Another Newbie

Just another thought, my GP referred me for the band, the surgeon offered to do the sleeve. The way he explained it to me was that as a compulsive eater with the band I could still eat 2 L of chocolate icecream, but now I physically can't eat that. I can have a small amount but no where near what I could before. I can eat whatever I want, but just not the amount I could.

A good idea is to try and get to a seminar. My surgeon does combined info sessions for the band and the sleeve. I was a 'speaker' for my surgeon at one info session and handed around some before and afters, that was about 10kg ago. Some of the members here were there and said it was great to see someone who'd been there and done that.

Its amazing post sleeve how little you can survive on, we are just programmed to eat whats on our plate, wether we need it or not.

Well I just got back from my surgeons and he said the band has roughly a 10%complication rate ( alot higher than the band company state and 10 times higher than the sleeve) and its a lifetime possibility of complications. Basically as long as you have it you can get complications. With the sleeve, once you make it past the first few weeks without a leak then you are home and hosed. Very rare for any complicatrions after that.
Weight loss is better for the sleeve.
Only 50% of bad patients lose 50% of their excess weight which means 50% dont lose half what they need to.
Sleeve is much better weight loss wise.
Seriously, its a no brainer.

Kerensa,

JUST SAY NO TO THE BAND!!!
Another ex-bander here,Nothing but dramas..Not that I want to tell you what to do ,but DONT DO IT.
The sleeve is much better,and if your GP wont give you a referral,find a new GP.

All The Best,
Sharon

Hi Kerensa,

I'm a newbie too. I've had a band for many years and its horrible - having it removed soon, thank heavens! Like the others are saying it makes it very difficult to get adequate nutrition. I can't eat meat at all (which doesn't bother me) only a little fish now and then. Raw food is nearly impossible, even when grated - so that counts out most fruit, veg and salad, as are all forms of unprocessed food - so makes health eating a constant struggle. There are days when the band acts like a nasty toll gate keeper and nothing goes past not even liquid. Sugar cravings (way to easy to give into with a band!) Heartburn, ulcers, poor nutrition, poor digestion, hair loss, fatigue and a cascade of unwanted changes in your whole body chemistry follow. Its high maintenance and constantly causing one discomfort or another. Maintaing weight loss long term with banding is also not a very happy looking statistic.

Trust that helps your decision making. All the best with you wls journey!

Cheers

FreedomBe

Hi Kerensa,
I am with the others. I never went the band because it was just not logical and in my opinion it is dangerous. With the sleeve you can eat anything and so having a healthy diet is possible. Love the sleeve.

Cheers Gail

Hello and welcome to the site Kerensa.

Ditto on what the others have said, DON'T GO THE BAND. I learnt how to cheat it very early on and put weight on instead of losing it.

I hope whoever your referred to does Sleeves.

Everybody I know who has had the band has had issues with getting food down comfortably, and I don't hear those sort of problems with sleevers. Maybe I am bias, but I'd never ever have a band done.

The other thing is you can cheat the band alot more easily than you can cheat the sleeve.
So if you are an emotional eater , which most of us lardbutts are, then think hard and fast about whether you are the sort who can rationalise the food decisions they make.
Additionally eating raw fruit and vege is often a problem with the band and meats have to moistened with gravies and sauces etc otherwise they can get stuck. Now ask yourself this, is this a healthy diet even if you are losing weight?
To me the decision is a no brainer.
Sometimes you just have to tell your GP the facts because they get propaganda'd to death by the makers of the band. Hell, there was a company rep for the band at my info seminar on the sleev!!! Still havent figured that one out.

Kylie thanks for that..I can use that in my bid for my sleeve YAY

Ummm has your Gp read about all the strangulations and slippages etc.
I would say its the Band that is too dangerous and my GP refuses to referr anyone for the band now because of the complications from that.

Ok vent over. Lol

Welcome to the site Kerensa. Am sure you'll make the decision that is best for you.

Hey Lib!!!

I want to go the sleeve but my GP reckons its too "dangerous".
Im hoping to get it done here in Lismore at St Vincent Hospital. The doctor is Dr Laurent Layani. Im on the count down to May for the referral first.

I showed DH and my brother, your before and after photos on your blog. Both were amazed and DH is counting down with me to know so THANK YOU

Hi Kerensa, I highly recommend the sleeve over the band, but you know that! Have you got a surgeon yet? Where are you going to have the surgery?

hi im Kerensa. Im looking to get gastric banded or sleeved later this year. My PHI 12moth wait finishes on the 27th of October so Im looking forward to that date to say the least!!! My GP was been good and has said that she will assist me in what ever need to be done to get it. GP said that around May she will give me a referral to the local specialist for it.YAY