Question:
Which surgery is better for a carb junkie?
And I am having such a hard time deciding what I want Lapband or Bypass. I have about 120-140 pounds to lose and I was all ready for Lapband, beacause it is less avassive and quicker recovery time, but I am hearing alot about people still being hungry, even with mulitple fills. This really concerns me. I know that with lapband you lose weight slower and maybe not as much, but my fear is that I will be months into the program and lose only a few pounds. I do know that what you eat and exercise is also important and I do like to walk etc. . I don't think I am a huge eater, but I eat alot of the wrong things mainly to many carbs. I crave them. My problem isn't quantity but quality. I also have MS so I do take alot of vitamins and suppliments so thats not a problem for me. Does anyone have any idea which surgery they think I would benefit from more? any feedback is appreciated. chrissy — chrissyinct (posted on August 22, 2008)
August 22, 2008
Hands-down, Gastric Bypass is the best surgery for people addicted to
carbs/sweets/sugars. Gastric Bypass is a powerful tool to use to prevent
yourself from eating carbs/sugars. Lap-Band is better for people who don't
have an addiction to carbs/sugars. "Meat & potatoes" kinda
people do well with Lap-Band. People who love Cake, pie, ice cream,
chocolate, Cocoa-Cola, Donuts, breads, pasta, mashed potatoes, do better
with Gastric Bypass. Lap Band restricts quantity of food. Gastric Bypass
restricts quantity of food, plus it makes you feel sick if you try to
snarf-down too many carbs/sugars (this is a good thing, it is a tool for
carb addicts to stop themselves from eating carbs/sugars), Gastric Bypass
also has "malabsorption" meaning it causes the body to not absorb
all of the calories/fats eaten, plus Gastric Bypass reduces the production
of a hunger-causing hormone called Ghrelin. I was a MAJOR carb/sugar
addict, and had a procedure back in 1995 called stomach stapling. It is
similar to Lap Band in the way that it restricts quantity eaten, but I
could still drink milk shakes, eat ice cream, drink countless Pepsi, eat
cheese cake, and chocolates because these foods just slid right on through
as they were soft, and the surgery did NOT cause me to feel sick if I ate
them.... so, the surgery did not work well for me at all! I had a revision
over to Gastric Bypass and it has saved me!!!!!! I now can NOT eat the
carbs and sugars, so Gastric Bypass has allowed me to OVERCOME my addiction
to carbs/sugars. I NEEDED that tool to help me, I couldn't do it on my own,
I had tried a million times!!!!!!! If you have a real problem with
carbs/sugars you need Gastric Bypass. If you don't, then Lap Band is a
great option.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/17/60minutes/main4023451.shtml
— Gina S.
August 22, 2008
Copy & paste the following link; it has a 12 minute video from the TV
show "60 Minutes" about the benefits of Gastric Bypass surgery.
It is an excellent video.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/17/60minutes/main4023451.shtml
— Gina S.
August 22, 2008
Just to let you know, the WLS you choose will still just be a tool, and WLS
is just a tool. If you prepare for life after WLS, keep a food, exercise,
and emotional journal, and conquer your food demons, you will be
successful. The surgery is not magical, even if you read and see people who
have been successful with WLS. It is a hard timely process which will be
something you will have to work with for the rest of your life.
— sor09
August 22, 2008
i have been in the medical field 30 yrs. i learned alot before surgery. it
is much safer and much less risks then lap band i dont recommend it to
anyone. to many problems can arise
— shadia616
August 22, 2008
I have to say, for me Bypass was the only way to go. I am 6 months out and
have lost 105 lbs so far. I hope to lose at least 20-40 more lbs. I believe
lap band limits how much you eat, if you follow the program, have your
fills done, and are more disciplined. Bypass limits not only how much you
eat but is a tool that makes you change what you eat. I know for a fact
that if not for the dumping risk i would not have lost a fraction of what I
have so far. It is not worth the pain to have the "bad" foods, so
I avoid things that I know are risky. Dee
— deehicks
August 22, 2008
I may not be very popular for saying this, but it needs to be said...... I
see many people here who are still eating tacos, pizza, sub way sandwiches,
honey, potatoes, breads, pastas and frozen TV dinners and seem to think it
is perfectly fine to do so.... I feel these people are slipping down a
slippery slope, right back to their old weight, and old habits. I hear them
justify their eating choices, make excuses, and say they only eat these
things "sometimes". I see people here who are only 2 or 3 or 4
weeks post surgery already eating solid foods like pizza. Why go through
the expense and time and pain of surgery only to go back to your old eating
habits?? I feel people who do that are lying to themselves.... I know what
it is to lie to yourself about what you're eating; I have been doing it for
the past 25 years. I'll be damed if I'm going to have gone through this
surgery and just screw it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will continue a simple
diet of tuna, chicken, low-fat cheeses, eggs, beans, and veggies, and to
those who want to continue to eat carbs and sugars and honey and pizza and
tacos and bagels - that's your business, but please don't tell the
"newbies" here on OH.com to do the same, or tell them it's
somehow "ok", or not "so bad", or tell them, "do I
eat this?, yes, should you, no"..... If you can not encourage people
to eat right and follow the rules, then I think you should refrain from
posting a reply to the questions in the Q&A section here. Thanks
— Gina S.
August 22, 2008
Gastric Bypass will not let you cheat, and it will require you to take
vitamin supliments the rest of your life. I love it however, because it
worked. I looked at the band, but I can tell you there are too many ways
to cheat and stay fat with the band.
— William (Bill) wmil
August 22, 2008
No matter what surgery you have it will not stop you from eating simple
carbs (the bad ones) ...That's something you have to stop yourself. RNY
helps in that some people are sensitive to sugar after RNY and
"dump". Some don't dump at all. Some people can never allow
sugar back into their lives AT ALL because they cannot control it and the
craving you get from carbs make you crave more...and you end up gaining
weight back from grazing. Others who've had surgery for years have learned
control and moderation. You might find it comforting to know that you will
eventually be able to eat like a regular small person after some time. But
the first few years you need to learn to eat right and healthy and without
sugar and simple carbs. Learning a new healthy way of life is made
"easy" with surgery as the tool...but after the weight loss
stops...it's not so easy anymore. You stop losing weight once your body
nears a normal BMI or it's own idea of what it wants to weigh....(And
that's if you followed the rules) Maintenance is hard work. You must say
"no" 8 times out of 10 to the simple carbs (some people have to
say "no" ALL the time and that's a personal choice) Exercise is
important. (Anything you can do to move and tone your muscles) If you
don't do anything...It shows. WLS is staying healthy too. You have to take
the RIGHT vitamins forever with RNY and DS...Not sure about Lapband...Each
wls has it's rules or flaws. You have research for yourself and decide
which one fits you. If you don't think you can control carbs....RNY won't
help you either if you don't stay away from them. The surgeon does not
operate on your head...Just your belly...Many become totally carb
phobic...But you must remember that it is calories that makes you gain
weight ultimately...and calories will put weight back on too. Sugar is
just empty calories...It's just best to stay away... You will have to eat
to live with healthy, lean protein, complex carbs and definitely sugar free
for the most part. It's not so hard with all the SF products out there.
WL is probably the hardest addiction to over come...because while other
additions you quit by stopping the drug...With WL, you have to still use
the drug (food) to survive...That in itself is the hardest thing to
do...even with any of the WLS's...If you are a die hard carb junkie and
don't think you can eat healthy most of the time, you might look into
DS...My insurance company won't cover it...But those folks eat carbs and
lot's of calories because they have severe malabsorption (That's how their
surgery works) They eat 2-3 times what an RNYer eats just to get nutrition
and calories. It wasn't a fit for me..although I thought about it, I
admit! But once you pick one and have it...You have to live with your
choice and the rules that come with YOUR surgery.
— .Anita R.
August 22, 2008
I wrode in on that same horse. I was all about lap-band until I went to
the seminar. I knew to get the results I wanted I needed RNY. I have been
a success so far. I don't think just restriction would have been enough
for me. I also didn't want a object in my body that had to be
"tweaked" or possibly removed. I wanted to have surgery and be
done with it. Also, the statistics of amounts of weight expected from each
proceedure had a play in which one I chose. I don't think I'd be satisfied
with the 40-60% loss of EXCESS fat. I needed/need more than that. I am
almost 9 months out and still very happy with the choice I made. But you
have to decide which is best for you. Study both extensively! Good luck
in your weight loss endeavors.
— lesleigh07
August 23, 2008
Hope you are taking a "liquid" vitamin / mineral supplement for
your MS. Pills will be problem with WLS. Go to www.TrySomeVemma.com High
in Vit D3, 1000 IU. Good for "energy" and hair loss.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 23, 2008
The ultimate decision is up to you. I started at 402# with a BMI of 71 and
had LapBand just over 2 years ago. I researched every type of WLS for
about a year going to different surgeons and seminars and talking to many
different people in many different support groups. Within 1 week of
surgery, I no longer had diabetes. Within 1 month, I no longer had
hypertension. I was and still am thrilled!!!!
I was a complete carb addict and am still am, I'm just "in
recovery" I guess. I decided when I had WLS that I was going to
change my life and never go back. I just know that I won't lose weight if
I don't follow the rules of eating and exercise every day. All WLSs are
just a tool and you have to do the emotional work to be successful. I have
lost 135# so far and have a ways to go, but I'm in this for the long haul.
I absolutely love my Band, but had realistic expectations with what it had
to offer. I don't see the things that other people see as a downside of
LapBand as a bad thing....
I LOVE the fact that it is adjustable. I just had gastroenteritis and had
to have all of the liquid taken out while I was sick. Next week I'll go
and have it put back in. To me, that is fantastic.
I LOVE the fact that I have to follow up frequently with my surgeon... it
helps me to be accountable knowing I'm going to have a date with the scales
and he is an amazing man to talk to. I love to sit and talk with the
others in the waiting room and continue to learn.
I LOVE the fact that I don't have dumping syndrome so that if I choose to
eat something sweet every now and then, I don't feel like I'm going to
die.
I DON'T look at my Band as a "foreign object" as I've seen it put
here before, I have nicknamed it "Oscar" as it has a round shape
as in the "O" and some days it is grouchy. I embrace my band as
a part of the new me. I would also say to those people who don't like
something inside that they have staples, sutures, mesh, etc.... all of
which are foreign objects so...?
I LOVE the fact that I am never hungry... if I eat chunky foods, 70%
protein and 30% veggies with each meal as per doctor order, I am never
hungry. As a matter of fact... I have forgotten to eat a few times. That
is crazy to me as I have never missed a meal in my life. Those who are
hungry are most likely not following the rules of eating and are not
exercising and drinking their water.
There are going to be successfull and non successfull people with every
type of WLS, you are just going to have to decide which is right for you.
I wish you the best of luck,
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLc
— DawnVic
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