band or bypass

[lurve2laugh]

I have just foungd out that the hospital that i have choosen for my wls mostly do bands and not very many bypasses (bristol southmead) i spoke to a lady who is currently having her's done there she said that they didnt give her the option on band or bypass they told her what she was having. Now i'm worried as i know a band would'nt work for me and i have my heart set on a bypass. I'm worried that if they said band i'm just going to have to take it, just wanted to know if i can turn this down and ask for the bypass or do i have to take what they offer. Tina x

 

[BlueDiamond]

Hello there

The doc will assess ur eating habits( If you have a sweet tooth or large portion eater) to determine which op would be best suitable for you. If your a big portion eater the band would most likely be the option for you or if ur a teeth toothed person and like crisps/sweets and biccies etc then a bypass would me most suitable also. Just be honest wiv ur provider about your eating habits because if your not the op wont work,ur provider will let you know whats the best op for you. HTH xx

 

[phatmomma]

Stick to your guns! If the hospital you are going to can't give you what you want then ask your gp or even the hospital concerned to forward you to another hospital that can do what's required.

You know your determination and eating habits the best, there's not many get a second chance so make the first one count xx

 

[Neen]

Julie is right, if your eating habits etc are suitable for a band , then there's no reason why a band will not be perfectly sufficient for you. It is down to you to make sure you work with a bypass or a band as both won't work long term if you don't try and improve your eating habits and exercise. Neither one just works magically all by itself anyway despite what you might hear.
Be honest with the surgeon about what you eat now and you'll be fine I'm sure as they don't want to set you up for a fail..that would be a waste of money and effort for everyone.

 

[Angler]

Tina,
Southmead offer more than just the band this is copied from their site which can be found here:

http://www.avonobesityservice.co.uk

“Obesity Surgery Offered
Avon Obesity Service offers two different types of weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery):
• Restrictive - also known as gastric banding
• Malabsorptive - also known as gastric bypass
We believe, as do increasing numbers of specialists, that gastric banding should be the operation of choice for weight loss surgery with other more risky procedures being kept in reserve for special cases. Therefore gastric banding (sometimes referred to as AGB) is our preferred bariatric operation.”

As Julie says they will assess your eating habits and talk through the options with you, when you meet the members of the multidisciplinary team:
• Dr Andrew Johnson (consultant physician)
• Mrs Sally Johnson (coordinator and administrator)
• Mrs Sharon Bates (nurse and weight loss surgery specialist)
• Mrs Lynn Sawyer (dietician)
• Mr Justin Morgan (consultant surgeon)
• Miss Sally Norton (consultant surgeon)
You should find Sharon Bates very easy to talk to about you worries, Sharon had a gastric band fitted in about 2000.

Sharon's Story can be read here:

http://www.gastricbandservice.co.uk/site/weight_loss_testimonials_22.asp

 

[dottychic]

I agree, you should stick to your guns and if they advise you to have a band ask them why they have made that decision firstly and if you dont agree with it ask to be referred on to another hospital Good luck XX

 

[Wendy1]

Stick to what you want Tina, i had the same problem at a diffrent hospital, they wanted to do the band because i was older, but i wrote a begging letter to my surgeon because i dont have the willpower for band and when i saw him i said i realy dont want a band, i have got my bypass, just keep nagging good look the girls will keep you going x

 

[lurve2laugh]

thank you all for your wonderful advise and links. i know i will have to change my eatting habits for good with either of the surgeries, i just know that the band would be a total no no as i have a terrible sweet tooth(never use to until i started ww and was making up my points with their chocolate bars) i pick all day and then i over eat at meals, i'm emotional eater happy,sad, bored ive kind of have a bit off all bad eating habits. thank you all again xx

 

[phatmomma]

If your an emotional eater i'd say bypass for you then. Purely because you cannot physically eat the way you would pre op, however this may be the case with a band too. I'm sure someone will put it right xx