Lap Band

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi guys, Why did you decide on the lapband over the sleeve? I want

to have surgery and can't

> decide.

>

ok so apparently I have not been following all the strings.. Just

what is a sleeve? I have never heard of that.

Thanks,

Robyn in CO

[Guest guest]

Jodi...I might have agreed with you a few months ago but today, I'm not so sure. Dr. A was telling me that they are using a new technique where a different part of the stomach is saved during a sleeve. It is less likely to stretch out. So I think I would consider the sleeve a lot more today than I would have just a few short months ago.

On Nov 18, 2007 6:55 PM, Jodi <mermaid_jodi@...> wrote:

I just wanted to add on that after my first fill I went ranting to Dr. Campos that I wished I would have gotten the sleeve and he told me a ton of reasons why the band is better. Now, I a glad. I have lost 24 pounds since August. It is a slower way than the sleeve, it is working and I like it.

JodiBipley <Bipley@...> wrote: I wanted the lap band because I wanted to be able to reverse it. Now that I have a band and am at goal I realize I never want this reversed so I'm not sure why that was so

important to me in the beginning.I *think* if I had it all to do over again I'd go for a sleeve but I can't swear to that. I'm not sure. It would be much more of a consideration now that I have experience with WLS. I want this permanent and forever. I might lose my band for some odd reason, slip... erosion... whatever. But a sleeve, it's forever and really that is what we are looking for. It's one of those things that is personal, unique, and individual. What works for one doesn't mean it is right for everyone. You have to take all issues into consideration and do what works for you.

On Nov 18, 2007 9:41 AM, danielle <hillmongirl@...> wrote:

Hi guys, Why

did you decide on the lapband over the sleeve? I want to have surgery and can't decide.

Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Hi there. I really dont know much about the sleeve. But if it

involves rearranging my anatomy, then I am not for it! I was once

considering the bypass surgery, but after not being able to come up

with the money at the time, I went back to the drawing board and did

way more research. When I researched into things farther one thing

that struck me was the amount of people with the bypass that were

stretching their pouches and regaining weight. I had 3 close

relatives on my dads side who had the bypass and they have all gained

a significant amount of their weight back. Now like I said I dont

know the difference between the sleeve and the bypass, so it may be

totally different. But what I mostly liked about the band is that

there is no cutting into my body systems. it is a matter of placing

a band that can be removed or replaced if something was to go wrong.

and if it was removed my anatomy would remain intacked. Another

thing I didnt like about he bypass was the compromise to your

system. I know a gal who has had it and she is very malnourished and

gets really weak sometimes. One time she was going for a walk with a

friend and almost couldn't make it up her hill to go home because she

felt so weak and faint. But there again the sleeve may be different

as far as absorption? You have to research it and then decide whats

fits your lifestyle the best. there are people who get the other

surgeries and have great success with them. so it is an individual

thing and you have to find what works for you!! :-)

good luck and take care,

dob 10/6/06

(342) 322/219/160

>

> Hi guys, Why did you decide on the lap band over the sleeve? I

want to have surgery and can't

> decide.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi again. :-) so how do they do this sleeve? do they just staple

off a small pouch (or sleeve) from the stomach intead of bypassing

everything? hmm that sounds interesting, they didnt have that when I

got banded I dont think? unless I Just never looked into it. what

is the rate of that pouch stretching? that is what I like about the

band, it is adjustable. so if it gets to loose you go in and have it

readjusted. but if the other loosens you will be able to eat more

and then you will be back to square one again. I have known alot of

people with the bypass that end up being able to it alot of food.

And I Know for me even though I can only eat small amounts, I still

struggle to loose every freakin pound, grrrrr. I swear I can work

out 10 hours a week and live on 800 calories and still not loose a

pound. it is crazy!!

well the best to you, please keep us posted on which way you go.

hugs,

> > >

> > > Hi guys, Why did you decide on the lap band over the sleeve? I

> > want to have surgery and can't

> > > decide.

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/7/2008 5:41:02 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Bob@... writes:

I would love to hear from people that have had both surgeries, I want to make the correct decision and need some help.

Hi Bob,

Well, while I haven't had both surgeries, I was pre-approved for a couple of years for gastric bypass with Kaiser. I ended up with a lapband from Dr. Aceves and paying for it on my own

I was worried about the long term effects of gastric bypass (malnutrition and malabsorbtion being the 2 most prominent). I went to 8 weeks of classes at UCLA, jumped thru every hoop and just couldn't get my head into that type of surgery - even though, at my weight, it would have been a miracle.

I like that the lapband can be adjusted to fit me when I need it and that I have time to adjust to it as well.

When I had my lapband, my BMI was 68 and yes, I knew the loss with lapband would be slower. Are there times I wish the weight loss was faster - oh heck yeah! But the funny thing about this lapband is that its giving my head and emotions time to work together on creating this new me. I still make goofy choices sometimes, but I notice that I now consistently make BETTER choices than I did before.

I finally hit 30 lbs gone as of yesterday and I had my surgery on 12/29. I'm sure it would be faster if I exercised, but my body is slowly emerging from this fat suit - but I do know I'll get there

HTH,

Trish Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food.

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob, you will probably get a lot of responses on this

question. Number one, you said if you had to go back to the doctor, you would

have to fly. So you have to account for that financially. But I will say once

you are at a good spot, you may never need to go back for a fill or it may be a

couple years. I have a friend who weighed over 700lbs and didn’t need a

fill until about a year after his surgery. By then he had already lost 300lbs!

He has only had 3 fills total and he is 5 years out. He is getting ready to

have a full body lift as he is very close to goal.

Others will tell you that they lost all of their weight with the

GB (Gastric bypass) and didn’t have to worry about going back to the

doctor. But there are some who have issues with that as well and had to go in

for leak tests etc. So there are good and bad with all surgeries and you have

to weigh those in your mind (no pun intended!) Lapband is adjustable so if you

stretch your pouch you can usually go on liquids and shrink it or get an unfill

and shrink your pouch even more. Which the GB you can still go on liquids but

you can’t re-adjust anything. But with the GB if you are good to go right

out of surgery, you will lose without having to adjust anything. With the band

you may be able to eat everything (like me) or you might have problems with

everything. It is the same with the GB. My sister had the GB and it was great

at first but 4 yrs out she had to have a revision and had other issues with her

stomach. But some have to have a revision of the band if it slips or erodes.

There is no right answer I can give you. You might want to get a piece of paper

and write down the good and the band about both surgeries then you decide what

you are willing to work with. Good luck!

M

https://www.tracyslapband.com

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Bob Chapman

Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:12 AM

Subject: lap band

Initially I was

sold on the lap band surgery, then after attending a meeting here in Orlando I

changed my mind and was sold on the total gastric bypass that my sister had a

year ago. (She has lost over 100 lbs and feels great) I had the surgery

scheduled for next Tuesday with a doctor in Alabama. (The cost was considerably

less than locally) but I suddenly had a tear in my retina and had to have

emergency eye surgery and had to postpone my operation.

And once again

I am torn between the lap bad and the gastric bypass, please correct me if I am

wrong, but I have heard that the weight loss is much greater with the

gastric by pass than the lap band (Or should I say much faster) then there are

the fills that one has to contend with and that means going back to doctor

every few months to get this done, in my case it would mean flying to the

Birmingham Al. area.

I would love to

hear from people that have had both surgeries, I want to make the correct

decision and need some help.

Bob Chapman

[Guest guest]

Bob, I had the sleeve and I am very happy with it. IF you need any other info please feel free to ask. Bob Chapman <Bob@...> wrote: Initially I was sold on the lap band surgery, then after attending a meeting here in Orlando I changed my mind and was sold on the total gastric bypass that my sister had a year ago. (She has lost over 100 lbs and feels great) I had the

surgery scheduled for next Tuesday with a doctor in Alabama. (The cost was considerably less than locally) but I suddenly had a tear in my retina and had to have emergency eye surgery and had to postpone my operation. And once again I am torn between the lap bad and the gastric bypass, please correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard that the weight loss is much greater with the gastric by pass than the lap band (Or should I say much faster) then there are the fills that one has to contend with and that means going back to doctor every few months to get this done, in my case it would mean flying to the Birmingham Al. area. I would love to hear from people that have had both surgeries, I want to make the correct decision and need some help. Bob Chapman Have Blessed Day Loesch

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Hello Bob,

I am sorry to hear about your eye surgery-hope you are healing well..

In your email you said that you would like to hear from someone who has had both

surgeries..

Well i had the lap band in Feb. 2006 (weighing in at 225 lbs.)by Dr. Aceves in

Mexicali and by Oct. 2006 I was down to 119.

BUT this didn't come without some problems.. This is only my story and may not

be the norm..

I had problems with the port, I had an infection(due to a Dr. in NC). The Dr. in

NC cut my port off and I went downhill FAST!!!

Even though I was happy with my weight loss, I was VERY UNHEALTHY.. I had a BMI

of less than 14%, couldn't swallow my own spit-much

less water. and I never got off the mushy food stage(except for popcorn). By the

time I got to see Dr. Aceves in Mexicali and he looked at me

and did some tests, my band could NOT be saved... This was due to MANY ERRORS

done by the Dr. in NC. NOT BY DR. ACEVES..

Dr. Aceves and his team were great with me, they were so concerned about my

health and well being...

Please remember that this is only my story, and most people who have the lap

band don't have problems.. The band is a tool that will help you lose weight, IF

it's used the right way. But if you do not have a great Dr. to take care of you,

you can get in to trouble.. I can't say enough great things about

Dr. Aceves and his team. When he took out my band, he told me that I could come

back and get a new one put in AFTER I get healthy,( which took 2 years to do). I

went back to have the lap band surgery in Feb. 2008. But Dr. Aceves was worried

about the damage that was done with the lap band. So needless to say I ended up

with the gastric sleeve.. I am 10 weeks out from surgery and I have lost about

47 pounds.. I know many people who have the band and have had to make MANY trips

to get fills/unfills. I also know people who once they reach their goal weight

that they have their port removed..

There are some many things that can go wrong with ANY surgery or the out come

may not be what you thought it was going to be.. I can say, I feel more

healthie/happier knowing I never have to have a fill/unfill or make trips to and

from..

I hope this helps in some small way and NOT scare you.. But to inform you.. I am

still on my journey with the gastric sleeve and so far so good. I have pictures

of my lap band journey on the site-I haven't posted the gastric sleeve one yet..

I wish you all the best with your journey and know you'll make the best decision

for yourself..

Donna Bean

15 Via Marciana

American Canyon, Ca

94503

707.853.5132-cell

hotcalirunner@...

calirunner88-AIM

On Wednesday, May 07, 2008, at 05:40AM, " Bob Chapman " <Bob@...> wrote:

>

>Initially I was sold on the lap band surgery, then after attending a

>meeting here in Orlando I changed my mind and was sold on the total

>gastric bypass that my sister had a year ago. (She has lost over 100 lbs

>and feels great) I had the surgery scheduled for next Tuesday with a

>doctor in Alabama. (The cost was considerably less than locally) but I

>suddenly had a tear in my retina and had to have emergency eye surgery

>and had to postpone my operation.

>

>And once again I am torn between the lap bad and the gastric bypass,

>please correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard that the weight loss

>is much greater with the gastric by pass than the lap band (Or should I

>say much faster) then there are the fills that one has to contend with

>and that means going back to doctor every few months to get this done,

>in my case it would mean flying to the Birmingham Al. area.

>

>I would love to hear from people that have had both surgeries, I want to

>make the correct decision and need some help.

>

>

>Bob Chapman

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Donna,

If u dont mind me asking, who was the MD in NC that messed u up? I

live near Charlotte, and although I always go to Dr. A for all my

fills, I'd like to avoid, and advise others to avoid, this quack!

Thanks,

Norm

> >

> >Initially I was sold on the lap band surgery, then after attending

a

> >meeting here in Orlando I changed my mind and was sold on the total

> >gastric bypass that my sister had a year ago. (She has lost over

100 lbs

> >and feels great) I had the surgery scheduled for next Tuesday with

a

> >doctor in Alabama. (The cost was considerably less than locally)

but I

> >suddenly had a tear in my retina and had to have emergency eye

surgery

> >and had to postpone my operation.

> >

> >And once again I am torn between the lap bad and the gastric

bypass,

> >please correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard that the weight

loss

> >is much greater with the gastric by pass than the lap band (Or

should I

> >say much faster) then there are the fills that one has to contend

with

> >and that means going back to doctor every few months to get this

done,

> >in my case it would mean flying to the Birmingham Al. area.

> >

> >I would love to hear from people that have had both surgeries, I

want to

> >make the correct decision and need some help.

> >

> >

> >Bob Chapman

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The piece of paper and a line down the middle sounds like good

advice. I know how impatient I am and wonder if the sleve will be

fast enough for me. I am looking forward to getting this done and

over with once and for all.

Anyone on the list know a Dr. Clifford Black in Anniston Alabama? He

said he has done 800 GB surgeriesk and the center has the seal of

excellence, but I can't find out much about Dr. Black. Is there a

place you can look up the Doctors records?

Bob

>

> Hi Bob, you will probably get a lot of responses on this question.

Number

> one, you said if you had to go back to the doctor, you would have

to fly. So

> you have to account for that financially. But I will say once you

are at a

> good spot, you may never need to go back for a fill or it may be a

couple

> years. I have a friend who weighed over 700lbs and didn't need a

fill until

> about a year after his surgery. By then he had already lost 300lbs!

He has

> only had 3 fills total and he is 5 years out. He is getting ready

to have a

> full body lift as he is very close to goal.

>

>

>

> Others will tell you that they lost all of their weight with the GB

(Gastric

> bypass) and didn't have to worry about going back to the doctor.

But there

> are some who have issues with that as well and had to go in for

leak tests

> etc. So there are good and bad with all surgeries and you have to

weigh

> those in your mind (no pun intended!) Lapband is adjustable so if

you

> stretch your pouch you can usually go on liquids and shrink it or

get an

> unfill and shrink your pouch even more. Which the GB you can still

go on

> liquids but you can't re-adjust anything. But with the GB if you

are good to

> go right out of surgery, you will lose without having to adjust

anything.

> With the band you may be able to eat everything (like me) or you

might have

> problems with everything. It is the same with the GB. My sister had

the GB

> and it was great at first but 4 yrs out she had to have a revision

and had

> other issues with her stomach. But some have to have a revision of

the band

> if it slips or erodes. There is no right answer I can give you. You

might

> want to get a piece of paper and write down the good and the band

about both

> surgeries then you decide what you are willing to work with. Good

luck!

>

>

>

> M

>

> https://www.tracyslapband.com

>

>

>

>

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Bob

Chapman

> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:12 AM

>

> Subject: lap band

>

>

>

> Initially I was sold on the lap band surgery, then after attending

a meeting

> here in Orlando I changed my mind and was sold on the total gastric

bypass

> that my sister had a year ago. (She has lost over 100 lbs and feels

great) I

> had the surgery scheduled for next Tuesday with a doctor in

Alabama. (The

> cost was considerably less than locally) but I suddenly had a tear

in my

> retina and had to have emergency eye surgery and had to postpone my

> operation.

>

> And once again I am torn between the lap bad and the gastric

bypass, please

> correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard that the weight loss is

much

> greater with the gastric by pass than the lap band (Or should I say

much

> faster) then there are the fills that one has to contend with and

that means

> going back to doctor every few months to get this done, in my case

it would

> mean flying to the Birmingham Al. area.

>

> I would love to hear from people that have had both surgeries, I

want to

> make the correct decision and need some help.

>

> Bob Chapman

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Norm,

I don't mind telling you that the Dr. that I was seeing in NC was a Dr.

he was in Winston-Salem... Needless to say he NO LONGER CAN WORK IN NC... I got

a letter saying that if I wanted my records that I should come and get them

before he moved out of State.. Where he went I have NO idea.. I do know that I

will NEVER let that man touch me again..

Hope this helps..

Happy losing,

Donna Bean

15 Via Marciana

American Canyon, Ca

94503

707.853.5132-cell

hotcalirunner@...

calirunner88-AIM

On Wednesday, May 07, 2008, at 02:41PM, " normpac1111 " <normpac1111@...>

wrote:

>Donna,

>

>If u dont mind me asking, who was the MD in NC that messed u up? I

>live near Charlotte, and although I always go to Dr. A for all my

>fills, I'd like to avoid, and advise others to avoid, this quack!

>

>Thanks,

>

>Norm

>

>

>

>

>> >

>> >Initially I was sold on the lap band surgery, then after attending

>a

>> >meeting here in Orlando I changed my mind and was sold on the total

>> >gastric bypass that my sister had a year ago. (She has lost over

>100 lbs

>> >and feels great) I had the surgery scheduled for next Tuesday with

>a

>> >doctor in Alabama. (The cost was considerably less than locally)

>but I

>> >suddenly had a tear in my retina and had to have emergency eye

>surgery

>> >and had to postpone my operation.

>> >

>> >And once again I am torn between the lap bad and the gastric

>bypass,

>> >please correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard that the weight

>loss

>> >is much greater with the gastric by pass than the lap band (Or

>should I

>> >say much faster) then there are the fills that one has to contend

>with

>> >and that means going back to doctor every few months to get this

>done,

>> >in my case it would mean flying to the Birmingham Al. area.

>> >

>> >I would love to hear from people that have had both surgeries, I

>want to

>> >make the correct decision and need some help.

>> >

>> >

>> >Bob Chapman

>> >

>> >

>> >

>>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bob...The best doctor I know of is Dr. Aceves. He's done over 400 bypasses and you are not going to get better care than you will with him. If you want to do it then get it done, just schedule. The thing about any of these procedures is that once you have done about 200 of them either the doctor has the procedure down or they don't. It's like washing dishes, were you any better at it the 200th time you did it vs. the 800th time? Either you get it or you don't. If you do 10,000 of them it does not make you any better at the job than you were the 200th time you did it.

Personally, I wouldn't want bypass, weight loss will do quite well with a sleeve and many fewer short term and long term complications than bypass. With bypass you will still produce the hunger causing hormone Ghrelin, with a sleeve you will not. We tend to think the way we eat, instant gratification. If we want it, we eat it. We ALL want fast weight loss but the reality is that you did not gain weight quickly, you aren't going to lose it overnight. But if you want bypass then get it. Just schedule it and get it done. If you want a sleeve then schedule it and get it done. Dr.Aceves is running a promotion now on the sleeve for $8750. You can't beat the price and you can get it done. You aren't going to lose weight until you get the surgery so you might as well pick a doctor and a procedure and get going with it. I don't know what bypass costs but I'm sure it is a lot more expensive.

Good luck to you.On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 9:30 PM, Bob Chapman <Bob@...> wrote:

The piece of paper and a line down the middle sounds like good

advice. I know how impatient I am and wonder if the sleve will be

fast enough for me. I am looking forward to getting this done and

over with once and for all.

Anyone on the list know a Dr. Clifford Black in Anniston Alabama? He

said he has done 800 GB surgeriesk and the center has the seal of

excellence, but I can't find out much about Dr. Black. Is there a

place you can look up the Doctors records?

Bob

[Guest guest]

Hello!

Question: who know the long term of the sleeve weight lost. Does it come back? If it does, why, when and how?

The piece of paper and a line down the middle sounds like good advice. I know how impatient I am and wonder if the sleve will be fast enough for me. I am looking forward to getting this done and over with once and for all. Anyone on the list know a Dr. Clifford Black in Anniston Alabama? He said he has done 800 GB surgeriesk and the center has the seal of excellence, but I can't find out much about Dr. Black. Is there a place you can look up the Doctors records?Bob

[Guest guest]

Thanks Donna. In surgery, the cream rises to the top fast, and we've

all witnessed this with Dr A! You got a bum deal and that really

sucks. It doesnt seem that just not practicing in NC is enough.

Have you considered legal action? He's probably in another state now

butchering others as we speak.

There is an MD in Concord, NC with a great rep (Dr. Bowman), but

financially at least, his office is not kind to us Mexican

bandsters. I was quoted about 400 bucks for the fill, plus all

hospital charges up front, which is one reason I went to Dr A in the

first place. Even with the flight and an overnight stay, its still

cheaper for me to go back to mexico for my fills. RIDICULOUS!

Norm

> >> >

> >> >Initially I was sold on the lap band surgery, then after

attending

> >a

> >> >meeting here in Orlando I changed my mind and was sold on the

total

> >> >gastric bypass that my sister had a year ago. (She has lost

over

> >100 lbs

> >> >and feels great) I had the surgery scheduled for next Tuesday

with

> >a

> >> >doctor in Alabama. (The cost was considerably less than

locally)

> >but I

> >> >suddenly had a tear in my retina and had to have emergency eye

> >surgery

> >> >and had to postpone my operation.

> >> >

> >> >And once again I am torn between the lap bad and the gastric

> >bypass,

> >> >please correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard that the

weight

> >loss

> >> >is much greater with the gastric by pass than the lap band (Or

> >should I

> >> >say much faster) then there are the fills that one has to

contend

> >with

> >> >and that means going back to doctor every few months to get

this

> >done,

> >> >in my case it would mean flying to the Birmingham Al. area.

> >> >

> >> >I would love to hear from people that have had both surgeries,

I

> >want to

> >> >make the correct decision and need some help.

> >> >

> >> >

> >> >Bob Chapman

> >> >

> >> >

> >> >

> >>

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I am going on my third year with the band. I love it. I was a lightweight and needed to lose about 50 pounds. The band has helped keep off 40 pounds of that. I could do more to get the final 10 off. I will eventually.I have had very few problems with the band, although I am beginning to realize I am in the minority. I have only had one slight fill and that was in Mexicali for my 6 week (optional) post-op appointment. I am tight every month (time of month) and don't like that at all, so I will not get another fill unless things change.I found my perfect tool. Good luck. from MN.

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are having a pain free day, as I am not. I haven't been on the board

in months, so I apologize if I repeat this subject. I have been having trouble

with my weight since I had a surgery w/ alot of complications.

I was wondering if anyone here w/ RA who had the lap band procedure? I am not

interested in a gastric bypass since that is more invasive. Whenever I hear the

lap band commercial (I know there is more info) and it states that is not

recommended for people w/ auto-immune disease. Is this true? I am seeing my PCP

in 2 weeks and I want to talk to him about it.

Thanks,

PS. You can find me and get ahold of me easier on FB. Feel free to friend me, my

name is Cordoba at nichi403@....