trying to decide which surgery

The more research I do and the more people I talk too (who have had the surgery), the more confused and fearful I become.  I was very set on lap band, but have been talking with someone who had RNY done and she has given me horror stories about band and nothing but praise for RNY. 

If you have had either done and are happy or unhappy, PLEASE share your experience with me.  Thank you.  Dyanna

Hi Dyanna,

I just had RNY 01/14/09.  I have lost 25lbs so far.  I was like you and started on this journey with the idea of having the lap band.  What change my mind?  The thought of having something inside of me that required maintenance.  After talking with my dietian, she said the lap band still allows you to eat sweets.  I love sweets.  Knowing that if i got the lap band and I could still eat sweets would set me up for failure.  With the  RNY you will get sick if you have sweets.  So I don't like to be sick and trying to avoid anything that I think might make me sick.  I have talked with anyone who has had the lap band done.  As of right now I'm happy.  Still recovering and taking one day at a time.  Hope this helps.  Do you have a doctor?

Sheila

I think most people will be biased towards their own surgery.  You should look at your health history, age and the health problems you have now and think about the type of surgery you can live with FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Really, this needs to be your choice with the guidance of your surgeon.  What does he suggest? If you have GERD or Diabetes or bipolar you might do better with one over the other.  That's been my experience.

good luck

Hello Dyanna,

I have had my band just over 10 months and have to say I am extremely happy.

My experience has been a good one.

I had fills every month until I was 5 months post-op. I then went 5 months without a fill.
However, I did get a tiny  fill last week because my spouse got laid off and we won't have any insurance after January 31st.

I am still able to eat most foods (I choose not to eat pasta, rice, white breads). I have had only one real episode of being stuck (reheated chicken breast). I have had a couple episodes of sliming, which were my fault for eating too fast and continuing after I got that signal to stop. My weight loss has been very steady, averaging 8-10lbs per month. Overall my journey has been wonderful.

Check out the lapband forum for alot of additonal information.

~MIchelle

I love my band.  I am 9 months out, down just under 60 lbs.  The only real health problem I had was high BP and arthritis in my knees, both are improved significantly.  I wanted to lose a little slower in hopes of trying to limit the 'saggy skin' issues; that maybe with exercise it wouldn't be so bad; so far, so good.  I do have a friend that had her surgeon recommend bypass for her because of her many health issues.  She is also thrilled with her results ... we're both on the plus size/regular size borderline and I couldn't even dream of that a year ago.

Talk with your surgeon, talk with others.  And don't believe the 'horror stories' about the band.  It will work as well as you allow it to.  Sure, I could have lost faster with RNY, but I wouldn't change my decision for a minute.  I have not food intolerances - I just eat much less.  The only time I feel deprived is when I want to eat more of something and it won't fit!

Good luck with your journey.

LeAnne

I went into this thinking lap band.  After discussions with my surgeon, he suggested RNY.  I have GERD, which is a contraindication for lap band.  Also I was on High Blood Pressure and cholesterol meds.  He wanted to see faster results. 

You will need to follow the advice of your medical team and decide which option would work for you.  I am sure either will be successful when you follow the plan. 

I had RNY 12/30/08 and feel great overall.   Good luck with your decision and I am sure you will do great.

Dyanna, if you are thinking LapBand, go to the LapBand forum. I strongly caution you NOT to take advise about a Toyota from someone who has never OWNED one. In other words, never take advice from an RNYer about the band... they may know a few things, heard a few stories, but in most cases, don't know ANYTHING about it. I could go that same route... "Did you know that RNYers lose their hair, have vitamin deficiencies and can die from that, gain all their weight back three years later, can have seizures, etc, etc, etc..." I mean cummon.. this isn't the "insult another person's choice" game.

The band is a great choice for me. It gives me restriction and helps me eat less. It allows a person to get fills regularly and eventually when needed (once a year or less)... in order to feel full from a cup to a cup and 1/2 of food at each meal. It works great on fighting bread, pasta, etc because the food feels 'uncomfortable' in there.

It ALSO takes a lot of commitment and discipline and patience. The RNY, as my doctor said, is kind of like the "magic pill" at first. He said you lose weight fast but then really need to work hard to follow the rules or you will backslide. The LapBand is kind of the opposite. You learn the rules as you go and if you DON'T, you will stall or possibly gain a little.

RNYers will praise RNY. LapBanders will praise LapBands. But I urge you not get scared by people's so-called 'horror stories.'  We all have had relatives say "My so-and-so had bypass and she is now hairless and miserable." Yeah? So what? She is one example out of the thousands that succeed every day! Same goes for every surgery.

I am super happy - 8 months and 80lbs down. Love the feeling of restriction, love the negative reinforcement (getting temporarily stuck) when eat too fast or too much.

It has been live changing and has really helped me to see this journey as not a goal to be thin, but a lifetime of health and joy.

I will tell you what made my decision.  I read a LOT about both types of surgery, and how they each work.  For ME, in MY mind, the malabsorption with the RNY just clicked.  I had diabetes.  I don't now.  My BMI was over 50 - which in the mind of my nurse, made me a more likely candidate for RNY. 

Anyway, it is a VERY personal choice.  Learn HOW the different tools work.  Learn what you will need to do to make the BEST use of each tool.  Learn what the possible negatives are for each.   Weigh all this information carefully in your mind, AND get your doctor's opinion.  Chances are, one of them will just 'click' with you. 

thank you ALL soooooo much.  I feel much hope today about this whole process.  I will go to a seminar on Monday and meet with the surgeon etc.  I am sure that will give me many answers too.  thank you again for being so kind, so caring, and so inspiring!  Dyanna

Very common to get lots of feedback on this website about which surgery you "should" go with, but ultimately, it is up to you!

My surgeon gave great advice, I felt, at his information seminar that I attended. He stated that he would not "choose" a surgery for any patient. He wanted each person individually to decide for themselves which one they most felt comfortable living with. If someone were confused on which procedure, he would review their medical history with them, and point out where one surgery may be more beneficial than the other, but overall, he wants his patients to choose because it's their life and they have to be dedicated & committed to it after he performs the operation.

I have always felt that is the case.

I will encourage you to do your research and not jump into surgery until you feel 100% comfortable with your decision. I've been around this community long enough to know that the people with the best outcomes are those who were dedicated to their surgery long before the actual procedure.

With respect to information you'll receive at Monday's seminar, please keep in mind, your surgeon will only talk about the Band and the RNY. There is another surgery called the Duodenal Switch. He won't talk about it because he doesn't perform it. However, we have two highly qualified surgeons in MN performing this surgery. I mention this because unless someone tells you about it, you may never know about it.

And one forum on this website that I strongly encourage you to check out is the Revisions forum. See the reasons why people get revisions and what surgeries they revise from/to, etc.

Again, do your research on all options and go with the one that best fits YOU!

Good luck!