They changed the message boards to look like the main message boards do.  I don't post here very often but will probably try to more so I can connect with others from Iowa.

To find others from your town, try clicking on your surgeon's name and then once you get there, click on "David Coster's OH forum"  there you'll see some of his patients - at least the ones who have profiles here on OH.  Another option is to click on find a:  "bariatric surgeon" up at the top of the page, then click on our state IA.  It will bring up the surgeons in IA who have registered with OH.  You should find some Boone patients on Todd Eibes's forum and maybe some on Kyle VerSteeg's.  He's in Fort Dodge.  My guess is that most people from Boone either go to Eibes or to Grinnell, maybe more to Grinnell since Dr. Sutton came from Boone. Hope this helps! Carrie

I went with the RNY.  My reasons included my age, my level of obesity, how long I had been obese, the typical percentage of excess weight lost, the rate of weight lost, and the change in digestive processes.   I have been obese since early childhood and had a BMI over 60.  I had enough weight to lose that I needed more to come off and come off quickly.  All of these things supported the RNY over the band.  My surgeon does the RNY laproscopically, so my recovery time was just about a week more than the band would have been. But actually, while the other factors were really important, the thing that really sold me on the RNY whas the research I read about how it changes the digestive process.  I personally believe obesity is a disease and not just a result of overeating.  If it were, than restrictive diets would work.  What I read about the hormones grehlin and leptin and how they are different after RNY helped me understand that I needed my body to change how it processed food in addition to there being less food.  So I see the RNY as a surgical treatment for a disease in the same way there are surgeries to address cancers and other diseases.   With either surgery, you will have to control your eating--both quantity and quality--for the rest of your life.  Success is largely a matter of compliance.  You can eat your way back to obesity with either surgery. I will admit, the rearrangement of my "guts" didn't bother me, and I felt very confident about my surgeon so really didn't fear either surgery.  I can be pretty fearless once I decide to do something. I don't know if your program has a counseling component to it, but you might think about talking with someone who  deals with food issues as part of therapy.  They may be able to help you identify behaviors which would help or hinder your success with the different surgeries.  Behavior is so important to this whole process. Good luck deciding. Sally 398/162/170

I can't hardly believe this! I had my initial consult on June 1, 2007. I had to wait until June 17th for my mental health consult/ nutritionist consult. My surgery is scheduled for August 3rd! Not even two weeks away. God is so good! I have trusted Him, in this journey and He has worked out the details and I have not had any stress. He is amazing! I pray that he will continue to carry me through and that each of you would be able to cast your cares on Him and experience the peace I have found. Please, I will take any advice I can get to prepare these next several days. God Bless, Shauntelle

 

I personally never considered RNY, only because I didn't want my insides rearranged, the risks that accompany such a surgery, the amount of time I would have to take off work, and unfortunately I know quite a few people who are bigger now than they were when they had the surgery!   But I personally know one person who has done an awesome job.  In fact, she was always after me to have RNY, but she is very happy for me now that I have had the lap band! The Lap Band seemed a safer alternative for me and you're right - at the last 2 support group meetings, they divided the room up between those that have had RNY or want RNY and those that have had Lap Band or want Lap Band - and I was very pleasantly surprised that the Lap Band side had way more people.  When I went to my first support group meeting in January, I was the odd man out - and now, just six months later it has all changed! Do what is best for YOU!  Good luck in whatever decision you make!!! Hugs, JoDee

I am down 13 lbs since starting the liquids.  Good way to jump start that band huh.  The liquid diet wasn't that bad for me after the first couple of days.  I don't remember ever really feeling HUNGRY.  I wanted to chew a couple of times so I just popped in a piece of gum.  Other than that it was ok.