I've Changed My Mind About Surgery

Since our friend Cassie had so many  issues with her gastric bypass, I have changed my mind from the RNY to the Realize Band.  Cassie and I work at the same place and being in health care, I've got loads of information at my fingertips.  I know that every patient is different and outcomes are not the same for all.  Just the same, I've just been approved for the Realize Band.  Last week, I had received approval from insurance for the RNY.  I contacted the surgeon's office and told them of my decision.  They were gracious about it and resent my file.  I may be looking at a July 29 surgery date. 

everyone has to do what is right for them you know.  now educate me what is the difference between the lapband and the realize band.??? 

From the literature I have, it describes the port as being a lower profile and the device itself has a bit of an improvement over the Lap-Band.  Plus, they have a fancy website for food diary, and other tracking purposes.  After surgery, the patient is given a code that the surgeon uses to begin using the website.  It reports that the surgeon or his designees can track the patient.  That I find hard to believe.  As busy as these practices are, there's no way that's going to happen.  It sounds to me like any of the on-line diets with a food diary and recipes and so on.  A gimmick so to speak.  The Realize Band was FDA approved last year.  Sweden had been using it for a number of years with great success.  Johnson & Johnson bought the rights and changed the name.

I  can totally relate to your feelings. Ever since Cassie's complications, I've been thinking a lot about the surgery. I, by no means, hold Dr. Price at fault. Nor Cassie, for that matter. I don't know what exactly caused her complications and it's none of my business. We all know that there are complications with RNY and surgery in general. While I feel for Cassie, it has not changed my mind about the RNY. I know that if I don't have the RNY, then I won't get this weight off and I'll get sicker and sicker and die an early death. For me, it's still the answer. So, while I worry about the potential complications, for me it's worth it because if I pass away from complications of surgery, I probably would have passed away before too long if I didn't have the surgery. Make sense? I know I'm heaven-bound when I go, so I'm not too worried about that part. Okay, I've gotten way off topic. Hot Flash, I understand your reservations and respect your right to change your mind. I'll still support you on here and I hope that the realize band works for you. Brandy

Thanks Brandy.  I am a chance taker and worry about the consequences later.  I was ready to do the RNY and knew it was the right procedure for me.  While I was concerned about vitamin deficency and my bone structure, I was going to press on and deal with issues as they came up.  I had been running my plans by two physicians I work for and they were against the RNY, but understood my reasoning and respected my decision.  I had been feeling some guilt because some of our patients have malobsorption issues due to their disease and they would give anything to be normal.  Here I was going to have surgery to cause it.  I'll see how it goes with the Realize Band.  I won't have much down time.  Sandy and Adrienne were very respectul of my change of heart.  I'm just going to have to use self-control and be true to myself when it comes to eating.  I work with several nurses who have been banded and they all look terrific (and they all weighed more than I do).  I'll just have to do the best I can. Thank you for your support.  Donna  P.S. Any news on Jo?

Please do not be offended this is just my personal oponion----I just wanted to let you know that the day of surgery I weighed 557lbs which was on Janurary 22nd of this year---I had lap RNY and had no complications--it totally is true that everyone is different---I now weigh 363lbs and am going for my 6 month check up the end of this month---this surgery was the best decision I have ever made in my life and if I didn't make it through at least I got to choose the time and way I went to heaven---I think you have to just know that it's a now or never kind of thing--if you don't take control of your life and decide to make this life long commitment to better yourself your life and the lives of your family you might not ever get the chance to do so---I can understand everyone's concerns but for me--I had only one option and that was surgery/my life---I did not choose the band because if I was goign to go through all this to have surgery I wanted it to be permanent so that I never had the option of going back to the life I watched pass me by before---I say watched pass me by because I definately wasn't living until now---I wish you all the best ~Angie!

lemme add something about my weight--not only was I 557lbs I also have diabetis, degernative arthritis, sleep apena, high blood pressure, high colesterol, nuropathy---the day before surgery I took 260 units of insulin---today I take ONE pill for diabetis and no longer have sleep apena--my blood pressure is always under control and my doc says soon I'll be stopping the diabetic pill.  again this surgery saved my life!!!

Donna-I haven't heard anything about Jo. I'm curious though. I wanna know how she came through! Angie--You're an inspiration! I totally "get" what you mean by wanting the surgery to be permanent. When I first started researching wls, I was "all for" getting the lapband because it was reversible. But now I'm like, "If I lose a ton of weight, why would I want to reverse that and gain all the weight back?" I've lost and gained all my life and I want to be a loser for the rest of my life! I've watched your progression since your surgery and am so impressed! I can't wait till it's my turn to turn some heads! Brandy

Thanks Brandy---I can say that although I've been and continue to be sucessful with my weight loss it definately isn't easy or the easy way out by no means---my best friend who is 470 something lbs said to me that she wished she could have the surgery so she can lose weight the easy way---to say the least I was hurt and PISSED OFF--she was there when I had a trachetomy and in ICU for 5 days after surgery and she sees that I can't eat much at all and the emotional trials I have---by NO means is this easy--not now and probably not ever will it get easy but I can tell you that it's alot easier for me to walk and breathe and well to LIVE day to day.  This surgery and my surgeon were definately heaven sent.  I was turned down by many many surgeons and attended many seminars before I finally found the right one--Dr Inman was a trama surgeon before she went into weight loss surgery and I just know that it wasn't by chance that I found her---the others turned me down because---well simply put--they wern't the one who could give me a second chance at life--I'm thankful in every way for my second chance and I pray that I continue to loose and be a liver of life not just a watcher.

Several years ago I was totally againest WLS thought I would never resort that until 1.5 yrs ago I developed diabeties it was then that I had to think about my options.  I started really looking into WLS and the different kinds after failing over and over with diets.  I went to 2 seminars it was then that I decided that the RNY was the best choice.  I had lap RNY on 1/21/08 and yes I had some complications and ended up back in the hospital a few times and was sick for a while.  I even had buyers remorse wondering why I put myself through this.  But 4 days after surgery I no longer needed diabetic meds and after recovering from my complications and I watched the weight come off I realized this was the best thing that I have done even with the complications I went through.  I started at 352 lbs and I have lost 120 lbs in 6 months and I feel like a totally different person, a healthy person and full of energy.  I know everyone is different and some will have complications and others will do just wonderful but I think it's worth the chance that you take because no matter what if it's your time to go your going to go no matter what your doing at that time.....  I have a friend who had lap-band a year a go and she lost weight slowly (unlike the rny where you lose faster) but she was so sick that last month they took her lap band out and two weeks after that she gained 30 pounds and now has gained 50 lbs of her weight back.  She wishes that she would have gone with the RNY and may have to resort to that in a few months.  The bad thing is she paid for the lap band herself and it was sad that it was all for nothing!  I know nothing about the new lap-band saw it on tv but not sure of the difference but I think this is a personal choice that each person has to consider their options and figure out what they can live with.  I personally think the RNY is the best option but agin that is my opinon I only regret now that I didn't do it sooner!  I just suggest that everyone do their homework and research, research, research..... not only the proceedure but also the dr's. and hospitals that is very important.