Hi my friend had her band fitted in January of this year and since this date has had 2 fills. The latest fill, which she had 2 weeks ago, has made it very difficult for her to eat ny type of solid food. She is pleased in one sense, because the weight is coming off, but worried her band may be too full! Any advice?
Articles Written By: Michelle
Benefits of a Gastric Band over Bypass Surgery
Hi you were really helpful to me when I last asked a question my friend asked me to ask you this.
Can you tell me what is the percentage of people that have a gastric band experience the band slipping? My friend is considering the gastric band, but when consulting the surgeon she was told that she could be considered for the bypass. As she is self funding and operation, which will take place in the UK, this has really freaked her out as it was so unexpected and going to be a lot more money.
Michelle
Your Weight Loss Surgery Answer:
Firstly a bypass is radical surgery, and is not easy to reverse or manage once you have achieved weight loss. There are a lot of myths and legends about Bypass v bands. At the end of the day it is your decision, you should do your homework to decide which is best for you. In the last 4 years we have referred only 2 patients for bypass because of the potential problems with it. In brief pros and cons.
Bands are adjustable and removable, have a lower mortality rate, are adjustable as you change through the years with age.
Bypass is radical, not adjustable as you age and it can be difficult to maintain a healthy dietry intake when you have lost the excess weight (not impossible, just more difficult than with a band).
Our latest results show equal or better weight loss with a band than published results with bypass, so it depends on who is looking after you after the surgery as to what results you get with both procedures. We always recommend asking for the results of that surgeon or clinic (they should have them if they are managing their patients properly). You could google search gastric band clinic to see who is doing it in your area and what their results are. One last thing if you are female and want to have children in the future a band is safer as it is difficult to ensure that the baby is being fed properly in the womb.
Keep in touch let us know what you do.
YWLS
Finding the right gastric band surgery aftercare for you
Hi, I had my band fitted in May08, although I am pleased with the results of my surgery I dont feel as great as I thought I would. There seems to be one week every month when I feel unconfortable and find it very difficult to keep food down. I feel very tearful and tired and my hair has gone very thin and now I am anaemic and my b12 is so low I’m having injections. I’ve lost nearly 6 stone since 22nd of May!! I thought weight loss was slower with banding? Have you any ideas many thanks
Michelle
Your Weight Loss Surgery Answer:
Hi Michelle, We see a lot of patients from other clinics that have come to us as they have similar symptoms. They have almost always got too much fluid in the band. In order to answer you properly, we need to know hat you are able to eat, when do you get hungry, and what type of foods you are eating. A lot of our patients achieve similar weight loss none show these symptoms, so it is possible if managed properly to get great weight loss without becoming ill. You should seek advice quickly before things get worse. Look for a clinic with great results and nurses/dieticians who are able to adjust your band in clinic, it may take a couple of adjustments before it is correct for you. Hope this helps, don’t wait. YWLS