Ambivalent feeings about bypass v band.

[Tyraboots]

So I'm on the milk diet at the moment.

My next appointment is the 16th October at the L&D.

The thing is, although I have been told that a bypass is my best option, I am feeling, daily, that it is a band that I want to have.

During this milk period, my birthday lapse aside (and it was a small poisonous portion!) I haven't had any feelings or desires to binge or eat sweet stuff at all.
Also, the short stay in hospital, plus the less invasive nature of the operation really appeals to me.

Would the surgeon I am yet to meet be sympathetic to my opinions? Is there anything I could say to sway my case?
Or do you think I should reconsider bypass?

Thank you

 

[thinkbethin]

There really is only YOU that can make the final decision sweetheart. When you go to your next appointment you have to speak with the consultant and be totally honest about your feelings. even though they have said the bypass would be your best option that is exactly what you have,an optionxxx

 

[zetacatty]

You really have to look at the bigger picture, too. Balanced against the shorter stay in hospital and quicker healing times you still have fills and aftercare to consider. The bypass operation is longer and more invasive but once its done, its done. You have to take it easy with food after both ops but with a band you must continue to eat tiny mouthfuls and chew for england whereas with a bypass, once you are eating solid food again, you eat more or less normally albeit small quantities. In the end, though, it's all down to your personal preferences. If a shorter stay in hospital means a huge amount to you then that is the way to go. Good luck with your decision, hun. Personally, I'd go with what the surgeon advises for you. He/she's the expert. Take care, Mxx

 

[claudia24]

hello, i was asking myself this very same question, when i was at my group assesment it was said that the bypass is best for some one my size, i tink i weigh the same as u, but i dont want a bypass i would much rather have the band personally, so that is what im gonna ask if i can have xx

 

[serenitylove]

when i went for consultation i was over 25 st and have an incredible sweet tooth for this reason i was strongly advised to have bypass but i didnt want it i understand why they thought it was best for me but i just couldnt handle having it so i had band and in first yr lost 7 st , this said its been hard i slip occasionally and have had a strong learning curve to go thru but it can be done , if you have good inner determination and your sure bypass is not for you then have the band but think long and hard about why you want one over other.

 

[elffie01]

i had an open bypass, I also had already decided that bypass was the way for me.
Reason being, I have no will power so band is no good, surgeon also confirmed that if you dont have willpower then you are more likely to fail with a band, not fail but more likely.
I knew that if I wanted something then i would try and have it so a band was out of the question for me. I know I have made the right choice.

You have to go with your own instincts, reasearch (im sure you have) and speak to your surgeon, he/she will be able to give you a qualified opinion, but at the end of the day its you that will have to live with which ever you decide.

 

[shell_1974]

i had an open bypass, I also had already decided that bypass was the way for me.
Reason being, I have no will power so band is no good, surgeon also confirmed that if you dont have willpower then you are more likely to fail with a band, not fail but more likely.
I knew that if I wanted something then i would try and have it so a band was out of the question for me. I know I have made the right choice.

You have to go with your own instincts, reasearch (im sure you have) and speak to your surgeon, he/she will be able to give you a qualified opinion, but at the end of the day its you that will have to live with which ever you decide.

Hi Ya.

Was wondering, was the open surgery the only choice you had, not keyhole?

Take Care. x

 

[elffie01]

Shell yeah my surgeon only does Open. Have to say I was miffed at first but you know when I thought about it, weighing up a scar to losing weight it kind of put it into perspective. If I had decided I wanted keyhole then I would have had to switch surgeon and goodness knows how long I would have to wait,. So I went for it, and Im glad I did

 

[Silversurfer]

So I'm on the milk diet at the moment.

My next appointment is the 16th October at the L&D.

The thing is, although I have been told that a bypass is my best option, I am feeling, daily, that it is a band that I want to have.

During this milk period, my birthday lapse aside (and it was a small poisonous portion!) I haven't had any feelings or desires to binge or eat sweet stuff at all.
Also, the short stay in hospital, plus the less invasive nature of the operation really appeals to me.

Would the surgeon I am yet to meet be sympathetic to my opinions? Is there anything I could say to sway my case?
Or do you think I should reconsider bypass?

Thank you

This is just my opinion - but at 340lbs (24 ish stone) with a BMI of around 50 the bypass really is your best bet ! - you will struggle to lose the amount of weight you need to lose with a band ! your consultant is right.

If it helps i started at 24.6 stone and i'm now nearly 14 months post bypass and have lost 11.6 stone of the 12 i want to lose ! - the bypass works and is in my opinion the easier of the two options.

 

[Silversurfer]

You really have to look at the bigger picture, too. Balanced against the shorter stay in hospital and quicker healing times you still have fills and aftercare to consider. The bypass operation is longer and more invasive but once its done, its done. You have to take it easy with food after both ops but with a band you must continue to eat tiny mouthfuls and chew for england whereas with a bypass, once you are eating solid food again, you eat more or less normally albeit small quantities. In the end, though, it's all down to your personal preferences. If a shorter stay in hospital means a huge amount to you then that is the way to go. Good luck with your decision, hun. Personally, I'd go with what the surgeon advises for you. He/she's the expert. Take care, Mxx

I totally agree with this - i can pretty much eat anything i want, eat out anywhere and its almost as if i'd never had the op done except for the fact i eat less, and the weight has fallen of me so fast !
If i eat out i can manage a main course provided i pick the right choice. I know with a band i'd have always been on a diet, always had to watch what i was eating, always had to maintain will power, and i would have failed because i like food far to much, and personally i couldn't be bothered with all the band fills and sodding about.

Be under no illusion the band is not the easier of the two options and i take my hat of to those that have succeeded with there bands, i wanted to lose my weight as quickly as possible and get on with my life, whatever you choose you have to live and work with, so make the right choice for you.

 

[katstofat]

i so agree wth silversurfer im having a bypass as i looked at the options before i saw surgon and decided on this as , if there was a way to chea i know i would cause ive no willpower , i could not stand the thought of keep having fills,and i belive i will loses the weight better with a bypass. this was my surgons oppinion too and as he as all the expereance i am going for it because it feels right. ..............kath x

 

[quetiapina]

I was pretty heavy for the band too but was definite that this is what I wanted. I'm v pleased so far but it does take effort and is slower than the by-pass I think. Good luck with your decision x

 

[Tyraboots]

I've been so involved in starting the journey. Jumping the hurdles, meeting the criteria, just thinking from appointment to appointment, that I haven't looked thoroughly into it. I am 100% that the surgery is for me, totally, no doubt. I've scared myself by reading womens magazines where there are deaths etc. The band seems a less major operation. I just suppose I'm having wedding night jitters so to speak. My logical brain, the one that usually does the research etc, and appreciates and understands your posts says bypass is the way to go. \but the other part of me says, 'get in and out of the hospital quickly without anything too invasive.

 

[thinkbethin]

As I said in my previous post you do have an option. I'm not just saying this because I'm a bander I'm saying this because you don't need the stress of doubts before you go in there for your op.Research as much as you can,speak to the bypass's on here and the banders. Either way you are going to have an operation. Be it 1 day in hospital or 4 days you still have to go under aneasthetic which is the biggest risk of all.Good luck on making a decisionx

 

[Cuppacocoa]

Hi Tyraboots,

If you are having your op at the L&D, then I am assuming your surgeon will be either Mr Whitelaw or Mr Jain, or both as they tend to work together. They also operate at the Spire in Harpenden which is where I am having my surgery.

I met with Mr Whitelaw three weeks ago and discussed all my options with him. Having already researched it I had decided the bypass was my preferred option as the the failure rate seemed lower and as I have a sweet tooth and no willpower this seemed right for me.

This was confirmed when I met Mr Whitelaw. He said 95% of the ops he performs on the NHS are bypasses, and a number of these are band corrections where people have failed to lose weight or sustain it with the band and are now going on to have the bypass. He also spoke of the gastric sleeve which works in the same way as the band but without the need for fills etc. I spent over an hour talking with him about it all.

He will give you all the info you need and will probably recommend the bypass but ultimately I think the final decision will be down to you.

I am happy with my choice and know the bypass is right for me. I certainly wouldn't knock anyone choosing the band though, if it works for them then that's fantastic, afterall we're all aiming for the same outcome!

Good luck with everything,
Cuppacocoa xx :cross:

 

[shell_1974]

Shell yeah my surgeon only does Open. Have to say I was miffed at first but you know when I thought about it, weighing up a scar to losing weight it kind of put it into perspective. If I had decided I wanted keyhole then I would have had to switch surgeon and goodness knows how long I would have to wait,. So I went for it, and Im glad I did

Like you say, when u weigh it up, its either open surgery with a small scar, or having to wait till god knows when!!
I'd of done the same thing.
Hope everything goes well.
Take Care. x