5 ft 2 inch 200 pounds
I highly recommend you also consider the VSG/Sleeve. Long-term, the weight-loss stats are about the same for the Sleeve and the RNY/gastric bypass, and the Sleeve has fewer potential complications. The Sleeve simply makes your stomach smaller, and removes much of the tissue that produces ghrelin, the 'hunger hormone'. With the RNY, that tissue isn't removed, it's just bypassed. It's still in there.
The Sleeve will allow you to continue to take NSAIDs, which you need for your aching joints. They're a big no-no after the RNY. And since the Sleeve preserves the pylorus, you're much less likely to develop reactive hypoglycemia, a potential complication of the RNY.
Because the Band has the lowest success rate and the highest complication rate. Even the manufacturer of the Band admits it's nota long-term solution---it's not meant to last for more than ten years, so you can plan on getting a second surgery sooner or later. (For many, many people, it's sooner rather than later.)
Check out the Revision board---you'll see lots of people trying to get their Band removed. A lot of insurance companies balk at covering Band removal, unless it's an emergency situation, and that's not something you want to have to deal with. And many insurance companies have gone to a 'one WLS per lifetime' clause,so you REALLY want to make the right choice the first time around.
on 1/2/13 2:08 am
The reason people will tell you not to get a Lap Band installed is that there has been a high rate of failure (e.g. pain, removal of band, band getting lodged in other organs, or minimal weight loss). As well, the life span of the device is 10 years. So even if you do not have any of the complications mentioned above you are guaranteed to have an additional surgery to either revise to another surgery or remove the lap band or have a new lap band installed.
Judy
Momita, you are considered a lightweight...and all WLS are appropriate...but listen to the vets here...the lapband is the poorest option and a vast many surgeons have stopped doing them.
The best two for you, given the need for NSAIDS/Pain medications is the sleeve and DS (yes, you can get this one at a lower BMI). I needed the malabsoption of the DS added to the fact that it has a sleeve for the stomach part...
My starting (signed into surgeon's office) BMI was 35.2.
But I needed the malabsoption so I opted for the DS. Had I not needed the malabsorption and the sleeve HAD been an option on Medicare AT THE TIME (it is now), I would have seriously considered a sleeve.
Liz
Duodenal Switch (Lap) 01-24-11 | Surgeon: Stephen Boyce | High weight: 250 in 2002 | Surgery weight: 203 | Lowest weight: 121 | Current weight: 135 | Goal weight: 135
You don't say much about your attempts to loose weight on your own. Are your eating habits good or do you eat a lot of crap? If your diet is bad, a healthier diet alone will make you feel better. Why can't you work out? Your back and joints would probably feel better if you exercised. Even very overweight people can usually swim or do water aerobics. Why is the quality of your life poor? Is weight the only thing that is bringing you down, or are their other factors? I am not saying that surgery of some sort is not for you. There is some risk or injury and death. Surgery will not make you eat right, or exercise, or treat an underlying mood disorder.