lap band vs rny?

am on the fence what to have the lap band or the rny? my bmi is 59 and as of right now only medical problems i have is high blood pressure. not sure if i should have the lap band or the rny? help?

bridgett, I think only you can make that decision.  My only advice is just to research all of your options not just these two.  I suggest maybe taking the leadership courses offered here on OH , even if you don't want to lead a support group, the information you will get out of these sessions is priceless.  Also just google surgery options and post questions on all the forums here.  You will get a lot of answers, just remeber that all boards here are not as nice as the TN board.  Just set aside anything that is said catty and pull only the information you can use. Good luck and just pray over your decision, God will see you through. Darlene

I think it really has to do with personal views on how you feel about surgery and your eating habits.  With the band it's reversable with RNY it's not so much.  Go to the seminars that different hospitals have around where you live, and if you have a doctor ask them their opinions. I chose the RNY because I know I have a MENTAL relationship with food, my issues aren't just willpower verses no willpower.  I asked Dr. David Dyer when he did the WLS seminar at Centennial and he asked me a couple simple questions first before he answered.  He said "Do you eat imbetween meals when you are bored, watching TV, do you go all day without anything to eat and then at dinner you eat a lot, or do you eat when it's breakfast, lunch, and dinner?"  I of course eat when I'm bored, watching TV, and definately inbewteen meals and sometimes I don't even have a real breakfast/lunch/dinner it's just junk food that I eat.  He looked at me and he was like "What type of foods do you typically go for?" I said sweets, and chips.  He shaked his head and then he said "I would personally recommend for you NOT to do the Band I would go with the RNY for you."  I asked why, and he said "Because people that have the band they can sit around all day eating icecream, chocolates, and have no problems with their pouch and not lose anything but people that have the RNY they can't do that because they would get sick and dump if they tried.  People that have weakness' for sweets and high carb foods should go for the RNY instead of the band because it will do a better job of relearning them how to eat with adversive reactions where as the band wouldn't teach them anything.  People that go for the meats, cheeses, could do the Band because it will restrict the amount of those types of foods that they eat and they'll lose weight that way and hopefully relearn portion sizes." I never thought of it that way before until he pointed that out.

thanks so much angiecut you answered alot of my questions. i to have that mental relationship with food.  i hope that when the time comes for me the make the decision i will make the right one. thanks so much

 Hi  Angie .. I am also a patient of Dr Dyer and ..as you know I choose the lap band  Yes it is 100% true.. if you cannot stand to stay away from alot of sweets you should definitely choose the RNY or another option.. but .. I have also been an between meal eater and with the lap band I no longer "graze" all day I pretty much have learned to stay with my main meals  many times though , I  do have a little snack or two in between meals only difference is now a simple slice slice of cheese compleltly satisfies me , and before it was just a tidbit . and i was looking for much more to put into my mouth. If you are going to continue to eat sweets, chocolate,muffins bagels,lots of bready rolls ,buns ice cream etc  then another surgery option is best for you other than the lap band.  We must work harder than those who have had other weight loss surgery it is simple as that .. I do have a piece of birthday cake and a small scoop of ice cream or  a  spoon or 2 of banana  pudding even a  tablesppon or 2 of stuffing on special occasions  but not on a daily basis With the lap band you can pretty much eat anything, there is no dumping or malabsorbtion also very little vomitting if any  so we must choose our foods carfeuly most ,but not all of the time.. we simply eat less.. and if we do not choose low carb high protein foods we will not lose much . one cookie or one small homemade brownie bar and it feels like I had at least 4 pieces  ( I do not eat sweets often at all  though , like i have said)that is the beauty of this band I am very happy with my choice I never had any pain or gas  from my surgery and went home the very next morning only had a sore tummy about a week  after that i did not even know i had surgery .... I know it is really a hard decision also frustrating  and even confusing there is so much information and  misinformation out there.Everyone must choose what they feel will work best for them only you know yourself the best

just afraid if i have the lap band that it won't work for me since my bmi is so high so i am leaning toward the rny. just want to hear from people that has had both the lap band and the rny good and the bad

My starting BMI was over 50.  I chose LapBand, because I would eat very large meals, and didn't really graze much.  I would eat when I was bored, but that wasn't really where my issue was. 

Hi Bridgett, I struggled with the decision also.  Like the others have posted - it is imperative that you do your own research as the seminars do not tell you all that you need to know to choose the surgery that is right for you.  My starting BMI was 50 and am still overweight but feel so much better and life is great.  I have close friends that have had both surgeries and we all have the same issues - it is easy to graze with either surgery and unfortunately carbs go down easy - pringles are evil!      No matter which WLS you choose - if you follow the program - I'm sure you will do great!