discouraged

[gweni]

When I looked for doctors I took some doctors names i found on here with good results one just got back to me today this surgeon has done a lot of people's band etc and im not sure I feel deflated from this:


Dr XXXX does only seldomly perform the lap band operation because of disappointing results in terms of weight loss and quality of life.
The gastric bypass is considered as the golden standard with optimal
long term results.


Any thoughts?

 

[Butterfly_lady]

I know my surgeon said the same he rarely does bands only band to bypass conversions, if you are set on a band there are plenty of surgeons that will do it.

 

[Oopseydaisy]

. . .

 

[Crystalrainbow]

I think you've got to do lots of research and be sure on what procedure is right for you. I had my band fitted via the NHS, despite them wanting to give me the '5 star' treatment (surgeons words) I felt i could work with the band, and so far so good like i say just be sure its what you want, band doesn't suit everyone, its not easy thats for sure...... But as Butterfly says there are plenty of surgeons that are still happy to offer bands x x x gl

 

[gweni]

the surgeon im going with is doing the band this feedback came from another surgeon who s highly ranked here and i just feel like its discouraging words.

 

[Crystalrainbow]

Ahhb i see.... but yes i get that too, but bands do seem to be a less favored choice now, many surgeons don't fit them anymore, and i can understand to a certain point ...... if you read lots of banders storys, many speak of not much weight loss, and many have suffered too.... sooooo yes a bypass may seem to be a better option, a more permanent solution, one which cant be cheated like the band can .............. but there will always be those who still want the band and for those where the band will work, but you have to do alot of hard work to make it work..... i think maybe their statistics show poor results, but each case is down to the individual and their commitment to making it work for them. I wish you all the best on your wl journey x x x there are lots of successful banders on here and lots of new banders too

 

[Jamast]

When I first approached a gp about wls I was certain that I wanted the band. Because I had no co-morbidities caused by my weight, it took my seven years of constant battling with the medical profession to finally get them to agree to me having surgery. During that seven years, I did a hell of a lot of research before deciding that I actually wanted the bypass. I have spoken to dozens and dozens of people, face to face and on forums, who have had various forms of wls and to be honest only ever found one woman who was successful at getting the weight off and actually keeping it off long term with the band. Then the tide began to turn in the medical profession as surgeons realised that the bypass does seem to give better long term results. You've only got to look through wls forums to see how many band to bypass/sleeve conversions there are. Additionally, within an extended circle of family, friends and acquaintances, I now know four people who have had the band and the sleeve and they have all regained any weight lost and in two cases, more weight than they actually lost. However, these people, in my opinion, they were given their surgery with little regard to changing their eating habits.
Whilst I do think that you should be the one to decide, you have to be very sure that you are fully happy with your choice and are giving yourself the best option for keeping the weight off afterwards - remember that the band is not a permanent tool. Personally, whilst I am fully aware that wls is a helpful tool, and the mind set also has to be in place, I realised that I needed a more permanent solution. The band offers restriction, but still allows cheating for those who are not in the right mind set. Whereas, the bypass also offers the restriction but for me has the added bonus of the threat of dumping, I couldn't cheat by eating ice cream or other such things, whereas my daughter's mum-in-law, who has the band eats high sugar, high fat things that can slip easily past a band.

 

[lovelyzobo]

And I had the 'gold standard' bypass and gained weight.....as have 3 more of my 'fat fighter friends'....we are all 8 years out with only 1 of us (group of 5!) having kept all her weight off!

No surgery is a 100%, I thought my bypass was for life and I wouldn't struggle but I have....and after a barium which showed pouch dilation and a dilated anastomoses ( I could eat more, but never felt I pushed it, and never drank fizzy etc!) I have now had my revision with a band.

Things change....medicine changes, 8 years is a long time in medicine and they now know things about the bypass they didn't then (like adding the fobi to prevent pouch dilation) but I'm not bitter....it worked and I've kept 6 stone off from my bypass, I just needed to take control before it got to out of control again.

Zx

 

[skinimum]

Bands don't only fail because the person cheats, they also fail because they are really difficult to live with!

 

[Jamast]

I think that's the problem with any wls - seeing it as a 'solution'. For me that's wrong. Whichever type of surgery we choose, it is not a solution, it really is just a tool, an added extra that is there for us to use in a certain way. I also think that any of the surgeries are difficult to live with in different ways, for different reasons. My bypass tool is a permanent thing in that I will always have it, but I have to use it, along with other things, in such a way that it works for me. Even though I am only six months out I know that I am the only person who can make it work and that I have to be very vigilant as it is so easy to slip into bad habits that really are ingrained in my psyche. There are times when I look at certain foods and my first thought is ooo I'll try a bit of that, but so far have managed to stop myself because I know that I shouldn't be eating it. I have the bariatric plate and rigidly stick to that, even though at times I do look at my food on the plate and think is that it? I also have a very small bowl and only use that. I've also really upped my physical exercise. But anyone can slip into bad habits without realising it straight away.
We're all here because we have spent years struggling with our weight. I really don't think that struggle will ever go away - EVER. It definitely won't for me.
I've only lost just under a pound this week, but I know that's my fault. I've stuck to my eating plan, kept within my suggested intake but I've had a very lazy week. It's half term and I cannot access my three times a week swimming sessions nor my aquafit as the buses only run in school term time and walking a twenty mile round trip for a 45 - 60 minute session is not an option. So I was complacent and have stayed at home, having long lay-ins, or Sat on my butt, in front of the tv, or fire - knitting of all things when what I should have done was get of my backside and either do some physical exercise, get on my exercise bike or at least do some walking whilst we still have decent weather - but no, I literally couldn't be bothered, and I could kick myself now for not working with my tool. For me, that shows how easily I could slip back into my bad habits and justify it to myself by saying quite truthfully, as I used to, oh but I've only eaten what I should, I've not overeaten at all.

 

[The Old Woman]

You have just given me the incentive I need to get the last half stone off. I am nearly 12 months out and have started to slip into old habits, no exercise, a bit of cake here, a nightly glass of wine and I needed to read your posts to make me realise that it's always going to be work, work, work with the tool we have got. It's brilliant to hear from old timers. Thank you and good luck.