Question:
RNY VS. Banding.. 4 Days to Decide
I have been through all the steps including consult with surgeon, dietician and psychologist. My meeting with the Dr. went great - he said we would do a lap RNY because my insurance company (Security Health Plan) still considers banding in the experimental stages. I received approval from the insurance company - and they now will cover either procedure! So, on Thursday, I meet with the Dr. again and I have to decide which procedure I want. He will do either, and I can expect to have surgery the last week of January or 1st week of February. That is coming up very quickly. Can someone please let me know their experiences with this? Thank you! — mindystarr25 (posted on January 18, 2003)
January 18, 2003
Oh decisions decisions... See my profile. I could of had either and finally
settled on the RNY. Now for me I loved chocolate milk/ milkshakes and
other high calorie liquids pre op. I spoke with a new bander, he was just 2
weeks out and said how he wanted a burger but would have a milkshake
instead:( I could see me falling into that trap really easy. So I choose
the RNY and dont regret my decision a bit. If your a volume eater the band
will likely be more successful. Sweet eaters beware. My surgeons banders
dont loose as well as the RNY ones, and quite frankly after attending
support group meetings I wanted to be a RNY, seeing how happy these folks
were.I also wondered if having the port in me would bother me since the
patient can feel it. I cannot tell I have the rny staples in me.
Malabsorbtion and minor dumping are good for me. Please let us know what
you choose. BTW see my profile our pictures are up:)
— bob-haller
January 18, 2003
well personally after all that I have learned about the surgeries I would
be goin for the RNY and I am on monday :)since the RNY has been around a
long time and has a track record u can acually look back upon..
— christine S.
January 18, 2003
Although I never wanted anything but RNY. Look at all the post where
people are getting revisions to RNY. That should say a lot!!!
— Mary H.
January 18, 2003
Like the previous poster, I've also been struck by the number of VBG to RNY
revisions I've seen here. I didn't like the idea of a port, either.
Having said that, why the heck didn't I mind having my stomach stapled,
lol? I really can't explain that one.<P>I chose the RNY for the
volume control and malabsorption aspects of it. The irony is that I'm one
of the RNY patients who doesn't dump, and never has -- which makes me
wonder (in hindsight) if the band wouldn't have been a better choice for me
(since it also gives you volume control). Don't get me wrong, I'm happy
with my surgery, but I'm a tad bummed out about being up to my eyeballs in
vitamins (and questions about vitamins) with no corresponding benefit (no
threat of dumping). But there's no way to know if you will be a dumper (or
remain one in the long run) until you've had the surgery, so it's hard to
weigh that factor in your decision, I guess. <P>If you decide to get
the RNY, you've got to keep up with vitamin supplements -- my
understanding is that's not an issue with the band. The interesting part
is that the doctors can't seem to agree on what supplements we RNYers
should be taking, and the disturbing part is that we're mostly getting
advice from surgeons on this, who are anything but nutritionists. Plus,
individual mileage varies -- some people need B-12 shots, some don't, some
develop iron deficiencies even with faithful supplementation, some don't,
and some wind up with osteoperosis despite taking lots of calcium carbonate
(read: Tums), and some don't (even if they take Tums, but more likely, it's
the folks who reduced their risk by taking calcium citrate instead). Not
to mention how little uniformity or agreement there is on what lab tests we
should all be getting down the road to figure out if we're "doing
fine." So I think if you get the RNY, you should commit to learning
as much as you can about vitamin deficiencies and supplementation -- don't
just rely on your surgeon! -- and to keeping up with the latest news on
those issues in the future.
— Suzy C.
January 18, 2003
The lap band is generally used for people with a lower BMI (35-40).
— jengrz
January 19, 2003
I thought, all along, I was having lapband (I have a low BMI) but after a
lot of research, I went for the lap rny. I am glad I did. Spend the next
few days reading all about each one and make the decision that is right for
you.
— susanje
January 21, 2003
I say go for the Lap Band if you don't want to be committed to vitamins for
the rest of your life. If you don't have a problem with commitment, go for
the RNY.
— AB B.
January 21, 2003
My surgeon said that there is a 30-40% failure rate with the banding, so
I've chosen the RNY.
— Gail G.
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