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Band or Bypass?

Big an Bouncy

Big an Bouncy

New Member
My surgeon wants me to have a bypass but Im scared of such a drastic op.Im not worried about ops just had an extensive pelvic floor repair,been stitch from north to south and east to west!!!Got a smaller lady flower than when I was a teenager!
I suppose its a natural reaction,bit worried about leaks and blockages and if it went wrong my family would say they would rather have me fat but alive.Though my hip wont last much longer under the strain.!lol
 
Hello i had the same worry's but it was all worth it,i could not live the way i was any longer and my body could not cope any longer,so for me it was a easy choice good luck honey x x x x x sarah
 
I was heavier than you when I had my bypass and Im still here to tell the tale! The mortality statistics are apparently 1 in 100 and any post op complications will happen within the first 48 hours of surgery. After that its plain sailing. Because of my eating habits, a band would have been a waste of time so the bypass was the answer. I can honestly say that 3 months on, I am 100% confident I made the right decision, the weight is coming off, I feel and look better and whilst I have a long way to go, for the first time ever, I can see that it is achievable.

Your surgical team will run a multitude of tests before you get to the operating theatre to establish that you are in the best condition possible.

Hope that makes your decision a bit easier.
 
Surgery is surgery as far as I am concerned. I know that the bypass is a more extensive surgery than the band but you go under anesthetic for both, you are in hospital for both so for me the more invasive surgery was not my concern. Primarily what I thought about was how I wanted to live my life post-op. For me that is the real difference between band and bypass - Lifestyle. I knew that I needed a firm hand post-op to keep me on the path and I was not sure that the band would provide me with enough deterrent to make permenant changes. For some, the flexibility of the band is most important. This choice is so incredibly based in your head which option fits you best. I have seen people with very high BMIs opt for the band against the suggestions of their doctors because they knew deep down that the band was for them, and they have been very successful. You really have to do your homework and then let your instincts direct you. For me, I really never had a choice, my instincts screamed bypass and I listened much to my great happiness.

Sending you good wishes and support whichever way yor instincts lead you,
Nic;)
 
Thanks ladies,I have read a few books and researched the internet but its nice to have a real person to talk to!
 
im honest about the fact i couldnt face the seriousness of the bypass so i was banded i dont regret my choice in the slightess although due to my size and eating habbits bypass was the better option. go with your instincts as to what is right for you
 
serenitylove said:
im honest about the fact i couldnt face the seriousness of the bypass so i was banded i dont regret my choice in the slightess although due to my size and eating habbits bypass was the better option. go with your instincts as to what is right for you
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totally agree with this post! this was how i was and i also opted for a band, my surgeon was great and agreed with my choice and the reasons for my choice. i did also spend months back and forth with my decision, and i wont lie i often wish i had been brave enough for the bypass purly for the faster loss but its not all about the speed?!!
good luck making your decision x
 
I concour with everything said so far, (especially PG as i felt the same) like PG the seriousness of the op wasn't what worried me, i wanted a procedure that was permenant and i would find hard to both cheat and go back to old bad habbits, my dieting abilities are very limited so the bypass seemed like the better option, and nearly one year on i'm so glad i made that choice.
 
I know how you're feeling as my consultant recommended the sleeve first of all as I ruled out the band on the basis I was paying for this myself and could not risk any complications months down the line where I'd have to pay for it again.. (plus life is quite hectic and getting fills would be a right pain for me) I was scared of having the full bypass but once I got my head round the fact that I was having an op and I wanted to do everything I could to ensure success I changed my mind and went for the bypass. I have no regrets (only 2 weeks post op so it's early days) and feel comfortable in the thought that it is perm. I would just suggest you take the advice of your surgeon (be really honest with him about your eating habits) and then go with your gut instinct. Good Luck with whatever you decide x
 
Hard choice

My friend had her bypass now some 4yrs ago and it was very stressfull for her. She went into have her op on the saturday morning and went in on the friday afternoon. She met a lady there having the same OP in the communial area. Problem was she died from the OP that night. It made my friend think twice but she still went ahead with it as she had no choice for health was bad as it was.

i think its a personal choice, i was asked if i had considered it. I had considered it but reversal of the band is something i could have done with little issue, reversal of a bypass is a lot different.

I think a lot of it boils down to you. Do you think you can help yourself using the band? If you think you will cheat or just not bother the bypass is the better option as you have no choice.

With all WLS you have a risk and a chance that you will not loose weight in the band or the bypass, its all down to the amount of effort you want to put into both of them.
 
im going to go for the bypass because the dr i saw said the band would be no good for me has im a snacker
im only just starting my journey x
 
Nic is right when she says that it doesn't matter whether your bypass or band you will still need the same amount of aneasthetic which is the dangerous part when your overweight (the bigger you are the more aneasthetic is used.

Its also true that the mortality rate is 1 in a 100 but those statistics are taken from super obese (30 stone+) that have had this op in America. My surgeon has lost three patients out of well over four hundred now and all of those had other contributing problems.

Its not true however that once you have had your surgery your out of danger. I'm proof of that, my problems occured a week later and got quite scary at one point. My surgeon said that problems can occur up to 28 week post op so its wise to be mindfull of that.

Whatever you decide to do you can be assured that your Bariatric team will run every test they possibly can to ensure that you are fit and healthy for this operation, you can also do a lot to help yourself if you do your research, stick to your pre-op diet etc.

Good luck with your op.

Bonita
xx
 
I am nearly 8 weeks post op and hving my bypass was the best decission I have made in a long long time. I never considered a band becuase I knew I would cheat it. I knew I would be bothered to go for fills and use that as an excuse to be able to eat like I used to.

Today I have been swimming, the weekend I hosted 2 bbq's and have thouroughly enjoyed it and not felt like I was missing out on any part of it. I even made a sugar free trifle so I wouldn't feel left out when it came to pudding time lol. On Sunday I even managed 3/4 of a burger(no bread). So there is life fter a bypass and its amazing how quickly things become the norm i.e not drinking or accepting that I have to watch and be careful with what I eat. I even found it quiet entertaining being sober which I have never enjoyed before. I have missed chocolate but have found I can eat 3/4 little squares of diabetic chocolate(15g) and that is enough to satisfy my craving.
 
I too was scared to have the bypass as I thought it too invasive. I could have had the bypass because I'm diebetic but opted for the band. I don't regret the band one bit. I envy the bypassers weight loss and envy the bravery the had to have it done but for me my decision was the right one. Good luck in deciding.
 
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