Question:
differences between Lapband and RNY
Hi, I've been thinking about getting the Lapband procedure, but there were a few things I didn't think would work for me, now I'm thinking about the RNY, if someone could tell me the REAL pros and cons about them and how their procedures are working for them that'd be a great help. thanks~ — kickstyle (posted on November 3, 2005)
November 3, 2005
Keesha,
Hi. I had the RNY 7 months ago. I have had no complications in regards to
the surgery. I want to very honest and not seem like I am telling people
to have the surgery. It was the right decision for me and I would do it
all over again. There is nothing out there that will fix your life or make
things easier for you, this surgery is in no way a quick fix and you will
continue to have battles but you will have to learn new coping mechanisms
because the best friend that you made in food will never be there again.
With that being said, I would have the surgery all over again. I have a
life that I could only dream of. I love the fact that I don't stand out
anymore, I fit in and it's the best feeling in the world. If you have
direct questions you would like answered feel free to email me. Good Luck
with you journey and give yourself the chance to figure out what is truly
the best decision for you.
Denise
— dlryanoates
November 3, 2005
while your learning about wls, check out the DS, at
Duodenal Switch.com and the ds forum here at oh, comuninty surgery types.
hard to get, but easiast to live with. no pouch rules.
— walter A.
November 3, 2005
DS and BPD surgeries are by far the most effective surgical methods of
weight loss, but they do come with the most complications. It is simply not
fair to tout them as "easy" to follow because patients must be
rigorous about nutrition given the extent of the malabsorption.
LapBand is ofter described as "reversible"-- you can not maintain
your fills which will loosen the band, but the band is not designed to ever
be removed. Also, banders (to be successful) require particular diligence
in avoiding their old trigger foods (which for many of us involved white
carbs) because their is no built-in mechanism to deter the small tastes of
items that can lead to a return to old bad eating habits.
RNY, if performed by inexperienced can be dangerous--- surgeon inexperience
is the leading cause of mortality. Also, RNY permanently alters your
digestive system so you do need to commit to lifetime changes in eating
behaviors.
For some the dumping syndrome of the RNY is a negative-- for me, it was and
is a plus-- for you see, I ate and overate (and, quite frankly, was a tad
gluttonous at times) with chocolate and ice cream and cake. I need to know
that my system just can't process concentrated sugars without making me
sick.
Successful lap banders will tell you that they enjoy being able to have
small tastes of the foods they once loved. For me, I knew that being
allowed those small tastes would put be right back to the slippery slope I
traversed all those years I struggled with my weight.
Which brings me to the tough decision that people need to address when
deciding upon a surgical means of weight loss-- you need to take a personal
inventory of the behaviors that contributed to your obesity and try to
assess (which is tough, particularly to imagine life after RNY because the
feelings of hunger are not felt for weeks to months following surgery) how
your life can be different with a different relationship with food. Then,
after you've tried to imagine the role you want food to play in your
post-operative life, you can start to decide which weight loss method is
best for you.
— SteveColarossi
November 3, 2005
I am going to tell you why I did RNY not Lap Band. The weight loss with
RNY can be 70% of your overweight number or better depending on individual.
I did not have to have a fill done. Its a one time thing with RNY. I am
not crazy about getting all kinds of procedures done on my body! I liked
the dumping syndrome because like Steve, I could eat a lot of ice cream,
candy and cake....Now I have SF items but they are limited to what my pouch
will accept. RNY changes the way you have to think about foods. I also
met someone at a support meeting who told me from overeating she messed up
her band. After hearing that the RNY seemed like the logical choice for
me. Although you can over eat and mess of RNY too! I would also look at
DS did not have a surgeon appt that was doing these so it left my equation
real quick. But I have heard long term its a better solution. I committed
to RNY so I have to deal with malabsorption issues for the rest of my life.
Vitamins must be taken always. Although I must say it was the quickest
way I could have dropped that 200+ lbs. I feel like a normal over weight
person now....Yes I am not a skinny mini by no means but I look like the
average person. Something I always wanted to say about myself.
— dcox94
November 3, 2005
First thing, find a good surgeon who offers a free seminar before sugery.
In that seminar a "good surgeon" will explain all the different
types of surgery. My surgeon explains the pros and cons of each. I didn't
really have a choice my insurance would only pay for RNY. But for me it was
the best decision I have ever made. This is not an easy decision, it is
life changing. But for me it was the right one.
You need to find a surgeon who offers these seminars and go. Then you can
make up your own mind. If you live near Huntington, WV, Dr Blaine Nease
holds these seminars monthly. He doesn't sugar coat anything and is always
there to answer your questions.
— Patricia C.
November 3, 2005
I had RNY July 26th 2005 and have had no complications or problems at all.
I have lost 70 pounds my first 3 months post-op. I recommend this procedure
to all my friends that are looking into having something similar done.
— LadyNRed1973
November 3, 2005
Hey Keesha. Good for you that you are taking this decision seriously. I
have a LapBand, and I agree with you that the procedure isn't for everyone.
For me, personally, the pros of the LapBand outweighed the pros of the RNY
or DS. As another poster suggested, keep educating yourself and find a
seminar with a doc who does all the procedures. If you know yourself well
and ask good questions, you will come to the decision that's right for
YOU.
Good luck!
— Jeanie
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