OK, I am having second thoughts

Hey everyone, I am so sorry to bother you yet again, but I need some help. I thought I was dead set on the lap band, and then I went to the lap band forum and read some posts that were about rny and lap band and a lady on there was saying how she almost died because of her lap band and that they aren't as safe as they say they are, and here is the real clincher, that there isn't enough data that we don't know how long the band will last in our bodies. The rny patient was saying that you can also strecth out your tummy above the band!  Also all the different time it takes to get fills, that most of rny patients problems are in beginning and the lap band are later and more of them. What the heck? I know Dr Gupta has probably already sent my paper work for lap band to insurance, can I still change my mind?  Help please, what else do you suggest to help me with my indecisiveness?   Thanks, Tracey

You can still change your mind.  Give yourself time to do your research and some serious soul searching.  I initially thought I wanted the lap band but changed my mind after counseling and went with the rny and I am very glad I did.  For me, I knew that the reason I wanted the band was that I felt I could "cheat" the band by not getting fills, etc. if I was uncomfortable being thin. This is a lifetime commitment.  Take your time.

I would think you could call Dr. Gupta's office and tell them you are a little unsure to what procedure you want to have done and they can discuss it with you further. It is a major decission and if you are not 100% sure then wait til you are! I went into this thinking I wanted the lapband for sure and decided rny was the best option for me in the end. Just give them a call and express your concern. I had her as my surgeon, and her staff is very helpfull. Good luck to you, I am sure you will find the best option for you.

Tracey,  I am 2 days out from RNY.  I went to my first information session thinking I wanted the Lap Band.  I changed my mind as I sat there.  I felt it would be too easy for me to cheat with the lap band.  RNY won't allow me to cheat as easily so I will think about it before I do.  I agree totally with Annette and Martin.  This is a big decision.  You need to call Dr Gupta's office and tell them about your second thoughts.  You also need to do some research.  Have you ever been in the general OH chatroom.  There are some great people there.  They answer questions truthfully.  Everyone there has either had surgery or are going to have surgery.  Take all the time you need to make your decision.  It's for a lifetime.  Carol

Tracey, this is a very important decision that you are making. I would certainly call the doctor and explain your thoughts. I wanted the band before going to see my doctor and when he told me that he thought that RNY would be best for me that threw me for a loop. It sacared me to death too. But then I thought about it and decided that he was the doctor and so I went with the RNY. I am so glad that I did. I, too thought that I could cheat with the band and besides I was scared to death to have major surgery since I had never had staples or stiches before and I was 53. Yes, I was a big chicken. lol You have to be sure what you are doing since this is a major decision in your life. I would strongly urge you to call and talk to your doctor.My prayers are with you as you make your decision.

a friend of mine had her lapband done aboult three months ago and just had to go back in for surgery again for her band  had twisted on her ...I dont know how often that happens .but just search every thing carefully and pray on it and you will know what to choose...my 18 year old and I just had lap rny and both are doing great...hunger went right away....my dibeties is 5.6 a1c...test which is norm now....before my sugars were running  2oos to 300s....I know you will choose the right one for you....they both can work.....good luck

I agree with everyone else, that you have to do some serious soul-searching to know which is best for you.  I chose lap band because I wanted a faster recovery, lower risk of post-op complications, no dumping, and ability to eat whatever I want but in smaller quantities.  I also see the nutritionists regularly, go to the support groups, and follow-up with the surgeon as needed.  If you're not able to do those things, neither surgery will work for you.  But it's especially important to meet with the surgeon to discuss fills, otherwise you won't have as good of an experience as possible.  Don't think of the lap band as weight loss surgery with an easy escape plan ... then you're doomed to fail.  Don't let some of the posts on the lap band board scare you.  Remember, people are much more likely to post when they're having problems and unhappy then when everything's going ok.  That can make the surgery look much more scary than it actually is.  Either surgery can have complications, and neither is a guaranteed success for weight loss.  And not to knock rny, because for many people it was their best choice, but the complication risk is higher and the long-term success rate is only marginally better than lap band.  It doesn't bother me to have a piece of plastic inside me ... other people lift with artificial joints, artery grafts, heart valves.  But I plan to follow-up with a surgeon for the rest of my life, so that should some day in the future complications develop, I find out about them right away and get it taken care of.  I'm perfectly ok with that, and I'm very happy with my choice. I am happy to share links to several online research articles if you wish, just send me a message.  Good luck making your decision! Jessica

Thank you everyone, I will contact Dr. Gupta on Monday and tell her how I am feeling. Jessica I would appreciate those online articles.  I will also go to the chatroom. Thanks again, Tracey

I chose lapband and so far I am loving it. But you have to do what is right for you. I do agree with what Jessica said. I do think that more people post about their complications on the LB board. There are going to be some complications to all surgeries. I have a friend that just had rny and had to go back into surgery. These boards can work both ways. They can be helpful and they can also be scary. Reading the board can freak a person out, it did me. Then I started really digging in my heels and I found that there really are a lot more good then bad. While waiting for my 1st fill I ran into a man who had LB. My Dr does the 1st fill under fleuroscopy so he can see the band, port, etc. This man was 2 yrs out, had lost 132 lbs and had no complications at all. I asked him why was he having his fill under fleuro if he had not had any problems? He said this was his 1st fill!!! He had lost 132 lbs and hadnt even had a fill! He is my hero! LOL!

Angie, that is amazing,(a 132 pds. without fill) haven't read that on any of the message boards. Thanks for your comments, I wish that more lap band patients would put there comments on here. I love the Indiana forum, but it seems there are so many rny patients than lap band. I would love to know how many lap band Dr. Gupta has performed, I read one blog where she had a hard time with fills. I will be going to the support meeting in Mishawaka on Tuesday at the library I really loved the info you get there. There were no lap banders there, but it was very interesting listening to everyone.