Bariatric Surgery - gastric band or gastric bypass

Hello supergabs firstly I would echo what others have said that you look lovely BUT I can 'hear' that you may not feel lovely and are therefore considering surgery. I really think the only person you should listen to is the medical team who will be treating you. You already know that all surgery has its risks and they will reiterate that but also with their expertise and knowledge help you come to the decision that is best for you. I wish you great success with whatever path you decide.

Bluebelle Your sentence Do take advice off the medical team and NOT a private consultant gave every appearance of being an unjustified, blanket condemnation of all private consultants.
I was just trying to redress the balance.

Envious it is true that not all the things that people want are available on the NHS, and sometimes they go overseas because it's cheaper. There are many reasons for this and it's not simply that British doctors are greedy.
It also doesn't mean that British doctors are prepared to do things that either aren't necessary or will have a poor outcome.
It also means that sometimes the NHS picks up the bill for putting things right when there are post-op complications after the patient returns home.

I m not at all sure why you are being so defensive Jane I only made an observation which I think was a valid one i wasn't trying to knock private consultants merely pointing out there are some charletons out there just like in all walks of life and sometimes when people are desperate they can clutch at straws

I have heard people go overseas because it's much more affordable.

How many private consultants have you had experience of, granjura? Did they all try to persuade you to have treatment that wasn't necessary? Would you say that doctors in Switzerland over-prescribe more or less than they do in the UK?
I don't think it is naive to believe that most professional people act in their patients or clients' best interests. Of course there are some bad apples and some charlatans, and these are the ones who hit the headlines, but I like to think that most people are honest.

Bluebelle over treatment is not confined to private practice. The NHS is quite capable of it too. Think of all those tonsillectomies that were done on children in the 1950s, sometimes with fatal results. Why are they rarely done nowadays?
As for people going overseas to get treatment that they can't get here - surely that is evidence that private doctors here aren't carrying out inappropriate procedures otherwise why would people go overseas?

I should have said SOME private surgeries I strongly wish there was an edit button has it ever been suggested I think this is the only forum I ve been on that doesn't have the ability to edit after you post I know there is the preview option but that takes time and sometimes you just want to get down what you want to say quickly well I do

Hi jane I think we all know there are private surgeries that do offer all sorts of procedures that perhaps wouldn't or shouldn't be offered and some people go overseas for procedures they can't get here if they are out of the age group or for some other reason they are refused I wasnt implying anything just making a sensible point

Sorry jane, but I find your comment naïve at best- private Consultants do, in my experience, encourage more rather than less surgery, because that is where the money is for private hospitals.

Do you remember Carol's daughter's story?

Sorry meant to add I can't offer an opinion I have no knowledge of this surgery.

Also, NHS and private consultants are often one and the same.

Bluebell I am not sure what you are implying with your remark about private consultants.
Even private consultants have to adhere to ethical standards, to always act in the patient's best interests, and are accountable to the GMC.
They would be foolish to recommend this sort of procedure to anyone who was unsuitable for it and would want to be as certain as possible that the patient would have a good outcome.

My friend had a bypass 7 yrs ago and has gone from a size 30 to a 18/20 She would be smaller but for the loose skin around her stomach that NHS won't do anything about. She had a bit of a rough time to begin with but is ok now. She eats a meal I would give 7 yr old GS, and has to be careful of the foods she eats.
Her daughter has had the sleeve op and has lost 8st so far.
They both had pre op counselling

My husband had this surgery eight years ago. The gastric bypass. He has done very well and has no regrets. He hasn't had any skin surgery he's happy with his appearance. In the U.S. They aren't doing the gastric band as much it doesn't have a great success rate. Now offering a balloon placed in the stomach that can be taken out after three months. They are preferring the sleeve bypass surgery it's a easier procedure especially on very large people. I wish you luck with what ever you decide.

I can't imagine why you are even considering this - you have to be absolutely huge before it is even on the agenda. The virtue of losing weight is to improve your health - the risks of this surgery at our age are likely to negate that completely.

I think this is a very bad idea!

Oh my word I would think very very carefully it's not the easy option a lot of people think, and do you really as an 'older' person want to go under an unnessessary anaesthetic I m afraid it's not something I would even consider I ve heard too many negatives about it post op my friend is your size and is having great success with a NHS weight management programme which isn't just about losing weight but more about eating/weight /lifestyle etc as a whole she has also tried many times previously different programmes without a lot of success
Do take advice off the medical team and NOT a private consultant I would also have thought there would be a cut off age limit in this country
Sorry to sound negative but just my opinion

I once considered both these options and the consultant asked me if I liked to eat large meals or graze throughout the day. I am a grazer so a gastric band is not suitable for those types of eaters because I don't eat large quantities.

We then discussed a bypass and I knew before I even left the room it was not for me. There has been no long term health studies on the effects of this type of bypass. You will have to stay under a dietician for the rest of your life because the shortened intestine means a lot of vital nutrients and vitamins simply enter your mouth and shoot straight through.

Your skin can be severely affected also by loss of vital minerals and nutrients and that would have to be carefully monitored and supplements taken for the rest of your life.

Also if there was an issue there was a lot of debate as to whether the shortening of the intestine could be reversed.

All in all it sounded too extreme , too experimental and not that good for my general health.

Back to Slimming World then

Have you had a proper consultation about this, supergabs?
I think nowadays this type of surgery is only done after counselling etc to see whether it's right for you.
I knew someone who had a gastric band. She was no happier after surgery than she was before. Whenever we went out for a meal, she could eat only a starter and nothing else, without feeling uncomfortable.
I agree with Daphne, but you really need to talk to the experts.

An ex colleague of mine had a gastric band fitted but because she was only about 1 stone overweight at the time, it would not be done in this country so she went abroad to have it done.

I could be wrong but I thought that there was an age restriction for both if done by a reputable bariatric surgeon in this country.

There are so many things that can go wrong post surgery that I personally would not consider it. I also would go down the hypnotherapy route.

This may not be helpful as the health side of being overweight should not be ignored.

But, I think you look lovely.

Are you very unhappy as you are? If hypnotherapy has been helpful, might it not be worth continuing down that road for a bit longer?
I only know of other people who have had a gastric band and it is NOT an easy way out. And not necessarily a permanent solution.
So if the answer to my first question was"Yes" then all I would say is Good Luck. But if you have any doubts, think very carefully. As I said, you look lovely.

Go for it, I hope it works, thank god for the support that you get from OH.