Beginning of my WLS journey @ Walsall Manour Hospital

[Joie_sparkle]

Hi I'm Jo, 34 (today!) and I'm just at the start of my journey.

I was referred in the 12/08/2016 and I had my first appointment yesterday, which was great.

I went along wanting a band - mainly because it is the safest surgery, and my motivation for doing this is to be around for my daughter. However, having spoken with the specialist nurse and the surgeon they advocated a sleeve or bypass as results are more predictable, long term and require less intervention after surgery.

This has thrown me a little, but I guess I have some thinking to do...

Be great to hear from people who have had WLS and their thoughts.

 

[FeeBee]

Happy birthday and welcome
My hospital said they've pretty much stopped offering bands because they have better results and less complications with permanent surgical options as opposed to the band. That said there's plenty of great band success stories here I considered my options and wanted a sleeve and my surgeon and team agreed. I'd suggest reading plenty about each option so when you talk to your surgeon and express a preference, they know why you want that option and hopefully you can come to an agreement. I always said if the surgeon felt another option would be better I'd have been very open to his expert opinion x

 

[Tracey]

A lot of people on various sites have a band and then opt to have it removed and have a sleeve /bypass
I went for band but surgeon said no ...
Ended up with a sleeve which I love love love ....
Don't get me wrong there are some successful banders on here but I know the surgeons are doing less and less of them x
Read up on both .... but obviously I'm all for the sleeve ..xxxx

 

[Mazza]

Hello and welcome!

If your team are saying sleeve or bypass, you really need to go with what they're suggesting. They are the experts.

Good luck on the rest of your journey xx

 

[Donna Duckers]

Hi I'm Jo, 34 (today!) and I'm just at the start of my journey.

I was referred in the 12/08/2016 and I had my first appointment yesterday, which was great.

I went along wanting a band - mainly because it is the safest surgery, and my motivation for doing this is to be around for my daughter. However, having spoken with the specialist nurse and the surgeon they advocated a sleeve or bypass as results are more predictable, long term and require less intervention after surgery.

This has thrown me a little, but I guess I have some thinking to do...

Be great to hear from people who have had WLS and their thoughts.

Hi Jo and happy birthday I am
In the same position as you had my 1st appointment on Tuesday 20/9/16 so all new I wasn't told which surgery I would be going for and forgot to ask was a lot of info to take in just trying to read people's stories on here and get as much info as possible good luck

 

[Joie_sparkle]

hi guys, thanks for all your supportive responses

I think Your definitely right about needing to listen to the surgeon and letting them steer me in the right direction! I'm open to the idea of both a band and sleeve - I'm just a little unsettled by the higher risk of death if I'm honest (completely irrational I know!).

This whole journey is about wanting to be around for my daughter when she is growing up, and setting her a good example - and so I am weighing that all up in my mind.

I think I would prefer a bypass, as it the most likely to take me to a healthy bmi. But the sleeve seems to be safer and have less risks of complications... Decisions, decisions!

There is a great website that allows you to put all your details in and gives you a detailed comparison of expected weight loss, complications and risks for each surgery. And that's helping.

 

[Turps]

Hello, welcome and happy belated birthday. I had a mini bypass Tuesday gone, but didn't get a choice as due to my very high BMI my surgeon would only recommend that.

Keep reading on here, people are fantastic about sharing their journey and answering questions. Good luck with your decision.

 

[puddytats]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Joie_sparkle]

Thanks every one it seems like a really friendly space with lots of good info!

I think I've decided on the bypass - it is the one that resonates with me the most. Now it's just the hoop jumping and weighting to get there! But it'll all be worth it xx

 

[Joie_sparkle]

Just thought I'd give you guys a quick update....

So far I have been consented for the sleeve, I have lost enough weight that the dietician is happy with me, and I have had the go ahead from the psychologist!

So it's all going full steam ahead!

 

[FeeBee]

That's brilliant news! Good luck with what comes next

 

[Donna Duckers]

hi guys, thanks for all your supportive responses

I think Your definitely right about needing to listen to the surgeon and letting them steer me in the right direction! I'm open to the idea of both a band and sleeve - I'm just a little unsettled by the higher risk of death if I'm honest (completely irrational I know!).

This whole journey is about wanting to be around for my daughter when she is growing up, and setting her a good example - and so I am weighing that all up in my mind.

I think I would prefer a bypass, as it the most likely to take me to a healthy bmi. But the sleeve seems to be safer and have less risks of complications... Decisions, decisions!

There is a great website that allows you to put all your details in and gives you a detailed comparison of expected weight loss, complications and risks for each surgery. And that's helping.

Hi jo
Can you tell me the name of the website you mentioned above please x