RNY or Lap-Band?

Oh, horsecrap. You know EXACTLY what I was talking about. BTW - can you link me to the study that shows ALL banding causes scar tissue? If not, stop spreading lies.

Yes, I know exactly what you were talking about. You are spreading the myth that a lapband is less  invasive and you can change your mind and get it taken out and everything goes back to normal. THAT is what is bull****

Just read any study about complications of revisions from lapband. They all talk about the increased risk of complications due to scar tissue.

 No, I am not. I clearly said (and it's right there in my post, in case you're having reading issues) that my choice of the band was based on NO removal of part of my stomach (VSG and DS) and NO cutting, altering and rerouting of my intestines (RNY and DS.)

And you taking "increased risk of complications" and extrapolating it to mean that EVERY band patient has scarring IS bull****

Every patient has to have scarring because that's the way our bodies work. You can't put a foreign object into your body and not expect that. This happens with anything you put into your body -- staples, surgical clips, etc. You can't put a foreign object in your body up against soft tissue and expect that tissue not to react in any way.

 It's also very telling how you conveniently deleted the second half of that paragraph. Bull**** artist.

 It's very telling how you respond to a statement of facts with a personal attack.

Good for you doing research!

I had the RNY in 2005.  For me, I NEEDED a malabsorption surgery I knew the lap band wouldn't work, again for ME.  At my initial consult I weighed 260 lbs, 10 months later I weighed 119 lbs.  Had zero complications, but experienced nausea for about 8 weeks. 

Should I be researching surgery today I'd definitely look into the DS as an option due to long-term success of maintaining weight loss.  I haven't had any significant regain and I'm diligent about weighing and adjusting my eating plan as needed.  I'm currently at my lowest weight since surgery.

I was a self pay, BEST damn money I've ever spent.

You have to decide how much work you want to put into it, how much control you have on food choices.  Is your metabolism shot, because if so you'll probably do better with a malabsorptive surgery.  You will need to be extra diligent on vitamins with the RNY or DS surgeries although ALL post-ops usually have to take some vitamins and needs labs ran at least annually (or should anyway).

Sweets were and still are my downfall.  I DO NOT dump to the extent of many but know my limits to where I'll end up nauseated.

Good luck in researching surgery and determining what will work BEST for YOU.

Don't get either one. Get the vertical sleeve gastrectomy or the duodenal switch instead.

Hi Mrs. Dores,

I would very much try to dissuade you from choosing the lapband. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under any cir****tances. It might be sold as being "less invasive" and "reversible," but my experience with it was anything but. I required numerous corrective surgeries, suffer from ill effects from the complications incurred during banding and while it may be removable, it's certainly NOT reversible. That's a fallacy that the manufacturers hope to perpetuate because it keeps money coming in.

I haven't had the RnY, so I can't compare the two, but having had the lapband, I can say that I'd most certainly, definitely, without question, stay fat rather than have that experience again. Every single day I had the band was a painful day. The referred left shoulder pain from diaphragmatic damage was immense and chronic. And it's not uncommon amongst the banded, unfortunately, the referred left shoulder pain.

Do yourself a favor and research the VSG, as well. It has the restrictive nature of a band without the erosion risk, slippage, and other various banding maladies.

Best of luck to you. You're doing the right thing for yourself by researching as much as possible. It's also imperative that you have an experienced, caring surgeon. It makes all the difference in your success and quality of life.

Make sure you investigate all the options for weight loss surgery and decide which will work best for you and your habits. You can visit the four surgery forums here on OH: The duodenal switch, the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, the RNY, and the adjustable gastric band.