Question about surgery types/options - ThinnerTimes

Chunkydunk · 01-17-2006, 10:36 PM

I am a newbie and haven't gone to a doctor yet. We don't have a doctor in my local area. The nearest that perform the surgeries are 2 hours away. I'm willing to travel for this.

Two physiciansin Boise are heavily advertising the lap-band procedure over the actual surgical bypass.

What are your opinions on them?

From what I have read and understand the lapband can be removed and gets fills. What does getting a fill mean? It said, free fills for the first year.
It mentioned that the weightloss is slower than the bypass procedure but the mortality rate lessor by ten fold.

Feedback, suggestions?

I've been lurking around here about a month. I have a friend in WV that had a mini-bypass done in October and is down 58 lbs. ANother had one locally and is down about 40 so far.

ANother question I have is about qualifying. I vary in my weight on any given day and will drop slightly below a 40 BMI and the Back up, slighty over that. I am in miserable pain with my fibromyalgia. Has anyone that has had this surgery also had fibrmyalgia? If so, has the surgery reduced some of the pain and discomfort?

coptergirl · 01-18-2006, 08:11 AM

There is so much info on the types of surgeries. I would suggest that you buy the book "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies" and is explains everything about the surgeries, decideing opn surgery all the way through post op.

Welcome to the site!!! Your journey has begun, my friend

LizardQueen · 01-18-2006, 10:56 AM

Welcome to the forum! I don't know much about the banding procedure, but I guess the fills would be the adjustments that have to be made to the band over time. I work with a ldy who had gastric bypass who had suffered for years with fibromyalgia. She was about to sign up for disability due to her condition when her PCP suggested wls. She is doing wonderful 2yrs later and her fibromyalgia has improved so much that she works full time in a factory and has little pain or problems since she has lost 140 lbs. I hope that helps! I suggest you research on line and at the library and see which procedure you feel would be best for you. After you decide, go speak with your PCP about it and see what they have to say and get a referral to the surgeon of your choice. Good luck!

Tawanda · 01-18-2006, 11:59 AM

Hi Dunk!

Welcome to this forum. I'm sure you'll get more information here than what you ever expected. I have been checking this for almost two months and it seems I learn something new every day.

One suggestion--if you're not sure which type of WLS to do, try checking with two different doctors. There's nothing wrong with getting two, or even more opinions if you're not sure.

My doc is Dr. Podany in Idaho Falls. I think he's super! It might well be worth a drive for you to go see him. Since I live in Poky, I have to drive up for my appointments and the support group, but it is well worth it. Also, he performs surgery at Mountain View hospital in the Falls. It is a newish, very clean and progressive hospital setting with a very small patient/staff ratio. I really liked the idea of getting the more personalized attention.

Feel free to ask me any questions, any time. And Good Luck with your journey!

Dyann · 01-18-2006, 01:14 PM

They are two totally different procedures. With the bypass there is a restrictive part (where they reduce the size of your stomach and how fast food passes through) and a malabsorptive (bypass) that once the food gets past your stomach, not as much is absorbed. With the band, it is only restrictive.
To decide which one to get you need to look at how much weight you have to lose and what kind of eater (and cheater) are you. The bypass has a mechanism to keep you honest. If you eat sweets or fatty food, you will have a reaction (worse in some than others) that will be a negative feedback to keep you from eating it. With the band you can have high calorie liquids (wendy's frosties for example) without any problem.

yes the risk with the RNY is higher, but I am relatively young without any comorbidities. I didnt want to get a surgery that I felt I would cheat and wouldn't give me the results I needed to then have to have this major procedure later, older, and possibly not in as good of health.

If you pick your surgeon well, the risks are comparable. My surgeon has had 2 deaths in over 750 patients and they both were in his first 200. That is pretty much the risk of a morbidly obese person having surgery for any reason.
Just be honest with yourself and you will make the right decision. I knew if I could have a frosty, I would. That is why diets failed me, and I knew the band would too. Everyone is different.

Chunkydunk · 01-30-2006, 09:45 PM

I had been reading here for a long time before I posted that question. I am not quite sure why but when I read the first reply, I was very discouraged and haven't been back since. Not that is wasn't friendly but the suggestion to read a "weight loss surgeries for dummies" book hit me wrong that evening.

Thank you so much for the additional replies, they are very helpful. I probably spend at least an hour a day researching this more and more. Since I originally replied I have definitely decided the bypass vs. lap band is definitely the procedure for me.

I have an appointment with my PCP Wednesday afternoon and have a list of questions and items to discuss. My insurance exclusions seem to be pretty cut and dry but I feel a lot of relief about that challenge by reading in this forum, as well.

My husband and I made a decision last night to cancel a cruise to the Bahamas (planned with 8 other family couples) to proceed with and afford this surgical option. It was a huge relief, since I was stressed about wardrobe issues and the thought of having a picture taken.

I have recently come across a lot of articles stating that the relief for fibromyalgia patients is incredible! I can't even imagine laying in bed at night without hurting so bad you want to cry.

Tawanda, there is another person on this board from your area. She mentioned having her surgery in Idaho Falls, as well. Have you heard of or know anything of a Dr. Chamberlain? I am in twin falls so Idaho Falls is even more preferable to Boise.

I'll keep you posted and thanks again for your answers and support.

Gina · 01-31-2006, 05:18 AM

The lap band is not risk free, it can slip and "strangle" a portion of the stomach. Yes it is less radical, but then again the results are less as well. There is a long term maintanance as well. You go to the dr. Every so often and they inject water into the band, thus further restricting the stomach.

I know a couple of people that did this, and Dyann is right, they can still eat things that would kill me. There simply is no behavior modification, so when there stomach is returned to normal size the weight returns. These two people never lost all their weight and both of them say they wish they had done a bypass.

Each person is different, of course there are success stories for the lap band. It just depends on what your eating issues are.

We are here to help support you and to offer advice.

singman · 01-31-2006, 08:46 AM

Don't let the words "Dummies Guide" throw you. I work with computers and different programs and the dummies guides can be found in many desk drawers, including mine.

It takes all the technical mumbo jumbo and puts it in plain english. I swear by any of the "Dummies Guides" as a good value and a great resource.

They are well written and well documented for accuracy.

Happy reading to you!!

Chunkydunk · 01-31-2006, 09:28 AM

Thanks Gina

I think it was just me an my emotions on that particular day. I actually have an Access for Dummies in my drawer and I know what you mean.

After reading the post again last night I thought, WOW...it wasn't even close to how I took it. I was the "Duumy" there

Tawanda · 01-31-2006, 10:00 AM

Hi Dunk...

I haven't heard of Dr. Chamberlain, but that really doesn't mean anything. You can go to Dr. Podany's website to read up about him at:

http://podanysurgical.com

His nurse, Lori, has been extremely helpful and patient with me while trying to get insurance approval.

Plus, I just like Podany himself. He is a very down-to-earth no nonsense kind of guy. When I first met him, he was doing the GBS with open procedure, and that was some 10 years ago. Since then, he's been doing them lap when possible and he was very good to explain the whole difference to me. They will also send you a DVD of the whole procedure and showing recovery and explaining life style changes. It was nice to get this to watch at my own leisure so I could make a comprehensive list of questions for when I visited him.

I'm sorry to hear that you are going to miss the Bahamas cruise. Rats!!! But think of it this way...the next cruise you schedule can show of the new svelte you!

Feel free to ask me anything, including directions to Podany's office!