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Does having less to loose mean you can't have bypass?

Taryntula

New Member
Hi,

Am very nervous as I'm due to have MDT day in 3 weeks. I desperately want a bypass, as I need this change to be lifelong due to my joint problem, which will be ongoing whatever weight I am. I have funding and know the surgery will only happen once.

In researching i know for me the bypass best, but having lost some weight now at 16 and a half stone am worried that I will be told to have a band instead, can I insist on the bypass?

Any help/advise would be really helpful, I intend to put a good case across as I have been researching and gaining knowledge on all.

Rachel xxx
 
Ultimately if you've got NHS funding the surgeon cannot tell you which operation to have. However, it is always a good idea to discuss the way you feel with the surgeon as they are very experienced and also with any dieticians you meet and find out why they recommend the surgery they recommend. But I've never heard of anyone being refused the surgery they wanted. Choosing the wrong one, yes, but not being refused.
 
However, having said that, at your start weight I would seriously consider the sleeve. At mine I knew I would need both malabsorptive and restrictive parts of the bypass - maybe restriction will be enough for you?
 
In researching i know for me the bypass best, but having lost some weight now at 16 and a half stone am worried that I will be told to have a band instead, can I insist on the bypass?

Yes, you can insist on whichever op you want (as long as it is *one* of the options carried out at that hospital -- for instance you could not insist on the sleeve or duodenal switch if those surgeries are not offered at that hospital).

Any help/advise would be really helpful, I intend to put a good case across as I have been researching and gaining knowledge on all.

Your stats don't say which hospital you are at but some hospitals and some surgeons (the majority really) *still* favour the bypass 80% of the time. At the Whittington Mr Sufi's favourite surgery is the bypass (I had to plead for my sleeve) and he likes to "bypass, bypass, bypass" all day long almost irrespective of a patient's starting weight -- some of his patients only have 5 stone to lose and some have 15 stone to lose and he wants to whip them all onto the "bypass, bypass, bypass" wagon.

I have since learned that this summer another surgeon has joined the Whittington who is a bit more "trendy" thinking and actually favours the sleeve, but that surgeon only joined the Whittington in July this year.

I had to plead with Mr Sufi for my sleeve but even tho the gastric sleeve is not Mr Sufi's preferred surgery, he did let me have my choice -- as to deny a patient their own choice in such a major life altering surgery would be medically ethically questionable.
 
I think it depends more greatly on tour eating habits talk to your surgeon and explain your habits and I'm sure all will be fine!
 
Thanks for the advice, just nerves really as the day draws closer :) I had been keen on the sleeve and had preferred that as I was worried about the malabsorbtion with the bypass, but the weight management team I was under a few months back didn't like that option, everytime I said that was what I wanted they always questioned it. Two friends have had the bypass and as its been a year they seem to be doing great, which helped me into changing my mind as they say the bypass is best too. Oh dear here comes the bypass - sleeve decission again, one thing I know is I don't want the band though. I am at St Richards in Chichester, bit of a treck at 2.5hr drive away, but they seem to have a good reputation and the wait was 18 weeks, Chelsea & Westminster was the other choice but with all the seperate appointments the wait for the op would have been over a year there. And wow, you've both lost so much weight since your surgeries.
 
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Hi hun at the time of my consultation,my weight was 15st 10lb told surgeon I wanted a bypass,I had previously lost 20lbs but he wasnt to know that.I thought he may have tried to talk me into having the band.He asked why I choose the bypass route,I told him that I had spent loads of time researching everything and after weighing things up.I felt sure this was the right thing for me,so come the 15th october that is what I will be having.Ive seen loads of people of a similar weight that have had a bypass,so stick to your guns,Good luck.
 
You could be 16 and a half stone and be morbidly obese, its not necessarily your weight but your BMI (ie height / weight). I weighed 18 1/2 stone on the day of my op but my BMI was 38 something because Im 5ft 10. If you have your mind set on the bypass I'm sure the surgeon / team will be willing to listen. Good luck xx
 
As I think I mentioned, given my very high BMI I wanted the best chance of getting down to a healthy weight. Had my BMI been significantly lower eg below 40 I wouldn't have got funding, but i would probably have opted for the sleeve.
 
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