A question

Well, my insurance has a restriction on it...if you have a BMI greater than 50 then they will not cover the lapband.

As a bandster from Duke, Dr. DeMaria has told me that his personal preferred procedure is  lapband because of the low amount of risk and because it can be adjusted for a lifetime to make it work for you, but my BMI was 47 and I weighed less than 300lbs. when I was banded. I believe I have heard or read that the band is the most successful for persons with a BMI of 50 or less. That being said, I really would have no idea what Duke will recommend for Ruth. They will evaluate her overall health and her psyche to determine what would be best for her but she should certainly be encouraged to talk honestly with them about her preferences and more importantly, listen to their recommentations. Please keep us informed on Ruth's progress.