Question:
which is better?
which surgery is better Gastric bypass or the lap band ? — want2change (posted on August 9, 2007)
August 9, 2007
Assuming you have done your research, ask yourself this. Would you want a
foreign thing inside your body? I have also noticed that with the lap
band, you lose a GREAT deal slower and less. I would do my rny (gastric
bypass) all over again! I have learned healthier ways of eating etc and
love that I can't eat as much as I used to (basically about a 1/4 of what I
ate before surgery). There are pro's and con's to both and you have to
weigh those out and decide for yourself. Good luck and God Bless!
— crystalsno
August 9, 2007
Hands down the Gastric Bypass! Who wants to deal with slippage, feeling
hungry ALL the time, having to go in for refills constantly, etc., etc.??
(Not me!)
No questions about it, bypass!
— SnoDov
August 9, 2007
My doc says if you are goning to go through surgery, pick the right
one........Roux En Y because you lose a whole lot mor weight and the
surgery is almost the same except for the staple line. I am 2 days out. Got
out of the hospital last night, not feeling great, but it coud be a whole
lot worse.z
— bderuiter
August 9, 2007
Hi donna, I had the same question when I started researching this issue 3
months ago. After much reading and much good advice from folks on here, I
came to the conclusion that it depends on a number of factors. Your
overall health, how much weight you need to lose and how dedicated you are
to either one of the procedures and their pros and cons. If you have a
local doc in mind, find out when his next seminar is and that will be
helpful to you as well. Read as much as you can on here and other sites
and ask, ask, ask. That's what I did and even though I probably drove
these people crazy, they are all wonderful and willing to answer you.
Best of luck in your decision.
Lyhn W.
— Lynn W.
August 9, 2007
Don't let anyone talk you into one thing or another. You do what is right
for you. How many comorbidities do you have. I didn't have as many as
most and I could not see having someone go aned cut on my perfectly fine
working stomach. I had lap band. It is slower weight loss....but I am not
hungry. As the previous person said - do go to seminars. Also take a look
at how much weight you have to lose. I need to lose about 100 pds....if
you have more than that and have lots of medical issues - discuss with your
Dr. if GB is a better option for you. Good luck.....and I would do mine
again in a heartbeat. I had lb on 6/18/07 and have lost 30 pds.
Carlotta
— CDJ
August 9, 2007
Well basically, the ultimate decision is yours..there are risks to both
surgeries (sure) lapband you can have issues w/ slippage, (RNY) issues w/
leaks,etc...but both percentages are low. With the band you will achieve a
slower weightloss typically 5-15 lbs per month i hear, but the procedure
itself is less evasive and can be reversed. Also keep in mind that w/ the
band you need to try a little harder diet wise / in watching your eating
habits. If you don't have an extreme amount of weight to lose this may be a
better option. The RNY will give you a more rapid weightloss, but also
slows @ about 9-12 months out typically. There can be issues of
malnutrition if you don't get in enough protein and vitamin deficiency if
you do not take vitamins daily (for life), overeating of food and large
amounts of sugars can physically make you ill and some people need that to
keep in check, the procedure is irreversible and you will have to use all
the tools given to you for life to maintain...you can w/ either surgery
gain all your weight back; just a few things to think about. I personally
had the RNY 4/06 am down -125 and just had a tummy tuck on 7/19 and am
doing well. I wish you the best with your decision & in the future.
~Tiffany
— tiffany E.
August 9, 2007
Many of us who had RNY will tell you of how much weight we lost and how
we've been able to sustain it; those who have been banded will share with
you their joy at slow but steady weightloss and the comfort they find in
knowing that their bands can be adjusted should they start to regain
through the years.
As you evaluate the method for bariatric surgery, keep this one factor in
mind: what was your path to obesity (problems with carbs, big meals, lots
of grazing) and appreciate that some surgical methods work better than
others at curbing those particular eating issues. Also, keep in mind
that, although band weight loss over time is very good, there may be a
benefit in losing your weight quicker (for instance if you have
co-morbidities that are particularly dangerous). Also, try to be mindful
that neither surgery is risk-free and that there is a slightly higher rate
of RNY re-operations than there is for band re-operations (due to
complications from either surgery).
Lastly, if you are considering all your alternatives, you might also want
to consider the DS where you have restriction and greater malabsorption-
advances in that technique and longer-term studeis of patients'
post-operative needs have made that an increasingly safe surgery.
— SteveColarossi
August 10, 2007
I was going to suggest the duodenal switch surgery also. Go to the DS forum
and read about it there. I had RnY and had a regain and now hoping to have
a revision to a DS. Lots of people who had RnY need revisions. With the DS
you do not. It is a more stable type surgery cause it is the best
everything. Don't listen to the old wives' tales of gloom and doom with the
DS.
— KRWaters
August 10, 2007
I've had both and believe me, RNY is better. I was initially scared of
having my insides permanently altered so I opted for the Lap Band in 12/01,
about 6 mo after the FDA approved it. I'm 5-9 and weighed 335 at the time.
I managed to get down to about 295 over a couple of years. Then I
developed lots of problems with vomiting during or just after eating. I'd
eat slowly and chew-chew-chew; everything would seem fine, but then I'd be
"one bite too far" and everything would come back up. I had the
band loosened in hopes that I wouldn't throw up so much but I eventually
gained back all the weight I lost, plus 2 lbs! Because of concerns about
Type II diabetes, I decided to have the band removed. I had a lap RNY at
the Cleveland Clinic on 4/18/2007. My liver had grown around the band and
I had lots of adhesions so the surgery took 6 hours. I developed a nastly
peritoneal infection and had to be intubated for a couple of days to drain
fluid from my abdomen. I was hospitalized for 17 days and went home still
on IV antibiotics and with a feeding tube. Then towards the end of June, I
developed a marginal ulcer and have been on lots of meds to heal it,
including mega-expensive Zofran for killer nausea (they give it to chemo
patients). Six weeks later, I'm finally starting to feel human! But my
blood sugar is 105-110 with no meds and I've lost 80 lb. YEA!!! Despite
all, I'm really glad I had the RNY and wish I'd chosen it back in 2001.
— Meezer Mom
August 10, 2007
I really think it is dependent on you and how committed you are willing to
be. I am 21 years old and have no kids and I do have some fertility issues
related to my weight. With that being said my choice was to go with the
band. I did not want to have to take vitamins for the rest of my life to
ensure that I was not malnourished. To me it was too much of a hassle.
Although, GB is tempting due to the rapid weight loss I did not want to
have to deal with the excess skin which could lead to more surgery. I
rather have gradual weight loss. So the decision is based on factors that
affect your life. NO ONE ELSES!!!!!!!!!
— carameldelite
August 10, 2007
Although we all favor making the best decision that addresses the
particular issues we faced on our path to obesity, there are some popular
misconceptions that I feel obliged to clarify. First, if you have lots of
excess weight and you have carried that weight for years, chances are you
will have some part of your anatomy which will suffer from some
"excess" or "redundant" skin-- no one method of losing
lots of weight is guaranteed to alleviate that issue (particularly where
there are lots of reasons why some of us have relatively modest excess skin
and others have tremendous amounts despite lesser weight losses).
Secondly, taking a daily vitamin, a B-12 tablet under your tongue and
chewable calcium citrate are hardly burdens that should dissuade someone
from having a surgery (the RNY) that carries lots of benefits beyond mere
weight loss. The risk of "malnutrition" is a common pink
elephant that, although the risk exists, the risk is not significant
(particularly given that many of us supplement with vitamin-fortifed shakes
and bars). Also, the overwhelming majority of RNY patients, particularly
when they are out beyond 2-3 years, can consume healthy portions of a
well-balanced diet that will not lead to malnutrition. Certainly, we can
no longer eat three BigMacs and claim that all the shredded lettuce equals
a salad, and we can no longer consumer pints and pints of ice cream to
supplement our calcium intake, but we can eat lots of healthy foods.
Third, the DS is an amazing surgery. But, there are risks (typically more
frequent bowel movements and issues of gas)-- certianly, these risks do not
afflict everyone, are not life-threatening and can be managed. But, the DS
can affect one's quality of life in some respects, so it is not the option
for all. Mind you, there are many times when I think that the DS would
have been a good choice for me, given some of my grazing habits-- but, the
great success rates, and sustainablity of that method of weight loss, do
carry with it some side effects that should be evaluated.
Lastly, just remember to fully research the method and your surgeon's
experience with it-- and don't forget to include that surgeon's
post-operative follow-up (which many would argue is very bit as important
for maximizing and sustaining weight loss). Good luck in making the choice
that is best for you.
— SteveColarossi
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