Successful gastric band?

[TinselTottyTart]

Due to a extended period of steroid medication I have reached an all time high weight wise. Has anyone had a successful gastric band experience? I am about 7 stone overweight and eat like a horse.

My husband had a gastric sleeve abroad (Egypt) in 2018. He’s lost 13 stone and has been a stable weight for the last 18 months. The band is not a good idea-there are lots of complications with it and a lot of the surgeons have stopped offering it.

@TakemedowntoPotatoCity

There's not much long term evidence out there. I had mine done in 2007 and lost five stone over 2 years. I looked great. Then I discovered ice cream can pretty much slip through, and my personal life was a.Jess as well. The weight started to creep back on. What I've found is that it is sold as making you feel full on very little but in actual fact in my experience, a gastric band doesn't do that. It simply makes you feel like you have a lump of food that won't shift and so you feel uncomfortable, and still,hungry at the same time because the rest of your stomach is empty! So if the food doesn't slip through the easiest thing to do is to puke it up otherwise it just sits there and might make you sick in the end anyway. I don't know if this is others experiences. Anyway when I had DR I had the whole thing loosened to the max and I couldn't go back now. I still have problems with it but not as much. I would have it removed but I don't think you can on the NHS, I can't afford private, and am terrified of general anaesthetic.

This is why the band isn't very good and rarely recommended. I definitely get full on small portions and I am rarely hungry, as the bypass also works on the hunger hormones. Head hunger is still real though, which is the worst downside for me.

Thank you all. I am a scoffer. Curry, cheese and wine. Not interested in sweet treats. I do eat if I am bullied (just had horrible workplace experience). I have accepted redundancy to get away fron this person even though I loved my job. I know it will be hard to get another job due to my age and size. I will ask more questions about the sleeve I think.

I had one that never worked. I had it removed a year ago, as it was causing refractory reflux.

I had a bypass in December 2000 so 21 years out for me. 45 when I had it done

I lost 6 stone in the first year and then a further 2 stone.

I then got lazy with my diet. Food is limited in type and quantity but constant grazing is still very possible and I put 5 stone back on. When I really put my mind to doing something about it, I altered my diet and start daily walking doing a minimum of 2.5 miles a day a mostly more. I also undertook a couple of heavy garden landscaping projects. I lost the 5 stone again. I then paid out for boob reduction and tummy tuck as I had lots of loose skin and, with boobs hanging to waist and tummy draping over thighs when sitting, although I was much healthier I felt even less attractive.

These ops, a year apart, motivated me to do even more and I lost another 2 stone making me the same weight I had been at 15. That was around 2010.

I fairly quickly put a couple of stone back on, the lower weight being pretty unsustainable without 24/7 concentration on diet,weight and fitness and that is not healthy.

I sustained that until 2019. During the first year of the lockdown I gained 30lb, of which I have now lost 15lb. I aim to lose the rest over 2022 - I've got a big event in October that I am aiming for.

I really struggle to lose weight now though. The initial effect of the bypass on my body has gone and continually low intake means I now gain weight on over 1500 calories and as I like a few glasses of wine my food intake is very limited if I want to lose weight.

I can eat most things now. I am not vegetarian, but meat and fish are limited and if I eat too much, it sits in my stomach and I just stop digesting, feeling more and more uncomfortable until I eventually vomit. This happened more in the past but very rarely now as I am pretty good at knowing how much is enough.

The worst pain I ever experienced with it was after a gulp of coke straight from the can. The gas in my stomach felt like a ball of razor blades. This was quite early on though. Probably about 2003. I can now drink fizzy drinks though I prefer them to have gone slightly flat. I pour from a height so a lot of the fizz comes out before drinking. I can down prosecco with no problem if poured that way. In the early days I used to pour anything fizzy between 2 glasses 3 or 4 times to reduce the gassiness and this worked well.

@NannyGythaOgg

Wow I didn't think you had any hunger with this operation as it removes the hunger hormone. I am a hungry person. Salad is beginning to look delicious! I will be home for the next three months so wanted to spend the time on me (been a carer, children grown up). I might go to an old fashioned health farm first, my weight is in my head. I am embarrassed by my size.

[quote TinselTottyTart]@NannyGythaOgg

Wow I didn't think you had any hunger with this operation as it removes the hunger hormone. I am a hungry person. Salad is beginning to look delicious! I will be home for the next three months so wanted to spend the time on me (been a carer, children grown up). I might go to an old fashioned health farm first, my weight is in my head. I am embarrassed by my size.[/quote]
Head hunger,

I am fine not eating for hours if I am busy and occupied. Sitting faffing on the internet and I'm thinking of snacks far too often.

I certainly don't get the hunger I used to get and I'm fine if I distract myself whereas pre op I couldn't concentrate on anything else when I was hungry - which was most of the time.

I am trying the intermittent fasting at the moment, (16/8) which is slowly working. - Now Christmas is out the way, I think cutting right back on the alcohol will help.

My doctor said the band is not favored anymore because the weight comes back when it is removed. I had a gastric sleeve two years ago and it was life changing. The day of the procedure I weighed a bit over 16 stone. Eight months later I was 11 stone. I gained half a stone after that as I settled into more normal eating patterns but I’ve been steady for over a year now and it is absolutely miraculous. The first month or two after the surgery was a pain but it wasn’t so bad. It has taken time to learn how to get all of the nutrients I need and I’m still working on it but I’m doing pretty well. Socializing can be awkward at first but again I’m used to it now. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, even though I had to pay £15K to do it privately. I didn’t even try the NHS because I would have either been ineligible or had to wait years.

Can I just say that the surgeon my husband went to in Egypt is world recognised, and a member of the royal college of surgeons here in the U.K.. And it costs a lot less than privately over here. It’s around the £3000 mark (was £2800 3 years ago). I know the whole travelling abroad thing is scary for some people but if anyone is interested in more information I can guide you towards it.

I didn't think you had any hunger with this operation as it removes the hunger hormone

that hormone is in the brain. Doesn't matter what they do to your stomach, the hormone is in your brain.

Overeating isn't down to hormones unless U have very different genes - it's down to emotions & habits.

I am really indebted to you all. My best friends niece went to Egypt. She is very happy with the result. Another friend has a dissatisfied god daughter.

@lljkk

I didn't think you had any hunger with this operation as it removes the hunger hormone

that hormone is in the brain. Doesn't matter what they do to your stomach, the hormone is in your brain.

Overeating isn't down to hormones unless U have very different genes - it's down to emotions & habits.

Wrong At least 2 hormones affect your appetite. Leptin and Ghrelin. And ghrelin, which stimulate hunger. is produced in the stomach, and the production of ghrelin is affected by gastric bypass.

They aren't the answer to obesity and emotions and habits are major factors but the hormones play a part too.

My mum did years ago. She has had bo end of issues. I dread to think how much she spent getting it inflated ( when she put on) and deflated ( when she was vomiting all the time, having reflux and ill). She went grey at one point and we were all so worried. Honestly dont go the band route. Apparently the sleeve is much better.

Thank you. I am waiting for a name. How long does it take from contact to surgery if I go to Egypt?

@Meowwwwwww

My doctor said the band is not favored anymore because the weight comes back when it is removed. I had a gastric sleeve two years ago and it was life changing. The day of the procedure I weighed a bit over 16 stone. Eight months later I was 11 stone. I gained half a stone after that as I settled into more normal eating patterns but I’ve been steady for over a year now and it is absolutely miraculous. The first month or two after the surgery was a pain but it wasn’t so bad. It has taken time to learn how to get all of the nutrients I need and I’m still working on it but I’m doing pretty well. Socializing can be awkward at first but again I’m used to it now. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, even though I had to pay £15K to do it privately. I didn’t even try the NHS because I would have either been ineligible or had to wait years.

My Gastric Bypass done in the UK privately, was £8000 in 2020. It was also a full laparoscopic one as well, not done via keyhole.

I had the sleeve in Turkey in Oct 2020. I've lost 7stone 6lb. I worked with a Lady who had a band. It always looked so uncomfortable when she ate and getting the fit right was always an issue. I think a lot advise against it these days

Before you look into surgery check out a newish weight loss drug called semaglutide. I know a couple of people who are having really good success with it.

You still have to put the work in and learn to manage your thoughts about eating, but you have to do that with surgery as well.

It makes you feel full quicker and reduces appetite. It does have side effects like nausea if you eat too much. It was originally developed for diabetics to reduce blood sugar but found it has a weigh loss effect in a lot of people.

You can get it in private prescription in the UK.

Hi 👋🏻 I had one done in 2011 and it worked really well.

As others have said, research and evidence now says the sleeve is better.

Can I say that only 3 people in RL know I've had it done (not even my own family know). I'd be very careful of people with second hand stories.

It's like anything it's all biased anyway, but it's complex and difficult to explain. I would do it all again, and I wouldn't go abroad.

The surgeons who do fills like to do their own management. It's a lifetime commitment.

I paid privately as I was nowhere near the NHS guidelines for help. No loose skin and no real scarring either.

My husband contacted him on the Thursday and flew out on the following Tuesday! But I think it normally takes a little longer than that