Question:
I am looking into possibly getting the lapband surgery instead of RNY, Any Opinions?
I was originally going for RNY have done all my preop tests and insurance has been submitted. Now I'm thinking that the surgery is not the right one for me. I am 130lbs overweight my PCP says I should only lose 100lbs because I would be to skinny at 130lbs weight loss but thats what my BMI ideal weight says, Anyway I am not a sweet eater at all I could go the rest of my life with out a piece of cake or candy. So I am questioning if I really need the RNY. I am more of a food eater I love to eat Food all kinds but not sweets I think if I limit the intake of food with the lapband it would be good enough..... Any opinions? I need to make the right choice and would like to hear from everyone regarding this huge decision. Also I have to self pay with the lapband so If anyone has a doctor they no is good and reasonable let me know! Thank U all God Bless You! — kumuat (posted on July 7, 2003)
July 7, 2003
The reasons you list are basically why I've chosen Lap Band Surgery. Long
term weight loss is the same as rny. Actually sweets really aren't a factor
either way, as studies have now shown. But you will hear people tell you
that with the Lap Band you can 'drink milkshakes all day and not lose
weight', which I find hilarious as I haven't had anything but water in
months and I'm pre-op! I think all of the surgeries are appropriate for
different reasons but you sound like a good band candidate to me...
— Maria N.
July 7, 2003
I almost had the band, but happy that I choose RNY for the reason that I
had terrible GERD and the banding doesn't cure that and the RNY does. I
also am a huge sweet eater, so if you're not, that's a plus. I did my own
research and found the RNY to have better success than the banding also.
Good Luck on your decision!
— ZZ S.
July 7, 2003
This is just my opinion, but if insurance will pay for the RNY, I would go
for it! I would rather have insurance pay than have to self pay. That is
just me though. Good luck with your decision!
— Tami H.
July 7, 2003
I think it's a very personal decision and I don't know if I've ever seen
anyone post that they regretted the particular type of surgery they chose.
However, people often post that they feel the procedure they chose was the
right one for them. Having said that, I chose RNY simply because I know
myself well enough to know that I could "eat around" the band.
It's a compliance problem with me not with the procedure. I needed the
potential for dumping with sweets to aid in my being compliant. Even
though I think RNY is the best procedure I still say you should follow your
heart. You do sound like a good candidate for the band. Best wishses in
whatever you choose.
— ronascott
July 7, 2003
There is a yahoo site for lapbanders and you may want to visit it to get
their perspective, as most of the posters here are the RNY'ers. Do you
know how much the lap band would cost and if you can afford it? I needed
to lose 105 pounds and was intrigued by the lap band but since insurance
did not pay, I had the RNY and after 17 months, I have lost 99 out the
original goal of 105 pounds. I did have a sugar problem but can still have
sugar with the RNY-some of us can still have the sugar- I try to regulate
the amounts, though. Try to anyways! The thing I liked about the lap band
was that it was reversible and did not rearrange/bypass my insides which
meant I wouldn't have to worry about long term problems from malabsorption.
I've also heard the long term success rates are better with the RNY, but
even that has been disputed here on this board. With all that said, so far
I am very happy with my RNY.
— Cindy R.
July 7, 2003
I was originally scheduled for lapband and had a date, approval, etc.
However, when I thought about it, I did not want to have the maintenance
associated with the lapband over my head. That is every six weeks of having
the gel either inserted or taken out via needle into the port. I wanted to
have surgery and let that be that. I have since had the OPEN RNY and have
no regrets whatsoever. I am happy with my choice. Good luck to you on
yours!
— Linda L.
July 7, 2003
I'm scheduled for my Band surgery on 7-16. Once I found
out about the Band, the RNY ceased to exist for me. You will
get plenty of opinions here, and a lot of MISinformation. (IE:
Fills aren't required every six weeks.) This is the kind of
bad info that makes a lot of people think twice about the Band.
Don't choose your surgery based on insurance vs. self pay. That
should be the least of your concerns. Bands are a lot cheaper
than bypasses, and some of the most experienced surgeons are
out of the country and cost less even than here in the States.
You sound like a perfect Band candidate, and I would urge you to
check out some LapBand support groups like the one on spotlighthealth.com
and the one on this site. You owe it to yourself to get the truth
about the Band and decide for yourself.
www.spotlighthealth.com (look for LapBand Support)
— Jeanie
July 7, 2003
Here is the address to the LapBand support board on this site:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/LapBand/posts/
Best of luck, Starr!
Jeanie
— Jeanie
July 7, 2003
I see you have had many responses and points of view regarding your
question. I had LAP RNY 4 1/2 months ago. I also needed to lose between
100 and 130 pounds. It had taken me a lifetime to get to the point of
needing this surgery and it will take me a lifetime of some effort to use
this "tool" successfully and keep the weight off. I wanted the
permanence of the RNY. I also didn't like the idea of having the band and
the port under my skin. I know myself. Knowing a piece of plastic was in
my body would make me crazy. I like sweets, and am not a
"dumper". I minimize the sweets I eat by counting them in my
daily calorie count. I also know if I had the band even if sweets were not
important to me, I would find another way to sabotage it. I, even now,
need the occasional reminder when I eat too fast, or chew too little, or
just eat too much volume, of feeling uncomfortable or needing to get it out
of my stomach. I am extremely happy, and wouldn't do it any other way.
Oh, by the way, I have recently begun to e-mail and IM with a woman who had
the band, lost some weight, but not all she needed to, and gained it all
back. She is revising her surgery to an RNY in a few weeks. Of course the
decision is yours, and there are many successful banders, but I basically
feel that I had the surgery and am going forward without having any
maintanance issues. And OMG the cost of hospitalization is tremendous. Best
of luck in your decision!!
— Fixnmyself
July 7, 2003
I would like to add that it really is best to do the research on the
clinical aspects as well as the personal stories, as there are people who
advocate for the surgery they chose and there tend to be flame wars over
which surgery is better. The Spotlight boards do have a lot of successful
bandsters you can talk to who will tell you the pros and the cons honestly.
Good luck!
— Maria N.
July 7, 2003
One thing you should take into account is the amount and quality of the
experience the dr has in performing each procedure. For lap and band
procedures, technique can determine the success or failure of the
procedure! Since the lap band is fairly new, make sure the dr you choose
has plenty of surgeries (successful ones) under his/her belt. The same with
lap (rny or anything else). I did have lap rny with a dr that was new to
the lap technique. I was on the table for 4 1/2 hours. While I did not have
any complications, if I had to make the choice again I would go with open.
Now, of course, my surgeon is very skilled and experienced with lap surgery
and can crank them out in 1 1/2 hours. (I guess I helped with that!
LOL)<p>Each surgery has its pros and cons, but don't forget to factor
in the dr's experience. Because your main objective--regardless of which
surgery you choose--is to be healthy and to lose the weight!
— ctyst
July 7, 2003
Starr, here is a site with a comparison chart for the 4 major types of WLS.
http://gr-ds.com/forpatients/comparison.html I had DS a year ago and am
extremely happy with it. Good luck with your decision! Chris
— Chris T.
July 8, 2003
Have you checked the guarantee on the band? It's only 7 years, are you
willing to have it replaced every 7 years or less?
— Barbara S.
July 8, 2003
I have always read that RNY is the GOLD standard of WLS. You will lose
more weight and they have been doing it longer, theus it is safer than the
band and these other techniques. Do your research and then make the best
decision for YOU! Good Luck!
— Michele B.
July 8, 2003
Best wishes with your decision. I agree that most people are partial to
their WLS of choice. However, I believe that your decision should be based
on truthful information, rather than hearsay and out and out lies.
<BR>
I have included some of the reasons I chose the lap band on my profile, if
you're interested in looking at it. If you have any questions, feel free
to email me.
— TMF
July 9, 2003
I am glad that you are willing to look at all the options. Do more
research, and find the information that is based on facts. Some
misinformation posted here: <b> the band needs to be replaced after 7
years. </b> This band has existed since the late 1980s, and they are
doing great. The odds are really low that you will ever have to have it
replaced, but if you did, it is an easy procedure. <b> You need a
fill every 6 weeks. </b> I am 12 weeks out and I haven't had a fill
yet. Many bandsters have 2-4 fills total. The beauty of the band is that
when you are so many years out and you find that you are having a hard time
maintaining your weight, you can just get an adjustment and the tool will
work! With the bypass, you may have to resort to dieting (I don't want to
do that again!) <p> The point is to do your research and realize
that whatever path you take, you will have to change your habits to be
successful. The band and the bypass is ONLY a tool. It isn't a cure-all.
Good luck!!
— Sheryl W.
July 9, 2003
One of my posts seems to have disappeared. Hmmm Anyway, what I said was
there is not a 7 year guarantee on the lap band. The lap band is meant to
be a permanent medical device, just the same as a pacemaker or joint
replacement. I got no indication from Inamed (the manufacturer of the band)
nor from my surgeon that the band will need to be replaced every 7 years.
— TMF
July 9, 2003
I never meant to imply nor say that the band would defintely need to be
replaced every 7 years. I only said it has a 7 year garantee as told at our
seminar. Any manmade product is subject to a warranty/garantee. It may have
a lifetime replacement garantee that doesn't mean it will last a lifetime.
I have placed an email to the Inamed Corportation concerning this matter
and will report on a separate Post when I get confirmation on this subject.
Never meant to upset so many people either.
— Barbara S.
July 10, 2003
I have received an answer from the manufacturer and it was interesting
reading. I will not appologize to anyone! If anyone wants to read this
please go to my website and email me I'll be happy to foreward the two
emails from the company.
— Barbara S.
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