New Person Here....Seeking advice

Hello Everyone! I am currently seeking advice. I am strongly considering WLS and need some advice to choose between gastric bypass or the lap band. I have been doing a lot of reading and I (as well as my husband) like the least invasive measure of the lap band for a variety of reasons. Let me tell you about my situation and you can give me your opinion. 27 Female I am 5'2 - 225 lbs BMI - 40.3 High Blood Pressure Infertility :-( Asthma GERD Joint Pain I need to lose about 80-90lbs. Again, I am really leaning to the LAP band because of its ability to be reversed. However, the lady at the Baratric Surgeon's office infromed me that Lap Band is not that popular and is not that successful. She also told me that gastric Bypass will cure infertility buy 90%!! But, Lap band doesn't. My OBGYN and Repro Endo have informed me that weight loss will increase fertility. So that made me questions whether she was pushing Gastric Bypass for some other reason. $$$$ Please give me your honest opinions. Thanks so much.

Hi Rachel I had RNY last month. I am very happy with my decision. This is something that you have to decide on your own. Each of us are different and looking for different things. I chose RNY because I wanted something that would be permanent. I would not want to reverse it and go back to my old self. I did this to improve my health and my life and I felt the best choice for me was RNY. I have also heard that lap tend to work better on men and if you are a "grazer" that lap won't be that successful for you. Have you chosen a surgeon? I recommend that you attend an info seminar and I know you will get many answers there. I hope this is a little help for you. Melissa

Hi Rachel, I am four weeks and three days post-op from RNY, also. I was offered the band, because like you, I was in the lower 200's, but Dr. Byrne, while he was really wanting to do the Lap Band since they were in need of 5 people to start the lap band program, also was straight with me that it is not as successful, one does not lose as much weight as with the RNY, and it requires more post-op visits and adjustments. I stuck with my decision for the RNY and I am happy that I did. All I can say, is go to both boards- the RNY and the Lap Band, and ask every question you may have in your mind to those two groups. Best of luck! Christine

Hi Rachel. I had gastric bypass last November (down 101 lbs. as of this a.m.) and it is the best thing I have ever done. I too was a "lightweight" at your age and I only wish I had done this then....I would never have suffered all these years and wouldn't have to lose so much and all of this excess skin to deal with! I can only tell you what I have heard and that is you lose more and faster with the bypass and are more likely to keep it off forever. If you are hoping to have children, I understand it does make you very fertile but they don't want you to have children for at LEAST a year... Good luck with whatever decision you make! We will all be here for you. Susann

Hi Rachel, I had gastric bypass (Open RNY) on Feb. 8, 2006. My surgeon does both surgeries, but because of my past weight loss surgery (stomach stapling 13 yrs ago) he reccomended gastric bypass to achieve the maximum wt loss, in the quickest amount of time...which was what I was looking for. I was also a sugarholic...cakes, pies, cookies...actually any baked goods would do The Lap Band would have still allowed me to consume sweets, so needless to say, gastric bypass was what I needed, and what I chose. I can say with absolute conviction, that this surgery has changed my life for the BETTER!!! I'm off of my blood pressure meds; I exercise like a mad woman; I'm active; I'm HAPPY WITH ME, for making the decision to take back control of my life and live it to the fullest. So Darlin', continue to gather all the info you can on both surgeries. As long as you're informed, you'll make the right decision for you. Hugs, Tonya

Hi I am 3 weeks post opp as of today .best choise I ever made I am dwn -18 now it goes pretty fast then you might have a stall my dr does not even offer the lap band he explained it can slip & float in side you causing major problems ,& weight loss is not as fast.I love cookies,candy &all the bad stuff lap band you can still eat that so I would have eaten that & it would have failed for me .Just do research I did for over a year & I am so happy I went with ryn lap.good luck Becky

When I first started this journey last year, I wasn't sure either which one too have. I really felt more comfortable with the lap band because it seemed to be less risky. I did lots of research on both and I decided to have the bypass. The two main reasons is that it is fairly new and is not showing the weight loss results I want, and most people can still eat sugar and other tempting foods without getting sick at ALL. But, that's Me. Also, a lot of insurance companies will not cover it yet because some consider it to be experimental. It's a very hard decision to make, after all this is our lives were talking about. I wish you the best of luck on making your choice. Here is the LapBand forum on this site, http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/posts.html maybe reading some of their profiles and talking to them will help better than all of us Pro-bypassers prayers and hugs sent your way nora

Rachel, I am almost 7 months out and had the bypass My Dr would consider you low risk for the bypass surgery because you are young and don't seem to have really bad health issues I was 255 and 5'5' and also had high BP, Gerd, heel spurs and joint pain and was borderline diabetic and I was considered low risk also I have done great with mine. I am now at 160 with 10 pounds till goal and feel awesome I have lost 95 pounds in almost 7 months so I'm sure you would do just fine with the surgery. Make sure you have a qulified surgen and talk to his patients to see how they are doing. Hope these posts help you come to a desicion. Marcey 255/160/150

Hey Rachel I agree with everybody that it is a decision that you have to make. I never really considered the Lap band. Like Tonya, I was a sugarholic, and needed something that would keep me away from it!! Also, my doctor, Dr. Ross, only does RNY. But it has been such an awesome experience!! I'm a little slacking on the exercise, but my dad just got a new liner in his pool....so let's bring on some hot weather to heat it up and I'll be swimming every day!!! Oh yeah, and I believe your OBGYN was right about the weight loss increasing fertility. When I was 29 (1986)(after 6 years of no birth control), I lost weight by diet and exercise (imagine that!!) and lost about 100 lbs. By the time I turned 30 and was down to about 160 lbs, I got pregnant. I also believe that I had PCOS, but was never diagnosed. Let us know what you decide and we will be there for you!! Hugs, Dianne

hi Rachel! It looks like everyone has replied, but here is my story. I was researching having the Lap Band for the same reasons you are. I was scared to death having someone inside me rearranging everything. I researched and researched, but what helped me make my decision was a few things, Insurance didn't cover Lap Band, I couldn't find anyone in SC to do it at the time, and I figured if I was going to go through all this trouble I may as well go ahead and do the Bypass. When I talked to my family about this my husband was a little unsure and my mom was scared to death. I knew this was the right decision for me. I started out at 318 and I am now down to 198. I bought my first skirt yesterday in a size 14 regular (on the other side of the store). I was so HAPPY!!! I was wearing a 28 (barely). This is just my story, and you do whatever is best for you and your family. you will make the right decision. I do not regret at all my decision for RNY, I would do it 10000 times over again. Good Luck and we are all here if you need us! Hugs, Britt