Band vs Bypass

[tiarasandtantrums]

For those people who have either had a gastric band or bypass. What swayed you towards one rather than the other? x

 

[strawberry twig]

For those people who have either had a gastric band or bypass. What swayed you towards one rather than the other? x

Hi T&T

These are MY PERSONAL reasons for choosing a Bypass. Not intended to sway your decision in any way.

I looked at band and bypass in debth and chose to have the bypass because I didn't trust myself not to cheat with a band.

If you want to eat chocolate after a band or cake you can, u just chew it up and swallow it with chocolate milk shake lol (if you get my drift). However if I was to try and do that after a bypass I'd be in big trouble. My body would firstly probably make me sick, then a couple of hours later I'd dump. (Dumping syndrome) I would have to lie down because my body would be sweating, my heart would race I would be sick or feel nautious and I would be good for nothing till the feeling passed.

This (Dumping Syndrome) will see to it that I wont cheat, and therefore give me a greater chance of keeping my weight off in years to come.

The way I look at it is I know that my track record isn't good or i would not be in this situation to start with. If I am going to go through the trauma and risk involved in weight loss surgery then I want to have the surgery that FOR ME I feel ensures success long term.

I hope this gives you an insight in to my thinking and why I chose RNYGB.

Good luck on your journey

 

[tiarasandtantrums]

Thanks Twig. That's really interesting. Do you have a sweet tooth? I am definitely more into my savouries. It's something I will have to discuss in depth with the surgeon I think. x

 

[strawberry twig]

Thanks Twig. That's really interesting. Do you have a sweet tooth? I am definitely more into my savouries. It's something I will have to discuss in depth with the surgeon I think. x

Yeah I have a sweet tooth. But you also get problems if you eat too much fat content with Bypass too. A definate deterent lol

 

[elffie01]

My willpower moved me to the bypass rather than the band. I have hardly any or limited will power stopped me goig for the band as I know if I really REALLY wanted something I would find a way to get it. With the band you need to have that will power to help you, more than the bypass.

You will have a good discussion with your surgeon and be honest with him and he can then advise you on which may be the best for you. If you think you want one over the other explain that to him and explain why, he will then help you make the right decision.

Good luck in your choice

 

[Emma Louise]

There's a good book out called "Weight loss surgery for dummies" - It explains both of the surgeries in great depth and weighs up the pros and the cons of each.

I'm hoping to have the bypass because, to me, it seems more permanent, i wont be able to cheat with sweet things (i am a sweet eater) and it can help with a greater weight loss (i have a LOT to lose).

Those are my reasons, but search the internet and see which one is right for you.

xxxxx

 

[vanilla-cupcake]

For those people who have either had a gastric band or bypass. What swayed you towards one rather than the other? x

I never considered a bypass at all I dont actually know why I just heard about the band........ researched it and booked it about 2 1/2 wks before I had it done
I have a sweet tooth and still do treat myself but I do know when to stop and the fact I paid £7k also makes me stop, before I would of had a whole slice of cake now I have a bite and that does me and im content with that, I know I can cheat but I try not to, Im sooooooo happy with the weight im loosing I DONT EVER want to go back to 15st so that is what keeps me going, I have will power now its something I didn't have before and reading about bypasses on here I think it would have been far too drastic for me but it works for others so im not condemning it, it just wouldn't be for me

 

[tiarasandtantrums]

Thanks everyone. It's wonderful to be able to get advice from 'the horse's mouth' so to speak (I'm not calling you horses .... well, you get my drift!)

Emma, I'm going to get that book - thanks for that! x

 

[gaelic girl]

I had a bypass for the exact same reasons as Strawberry and Elffie. I'm to big a choc lover and need to know if i eat it, it will make me ill sounds extreme but its what i really need. You will be able to get lots of advice here as there are a lot of success stories with both band and bypass but once you have done your research and talked to your gp you will come to a decision thats right for you. Good luck and please shout if we can help x

 

[bungle1999]

I went with a very open mind and it was the consultant who "kind of" pushed me to a bypass cos of the reasons alread given. I was 28 stone and rising and that was, he said a major reason for swaying towards the bypass. hOPE THAT HELPS.

 

[Silversurfer]

Hi everybodies - Theres a few myths about dumping that you should all know and understand - firstly what makes you dump now may not in a years time, the roux limb (new bit of intestine moved up) will in time learn to adapt to the new food going in and counter for the excess sugar or fat content ( the body is a resiliant thing) immidiately post op its a bit sensative on account that its not been subjected to sudden loading of sugar or fat like this before, but it will adapt and in most people that severely dump it does ease of !

Not all bypassers dump, in fact statistically about 30-40% dont, i'm one of them, i'm over a year post op and haven't yet dumped, i can eat chocolate till it comes out of my ears, cakes, sweets and pretty much anything i like without dumping !

Theres a few different types of dumping to: first stage dumping is the worst and is the one that people hate the most, second or late dumping can occour 2-3 hours post meal, this is a lighter dump and consists of the shakes, sweating and nausia, but is normally sorted with a sweet drink, and is normally gone in 15-20 minutes.
You can also dump from excessive intake of oil or greesy food, this normally developes as servere diahria and can last a day or so.

 

[tiarasandtantrums]

Bypass dumping sounds like it would be really hard to get used to, but i suppose you learn how to keep these things under control and how to avoid them. x

 

[Silversurfer]

Bypass dumping sounds like it would be really hard to get used to, but i suppose you learn how to keep these things under control and how to avoid them. x

Its true and there's lots here that cope with dumping. Some people see dumping as a blessing, that way you have to really watch your sugar content, and will losse quicker as a result ! where as i have to be very careful what i eat and have self control (which i dont lol)

 

[tiarasandtantrums]

Its true and there's lots here that cope with dumping. Some people see dumping as a blessing, that way you have to really watch your sugar content, and will losse quicker as a result ! where as i have to be very careful what i eat and have self control (which i dont lol)

Sugar is really not the problem for me. Bread and butter on the other hand .... :cry:

 

[Glenville]

When I started my wls journey I was convinced that I wanted the band, it just didn't sound so serious and possibly reversible ( appreciate now that is probably noy as easy as I thought). When I had my multi-disciplinary consultation it was made clear to me that the best operation for me would be the bypass due to my out of control diabetes. After all, that was the main reason why I was going for WLS. I went in with an open mind and took only a couple of seconds to think about it. When deciding which op to go for - you also have the sleeve and DS to consider, you must choose (hopefully with good advice from your dr) what is best for you in the long term.

 

[tiarasandtantrums]

When I started my wls journey I was convinced that I wanted the band, it just didn't sound so serious and possibly reversible ( appreciate now that is probably noy as easy as I thought). When I had my multi-disciplinary consultation it was made clear to me that the best operation for me would be the bypass due to my out of control diabetes. After all, that was the main reason why I was going for WLS. I went in with an open mind and took only a couple of seconds to think about it. When deciding which op to go for - you also have the sleeve and DS to consider, you must choose (hopefully with good advice from your dr) what is best for you in the long term.

Thanks for the advice Glenville. I have been thinking all along that it would be a band for me, but I think I'm going to really be led by the professionals x

 

[hayley1983]

I started off thinking a wanted a band. But decided, with advice at my consultation, that a bypass would be better for me.

Are you going private or NHS?

xxx

 

[tiarasandtantrums]

I started off thinking a wanted a band. But decided, with advice at my consultation, that a bypass would be better for me.

Are you going private or NHS?

xxx

I'm hoping to go NHS, but will find the money for private if I really have to x

 

[thinkbethin]

Hi, I had the band because I was afraid the bypass was too invasive (personal opinion). I also had the band because I was a volume eater and loved my huge dinner at night. The band now controls my portions and instead of one large meal a day I now eat little and often. Good luck in your decisionxxx

 

[babyflower]

I was always anti-bypass, I was only offered a band and so never questioned it. It was a nightmare from start to finish for me - there were some problems with the fitting of the band, but in many ways I struggled to live with it, I was sick all the time, lived on liquids and developed dumping syndrome (like bypassers) due to nerve damage. My problems are not common, but about 30% of bands fail, and my surgeon does at least one band to bypass conversion per week.

Since having my band removed, I have forced myself to look at my eating habits and feel that actually a bypass would have been the better option from the outset. HOWEVER, i wasn't ready for it then, and now I have thought it through I do feel ready - so here's hoping that the NHS will fund it for me.

I am worried that I will be swapping one set of problems for another with a bypass (like malabsorption, osteoporosis etc), but these are only possibilties - living with obesity is far worse for me, so I am now ready to take a risk.

It is a very personal choice, be guided by your surgeon (but be sure he is experienced in his field), some surgeons only do bands because that is all they can do - so do loads of research, self-reflection and ask as many people as you can - then make your decision.

Good luck.