Warrior96
I strugled with my decision (LapBand) for over 5 months! When I met with my surgeon, he recommended LapBand, do to the fact that I have spots (beginnings of holes) on my stomach as the result of taking Indocine (anti-inflamitory) for my foot/
ankle pain. The med also was helping other arthritis areas (back, knees & hip). He
said that I should have the LapBand if I was going to keep taking the Indocine, because if I ever had a problem with my stomach (& I have other issue as well), they can not use the scope to see or repair a problem. As they had not done LapBands yet, it was a new technology & I didn't want a foreign body in me, etc. I chose the RNY.
But, the more I looked into it, the more people I met & talked with, the more frustrated I became. I was changing my mind about what to do just about every 1-2 weeks. It was driving me crazy!!! 
I kept going through all the classes, preparing for my date of Jan 1st, even though I had no idea what I was doing & was not loosing the weight I was required to loose pre-op.
When the Support Group/OH members had a breakfast meeting, I finally met (face to face) someone who had done the LapBand. After speaking with her & speaking with others on the LapBand site, I decided to have another chat with my surgeon. But,
between Saturday & Thursday (my appt with him), I had received a message from a LapBand user who told me to listen to my doc, listen to my heart & listen to my body....as my brain was just getting in the way! As I walked into his office, I had made my decision & went on from there asking more detailed questions about the fills, port issues, foreign body issues, & what was best for me. He was surprised, he had no idea I was struggling with this.....he thought I was going with LapBand & was just waiting on me. As I have to pay for all this out of pocket (2nd mort on my home),
it's not like I could pay to see him whenever I had a question!!!
He also lowered my requirment of weight (from 20-30 lbs, down to 10-15 lbs). The next day, I paid for everything, set the date of Valentine's Day & made all my pre-op & post-op appointments.
I have been on cloud 9 ever since!! 
What a relief to have all the decisions done, funds all paid, & now just to think of nothing else but drinking the shakes & working out!!! 
So, chat with those who have already had the surgeries....but remember, their results are mostly due to their bodies, their commitment, & their following their doctor's rules!!! Please keep this in mind, as you will get answers to questions from everyone, but not the WHOLE STORY!!!
Take your time, do your research, ask tons of questions, write a list showing the good & bad of each surgery.....it helped me.
Also, I just heard about the first patient who had LapBand in Eugene & they have lost 70 lbs in 6-8 weeks! That person was dedicated to the program & works out alot!! So, they have just proved that rapid weight loss can happen with LapBand as well!
No matter what we do, no matter what surgery we have....it's only a tool, we still have to do all the work!!!
Jackie (LapBand--February 14 @ 7:50AM!!!!)
Surgery was postponed do to a rash (under my belly) & a cold in my lungs.
LAPBAND SURGERY--March 7, 2007 @ 10:00 AM.
