RNY or Lapband?

 Hello all,
I am in the process of being evaluated for WLS. I have had previous major abd surgery, and am wondering if anyone else has had this experience. I am struggling as to which surgery to get too- my DH is pro Lapband, but I am still undecided. My BMI id 40.3%. Thanks so much!

What kind of abdominal surgery did you have?  If you have a lot of scar tissue or adhesions from a previous surgery, it could make any WLS procedure a challenge (not just the band), but it might not pose a problem at all.

I chose the band because:
1) it is adjustable according to my weight loss needs
2) it has the lowest surgical risk
3) it is reversible if medically necessary
4) I didn't mind the slower weight loss
5) I was a volume eater, so a purely restrictive WLS procedure was good for me

Jean

I totally agree with Jean. Those are all of the same reasons I chose to have the band. I figured if something happened with the band, it could be fixed earlier and there is no permanant re routing of my body and rebuilding of what is natural.

I would however LOVE to be a fast loser...but I'll have to wait and see.
Good luck in your choice.

I just posted a response on the main board to a similar thread.  I'll just copy and paste here.

Read, read, read these boards.  Read the RNY board and the lap band board.   Do your research.  Be honest with yourself.  Only you can know which surgery is the best for you.  Each surgery has its pros and its cons.  You have to find out what those are and decide which ones would work best with your lifestyle.  I chose the band for me because:

1.  I was a volume eater.  I ate alot at each sitting, but was not an all day grazer.  The band restricts the amount I eat at one time.  However, if you are a grazer, you may not be successful with the band.

2.  Other than weighing 334 lbs, I was healthy...no comorbidities at all.  WEight loss with the band tends to be slower than with the malabsorptive procedures, but since I didn't have any health issues that dictated rapid weight loss, I was okay with that.  Having said that, I am down 73 lbs in a little over 4 months.

3.  I am not a pill taker.  I never have been and I knew that I would not be compliant with the supplement regimen required for the malabsorptive procedures.  Instead of being fat and relatively healthy, I would have been skinny and unhealthy.  I did not want that.

4.  I did not tell anyone I was having the procedure.  With my band, I had surgery at 8 am and was home by noon, went to a volleyball game that night and was back at work the next morning at 8.

5.  I also self paid and I felt like the risks of costly complications which required additional hospital time was less with the band. 

Find out as much information as you can.  Check out the band board.  There are lots of people on there who have lost between 100-200 lbs.  Check out the RNY board.  There are lots of great success stories there as well.

Good luck.

Denise

Just to echo everything already said.

My band has changed my life beyond my wildest dreams! RNY was never an option for me - too drastic. My starting BMI was 43.

 Thanks for all the feedback- you all make really good points. As to my previous surgery- I was an organ donor 7 years ago. I have a very big abd scar. My surgeon was very upfront with me about it being a "challenge," but also was fairly confident he would be able to do via lap. He has had prior experience with people having had major abd surgery. Of course i still have a lot of anxiety it will turn into an open....It's taken me a long time to reconcile that i need this surgery.
I have been reading quite alot, and my first instinct was to go with the band as i really am not thrilled with the idea of having more of my insides  "messed with." All of the stuff on the RNY makes it very sexy sounding however...that's the hard part.  I'm definitely a volume eater. I like my sweets- brownies are my downfall- but not my major thing. So far I don't  think I have any other co-morbidity's. I am waiting for my blood work back.
My major worries with band is that I'll eat through it...

I'm pre-op, but I tell you what has further convinced me that lap band is for me -- lots of research.  I'm very attentive to this board, both the good and no so good posts people make.  It makes me think about how I'd approach things, and what I have to do to be successful (follow the rules is the basic answer).

BTW, my sister has had bypass, and readily admits that she can eat her way around it, so it's not just what you might perceive to be a lap band "thing".

Hope you learn a lot in your research!