Question

[Karen_Ponte]

It's 2 weeks to the day to my band op but the more research I'm doing, the less I'm convinced it's for me. I eat sweets and it says a band is for savoury people and I'm not sure whether I have the willpower of some of the banders on here. I'm paying for the op so I was thinking of asking them to swap to a bypass but the only stumbling block I can think of would be my BMI. It's 30 but being obese runs in my family - dad has diabetes/ sleep apnea/ gout and my sister is also obese.

What do you think my chances are of getting a bypass instead?

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[stuckinafatsuit]

If your not sold on the band then i would ring them tomorrow and tell them. Ask what the lowest bmi can be to perform a bypass.
Kim

 

[Tonibones10]

It's 2 weeks to the day to my band op but the more research I'm doing, the less I'm convinced it's for me. I eat sweets and it says a band is for savoury people and I'm not sure whether I have the willpower of some of the banders on here. I'm paying for the op so I was thinking of asking them to swap to a bypass but the only stumbling block I can think of would be my BMI. It's 30 but being obese runs in my family - dad has diabetes/ sleep apnea/ gout and my sister is also obese.

What do you think my chances are of getting a bypass instead?

Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

When I first thought about wls I thought band band band but then I had a seminar with a bariatric nurse specialist and a dietition and came out thinkin no way!..... so I'm goin to be having a bypass xxx do what's right for you hun I'd say bypass if your a sweet fan though xxx

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[safc_chick]

If your paying I would think you would be ok to swap, atleast phone and ask about a bypass and see what they have to say xx

 

[Jen1961]

When I was doing my research between the different wls options, as I understood it was if your diet was mainly large quantities and overall savory then you need some form of restriction and the band would give you this quite adequately. However, if you had a sweet tooth too as well as large quantity when it came to eating, the band may not give you enough restriction as I believe you can still eat quite high calorific foods, just in less quantity than before. Where as the bypass is generally restrictive in quantity as well as sweet and fat options. I say overall, as I am sure there are many exceptions to this.

I am sure there will be someone along soon that can tell you their experience of the band operation and how its working for them. I had my op almost 10 weeks ago and I had the bypass and so far so good but my bmi twice yours so I am not sure what your surgeon would think about you having a bypass over the band. But if you are paying for it, I guess its down to you at the end of the day.

Good luck with your decision. I hope someone might be able to offer you some food for thought. Sorry I'm hopeless at giving advice lol!!!

 

[Caren]

please bear in mind that if you're paying, the bypass is a lot more expensive! but it does sound like the band may not be for you, good luck xxx

 

[Sophie 124]

I paid for my band. My BMI was 36 and the sergeon would ONLY do a band for me.
I wasn't sure if I would get on with it - Thought I'd be the only person in history that could put weight on with the band! Lol .... I haven't even got restriction yet but all of the sudden I seem to have all this willpower from nowhere!! I think paying the money and knowing this is my last chance has made me step up my game.
Seriously, I had no willpower before... I really wanted to lose the weight but just had zero willpower at sticking to diets before my op.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the weight will automatically come off after the op (like I did, admittidly) - I have only lost a little to date, and that has ONLY been down to diet and exercise.... I've been told it is a lot easier once you get to that sweet spot restriction wise though.
From what it seems, you have to work with whatever form of WLS you choose and for me personally, I am glad that I went for the less intrusive option and that if there are complications down the line then it is completely reversible. That was sooo important to me because WLS is quite a new thing and nobody really knows the long term effects of WLS yet.... But it just depends what your priorities are.
Good luck. Xx

 

[MissDiet]

Originally i wanted a band. But then i was told its typically slower and doesnt allow you to lose a much weight as a tool. Also because i was 25 stone i had passed the stage where a band was a good match for the loss i needed.

The band is reversible, but people dont want to do it. The bypass is also reversible but only if you get really ill like cancer etc.

I've been 'lucky' with my bypass. I can eat sweet an fatty things if i want and get no dumping etc. If you're opting for the bypass to help stop you eating sweet things then please not that not everyone dumps. So its no gurantee.

Go with your gut feeling hun. Xx

 

[JO28172]

Well put soph, the only drawback is we don't dump like bypassers do..which is a good but not so in that we don't have to monitor high sugar levels etc to prevent being ill and dumping BUT to lose weight we DO have to watch our intake, track the cals etc to work with the band. You do get told by your band when enough is enough and like me yesterday if you try to gorge on a big pretzel it will stodge you and make you feel crappy so it does do what I need it to do..band or bypass your head needs to get in the right space as post op either way you are on a diet, watching what goes in...but the weight comes off and how rewarding that is...I love my band but that's just me xx

 

[BlueDiamond]

A Bmi of 30 and wanting a bypass I be surprised if they will do a bypass with such a low Bmi, Good luck in what you decide , I wouldnt change my band at all, but unlike you I do not have a sweet tooth, never have. If the provider you have chosen knows you have a sweet tooth why didnt they advise you to have the bypass?? or perhaps it is a I said your bmi is too low......just thinking out loud. Wishing you all the best Julie xx

 

[Sophie 124]

Also, and don't think I'm trying to convince you either way but just to throw into the mix that you probably won't be able to eat sweet things with the bypass anyway becuase it'll make you 'dump'.
I very much doubt they will give you a bypass with a BMI of 30 if it was not an option for me going private with a BMI of 36. Xx

 

[OOnion]

In my opinion with a BMI of just 30, you would be better off spending your money on a Bootcamp...I would question the ethics of a surgeon preparing to band at a bmi of just 30 what does that make you 14 stone ish?
Too many people with no more than 4-5 stone to loose seem to think the band is an easy option - I can tell you from experience it isn't your answer is sensible eating and exercise - you will need to do this daily with a band - so you could do it daily without?? You can get 4 stone off in no time! Put your money to better use - you could be very disappointed long term. Good luck though xx

 

[Ruthiep]

With a bmi of 30 all you need to do is lose a few pounds and you're just overweight, not even obese any more. I'm 12.2 and my BMI is still 32 ish so you must be really quite slim. A bypass is HUGE for anyone, and you'd probably end up underweight and looking really scrawny. This is without considering the ethics of any surgeon who would do a bypass on someone with as low a BMI as you. Indeed my surgeon wouldn't have done it on me when I started and my BMI was in the high thirties then. Not that I wanted a bypass.

 

[HoPe*87*]

Sorry to butt in on this thread but everyones opinion on this is very interesting. I have a BMI of 36 and am getting a sleeve. Opinions anyone?? Xx

 

[Sophie 124]

Sorry to butt in on this thread but everyones opinion on this is very interesting. I have a BMI of 36 and am getting a sleeve. Opinions anyone?? Xx

I don't really know much about the sleeve I'm afraid so can't really advise on that.
As I said above, my BMI was also 36 when I started and I have struggled with my weight for about 5 years... I know it's not as high as some people on here but I'm pretty sure I felt just as bloody awful about myself as most people on here. I'd pretty much stopped going on nights out with friends, felt too embarrassed about myself to have sex with my boyfriend who I know loves me dearly, hated what I saw in the mirror, bought clothes I didn't really like just to cover me etc etc... Just felt like I wasn't living a quality life due to my weight... And I've tried many many diets of course. My dad is about 24 stone and i knew i was heading in the same direction, yeah it might have taken me another 5 years to get there but I just didn't want to leave it any longer.
I just needed some help so I know how it feels.
I wish I could have done it on my own (i really do, it would have saved me 6k) and some may say I only have 5/6 stone to lose and to go on a diet but I found it do hard to stick to one. Also. Most people I have spoken to who have had WLS say they wish they had it years ago so I don't think I cab be critisied for trying to nip it in the bud when I am 'younger' and a lower BMI. Xx

 

[HoPe*87*]

I don't really know much about the sleeve I'm afraid so can't really advise on that.
As I said above, my BMI was also 36 when I started and I have struggled with my weight for about 5 years... I know it's not as high as some people on here but I'm pretty sure I felt just as bloody awful about myself as most people on here. I'd pretty much stopped going on nights out with friends, felt too embarrassed about myself to have sex with my boyfriend who I know loves me dearly, hated what I saw in the mirror, bought clothes I didn't really like just to cover me etc etc... Just felt like I wasn't living a quality life due to my weight... And I've tried many many diets of course. My dad is about 24 stone and i knew i was heading in the same direction, yeah it might have taken me another 5 years to get there but I just didn't want to leave it any longer.
I just needed some help so I know how it feels.
I wish I could have done it on my own (i really do, it would have saved me 6k) and some may say I only have 5/6 stone to lose and to go on a diet but I found it do hard to stick to one. Also. Most people I have spoken to who have had WLS say they wish they had it years ago so I don't think I cab be critisied for trying to nip it in the bud when I am 'younger' and a lower BMI. Xx

Here here!! I'm 16.6 which is the lightest I've been I'm a long time!! I was 18.9 when I started this journey. I have 5-6 stone to lose, I have very bad back pain also for my age which has alot to do with my weight. I'm just asking this as everyone I've spoke to about my surgery have said why?? Ur not fat enough to get surgery try the gym etc!! Like I haven't already tried xxx

 

[Sophie 124]

Yeah I've had some comments from people at work too but at the end of the day, if you know you've tried to do it on your own but can't, and you're paying for it, then what the hell has it got to do with these other people.... They don't know how you truely feel in the inside. Xxx

 

[HoPe*87*]

Yeah I've had some comments from people at work too but at the end of the day, if you know you've tried to do it on your own but can't, and you're paying for it, then what the hell has it got to do with these other people.... They don't know how you truely feel in the inside. Xxx

Thanks Hun, I'm on NHS but do see this as my last resort or I seriously would not be doing this!! Xxx

 

[mariew]

Nice guidelines are BMI +40 or +35 with co morbids. I can't see why 36 would be too low but I certainly think 30 is far too low for a bypass.

 

[HoPe*87*]

Nice guidelines are BMI +40 or +35 with co morbids. I can't see why 36 would be too low but I certainly think 30 is far too low for a bypass.

Im not sure if my health conditions wud be classed as co morbids. I have back problems and pcos along with depression. My bmi was maybe 40+ when I was first referred as I was heavier. Thanks xxx