Question:
With a 59.8 BMI, is lap-band still an option?
I'm 39, 5' 10", 417 pounds but in excellent health (only borderline high cholesterol and knee arthritis). I've decided that WLS is the route I want to go, and I've been researching the different options quite a bit. My insurance will cover either gastric bypass or lap-band. I'm leaning more towards lap-band, but I've heard that it can be problematic for people with a high BMI. So, can anyone comment on getting a lap-band procedure with a high BMI? Are there higher failure rates? Other problems that need to be addressed? Also, are there any compelling reasons why gastric bypass might be a better option for someone with a high BMI? I don't have any critical medical need for extremely quick weight loss, so a slower loss via the lap-band is fine for my plan. — waynemr (posted on November 27, 2007)
November 27, 2007
I can of course only answer your question based on my own experience. I am
assuming that you are male based on your name and so forth. I don't know
if being a man or woman makes much of a difference. I know we all believe
that men lose at a faster rate than women, but I don't know if that is true
or not. Anyhow, I am female and before surgery I was 5'11" and
weighed 383 pounds. I know that I was heavier than this even before that.
My doctor did not have a problem with doing Lap-Band on me. I know that my
BMI was about 53 when he did the surgery. I had my surgery in March and
have lost about 90 pounds since then. I have been very happy with my
decision and would have never had a RNY, but that was based on different
factors with my health. You need to really sort out all the information
that you find and decide what is best for yourself. If you decide that you
want to go through with Lap-Band instead of RNY or any other option,
perhaps your doctor would ask you to lose some weight first to get yourself
to a BMI of less than 55. I do not know if this is the case or not, but I
do know that some doctors would prefer you to have a BMI less than 55 when
doing Lap-Band. I do know that my doctor told me to try to lose weight on
the "practice" diet and to definitely not gain any. Hopefully
this is somewhat helpful. If not, I am willing to share more information.
You can just go to my page and send me a message. Good luck on your
endeavor.
— fluphystuph
November 27, 2007
Mike, I think you are missing the point here. You are almost identically
matched to where I was when I decided to go through with this. Having done
the RNY I would solidly recommend it. Here is my reasoning. With the Lap
band, there seems to be a tendancy to think in terms of 'Temporary'. You
didnt get to where you are because you have tremendous willpower in dealing
wth foods. The RNY pretty much required me to change my life. And that is
what you need. Not a quick fix, but a life change. I dont want to sound
preachy, but dont go through all of this only to need to redo it.
And as for conditioning, you would be suprised. I considered myself to be
in good health, but I am still amazed today to see how much better I feel.
Best of luck,
Chris
— CChappell
November 27, 2007
RNY surgery works better than lap band. I know many surgery support group
members who have had their lap band surgeries revised. Statistically, the
RNY has a better success rate. Lap Band surgeries can have failures also.
One thing you need to remember--be your own advocate on future doctor
visits. Too many doctors are still not knoldgeable on the RNY or lap band
surgery problems that may arise after surgery. I'd suggest attending
support group meetings for lap band patients and another for RNY patients.
You can speak directly to people in person who have had the surgeries for
comparison.
— Dave Chambers
November 27, 2007
Please be certain to understand that there are MANY forms of WLS offered -
and you need to know what they are and make an informed decision. See the
ASBS web site (www.asbs.org) and read the story of Obesity, for certain.
There is also a great, succinct chart you can find at:
http://www.dssurgery.com/generalinformation/comparison.php - be sure to
think through what each surgery requires for long-term success.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
November 27, 2007
My BMI was over 60, well over, when my band was place, and I do expect it
to be there for the rest of my life. It is a permanent tool. I have done
better than I ever thought was possible. I've had my band not quite 14
months and have lost over 150 lbs. I am very happy that I went with the
band. I am still losing and know that I will get to goal, which for me is
about another 50 lbs. Good luck to you with whatever WLS you decide on.
— Bee
November 27, 2007
I have to concur with Dave and Dina -- weigh all your options before making
a decision. From what I understand lap band weight loss is slower and even
though some people love it some have had it removed and gone the way of
RNY.
I'm glad that you do not have any major medical issues. I had RNY and to
date have lost 91 pounds over the 9 month period. You can't judge your
weight loss by someone else who is of similar height and weight. You may
lose faster or slower than that person -- remember every BODY is
different.
There have been people who post Q&A on this board after lapband and are
not satisfied with their rate of weight loss.
Also, have you had your eyes checked lately. I'm finding out that obesity
can also lead to blindness. My sister told me last night that a friend was
advised by her physician that if she didn't have the surgery she would go
blind. Three months earlier, I was at my eye doctor's and she showed me a
mass that was in my eye and it also is an indication of how obese a person
is. She said mine had gone down considerably from when I saw her over a
year ago and she wants to see me again in 6 months. Until then, I never
knew that your eyes and obesity are somehow connected; however, it is all a
part of the body. Just as a dental hygenist with the Navy told me plaque
on your teeth equals plaque in your heart. Why am I saying all this --
because you never know what other parts of your body are really going
through until you start losing the weight.
Since you are in excellent health -- an I'm partial to the gastric bypass
procedure because my partner and I have both had success with it and
continue to do so. Neither have had post-op issues. You are 39 -- life
begins at 40 -- you are a young man and have much life ahead of you.
Having the RNY doesn't mean you'll lose weight fast; however, if you do
your knees will thank you -- I know mine do. After surgery, my first week
back at work we had a fire alarm which requires us to walk down 11 flights
of stairs -- man my knees where happy I'd lost 35 pounds in four weeks.
Whatever we say, the final decision is always, unequivocally yours -- as
Dina says weight all your options -- of course the options the insurance
company will cover. After all, you have to be happy and comfortable with
that decision -- and I'm sure you will be.
Peace,
— the7thdean
November 27, 2007
Mike go with the gastric bypass. You will have better sucess.
IMHO
— Casey P.
November 27, 2007
I had lapband surgery and am very pleased with the way the band works. I
eat very healthfully, and I get every calorie, vitamin, and mineral I
ingest. Once I reached a good level of resriction, I am content with about
a cup of food each meal, and I stay content for 4-5 hours. I can eat any
foods that I want, but I can't eat much of any foods. The band is a
wonderful tool that helps me live the way I want to live. I'm losing about
a pound a week--down 60 pounds in 15 months. My skin looks great--no sags
or bags. The slower weightloss is working well for me. The band isn't a
quick fix, but it works if you use it correctly.
— Kathy S.
November 27, 2007
I was in your situation, weight, height, just older in age. had friends
that had lap band and some that had gastric bypass. i choose gastric
bypass. lost 202# in 14 months or so. still need to lose 30-40 more, but
am doing fine. my friend that had lap band still has 80# to go even after
several years. i had no complications, and am doing great now too. My
vote is for gastric bypass and be done with it.
— shalmar
November 27, 2007
Mike, my husband had lap-band on the 16th. He went to three different
doctors because of insurance changes -- he was 6'4" and was 550 --
high BMI. The first doctor would only do the open surgery, the next doctor
required that he lose about 100 lbs before he would perform the surgery,
the 3rd doctor recommended the lap-band because the risks go up with a
higher BMI. I researched this on the web and agreed that the band would be
the safest way to go. Any type of WLS has to be a complete change of
eating habits or eventually you will gain the weight back. To me this is
the least invasive and you can still eat normally -- just a lot slower and
therefore a lot less. As far as complications, so far my husband has had
none but I think each person is different. Talk to several doctors do a
lot of research and go with what you feel comfortable with. Good Luck --
keep us posted on what you decide, etc.
— keren1527
November 27, 2007
Hi Mike! Hope all goes great for you no matter what you choose! Here are
my thoughts... My BMI was 39.9 before surg...I had the RNY on May 30. I
am extraordinarily pleased with it. I have lost about 85 pounds and am
almost "normal". (yeah, right! LOL!) .
Why did I go with RNY instead of the LapBand? Even though I am a nurse and
get to see the people who have complications after RNY? (which really are
not as many as you are led to believe by mainstream media...esp considering
how many of these are done!)
#1: I was completely addicted to sugar. Cokes, candy, etc... All of
these foods will still go down easily and with no problems after the
Lap-Band. I already knew I couldn't resist them, so why try a tool that
would not actually address the problem?
#2: If I chose the Lap-Band and failed, good freakin' luck getting my
insurance to pay for a 2nd surgery.
#3. Hormones: Ghrelin & Leptin. Research these in relation to RNY.
They do not change with Lap Band.
#4. There ARE risks to LapBand. Stomach erosion from the band; esophageal
dilitation. You have LOTS of followup with the Lap-Band for fills. You
can have trouble with the port, tubing, etc... It is not temporary and it
is not risk free. I chose to have a surgery that was done and then over.
Now it is up to ME to take my supplements and take care of ME. It is up to
you to choose a GOOD surgeon, no matter WHICH WLS you choose. If you want
laproscopic, look for a younger doc. They have been used to a 2D world
from childhood and seem to have an easier time with it. I had a lot of
adhesions from prior surg for colon cancer and was still able to have it
done laproscopically.
#5. The RNY ends up being the "Lap-Band" with a kick; you have
about 18 months to 2 years where the "bypass" part will do it's
mal-absorption thing. Then your body, being the incredible machine that it
is, will adapt. However, unless you have gone crazy with your eating, at
that point you STILL have the restrictive part of the RNY. Forever.
** So that is why I personally chose it. After my research I knew it was
the right tool for *me*. Food addiction is like any other addiction;
cocaine, herion, alcohol... there are some people who will not be able to
overcome this addiction, even with WLS. These surgeries are the best tool
we have to fight this addiction at this point in history.
GOOD LUCK !!!
— MAG
November 27, 2007
My advice would be: Choose your surgery as if this were the one and only
weight-loss surgery you'll ever have. Huge numbers of people on this web
site are going for the Lap-Band, due to all the publicity this patented
product gets, but also, I can tell, because they've got the idea that it
gives them an "out," that they can "always" have it
taken out (and get something else? Revisions aren't easy to come by) if it
doesn't work as they'd hoped. Wrong attitude for going into any surgery,
in my opinion. Be honest with yourself about the way you eat; then pick
your surgery as if this is your last and only shot. Because it probably
will be.
— Virginia N.
November 28, 2007
Mike - I had lap RNY in Sept of 2006. I had a starting BMI of 53 and now
have a BMI of 23 :-). I have lost 196 pounds and feel great in just
shortly over 1 year. I, like you, thought I was quite healthy, but my BMI
was high enough to justify the surgery + I had a sleep apnea condition. I
had no idea that I didn't feel very well before the surgery. I can assure
you that if you take weight off you will feel better. Weigh the surgical
options well. It took me quite awhile to decide. I don't regret my
decision for a second. I can assure you that nothing tastes as good as
thin feels and I don't feel deprived based upon what I can eat either! :-)
But, make your decision as a final one and for sure don't assume you can
go back. I know you'll make the right decision for you. Beware of the
websites that people give you and know who is publishing the infomation.
All statistics can be twisted to sell a point of whatever surgery is being
done by that physician, clinic or hospital. Do your own research - check
out other sites. Good Luck and I hope you have great success in whatever
you choose.
— waferqueen
November 30, 2007
Ok, no one else said this, but I will. Please check out the duodoenal
switch weight loss surgery. Read the statistics. In the end, the DS as it
is called, is top of the line, better weight loss, more normal eating, no
strictures, no dumping, can take NSAIDS. Check out duodenalswitch.com or
the DS forum here on OH.
— KRWaters
Click Here to Return