Question:
Why not try the lap band before other more invasive stuff??? it MIGHT work...
— zimra (posted on August 3, 2008)
August 2, 2008
I will bite and answer this. For me there is no other surgery in my head.
It was a one time shot for me. If the lap band failed and I didn't loose
the weight and wanted the Gastric bypass it would be 20,000 + out of my
pocket that I just can't and couldn't afford. Plus I have seen friends and
family members "eat" through the band so out of the starting gate
I would be thinking HEY I know how I can get the food I most enjoy. I am 5
days post-op RNY and I love my surgery. I went through a 10 day liquid hell
diet and never cheated I knew if I could get through that I can get through
anything. The hunger has subsided and feel great! I debated the lap band
for almost a year before I decided the RNY. I just know my surgery is best
for me but not may be best for you. If you are will to go though major
surgery more than once be my guest. (they are both considered major
surgery) I will take the couple extra days of pain and liquid diet to know
I will have true success with my procedure. Now let me ask you why this ?
Have a wonderful day and beautiful week! Bridgette
— bridgadean
August 2, 2008
I think most folks depending on insurance ( certainly myself included) are
in the same situation as Bridgette. I had one shot at WLS so after two
years of studying and then jumping through insurance hoops, I picked RNY.
I'm 6 months post op and I wish I had realized it would be this easy for me
so I would have considered it five years ago but better late than never.
— sandrainpodunk
August 2, 2008
I would like to chime in too...many people think that lapband is less
invasive and in a way it is only because your intestines stay put but it is
still major surgery nonetheless. You are put under anesthesia, you get the
same 5 incisions in your abdomen and your recovery time is basically the
same. The only difference is that you have a "port" that is
permanently placed to do fills and band around your "stoma" that
can be removed at a later date. Many people who are unsuccessful with
lapband opt for RNY years later. Lapband is a relatively new procedure and
is still being perfected. RNY is the GOLD STANDARD of weight loss surgery.
It has amazing results and is much more restrictive than lapband. If you
are a compulsive eater, a snacker, crave sweets and want a relatively quick
weight loss, then you go with RNY. If you want to lose slowly (1 lb/wk)
and want to deal with fills (many not covered by insurance) when needed and
run the risk of band slippage and being able to eat anything, including
sugar, then go with the band. Personally, I don't feel at all that I have
lost some intestine, I feel great, have lost my weight and now face the
challenges of keeping the weight off and stable. I would never have
considered lapband, I needed a quick loss with restrictions. My insurance
would have paid for either procedure. Select your surgeon carefully,
interview 3 and make sure they all explain both procedures
thoroughly....see which one they perform most often and what they recommend
for you based on your honesty, health history, etc. Good luck!
— Sheri A.
August 2, 2008
i think that both surgerys are fabulous. for me personally i choose the
lapband procedure. personally i wanted a slower weight loss. i have lost
31 lbs in 7 weeks. and i am having my first fill on 08.05. i am v ery
excited about having control of eating. i can go 4-6 hrs without feeling
the urge to eat. my niece had rny surgery 9 weeks ago and has not lost any
weight. i love my lapband, i can have a fill every couple of weeks for the
rest of my life. as far as i know both surgerys have plus' and minus'. a
major consideration for me was the rate of weight loss causing lots of
excess skin. so far my skin is doing ok. then again i am in my late
fifties. with both surgeries you can gain back the weight. oh, what a scary
thought.only through your own education and medical advise are you going to
be able to make your best lifes journey. best wishes kat
— stevenzak
August 3, 2008
It's a personal choice really...Some people like myself had more than 100
lbs to lose...and the lapband seems to be better suited for light weights
facing health issues...I was a heavy weight at 315+ pounds (my scale only
went to 280 so I'm not sure how large I got to) Also I love food and knew
that there were easy ways to "drink" your calories...I wanted
restriction...Plus I had a hiatal hernia and severe GERD...I wanted NO MORE
ACID in my stomach...Lapband is famous for causing more trouble...I also
didn't want the constant fills...That to me is more invasive than yearly
lab work...So I guess it's still a matter of opinion...In my personal
humble opinion, if I was only 100 lbs overweight and had no real
comorbidities, I would not have any surgery. Because diet and exercise and
head doc is the LEAST body invasive. But I was losing my health by the day
because my thyroid could no longer metabolise me I would gain and gain for
no good reason...and I was in so much pain that I felt that living was not
worth it much longer...Invasion of my body and my anatomy to have RNY is
what gave me a second chance...Took care of all my pain and suffereing and
ultimately healed my head and worthlessness. I am wonderful and deserving
and it was worth the drastic measures and risks...You have to make these
decisions for yourself...We all start at different weights and health
issues...and each different WLS offers certain things to certain
problems...It's individual and not universal at all...because the pros and
cons outweigh the invasiveness for certain people...I would not have had
RNY is I was only 200 lbs...The average weeight loss is 100 lbs...and I
NEVER want to weigh 100 lbs... I'm not built that way...So to me, I would
have kept trying dieting if I was 200 because I wanted to weigh
160...That's only 40 lbs...No surgery would have been worth it to me for
40-50 lbs tops. And again...that's my personal opinion for my personal
body goals and health problems and eating disorders...
— .Anita R.
August 3, 2008
— Gina S.
August 3, 2008
I chose, "the road less traveled" and it has made ALL the
difference! I have opted for the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I do not
have to deal with special supplements or blood work to ensure that I am
getting all of the required vitamins and minerals due to the malabsorption
issues that come with both the Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal Switch. I
DO take REGULAR vitamins that you can get from ANY store that supplement my
diet ONLY BECAUSE I am not EATING enough food to BEGIN WITH. Once I LOSE
the weight I need to lose, and I begin to eat the amount of food that I
need to MAINTAIN my weight, as long as I am eating a HEALTHY diet, I will
not need to SUPPLEMENT my diet with VITAMINS! When I initially looked at
weight loss surgery, I was looking at the Lap Band. My surgeon sat me down
and told me about the various options available to me. I did not like the
idea of having my intestines rerouted. I am a firm believer in the
K.I.S.S. principle. K.I.S.S. Stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid! The
Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal Switch are not simple procedures. Both are
known to have some detrimental side effects for a fairly large number of
people. While STATISTICALLY, that number may be small, added up over the
number of operations, it adds up to quite a few people. I don't have much
luck. I am part Irish. The Irish KNOW about Murphy's Law. Murphy's Law
states that any thing that CAN happen, WILL happen. I figured that if it
COULD happen, it WOULD happen to ME! It usually does. When I was told
about the Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal Switch, and I was told about some
of the potential side effects, I figured that they were NOT a good fit for
ME. As soon as I heard about the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, however, I
KNEW that it was the operation that I wanted. It was SIMPLE! It was MUCH
LESS COMPLICATED than the LAP BAND PROCEDURE, even! There was MUCH LESS to
go WRONG! I have discovered over the years that when you have LESS on a
car, you have a more reliable car. As soon as you start ADDING options,
you start adding PROBLEMS. POWER windows BREAK. Air conditioning BREAKS.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS break too. Power Steering, Radio, all of these
things add up and cause reliability problems. When you keep things SIMPLE,
you have less PROBLEMS. With the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, all they do
is eliminate approximately 85% of your stomach. That is IT. I will admit
that the procedure is NOT for EVERYONE, but it IS the SAFEST SURGICAL
Weight Loss Procedure available so far. Women who may get pregnant and
people who may need Chemotherapy should not get this procedure and should
PROBABLY get the Lap Band procedure above all others due to the flexibility
of the procedure. For everyone ELSE, I would highly recommend the Vertical
Sleeve Gastrectomy. It is COMPARABLE in performance to the Gastric Bypass
without the side effects, and it CAN be easily revised to the Duodenal
Switch at a later date if needed. The ONLY reason I can see for getting
the Gastric Bypass at THIS point is that the INSURANCE companies may not
PAY for the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy because they consider it to be an
"Experimental Surgery" because it has not been done here in the
US for more than 10 years as a Weight Loss Surgery. It HAS been done here
for OTHER reasons, and it has been done in Central and South AMERICA and
EUROPE for weight loss surgery for more than 10 years, but the AMA and the
FDA will not accept DATA from these countries to be used for research to
CERTIFY the procedure as VALID because they don't TRUST it. As if US DATA
is to be considered TRUSTWORTHY in ITSELF! We have had a NUMBER of DRUGS
that have been RECALLED due to MANIPULATION of DATA by the US DRUG
INDUSTRY! Certainly, SOME of the countries in EUROPE can be considered
trustworthy? Great Britain, PERHAPS? They have data that goes back quite
a FEW YEARS on this procedure! I have lost 94 pounds in 5 months with the
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. While I would like to say that it was solely
due to the procedure, that would be untrue. I can STALL my weight loss at
any time simply by eating fast food. If I want to continue to lose weight,
I need to eat a HEALTHY diet, EAT SMALL PORTIONS, and EXERCISE! The only
difficulty that I have had with this procedure is in getting enough WATER.
I have to CARRY water with me all DAY and SIP from the water CONSTANTLY to
get enough. I suspect that this is an concern with ALL surgical weight
loss procedures, however. For anyone interested in finding out any
information about the most common weight loss surgical options available
today, I suggest you go to my profile page (
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hubarlow/ ) and check out my post called
"Surgical Comparisons." If you cannot find it in the main page,
look in the March Archives. There you will find information on the most
common surgical procedures available today. Use this as the foundation for
your OWN research. DO your OWN research! I believe that it is of the
highest importance that you DO your OWN research. There are people out
there much like myself, who are simply PATIENTS who have done some RESEARCH
that consider themselves to be "EXPERTS" on weight loss surgery.
They BELIEVE that they know EVERYTHING that there is to KNOW about the
different procedures, and that they are QUALIFIED to give medical advice.
I DO NOT CLAIM to be such a person. I am merely a PATIENT that has done
some RESEARCH! I STRONGLY BELIEVE that it is IMPERATIVE that EACH PERSON
should do HIS or HER OWN RESEARCH! Each person should be INFORMED and
RESPONSIBLE for his OWN DECISIONS when it comes to this kind of surgery!
Do NOT rely on SOMEONE ELSE'S JUDGEMENT! I hope this helps, Hugh
— hubarlow
August 3, 2008
I really think it is a personal preference. I chose the lap band and have
been very successful with it. I have 145# to lose and have lost 62# in 7
months. I have read others that have said that the band doesn't restrict
enough (sugars etc.) but it does really restict your carb. intake. It is
not magic, it is a tool to help in weight loss. Just as people can
"cheat" and "eat thru their band" I have a very close
friend who "ate thru her RNY" and has regained 60# of the 150+#
that she had lost, and now has to have another Sx. At some point I guess
we all have to deal with our demons (food) and take which ever
"tool" we have chosen, RNY or Lap band, and use it. I think some
people still think that either Sx is "magic" and they can eat
what ever and still lose. People need to make their choices wisely and
really do what they feel is best for them. Also choose your surgeon
wisely, i think that is a key to anyones success. My surgeon and his staff
have been instrumental in my success so far.
— HBSantis
August 3, 2008
Amen to all answers! Haven't seen any post I don't agree with. Ultimately
it is your decision. I originally was going for the Lap Band because I was
considered a "leight weight" (yeah right!) at 100 pounds
overweight. After going to seminars, reading the boards, and thinking
about what kind of an eater I am, I chose the RNY. The surgeon did not and
will not choose your surgery for you, but he does tell you the down &
out facts. The RNY is a better choice for people with BMI of 40+. Lap
Band IS a major surgery and DOES have complications; stomach erosion, band
malfunction; port flipping, etc... I personally did not want it in me for
the rest of my life. (Just ME ... others have no problem with it...) I
also knew if I could get my insurance to pay for ANY surgery I would be
lucky. They sure as heck would not pay for a RNY down the road if the Lap
Band didn't "work out". So I chose the RNY. I am happy with the
results and would do it again. :0D Good Luck in your choice!
— MAG
August 4, 2008
Like all surgeries, and weight loss rates, everyone has an opinion and
loses differently. Research and talk to more than one surgeon. I have
Kaiser (policies would even change with different facilites) insurance and
they wouldn't approve anyone for a lapband if they had 100 lbs or more to
lose. I went through 6 mos worth of classes and attended two surgeon
seminars. Both surgeons and in the class said that the band is having great
success in Europe, but not here. Also, for me, I've got 5 grandkids (4 are
boys) with whom I want to play. I also have a little dog who thinks it's
great fun to jump on my stomach if I don't get up early enough in the
morning. I didn't want to take a chance and have the port dislodge.
For my RNY, I had a bleed afterwards and had to get blood and plasma. Even
with that complication, I'd go through it all again. I lost 17 lbs the
first week, didn't take blood pressure meds after the morning of my
surgery, my feet have already shrunk. Then I stalled for a week, and it
looks like I'm losing again. Good luck with your decision.
— MKPstamps
August 4, 2008
Most people don't really have the luxury of being able to try one surgery
first, then go to another later. As a self pay patient, I didn't have the
option to experiment. Even if you did, why would you want to put yourself
through possibly 2 major surgeries? You should really, really research the
options, then pick what you feel is the best choice for you and do
everything you can to make that "tool" work for you. Afterall,
that is what all of these surgeries are, tools.
— corky1057
August 4, 2008
I have strong feelings on this -- but, even so, do agree that it is a
personal choice. What I do know is that a lapband does not guarantee an
easier results. I know of a woman who had a lap in early '07; a replacement
in fall '07 because it broke. She then could not lose any weight for months
and months. She developed ulcers, was in constant pain, and had to sit
entirely upright at night. The drs. decided this past Spring that they must
entirely remove the lapband and let her stomach heal. Then, if she wants it
(and could afford it -- she paid all of this out-of-pocket, including the
repair procedures), go back for a RNY. (BTW, her doctor is very competent
-- and is the lead surgeon at one of the highest rated bariatric surgery
centers in the U.S. So one can't assume this was a sloppy job.) Other lap
people in my support group are constantly discussing when and how to to get
fills, food getting stuck, etc., and, from what I observe, just don't seem
to lose very much weight -- So I fail to see any overwhelming advantage to
lap. I have been thrilled with my RNY -- the surgical process, the healing
and the results. I also KNOW I have had a life-long eating problem -- so
the fantasy that I could remove a lapband some day and keep my weight off
doesn't even make sense.
— Cathy 1.
August 4, 2008
I was told by my insurance guy that if Lapband didn't work that they would
not pay for for Gastric bypass afterwards...that was with Univera
insurance...I am not sure if they are all like that. I went with the RNY
and have not regretted it...41 pounds in 6 weeks...it has been pretty easy
to follow and adjust too. Good luck in whatever decision you make.
— MaddiesMom
August 4, 2008
I truly never considered Lap Band simply because I am freaked out by the
fact that a plastic inflated appliance is left in the body. I am a very
experienced nurse (34 yrs active practice) and have seen the problems that
some people have with adhesions and strictures and tunnel infections and
such and personally, I was more afraid of those than with straight out and
out surgery. I had my VSG done and am satisfied with the decision that I
made. It is a personal decision that is right for me.
— IcePryncesstoo
August 4, 2008
Some people cannot have the Lap-Band because of some conditions or diseases
they either have or are prone to. I could not have the Lap-Band as my
mother has Lupus and although I have not tested positive, it is a risk that
I may develop/have Lupus or an auto-immune disease also. I have avascular
necrosis (AVN) of both femurs and in my right hip that may have been caused
by genetics, steroids (prednisone for sinus infection) or a combination of
both. I show signs of sjogren's disease and lupus but blood tests have
come back fine or just slightly elevated. I need to lose the weight to at
least make getting around easier and so that I can exercise without causing
my knees anymore destruction. (The AVN is above my knees which has
destroyed the cartilage between the bones.)
— i12sbaby
August 4, 2008
Well, I'm a lap band patient and am thrilled with the success of it. My
opinion and two cents is this - - if you're thinking of having lap band
surgery and figure if you don't succeed then you can have RNY, then you're
all ready sabbotaging yourself. Both surgeries are successful - no matter
what many people say - - - there seems to be a BIG misconception about the
lap band - - both surgeries are TOOLS to help lose weight, not cures and
the amount of weight you lose with either surgery depends upon how
dedicated you are. It's your choice - don't be influenced by everyone
else.
— Monte57
August 4, 2008
I just wanted to speak up and say I had Lap Band in May 2007 and I have
lost over 200 lbs now. Lap Band can work for us heavy weights too. I have
only had 3 fills and all were covered by insurance except for my $30
co-pay. I enjoy the fills because it keeps me motoviated to have the
doctors record my weight and I also enjoy chating with the other patients
in for a fill. I always tell them to check out this website because I feel
it has been a big part of my success. I hope they always feel welcome and
not less worthy because they choose Lap Band surgery.
— damn-ma
August 5, 2008
Boy this was such a good post. I strongly beleive this is a personal
choice. I am scheduled to have a RYN and when i met with my surgeon, I
know he would listen to my concerns and he gave me the facts, but said I
could change up until that day. I told him that from the 10 months I
started my program, I went from RYN to lapband back to RYN again, and now
that I am starting to share my upcoming surgury outside my immediate
family/friends, I am hearing all the horror stories I can mentally afford
to hear. I am second guessing everything. I personally did not want the
lap band because of having the port and that in me sort of freaked me out.
I have no problem if people choice that - it's their choice - it was just
me. Then I got scared about RYN malabsortion and what would happen later
in life if I got sick and needed meds etc and seriously considered the
band, but I was told by my primary, that's what intevenous (sp) is for...,
so knowing me and my eating issues and my 43 BMI when I started with my
fatty liver, slowly rising sugars when i had no problem during my like and
don't even ask about my cholosterol...... so that's why RYN was my choice
for 9/18/08. But my friend and neighbor when I told her said "What
are you crazy my friend had that and he's out on disability all the time.
You kids need you, don't do it! Another friend did the band and she's
fine." So insecure me when on a 24 hour online search on the same
plus and minuses of each, and I found out a lot. Band have been around
more in Europe than in the US now for at least 10 yes and they now consider
the RYN the gold standard. Still no offence at ANYONE who chooses the
band. What I need is real stories. This post had some very good ones, but
again I freaked when I looked at the top list of chats and someone's Aunt
died from surgury complications. So if other out there want to email me
with your stories - good and bad, it'll still be my descision but I will
feel more informed. My user name is Hillbe, so write I accept you as a
friend or point me to other stuff on this site that may help me more
informed. Thanks to all, Hillbe (Beth)
— Hillbe
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