RNY or Lapband

OP, I hope you look into all your options. Really, RNY stats 5 years out do not look good... plus you are stuck with a POUCH. I am seriously anti-pouch after ten years with a pouch! DS and/or VSG are both much better options.

 Got the band in November of 2006, and had it taken out and revised to Gastric bypass in June. I originally wanted bypass, but, chickened out. Well, I am thrilled beyond belief that the band is gone! Wouldn't recommend it to anyone! I had many episodes of being stuck and sick-when I tried to eat the right things, they just wouldn't go down! Developed a serious case of reflux, and the crazy pains I would get when I would eat...were more than I could handle!! My husband, who also had the lap band in 2006, threw up every time he ate-no matter what he ate! He revised to gastric sleeve last month! We are both happy with our revised choices-and have both lost over 50lbs, each.  I will say that the thought of feeling that port in my side for the rest of my life was not appealing, and being able to eat raw veggies is something I went far too long without! Research, research, research. I have had no complications from my RNY-thank goodness-and my weight and inches seems to be dropping right off! Good luck with your decision-I feel like the lap-band should be taken off the market-but, that is my personal opionion.

Do your research....

BUT... Based on my personal experience with both the Band and now RnY, I would NEVER recommend the band to anyone.

I was the "perfect" patient for the band, losing at the same rate as the RnY'ers... until I started having horrific acid reflux.  I'm not taking the "ow, my throat hurts" i'm talking about the waking up in the middle of the night choking and gagging and unable to breath reflux.

I finally got diagonised with a slip and the surgeon said there was so much scar tissue around my stomach that it was only a matter of time before my stomach was damaged to the point of endangering me. 

I also got my band in Jan of 2008 - and if you look at the boards, it seems like there is a huge rash of revisions from slippage from Jun 2007 - Dec 2008. 

I also had a flipped port which was horrible when trying to get fills as it hurt.

I remember waking up from the RnY and the first thing I thought was "OMG... I don't have reflux!!" because it was a constant thing.. it's 3 months past and still no reflux.  Thank god!

I feel like my body is functioning like a "normal" person and have lost 60lbs in the past 3 months. 

So again, do you research.. look at the pros and cons of all the surgeries and go with what your instincts tell you. 

I prayed a lot when making the decision of either getting my band out or revising. 

Hi there !!  Such a big decision and I am sure you are feeling overwhelmed !  I sure was when I decided to get the band .. I have been banded since September 2008 .. I was at a desperate point where I felt I had no other choices and has witnessed a few successes on others with the ALLERGAN LAP BAND... I researched - and asked questions and made the decision ..UNFORTUNATELY, I have been through hell & back with the band ..I have been a pin cushion for the "experts" in my doctors office .. I have an entire reasoning why I would reconsider the band and would be more than happy to share it all with you if you would like to message me .  DO YOUR RESEARCH and talk to many people , weightloss surgery patients & Doctors.  In a nutshell I regret the day I had the band put in & wish I would have gone another direction...email me ! 

Hi
 
I posted the following on 8/1/11:

I had the Band on 5/4/2010 and had to have a revision 12/14/2010 b/c there was hole in the tubing. Since the revision I have been in constant pain but it was mainly a throbbing soreness. The idiot filled the band when he did the revision and I could get nothing down for weeks. Now every time I ate things got stuck or came back up. I had been throwing up the past few weeks quite a bit and was in constant pain. Sharp shooting pains and had a hard time standing up straight and lifting my kids. I have a new surgeon and went in to see him. The port had flipped. I had the port unfilled under fluoro and about a week later it was infected, was red, swollen and full of puss., It was also leaking  clear fluid (I think its called serous fluid..) Anyway, I went and had it drained on Friday and was given 1500 mg of a really strong antibiotic. The doctor started talking about taking the port out and dropping the tubing inside until they can put a new port in, blah, blah, blah. I said I wanted it OUT. He said "Then you will have no weight loss". Really?!?! Haven't had ANY weight loss for the whole time!!  Well, last night I went to change the dressing on the incision/red gross area and I thought I saw more puss. No. Not puss - it is the PORT!! It looks like it is about to come through the skin. The skin is clear and tight - kind of like a blister would look and right in the middle is the plastic edge of the port!! Are you effing kidding me!!!! Needless to say I called the new doctor and left a voicemail and should hear from him by 9am this morning. If I don't hear, I am heading to the ER. I cannot believe this is happening - I swear it gets worse,and worse!! Anyone else ever actually SEE their port through their skin!! Creepy and upsetting to say the least!!!

Christine


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Okay, so once the band was removed I spent 5 days in the hospital with a blood infection because the band was infected. I was sent home with an open wound in my abdomen, which the visiting nurses came to pack daily and I now do myself. I also STILL cannot eat. I get excruciating pains on my left side if I eat anything with more consistency than applesauce. I have lost 20 lbs but this is not the way I wanted to lose it!! Lol!! PLEASE reconsider the band. I had NO success with it and wanted it taken out before the port came through, but to have insurance approve it was a nightmare. Test after test after test. So yes you can have it out "just because" but it will cost you a ton if your insurance wont cover it and the process is not like pulling a tooth.

To be frank: it sucks. I would not recommend the band - not matter WHO the surgeon was - to anyone. Too much can go wrong to easily that they never tell you about.

Just giving my opinion from experience!! :) 

Best of luck
Christine

Hi Christine

Wow, I'm sorry for all the "crap" you went through. Thanks for telling me your story. Yours and other people here shared theirs too and it has greatly helped me in my decision.  I went to my welcome group today, had my blood work, EKG, and all the other requirements. And I have decided to do the bypass. I'm scared of the lapband now. And I am glad I changed my mind :)

Christina

Oh Oh OH!!! My turn, my turn!!! I hate my band.....*phewph* so happy to get that off my chest!

My story, same as the others...got the band, lost a bit, blah blah blah, vomit, vomit vomit, got the flu (as every mother of two young ones does) and low and behold slippage from vomiting violently with the flu.  Then pain in my chest, arm and back when i would try to sip sip sip, acid reflux, trips to emerg from pain and dehydration, water not going down...defill...start again....end up with a defill two months later.

Well, here I see with a port popping out of me, awaiting my revision to the sleeve....16K poorer...and to think...I thought I HAD done research...

Hey hey, Ho ho, the torture band has got to go....