Pros and cons please

Due to see the surgeon on Tuesday so trying to gather some more information. Can anyone who has had the band or bypass please list the pros and cons in their opinion.....will be much appreciated....thanks in advance...Linda x

Hi Linda

I had a bypass at the end of July, now about 45lbs down

Pro's - Lose weight (obviously! Ha ha)
Feel healthier
No fills
It just works, the thought of dumping has put me off sweet stuff for life!

Con's - The only one for me really is when you have that mouthful too much and the feeling you get when its stuck (and can't stop burping!!)

I can't recommend a bypass enough, the best thing I have ever done. It's the only thing that has made me realise that there's more to life than food. I love it! But I understand it's a tough decision and someone else here may have a totally different experience.

X

Linda have you had a look at mr amories web site here is the link it may give you some of the answeres you are looking for.
Welcome to the Home Page Of Basil Ammori, Consultant General Surgeon at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Hi Linda,

As you know I had the band done in July. Pro's
- helps you control your portions, helps you eat less, understanding of when you are full, weight loss, easy to manage, not permanant, removeable/reversible, cheaper than the bypass if self funding, no nasty dumping syndrome,

Con's - some people think you lose less weight with a band, you do have to have fills (quick, easy and painless), can still eat sweet things and 'slider' foods like ice cream still go down fine - but you still cannot eat them in the same quantity!!

At the end of the day it is a decision you should make between you and your surgeon based on what is right for you. I went in fixed on a bypass, and came out agreeing to a band and have no regrets about that at all, but it is individual for everyone and we will all be able to put as many pros and cons forward for our own procedure as we can think of at the time!!Don't forget we are bound to be naturally biased depending on which procedure we had!!

Good luck with your decision!

Pro's for gastric bypass are weight loss, reduced if not eradicated symptoms in blood pressure, Diabetes, Sleep Apnia, joint problems and general health.
Con's are, possible internal bleeding, blood clots, deep vien thrombosis, infection, aneemia, malnutrition, vitimin deficiancy, leekage, stomach closing and of course death. The short term problems are fairly rare but long term effects are more common.

Thanks for that link I found it very helpful.

I am glad to hear a doctor say that people like us are sometimes misunderstood and poorly treated.

I salute him.

i chose a band for the fact it is not permenant can be removed especially with problem and id have more control over what weight i want to stop at so i dont end up a size 10 tripping over my skin on the down side it takes longer to loose weight especailly in the first few months waiting to get fill right i felt tho it is training me to eat differently which i now am but can still have things like my daughters birthday cake without having to worry about dumping, i think it such an individual choice follow your gut instict about whats right for you

gingercookie
i know where you are coming from. even more reasurring knowing im going to be in his hands.
HC

serenitylove said:

i chose a band for the fact it is not permenant can be removed especially with problem and id have more control over what weight i want to stop at so i dont end up a size 10 tripping over my skin on the down side it takes longer to loose weight especailly in the first few months waiting to get fill right i felt tho it is training me to eat differently which i now am but can still have things like my daughters birthday cake without having to worry about dumping, i think it such an individual choice follow your gut instict about whats right for you

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Both bypass and band is reversable but not always, even the band can sometimes not be removed if its been there sometime.

Is it true that sometimes the band is inbeded into the persons as the skin grows over it? Ouch! and do you need to have it deflated for flying?

gingercookie said:

Is it true that sometimes the band is inbeded into the persons as the skin grows over it? Ouch! and do you need to have it deflated for flying?

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Not sure about your first point, but I asked about if I needed de-fills for flying (having read it on another forum!) and was told that it was not necessary.

wannaloose18stone said:

Both bypass and band is reversable but not always, even the band can sometimes not be removed if its been there sometime.

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i know the bypass is also reversable but not as easily, for me it was just to big a risk although both have complications the band is by far the safest option also for me the recovery time was also an issue i have alot of respect for those who choose bypass i couldnt face it tho

serenitylove said:

i know the bypass is also reversable but not as easily, for me it was just to big a risk although both have complications the band is by far the safest option also for me the recovery time was also an issue i have alot of respect for those who choose bypass i couldnt face it tho

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I understand that, surgery is a last option and I admire ANYONE who takes the surgical path be it bypass or band, neither are an easy decision.
Bypass was really my only option and that was made easier for me as I didnt have a life where I was.

Thanks everyone for your input I was leaning towards the bypass and think thats the route that I would prefer, will obviously discuss this with the surgeon and see what he says...xx

Hi linda, as you know i opted for the bypass for many reasons. Firstly the fact that food has always been my comfort i needed to break the eating of sweet things completely or otherwise any option i choose would have failed. the thought of dumping gernerally has done this. secondly i wanted to have the control over my eating taken away from me as i knew that if i could cheat i would.

I admire the people who have opted for the band, the fills etc (although i believe painless) made me feel apprehensive.

You need to choose what you feel will be best for you. either option is a hell of a decision to make and either will give you weight loss and better health. good luck x

I guess which way you go depends on a number of factors, everyone here has pointed out most already, though i think the decision to go either way should be down to individual circumastances and the amount of weight you need to lose to get to a healthy wieght again.
If you have a high BMI of say 50 your likely to do a lot better with a bypass, if your BMI is a lot lower then you may be ok losing your weight with a band, statistically you wont lose as much with a band than a bypass, and its a lot easier to cheat and fail the band, most here are positive and have had good results with there bands, but there are a percentage that fail and regain the weight, so if your looking to lose it for good, dont want will power issues then go for the bypass.

For me the thing i love about my bypass is the inablity to eat loads, even if i have a bad week (which hasn't happened so far) i cant say "stuff it" and buy a chinese because now i simply cant eat the volume of food ! you cant do this with a band either, but you could sit and slowly eat a tub of ice cream though !

Horses for courses !

Richard

Thanks hun xx