Question:
Can anyone help me in choosing between gastric banding and other procedure?
The one surgeon I have consulted is committed to gastric stapling with jejunostomy. Choosing a surgeon seems equivalent to choosing a procedure in advance of the consultation. How can I locate a surgeon to consult who has personal experience with gastric banding as well as more traditional alternatives? Can anyone help me from their own research or experience on the subject of gastric banding? — Kerrin Leon W. (posted on July 15, 2001)
July 15, 2001
What do YOU want? After reading all the info on this site I chose the RNY.
Why? I was addicted to sweets/carbs & from what I read, the RNY would
make one sick if I ate too much sugar or fat ... just what I wanted since I
had no control myself. I was getting fatter by the minute. Dr. Ferrari
(NeWeigh Clinic in Houston) also said that would be best for me. I no
longer have GERD or snore/sleep apnea. I am 6 mos. post op and have lost 75
lbs. Good luck on your decision!
— Betty Todd
July 15, 2001
I researched all three main surgeries, RNY, Gastric Banding and D/s. All
three have pros and cons of course. I like the idea of the gastric banding
because absorption is normal (no vitamin or calcium or b12 problems) and
the intestines are left alone. I figure the more internal stuff left alone
the less problems in the long run. I liked the d/s because the weight loss
rate is higher, faster, and I would get to eat more food, including sweets.
The rny is good because it's a compromise between the two.. which I will
get to in just a second.
The cons for the gastric banding were, for me, there is only a 50 percent
success rate in the us, with a 60 percent rate in europe, and higher regain
potential. (for reference see www.oregoncenter.com/article1.html ) I felt
with no malabsorption, and no dumping potenetial, it would be to easy to
*trick* the surgery. In other words, I'd be sucking down milkshakes all day
and get in way to many calories despite the tummy restrictions. Yes, losing
weight with the gastric banding will occur, especially at first, from the
volume of food reduction, but I don't feel this is a good surgery for
either a sweet/fat oholic (like me) or a compulsive overeater (like me) too
easy to get in the high calorie empty nutrition food. Since you didn't ask
about the d/s I won't go into why I didn't choose it. The rny has a proven
higher success rate of loss (75 to 80 percent of excess weight, though I've
certainly seen higher with people who come here) and less chance of regain.
With the fear of dumping I would be eating more nutritious foods and
leaving the milkshakes alone. I am not in any way doing the my surgery is
better than yours chant (I'm preop and waiting for a date anyway) I'm only
giving you my reasons for choosing rny. Whichever you choose, it will only
work as good as you are willing to work it. All have advantages and
disadvantages, it really boils down to what you are most comfortable with.
And research! Don't believe my opinion or anyone else's as the ultimate
last word lol! use a search engine and put in weight loss surgery and go to
the sites and read for yourself what people say, what the sucess rate is
etc:)
good luck!
— Becky K.
July 16, 2001
I would suggest going to the free Orientations held by the surgeons in your
area. I learned alot from listening to them. Each of the surgeon's
explained his reasons for the surgery he preferred and answered questions
from the audience. I thought it gave me a good comparison of the surgeries
and the methods (lap vs. open). Actually, with my insurance, it all turned
out to be unneccesary, as they only contract with one surgeon for wls and
he does the open rny. Lucky for me, he was one of the ones I had heard
speak and was my first choice!
— Anne G.
February 19, 2003
I had the lap band done 11-01. As a RN I felt that this was good for me. I
had lost 80 punds and I can tell you the first 5 months were a breeze.
Well things started going wrong. I threw up so many times (a few times as
much as 50 in one day) but at least 5 times with anything that was not
liquid. I was hospitalized in ER and spent overnight in the hospital, last
month. They tested me for everything. (bowel obstruction, hearniation,
ect.) Thanks God it was discoved that I had too much restriction (again). I
have had 10 adjustments since surgery. This doctor in Portland, Oregon
could not get the adjustment correct for me, or my body just started
turning against the band. Who knows. I am being converted to a DS (vrs.
RNY) due to the problems with the band. I am angry that I am having to go
thru 2 procedures in 16 months. Please really think hard about your
decision. I have gained 30 pounds back. And I am still throwing up. I am
getting that band out in a few weeks. The band is not for eveybody. And
the studies are saying that more and more people are having to be
re-converted to another surgery. I read on Google last night 25% of gastric
banded patients are having them removed in the United states. And it has
only been approved for about 2 years. Good luck with your decision.
— Stephanie D.
February 19, 2003
I was absolutely sure I was going to get the LapBand (not traditional
gastroplasty or stapling, but the same concept) when I started this
journey. In fact, I was almost against the RNY and DS because of the
malabsorptive qualities. However, after 4 consults with my surgeon and
further research, I have decided to go with RNY.
<br>
My insurance would have approved the Band for me if I could get my surgeon
to say it was medically superior for my situation than any other method of
WLS. However, NO SURGEON would say that the Band was better. That put a
red flag up for me. Even though I knew all the risks and the studies, I
kept thinking that I would "beat the stats" and be the one who
DID lose all the weight. But I had to face reality...wake up and really
look at my problems with food. I am a sweets and fat eater. I know I
would have found a way to sabotage or "trick" the band to eat the
yummy stuff. I have recently come to realize that my situation is drastic
and I need a permanent, proven method to lose this weight. Gastric banding
will not do it for me.
<br>
I have a friend who is going to get the Band and I support him wholly. I
hope his works.
— toolio
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