be removed and MOST people have a very hard recovery which will result in fast weight loss in the first 6-8 months, but once the stomach heals and your appetite returns in full force, the Sleeve may not be as powerful than the band long term. My philosophy is why go through removing your stomach or rearranging your insides when you will eventually have to exercise, watch your carbs with these surgeries and once these more invasive surgeries run their course of effectiveness and then you still may have to live with long term side effects. Most Lap Banders that keep their band adjusted properly, NOT TOO TIGHT, don't experience those symptoms that you listed in your study, if the band is filled to tight and saline is not removed promptly ALL THOSE SYMPTOMS and issues that you listed WILL OCCUR AND MORE. I am going on 7 years post and I have still have all original parts of my band and I have not required a second surgery, I have no adverse symptoms, no issues that you listed in your study, my life is totally normal, I don't have to worry about vitamin deficiencies and I am not in and out of the hospital, I went from a size 28 to a size 10 by 18 months post op and I am grateful for my health, and if my band ever slips or any mechanical problem occur, I would get it replaced that is how much I love my band. While you are researching possible bad things with the band to keep things balanced in your research here are a few things you may need to know about the Sleeve. http://www.weightlosssurgerychannel.com/breaking-wls-news/ga stric-sleeve-procedure-under-scrutiny-at-bariatric-surgery-c onference.html/ Here is recent studies indicating Dumping aka gastric emptying with Sleeve patients and some Sleeve patients dump like RNY people, just want you to be aware of this. What is rapid gastric emptying? Rapid gastric emptying, also called dumping syndrome, occurs when undigested food empties too quickly into the small intestine. What are the symptoms of rapid gastric emptying? Early rapid gastric emptying begins either during or right after a meal. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. Late rapid gastric emptying occurs 1 to 3 hours after eating. Symptoms include hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar; weakness; sweating; and dizziness. Experiencing both forms of gastric emptying is not uncommon. New Study and FINDINGS ON DUMPING AKA...GASTRIC EMPTYING WITH THE SLEEVE AS OFJanuary 10, 2012 http://thesagesmeeting.org/comparison-study-of-gastric-empty ing-after-performing-sleeve-gastrectomy-with-two-diffierent- techniques/ Long Term Failure rate of the Sleeve http://bariatrictimes.com/2010/07/22/sleeve-gastrectomy-fail ure-just-when-we-thought-we-had-the-perfect-operation/ Lap Band * 9/30/2005 * 4cc 10ml band, currently 2.6cc of saline, lost 130 pounds. To date, no hospitalizations or major complications, still have all original parts. I am grateful for my health. |
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TX RNY (01/03/12) Member Since: 12/01/11[Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 4:42 am Ultimately it's your decision, but I can tell you that I had the lapband in May 2001 and had great success with it until about 7-8 years out when I started experiencing issues. Just recently had it removed and converted to RNY. I was always hungry with the lapband, but could never tolerate fills, so I just ate larger portions of healthy foods and had no issue maintaining goal weight. However, if I were to do it over, knowing that VSG is available, I'd choose VSG simply because you don't have constant maintenance, don't freaking have the band inside you (which I could definitely feel), and you don't have the issue with hunger much since the VSG removes the part of your stomach that produces ghrelin (the hunger hormone). Good luck in whatever surgery you choose.   |
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(09/30/05) Member Since: 07/11/11[Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 5:05 am Last Edit: 2/4/12 5:13 am MustangMama....strange you mentioned that you could feel your band "inside of you" do you mean feel the port? If I press on my lower abdomen I can feel my port, but it does not bother me, a few years ago when my band was accidently filled dangerously too tight, I could actually feel it squeezing me..lol, but a quick visit to my surgeon and him removing saline relieved that uncomfortable feeling immediately. Also in a previous post you mentioned that you got your band placed during the FDA trials back in 2000 or 2001? I don't believe most US surgeons was using the improved technique of the "Par Flaccida" method to properly sutured the band in place, the band has greatly improve in technique since the early 2000's, however I don't believe patient compliance has improved, in fact I think it has gotten worse, since many people don't fully research the band to really know how it works. P.S. regarding hunger? If you do a search at the top of the page and type in "VSG hunger" you will find many posts of angry VSgrs complaining they still experience hunger despite getting part of their stomach removed, some people don't have hunger with the band either, so I guess it's not a black and white issue of who will experience hunger with the Band or Sleeve, and you can't generalize who will be successful or who will fail with either surgery since they are both tools and both require eating right and exercise to be successful. Lap Band * 9/30/2005 * 4cc 10ml band, currently 2.6cc of saline, lost 130 pounds. To date, no hospitalizations or major complications, still have all original parts. I am grateful for my health. |
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TX RNY (01/03/12) Member Since: 12/01/11[Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 5:26 am You're right that it's not all black-and-white in regards to either procedure. I personally would give VSG a try over lapband (knowing what I know from my own personal experience) because the removal of the hunger hormone would be a pro (for me) when considering that procedure over the other one. Would it work for me? I don't know, but it would be a selling point since constant hunger was an issue for me with the lapband. I got my lapband in 2001 after the trials had ended. My insurance company initially denied the procedure because it was deemed "experimental," but after an appeal it was reversed. My band was placed by a surgeon who participated in the trials. The port was not the issue, I could feel it, but it didn't hurt. though sometimes it felt uncomfortable What hurt was the actual tubing. I could feel it pushing on other organs in my abdominal cavity...you could even see it on CT scans, so I'm not certain if it just wasn't sutured properly or what, but that was an issue I personally encountered. |
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(09/30/05) Member Since: 07/11/11[Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 5:38 am Last Edit: 2/4/12 5:40 am Sorry to hear about that, I am sure it must have been a very unpleasant experience for you, I believe most US surgeons widely adapted the "Pars Flaccia" method of suturing the band in place after "lessons learned" of many band slippages during the early placements and many did not use the Pars Flaccida method until after 2004. Then they started with bigger bands in 2007, since many got bands that were too small for their anatomy, I think there are a lot of reasons why the band fails or people have complications, there are so many variables involved, but for those who get the band size "right for their body" and have excellent aftercare seem to have optimal success and no complications, but sadly that does not happen to a lot of people. Strange you mention you could feel your tubing....that must have been horrifying, I don't feel nothing inside my body, I would not know I have a band unless I tried to shove food down my throat  , I feel bad for those who experience very unpleasant problems with the band, I guess I have no clue of how horrible the band can be, but again, complications occur with ALL weight loss surgeries these are risk we take. It's good that you are doing well with the gastric bypass and I wish you well and an uneventful journey with it. Lap Band * 9/30/2005 * 4cc 10ml band, currently 2.6cc of saline, lost 130 pounds. To date, no hospitalizations or major complications, still have all original parts. I am grateful for my health. |
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 Dayton, OH Member Since: 10/29/04 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 8:06 am I would suggest you visit the VSG and revision board. VSG 8-4-08 -5'5 HW 310 SW 216 CW 172 LW 160 GW 170 GW 170- 175 Join US On The VSG Maintenance Group Forum!! http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion |
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 Member Since: 04/14/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 8:28 am You'll see more band revisions than any other weight loss surgeries. Here's the link to the revisions board. Read it carefully before making your choice. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/a,messageboard/bo ard_id,5360/ http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/lap-band-surgery-half- patients-complications/story?id=13187452 "The intimate rapport with nature is one of the most precious things in life. Nature is indeed very close to us; sometimes closer than hands and feet, of which in truth she is but the extension. The emotional appeal of nature is tremendous, sometimes almost more than one can bear." |
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FL Member Since: 07/15/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 3:29 pm Had lapband almost 4 years and the happiest day of my life is the day I got my revision to sleeve. Since I have had both........they are NIGHT and DAY. IMHO the sleeve is so much better. Why don't you go to the VSG forum and just browse the forum. If you post there you will get more replies from those that have been revised from the band to a sleeve. Regardless of what you decide I wish you much success. |
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 NJ Member Since: 05/15/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 4:03 pm Having had both, and almost dying from complications from my band, I would choose the VSG hands down. Also, my quality of life is MUCH better with the VSG then it was with the band, and I really didn't have that many issues with my band ****il the major complications started). Courtney - Lap band to VSG revision  |
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 Vancouver, WA Member Since: 05/14/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/4/12 5:29 pm I wouldn't have the band again if they gave it to me for free! Mine has done nothing for my weight loss and what little I did lose was my own hard work! The band never did anything to dull my hunger and I was never able to get a good restriction, always either too tight or too loose. Get the VSG and avoid all the nonsense with the band! Join us at www.obesityhelp.com/forums/christianity for fellowship and support!  Be sure to bookmark us so you can visit often! |
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 TX Member Since: 03/17/09 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/5/12 9:56 am I'm almost 3 years out from banding and have had no severe complications, yet. Will I have any? Yet to be seen. I Love that the band has helped me to lose so much. Note I don't say the band did the work.. I did the work, the band was only an assistent. If I had to make the choice today between banding and sleeve, it would be very difficult. Yes, the band is a foreign object in my body, etc. etc. But on the other hand, I'm very resistent to having body parts removed (2/3 of my stomach gone? yikes). This is a PERSONAL quirk of mine.. not saying the VSG isn't a good choice for many people. Keep on researching and choose what fits you and your lifestyle the best. Congrats on making steps to a healthier life. Lisa "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Reinhold Niebuhr   |
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Member Since: 12/03/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/5/12 10:32 am Hey there: I agree you should be the only one to make your choice. I currently have the band for about another 48hrs. I am having the band removed on tuesday. I'm then having the hiatal hernia the band created fixed as well as the VSG done all in the same surgery. My surgeon's office have since changed their tune on the band. At 1st in 07 it was less invasive & reversible. Well new studies have proven that it isn't less invasive due to the long term effect it has on the body. Also it really depends on it there is a lot of damage if it is then it is more removable than reversible because of the damage. Then if there is little to no damage it is reversible because no removable of any body parts and no re-routing of the intestines. But I had my for 4 years and didn't start having major issues until November 2011. The port pain was constant though. The left shoulder pain hasn't stopped. The heartburn I suffer from kills that started in Nov 2011. That was my warning light when the heart burn started. Then I went to get a fill because being a good lapbander thought becuase I had no restriction that is what I needed. Well doctor pulled out 9.7cc out of my 10cc band. So I should of had restriction. Plus he checked no stretching of the esophagus or anything. Any way some days the thing was so tight I coudln't get liquids down and others so lose I could actually eat the healthy protein and raw vegetables without pb'ing or throwing up. Oh yeah forgot to mention the wonderful night coughs no matter when I ate before bed there were nights waking up with choking pretty much. Now I am not telling you this because I am trying to convince you either way. I just want you to know that there are pros and cons with the band, like any surgery. I just come to the conclusion why keep it in and continue damaging my insides if it isn't working. I didn't fail the band the band failed me. It actually took me a while to realize this too because there are so many that will preach or fuss at you saying you made the bad choices. I tried everytime to eat protein 1st but with the band that wasn't always possible. But it is what it is. I cannot wait to be pain free with this band out. Also the fills that is another to consider. The 1st few months depends on your surgeon but you may have to go to get 3-6 because some will only put in .5cc-1cc at a time. And if you are not a fan of needles then this would'nt be a good idea either. The fills do hurt they say like a bee sting but I wouldn't want to get stung by a bee several times a year. Any way I will stop rambling and please keep us informed on what you choose :) |
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 AZ Member Since: 06/02/11 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/5/12 6:36 pm Fwiw nradnosky, that study is of surgeries done from 94 to 97 The surgery is done differently now and there is a much greater understanding of the band and how to use it more safely in 2012. Not saying that there are no complications, nor am I telling you what to do for yourself. Just sayin that there may not be the same outcomes when 2012 surgeries are done. Doc "Future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!"   highest weight : 428 Banded 11/3/2011 surgery weight : 386 |
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 Member Since: 05/04/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/6/12 4:57 am Just like someone else said, I too wouldn't get the band again if it was free. And contrary to what some people think, it's not just because I didn't want to do any work. I worked my butt off, lost all my weight, kept my band just tight enough to get "restriction" and still had problems. Just do your research. I don't answer posts like this because I'm "bitter", I do it to try and save people from going through what I (and MANY MANY others) went through. Here are some boards to take a look at. Another good thing to do is to just read the title's of the threads in the lapband group vs the vsg group. It's night and day. Good luck! http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/ http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/199537600106847/ http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/ http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/ Getting revised from band to sleeve on June 6th, 2012!  |
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 Member Since: 12/07/04 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/8/12 9:31 pm I had a band and it didn't work for me at all, lots of complications, very little weight loss.I was really trying, felt like a failure. Converted to vsg just over a year ago, now I'm almost at goal. I feel great, almost no hunger. The recovery was no worse than the band either. Look into the vsg! But with any procedure you have to be willing to do your part to lose and keep off the weight. the surgery is only part of it, you will have to use it as a tool, and work with it. Good luck whatever you choose!    |
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 Member Since: 10/28/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 2/9/12 8:55 pm I had the band, and now am paying for a revision. I now have insurance but there is a One WLS per Lifetime thing in there. They didn't even pay for the first one. Do your research. If I had, I would have gotten the sleeve the first time around. Some times dingle berries are the lowest hanging fruit. |
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