Has anyone had a gastric band? Would you care to talk to me about it?

[Annoyingnamechangerperson]

I'm looking at paying privately for a gastric band.
I'm too much of a wimp to go for the more major surgeries of sleeve or bypass but worried the band alone won't be enough.
I really struggle with my weight and always have, it makes me utterly miserable. I've tried every diet going, lost and gained weight so many times and I'm at the point where I absolutely hate myself and the way I look. I've developed health anxiety due to my size and the risk it puts me at.
But I've also read that it may not be as successful as other surgical options.
If anyone has had one please could you tell me how it's was?
How long you were in hospital for?
What your recovery was like afterwards and did you need time off work? And how much weight you have lost?

Thanks so much

I've got one, big mistake. I did lose a lot of weight, 8 stone, but most of it has gone back on now. They did recommend I had the bypass but like you, I was too scared, I thought if something goes wrong with the band, at least it can be removed, other gastric surgery is more permanent.
What they fail to tell you with the band is that sweet things still go down easily, they've always been my downfall. I only lost weight through feeling like food was stuck in my throat, not being full, so imagine the feeling of something going down the wrong way, but 100 times worse, so you can't eat, but your stomach is still rumbling. I had God knows how many band adjustments, but still can't get it right after 10 years and my teeth are rotten from all the throwing up. They only remove the band if it's an emergency, I asked if I could have all the fluid taken out, but was told I'd have an insatiable appetite if they did. To be honest that would be preferable to what I'm dealing with now, I've put all the weight back on anyway as I live on sweet crap, my diet is actually worse now than before the op, at least then I ate proper meals as well as crap.
I did have at least have a taste of being slimmer, which was great, but that has caused me to get back to the unhealthy yoyo dieting now.
The band may work better for some people, but no way would I have had it done if I'd known then what I know now, but I'm stuck with it, my biggest regret.
I went home from hospital the same day. I just had to take it a bit easy for 2 weeks after, no heavy lifting etc.

I would look at hypnotherapy. Friend of mine did this to shed some for a family wedding, and still remains 4-5st lighter 10 years on, it seems to have re-set her approach to food so she doesn't stuff her face or eat all the wrong stuff and pile it on any more. For example, she'll say no to pudding when eating out, and genuinely doesn't want or need it. Me, I'll just think what the heck, I'm out and it sounds lovely so I'll get one, only to be disappointed in the chocolate brownie (they really are SO average these days) and regret the calories. If I'm with her though, I can resist too.

Everyone else I know that's had extreme diets or gastric bands seems to have issues, the vast majority are back where they were weight wise.

I had one put in 15 years ago. No problem with the surgery, I had about a week off. I had literally zero appetite, could only eat tiny amounts, and over about six months I lost about 8-9 stone. Felt wonderful, looked great, bought normal sized clothes for once.

After a few years I got lazy and I stopped using the band correctly. Started eating high carb foods - slider foods as they are called. Ice cream, chocolate, milk shakes, you name it. All the weight went back on.

I had the band removed last year when I had an emergency slippage ( the band had slid upwards and I couldn't even swallow water). I'm now bigger than I was when I originally got the band.

In your position I'd get a gastric sleeve . Safe and effective. best wishes to you !

My doctor talked about one years ago, but I could never face it. I guarantee I'm a lot bigger than you, and have tried so many diets etc.
I started Ozempic recently and I'm down 24lb so far. It's easy to take, and the side effects are manageable. Would it be something you could try first?

Do you need a prescription for Ozempic?

im overweight and all the diets that used to work so wonderfully are not. Thanks to hitting my 40's!

I've not got a band I've had the bypass and would highly, highly recommend. I think I could have had similar results with the sleeve. Have a few friends who've had the band and most have issues with it. My surgeon and the other few I consulted with no longer do the band and I think neither do the NHS due to likelihood of complications later on.

Happy to answer any questions.

Ozempic had a side effect warning for cancer. I don't know why anyone thinks it's a risk worth taking.

Thank you so much everyone. Oh that doesn't sound great about the band at all.
I've never tried hypnotherapy maybe that's something to try first.

I have known people who take Ozempic and have felt really poorly so again that put me off.

@DrPhilYourGuts How was the procedure and recovery? It would be so nice for just once in my life to not be overweight.
I'm a single mum without much of a support system in place and work full time so that worried me as I'd probably get childcare for 2 nights maximum and then I'd be back to my normal routine again.

I just looked on the BNF and I didn't see cancer?

Isnt obesity one of the leading causes of cancer 🤔

My friend had a bypass, she did brilliantly for the first year. I think she lost about 8 stone. She had to work at it, it wasn’t a case of the weight just falling off.
Unfortunately about two years after the op the weight started to go back on. It’s now about 4.5 years since the op and I’d say all but one stone has gone back on. Sadly her knee problems have come back too.

@MulledWineAndMingePies you do need a prescription for ozempic- most of us are paying for private prescriptions

for those interested we have a thread going on weight loss chat called “I started ozempic last night”. Most are finding the side effects manageable and you can read about our experiences there

I had a band and it slipped and was removed. I don't know anyone who had it that didn't eventually have it removed. There's a reason the NHS have moved away from offering it.

My surgery was fine, I didn't have any other comorbidities.

I can't remember how long I was out for exactly but surgery was early evening and I woke up fully in the middle of the night. Mild discomfort, fancied another painkiller and was able to get up for a wee without help. My post op pain was managed by paracetamol and ibuprofen. Showered, dressed and walking around the next morning. I would have been able to go home that day but there was snow so my lift wanted to wait. The main issues were lethargy from the anaesthetic and gas pain (they pump gas into you to do the procedure) which manifests as a sort of shoulder/chest pain. I was power walking the ward for hours in attempt for it to dissipate. I really felt fine but I think it can vary.

Recovery wise was again more lethargy and tenderness but nothing of note. I had to give myself anti-coagulant injections for about a week after and I was constipated. I'll be completely honest and say the first poo might have been the worst part of the entire episode. You're tasked with keeping a high protein intake post surgery which meant lots of disgusting shakes.

The only other awful bit has been the first few times when I overate. You feel fucking awful for about 2 hours. I would maybe be concerned about this if in charge of young children but it's completely manageable.

If paying privately you should get dietician support, take that and extend if you can. Also consider starting therapy after about 3 months. Support to lifestyle change is the most important thing.

It has been the best thing I've done. I'm annoyed with myself that I had to do it, but I'm more annoyed with myself that I didn't do it 10 years earlier and wasted so much time being unhappy.

I've kept wait off for several years. Weight fluctuates by about 3 pounds for the past 2 years and I don't live on a diet, but I have changed my habits. I've met people through this surgery who have kept it off for 10 plus years.

Look on instagram, there are lots of people documenting their experiences, and some goes over years and years.

FFS weight. Wait is SO embarassing.

@MulledWineAndMingePies

https://www.ozempic.com/how-to-take/side-effects.html

Isnt obesity one of the leading causes of cancer 🤔

But there are other ways to tackle obesity, that don't hold risk of cancers.

Just realised that is an American site I linked.

Sorry, but I guess the risk is the same?

I've had the gastric sleeve (young at 25) had it since February and it's the BEST thing I've ever, ever done for myself. It was my first surgery and I was terrified but my goodness has it changed my life!
7.5st down so far!

More than happy to have a chat about it!

P.a forgot to add. I looked at the band but since it wasn't permanent it just wasn't an option for me. I'm a huge foodie and I needed proper, forever restriction. It also can promote yo-yo dieting. Since you need it filled with saline to keep it tight, If you're planning a trip etc you can deliberately decide against filling it so you can eat 'normally' again, before having it filled to loose the weight. It isn't a good mindset.

I had a band in April 2021, had it removed in July this year. If I could give you one piece of advice it would be don’t do it. I could hardly eat for the duration - even with the band completely emptied and living on soup, wotsits and ice cream I was sick every time I ate. I lost a large amount of weight but life was completely miserable. Couldn’t wait to get it removed (and that wasn’t easy either). Other horror stories I have read on social media groups include slippage, persistent acid reflux and port infection. I think the sleeve is (from what I have heard) far more successful and easier to live with but you need a high BMI to qualify and of course not everyone wants a large portion of their stomach removed.

My wife had a sleeve last August and it's been very successful. We now do active things together as a family that we couldn't do before.

Paying for a whole new wardrobe was something I hadn't budgeted for, but of course has been very enjoyable, and she now shops in stores she previously would have walked past.

The only thing she struggles with is the fact that she'll never again eat a full regular sized meal. We go to a restaurant and order one meal and ask for two plates, or she just has a starter, it really does make that big a difference. That took some adjustment and if you love food you can understand why.

Yes, there is a rare side effect of thyroid cancer. My doctor is keeping an eye with blood tests etc. and I'm willing to take the risk. If I don't, I'll probably die early anyway. I've tried a lot of weight loss methods over the years, and this is working for me.

I know you said you weren't interested in the sleeve, but I had one mid August this year and I've lost 50lbs and am now a heathy BMI.
Not only does it reduce your stomach, it also affects your hormones so if like me, you might also lose your bingeing cravings.
I literally can not explain how much this has changed my life for the better and how much capacity I now have as I dont spend my day hating myself, thinking about what i should eat vs thinking about what I want to eat and how my life will be different when I'm thin!
It's a tool but it has been my lifesaver to get healthy.
Good luck x

Cross check you don't have lipoedema. There are a lot of doctors who "don't believe" in this recognised fat disorder that affects 10% of women.