2 year BOB-aversary + 11 yrs (RNY) post-op

I celebrate my 2 year anniversary this weekend from my BOB (Band over Bypass) and I will be 11 yrs post-op from my RNY in August.  In 2002 I was 305lbs and I am 175 today.  

Do people hate the band? YES. Do people hate the RNY?  YES.  Are either full proof?  NO.  I will say this however, the RNY was EASY the band is work.  But, I like work and I like a challenge and it keeps me in check.  I have no appetite and I am not hungry.  Not hungry in 2 years. I spent 9 years hungry with the RNY.  Did I ever throw up with the RNY?  NEVER?  Do I like all the throwing up with the Band - NOT SO MUCH.  Would I trade it?  NOT FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD!

People ask why I got the BOB and not the DS.  Well, I know too many people who had numerous complications with the DS.  And, I could of had it with the best WLS surgeon in the world as I've known Mitchell Roslin for 10+ years but he didn't' think the DS was right for me.  He wanted me to have an RNY revision.  But, I didn't want that.  I wanted the BOB.  There was no way I was untaking that much risk and having a 2nd RNY.  It failed me once, would it fail me again?  

I chose the BOB bc it was right for me.  I am a volume eater and have been hungry every day since I had the RNY.  Did your band fail?  If so, I am sorry it did.  Will mine fail?  Maybe.  But, please don't compare my BOB to your Band.  Its not the same thing.  We don't have the same anatomy. I have a BAND OVER BYPASS.  I have the benefits of both surgeries and 11 years of experience that you don't have.  I am a smart, college and MBA educated woman who knows risk vs, reward and how to be proactive with her health and her future.  And I chose the band.  Today, 2 years out, I am glad I did.

Congratulations on your success!  And you are a success.  And you can't argue with success.  There are many different kinds of ways to lose weight, just like their are many different kinds of WLS and it isn't a one size fits all thing.  And it makes me sad that people are criticized for the choices they make and made to feel like they have made a mistake when in fact they may have made the best choice for themselves.

Thank you Ladytazz, that is such a wonderful thing to hear someone say. I too am so sick of people judging others based on what surgery type they have had. I had my band placed more than 5 years ago, I have had no problems whatsoever and just recently had my fill reduced to only 2 cc in a 10 cc band because I have started a workout regiment that requires me to eat more food than the band would allow me to eat and so far I am doing very well with it. I could have never done the things I am doing now without losing what I did with the band. Thanks for understanding.

Theresa

It's funny, people who criticize others for their choice in WLS would never dream of criticizing someone for their choice in birth control or any other medical decision they have made.  I had a revision nearly 3 years ago and I got a lot of criticism for my choice.  I got sick of it.  I have a very respected surgeon and I listened to what he recommended (my surgeon gets a lot of criticism, too).  You would have thought I killed someone because I had my stomach, that was a sleeve at the time, a very large sleeve that gave me no restriction, and I revised to a RNY pouch.  And you know what?  After nearly 3 years I can say that restriction is what I needed, more then malabsorption, which I still have and I still have problems because of it no matter how much I supplement.  And I get nervous when a person who has admitted that they aren't good at taking vitamins is advised to have a malabsorptive surgery.  If I knew then what I know now I would never had gone for malabsorption.  Some people are fine with it and very diligent about their labs and vitamins.  I am now because I have to be but we have learned a lot since 2002 when I had my first surgery.

I am glad your band is working for you.  As I always say, if it works don't fix it.