Lap Band Fail but will VSG be any better??

Hi,
10 more days Kazz ... I wish my was 10 days! Good luck to you. I hope you are doing well with your Optifast, I start mine on the 20th January. Tara, I had one week off work. I had my surgery on a Monday and returned to work the following Monday, but i did return to work with my staples in. They were removed on the Wednesday (10 days) so I guess it depends on your job.
Good luck to you Peter with your sleeve, I am having mine done on the 4th Feb and my health is definately the main factor, but I have to say I hate being so big, so vanity is playing a part in my decision as well.

My surgeon told me the other day that he had a gentleman that was 215 kilos and he weighed the gentleman 12 months later (Post sleeve) and he is now 98 kilos... and now needs his excess skin removed. What an accomplishment for that guy.

Sounds like an exciting year for everyone.

Ah yes, very good point, Kaz mentioned 3days .... but how long does everyone take off work after band removal ???

I figured 2 weeks like putting it in but less would be AWESOME !!!

Hi Everyone

Ditto to most of the comments about the band. I had my band done in March 2009 lost approx 25 kilos then put 12kg back on then went to weight watchers lost 19kg so a total of 32kg then stopped and had put 15 back on between March and November 2012. Decided to get sleeved so had my band out 5th Nov, very easy no problems only a bit of shoulder pain and was back to normal in 3 days. No one knew I had even been in hospital. I am now getting excited as I will be sleeved 14Th Jan...... 10 more days. Was 103Kg on the 5th Nov started Opti 1st Jan and was 108.1 so 5kgs in 2 months AHHHHH. But hoping to be back to 103kg by sleeved date. Very nervous but thanks to this site feel very confident about my decision.

Kazz B

Hello All

I have read all of your posts and share many of the same concerns. Initially, I was all for the band, that was what I thought would be best for me, nothing too extreme. However, I am to be sleeved on the 1st Feb. I have not entered into this decision lightly. I hope that everyone makes a decision that is right for them. A decision that they are comfortable with in consultation with their specialist, GP and loved ones. For me this is not a quick fix for vanity sake, but a decision based on what is best for me and my long term health. As my surgeon stated to me, there are variables we can control and being well informed and pro-active is one of them, but to sit on my hands and let my state of health disintegrate would be my choice and this ultimatley will have some effect on me at some stage in my life. To me what do I have to lose? Weight. What do I have to gain? My health and my life.

Good luck to you all.

Peter

very exciting...your sleeve coming up soon.

Yep only 4 sleeps to go till my band is out. I'm sure it'll go well, i recovered well after it went in...too fast in my opinion. lol Can't wait.

I had my begging shoes on today. I will be 1 week short of my 3 month wait! I am having the sleeve done on that date. You are getting your band out next week arn't you ????

Tara where are you getting your band out?? It is a great feeling to have it out, although scary. My surgery was easy and fine as I know yours will be too..

My surgeon seems to be happier with the sleeve but likes to give people the option as it is obviously a permanent option.

Please let me know how you both go with you band removals.

That's great news! Like Tara says, is it band out or sleeve in on Feb 4th? Either way it will be great day :) Congrats! So his lapband/sleeve rate is about 50%? I wonder who, out of these patients has the most success. I would think the sleeve ones but i could be wrong.

Tara, feb 12. That's close. YOur sleeve is in April isn't it? I can't remember the date. My doc is pretty strict so i reckon it will be the full 3 months in between and then some... i hope he doesn't drag it out for four or more months though...i will have my begging shoes on. lol

debs

2nd time round,
Are you having your band out on Feb 4th ? or being Sleeved ??
(My band comes out on Feb 12th is why I ask)

Tara

I am not sure about Tricare and Insurances. Where are you from? I do not have to pay any additional fee for having my sleeve, as I believe most in Australia, Maybe I am wrong???? Wow, you have had some bad luck, look at the after sleevers forum, it will give you more confidence.

Dooben, I have a date!! I was so nervous about my appointment, even thinking I hope my surgeon is not sick today or my car breaks down and I can not go!! Crazy! I explained to him how crap I feel and that I will not go out. I am booked for the 4th February.. I am going on holidays for 10 days before this so I will need to do the OPTIFAST diet while I am away, that will be extra hard, but I don't care as long I am at my healthiest before the surgery.
I asked my surgeon if he was doing a lot of Lapbands still and he said about 50%, if patients BMI is over 44 he gives them the option. I told my husband today was the most exciting appointment for me, he dosent get it. I guess i can not expect him too, he does not have the problem.
i hope you are going well

I had the band placed in Nov 2008 and lost about 20-30 lbs. and then regained it due to inactivity. I broke my right femur in 7 places, had a right knee replacement, a right hip replacement and two back surgeries. So it has been a monumental struggle for me. If I am ever going to get off this walker and lead a normal life without 02 I really need to get this weight off once and for all. Tricare is fighting me about surgery even though they did not pay for the lap band, has anyone had struggles with them?

Also, I am very nervous about having 80% of my stomach removed with the sleeve keeping in mind there is no turning back. How has everyone dealt with this? Please, people, words of encouragement?!!?!??? FYI I am 60 years old.

Hi, no i don't have any restriction. That's been a main part of the problem with me...no restriction...well restriction of good foods...

I never felt full on small amounts though like you're supposed to. I only ever felt pain, and i would get that on the first mouthful often so its not like i ate past my 'full' point very often. I would just vomit up the good food and then eat crap because it would go down. And when it was looser i didn't have any kind of restriction, i could eat a normal size dinner and have desert if i wanted it...no restriction...then i'd have a smidge put in and the vometing would start again. I just got so sick of it. So yeah, now its like not even having a band. I can't wait for my sleeve.

I won't go out either. I'll go to things with my partner or my family but not in a group of people, i'm sick of being the fat one who looks like a mess in baggy clothes etc... am just too embarressed most of the time.

I can totally understand when you say that you are sick of food always being an issue in your life. I wake up every day and my 1st thought is about how overweight I am. I stayed home last night even though I was invited out because I knew people would be looking at me. From what I have read from people who have had the sleeve done that are all happy with it and I think we both have a much better chance with the sleeve rather than the band. I am seeing my surgeon on Thursday for my date in Feb. I just want it here, like you want April to be here. I know you have had the fluid taken out of your band, but do you still have a bit of restriction ? I know when I had all my fluid taken out I still had a bit of restriction, but when it was taken out, I could eat normal food and big amounts straight away. Good luck for next Tuesday having your band out, it is the first step.
I am having my surgery in VIC in Wantirna.

I feel the same about the band...really disapointed. I feel like it sold as being much more successful than it actually is.

I do worry that this surgery might turn out like the band...i might fail etc... but i'm at the point where i don't care. I'd rather try and fail then not try at all. I know that as the years go on my weight will creep up because thats what it does. I too wish (thin) people around me would understand. They never will, not until they've been fat and look back will they understand. I'm sick of having the weight debate with my think partner, i will never win it. The way i feel i would be happy to not eat ever again...i'm sick and tired of food being an issue in my life. The sleeve is the closest i can probably get to getting a handle on this addiciton and i can't wait. Come on April! lol

I'll be having my surgery in Port Macquarie NSW. Where will you be having yours?

I do agree that this surgery is extreme and I am scared about having it, but I know from my personal experience that just the extra 15 kilos I am carrying now is affecting my health. I find it harder to move and I am more breathless than before. Although I have a joke about wearing spanks etc, the way I look is only a part of many reasons why I am having this sleeve done. I am 15 kilos up now but that will only get worse in time. I wish so much that I had control over my eating and I know it is very hard for people who don't have this problem to understand, even my family find it difficult to understand. My husband does not have a weight problem, but he is trying to understand my situation. As you RaniL I am so happy at the moment that I am not vomiting and I am enjoying going out and not worrying about where the bathroom is and i am loving eating vegies and salads. All my vomiting from the band caused me to have an ulcer and a dilated oesphagus!
I definatley think that the sleeve surgery can only be considered if you fully understand the life that you will lead post op and are going to comply with your new stomach size. This is why this forum is so great, because you can see and read about other people's experience. I am although very disappointed about the way I was told the Band worked.. It was not what I thought. Good luck to you, it is a big decision and I hope all goes well for you.

The bypass seems extreme to me - actually having the majority of my stomach seems extreme too and a little part of me says its all for vanity and why risk my life. I think as an overweight person I have been conditioned to believe I don't deserve to have WLS.

The band has been hopeless..i have read that they are not using the overseas as much anymore.
Apart from no weight loss (except when I have vomited repeatedly and given myself oesophagi tis and ulcers -it has been a pain in the butt.

I would absolutely allow 3 months for my stomach to re heal prior to VSG.

I did have my band undone for about 3 months recently and although i have whacked on 10kg everything about me is healthier - no more pimples, clearer skin - all because I was eating veges and healthy foods.

Oh my gosh you sound like me.. I do not want to buy new clothes but mine are extremely tight so I have no option. I just went to Kmart and brought $5.00 T Shirts. I am certainly no glamour at the moment but I will only be wearing them for 3 months!! I also got a spray tan because I thought this would make me look skinnier for Christmas. OMG, I must be going mad! I also brought the tightest spanks possible for when I go out, and they just plain and simply hurt..
Thank you for the information on why a gap of 3 months is required that does make sense. Now all we need to do is wait. I think the thing I find the worst is the people at work for instance who look at me and I know they are thinking "What on earth happened to her" but come next year we will both be able to feel comfortable and even happy within ourselves. Bring on 2013
Which hospital are you going to??

Thanks 2ndtimearound. Yeah i didn't want to tell my doc either about the problems i was having as i was afraid he would take it out. Silly really as i also worry if i've done damage other than my teeth.

I've heard of people having the band out and sleeve done in one op. This is not the norm though as the stomach takes about three months apparently to flatten out again after being squished up in the band. If they do the surgery in one go the stomach is all puckered and you can get not as good a result...leaking is more common and somtimes people need re-sleeving down the track as the stomach was not in the best condition when the original op was performed. These are the things i've heard...i have no first hand experience though.

I'm hoping i can get sleeved in april sometime...seems far away but i know it will go quickly. Hopefully next year will be good years for us :) I need some new clothes but i'm so disgusted in myself i don't want to spend money...how stupid is that. lol I hate how so much of my self esteem is tied up in my weight.

I can't wait until the 8th when the band is out...i'll feel like my journey will have started :)

debs

Hi Deb,
I too had my band loosened before it was removed and started to gain weight then. I guess all I can say is although I am feeling disgusting at the moment as i have gained weight post my band removal, It is better than vomiting after every meal and only eating bad food which made me feel lethargic and unhealthy.. My quality of life is certainly better in many ways. I also know that I will have my sleeve done is Feb which is helping me get through.
Having the band removed was an easy process for me, I had shoulder tip pain but was back at work within 1 week. The morning after in hospital I had 2 weetbix, a yoghurt, coffee and and orange juice and kept it all down. It was such a new experience for me, after 6 years with a band.
I also agree with you that lapbands do not work long term and wonder why Surgeons are still promoting them as they do. I wonder if I have caused any damage to my heart from vomiting for so many years, which I do believe would be my own fault as I did not want to tell the surgeon that I was vomiting so much in case he took my band out!! I learnt the hard way
I am looking forward to next Thursday to see my Surgeon and get my official date to have my sleeve done. I was reading on this site about some people going straight from band removal to having a sleeve done and wonder why we have to wait a whole 3 months between surgeries. I think about having my surgery every single day. I hope your band removal goes well as i am sure it will

There are a lot of people on here who have bands or had bands and have gone over to the sleeved side :) I am one of them...i'm getting my band out on the 8th of January and i can't wait. I've had my band for about two and half years and lost about 20 kg all up (but half of that was on optifast at the beginning.) I too had restriction problems. I could never find the sweet spot...too loose and it would be like not having a band in, and when it was tight enough to where it did restrict me it only restricted the good food...bad food was as easy to get in as ever. I also did a lot of vometing and decided to get the band out when i also had trouble with my teeth...the enamel wearing away from vomiting, plus i was gaining weight from all the crap as i couldn't eat healthily. I just want it gone.

Like 2ndtimearound i am really worried about the regain between getting the band out and the three months before the sleeve gets done. I had my band loosened about two months ago and i have put on about 7 kilos so far and feel terrible and ashamed. I can't imagine what i'll be like after three months....probably back to where i started with the band :( But at the rate i am going, even if i keep the band i will be back to where i started and then some. I know the only other option (as my will power is crap) is get the sleeve. I too would not want the by-pass and if they said they could only do that i think i would just stay fat. lol It just seems to radical for me, though i know others have had great success with it.

I can't wait until my band is out the sleeve is done. I think bands are the worst things ever and believe they only work for a handful of people (and even then i think those people are mostly using willpower.) I'm sure there are so great surgeons in tassie. I think there is a surgeon bit on this forum actually. If the band is not working for you i definitely think you should get it out...i know i can't wait until mine is gone! lol

debs

Hi RaniL and btgirl,
I had my band removed 2 months ago as I could not eat any healthy food eg Salads, vegies etc I would just vomit it up but as RaniL said i could also eat chips, biscuits, mashed potato and it would stay down. I had my band in for 6 years and vomited for approx 4 of it. I could never find that right level of fluid. Every time I was out for dinner or at a friends house I would make sure I knew where the bathroom was, excusing myself and making excuses why i had to leave the table for a minute. It was a horrible way to live. I was so afraid to have the band out as I was afraid of gaining weight again and going back to the same person I was before I had the band.
In the end I had problems with my teeth from vomiting and I made the decision to have the band removed. I told myself that when it was removed i would only eat salad and healthy foods, because I actually missed salad so much I am so happy I have the band removed, I love eating salad sandwiches all the time. The only trouble is I am back to my old habits of overeating and feeling hungry all the time. I feel disgusting as I have now put on approx 10 kilos in 2 months. I know I will always have a problem controlling my weight so I am having a sleeve done in Feb. This can not come fast enough for me. It has come to a point now where I shop away from my local area so none will see me.. I want my self confidence back. Good luck to you both.

Hi RaniL,
I too have a band and just waiting for a date to have it removed. I am then thinking of the sleeve, or if the band has done too much damage then maybe the bypass. It is hard to be positive when we have tried so many things in the past,buy reading ever ones stories and advise keeps you positive and motivated. Why are you against bypass, just curious.
Btgirl

I was initially banded in 2001 with a BMI of 31 and lost around 10kg only at first ( I Had been much heavier in the past and have asthma so was considered a candidate even though my BMI was on the lower side). Since that time I have never hit a sweet spot...I was rebanded again with a newer type in 2011 and have not lost any weight since (in fact have put on around 10kg). When it is firm enough I have severe reflux and vomiting in my sleep. I can't eat anything healthy without vomiting. So, of course the only food that goes down is rubbish (biscuits, ice-cream).

My 'will power' is poor and I wonder if the VSG will be another failure. I am a volume eater when I have no restriction. If I was able to keep healthy food down I don't think I would resort to eating crap all the time and would become full (hard to get full on chocolate with a lap band).

I am an RN and am actually not scared of surgery but am really scared of VSG - it seems like major surgery.

My BMI now is 33 and heading upward. I don't want to be thin or even very slim i just don't want to keep stacking on weight.

I also live in Tassie and wonder if it is worth going to NSW for a consult. I would NEVER consider a bypass.


Any suggestions/ideas..