lap band success?

i have less then 6 weeks to go now for the "6 month documented medically supervised weight loss attempt" which is the only requirement left that my insurance company requires...i have met all the others. i had planned to have the bypass done. but now that time is growing closer i am seriously considering the lap banding. i really do not know alot of folks who had the banding instead of the bypass. one thing that i am struggling w/ is that the two people that i do know who have had it, have not done well on it at all have maybe lost 30-40# right away and have really lost nothing since (over a years time). i want to ask their thoughts however i feel it is much easier for me to address this w/ people to whom i do not know and feel i would get more of an honest answer and from alot more people. i would like/need to loose about 150#. i know that w/ the banding the loss is not near as rapid as the bypass. i am considering going back to another "free seminar" to get more facts about the banding. my question is, to those who had the banding. are you happy w/ it? are you satisfied w/ your success? or do you regret not having the bypass instead? TIA, donna

Donna, Not to steer you away from this board, but have you checked out the Lap Band board on this site. I would highly recommend going over there. They would be able to answer your question for you on their personal successes. I don't see many super obese people get the band done, but I know there are some. I've seen success with it. Check it out. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/LapBand/posts.html Amy

Hi! The lap-band board will definetly help but maybe I can too! I was banded almost a year ago. I weighed 389lbs and am now down 106lbs!!! I don't know that much about RNY but I understand it does not "allow" you to eat junk food. The band will allow certain junk or un-healthy things to go through. Some healthy things will not be able to. You will still have to diet and watch what you eat. But I find the band makes me feel full so much faster than I felt full before. I can eat a "normal" portion and be satisfied, which is the biggest gift. More pluses: 1) The band is reversable. If it doesn't work or you don't like it, it comes out. RNY is a lot harder to reverse. 2) Less recovery time 3) Less time in surgery (most doctors agree that the anestetic (sp?) is one of the most dangeries parts of surgery 4) more choice in food - almost anything (everyone's different) can be eaten in moderation. 5) I was also scared being I would like to see children in my future, how RNY would affect that. Lap-band is only in my chest. Just some points that helped me decide. Hope it helped! Feel free to e-mail if you have any more questions! Becca 389/283/170

want to thank ALL of you for your replys! I have been so flooded w/ responses (i also posted it on another board) that it has literally brought me to tears to know that I am not alone in this and how eager, kind, caring and sharing you all have been. Again, THANK YOU! ~donna~

If you haven't already, I strongly urge you to consider the DS as well. You can learn more about it here: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/DS