Question:
Has anyone been scared to have a RNY instead of a band, but glad they did?

I am 53 with a BMI of 44. I have high blood pressure, sleep apena, a bad back and need a knee replaced. At my first meeting with my surgeon, he told me my suger level was 150 and I need a cardiac " clearence" before he can do any surgery on me. My doctor suggested I have a RNY instead of a band. I am deathly afraid or having a RNY bypass but the more I read about the different wls' the more I feel he may be right. I am depressed, and scared about what the cardiolgist is going to find, and dealing with all the rest of my health issues. I wish I did not have to to have any wls and sad that I got myself into this mess.    — karreen (posted on April 5, 2009)

April 5, 2009
There is a part of everyone of us that is sad we are in this situation but to stay there is even more sad.You can face the fear head on and have a new way of life free from the excess weight.I am 64 and my BMI 5 yrs ago was 73 now it is 28 I lost 265 lbs and am keeping it off.Notice i am keeping it off .I work everyday at my new life style it will never be completly over.I will always have to do what i do now but it is the easiest way i have ever lived.The first 6 to 8 months were extremly difficult but i rose to the challange and am successful.educate yourself fully about this journey and make the commitment to do u'r best there will be up and downs but u r on the right track.Loose the weight and u'r knee will be better,your cardiac issues,yoursugar and gen health will be better.I chose the RNY over the band and am greatful for it all.Good Luck on your journey
   — Bette Drecktrah

April 6, 2009
Well put Bette! Karen, I think we all go through the sadness and some sort of pain whether it is physical or emotional. I did a lot of research about both the band and RNY. I opted for the RNY. For the more permanent surgery, I know myself to well. I am 41 and I had it done in Oct of 08 and I am down 115 lbs so far. This is a very scary time in your life and just know we here at OH are here if you need to vent or ask questions or need support. I think the fist thing I do now is just breathe! The rest will follow. Don't worry about the cardiologist, they will probably tell you they want you to lose a little weight first before surgery, but we all have to so that wont be anything new. I think I waited a year before I finally got approved. It will seem like it is dragging but afterwards it will seem like the pre-op time flew. BIG HUGSSS!!!
   — prudee2

April 6, 2009
I think you will be glad you did the RNY in te long run. It si mcuh faster at gettingthe weight off and gives you less chance to cheat. I know I was upset with myself that I could not control my weight on my own. I am so glad I decided to do this. What ever the cardiac clearence finds will be fixable. Then you will have one less thing to deal with later down the road. You may want to find a counselor to help you sort out your feelings about the surgery. i know I did. No one I know could understand why I would do this. They were supportive but not encouraging. The online support has been wonderful.
   — trible

April 6, 2009
I am 55, and had my Laparoscopic RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on March 2. My BMI was 48. Against the advice of friends and loved ones, I chose the Bypass as opposed to the lapband - for several reasons. First of all, I see a lot of comments on this and other boards about the band "slipping", and people wanting "revisions" to the bypass. Second, and this is my PERSONAL reason, and not to try and convince anyone else.... I strongly feel that the bypass surgery and its attendant unpleasant effects if you "push" things, is a lot like Antibuse is for an Alcoholic. See, if an alcoholic is taking antibuse and decides to drink.... he or she is going to get really nasty sick. If I, as a bypass patient, eat too much, or eat the wrong thing (like too much sugar or fat), or "push" my "tool" ("pouch" or "stomach") or whatever you want to call it, I will most likely become violently sick. If not with dumping syndrome, then with other unpleasant side effects.... like recently (I'm still getting acquainted with my pouch and what it likes and doesn't like)... I ate an ounce of soft scrambled egg. Then two hours later, I slowly and thoroughly chewed and enjoyed a less-than-one-ounce slice of liverwurst. Half an hour later, I began to sip some liquid spinach soup with Any Whey added avery 5 minutes or so, and within 15 minutes, I knew I was in trouble. It felt like I had a HUGE burp sitting in my stomach that wouldn't come up, and the sensation just kept getting worse. Soon, I couldn't even swallow my own saliva, and about half an hour later, I threw up. Luckily, the vomiting was not traumatic....it didn't hurt, it was just a HUGE relief. But that's what I'm talking about. If I do something wrong, I'm going to pay. And that is going to keep me on track. It's going to keep me honest and paying attention to what I eat. From what I've heard, lapband patients do NOT have this kind of problem. Oh, once they've had their first "fill", there is a restriction on how MUCH they can eat at one time, but not WHAT they can eat. You can eat pretty much everything you could before. For me, that would not be good, because my favorite foods were things like mayonnaise and gravy and butter, and things like Ms. Butterworth's syrup, and hollandaise sauce, and stuff like that - and they all had to be the real thing, no low-fat yucky-tasting stuff for me! So, if I'd had the lap-band done, I could still eat all the stuff I loved before, and I'd probably stay morbidly obese. I hope this helps you. It really is a personal, private decision....based on what you and your surgeon think will work best for you. I have a friend who wanted the lap-band surgery, but the surgeon talked him into gastric bypass because it would make his diabetes go away faster. Well, this friend had prepared himself mentally for the lapband, not the much more restrictive bypass, and he's had nothing but trouble since he had the surgery. Within 4 weeks of the surgery, he'd been back in the hospital 3 times, and the ER twice, because of not following the "rules of the tool"... he ate the wrong food way too soon after surgery and caused a blood clot which blocked the entrance to his intestine and made him throw up everything he tried to drink or eat afterwards, he gets angry at his partner because he can't eat what his partner is eating, he ignores the dietician at the surgeon's office... all because he was talked into having a surgery he didn't want and wasn't prepared for. Please, whichever surgery you decide on, please become as knowledgeable about it as you can. Read up on everything you can get your hands on, and ask questions on boards like this if you don't understand something. There are doctors and nurses on this board that have had the different kinds of surgeries and can help you based on their experiences and medical knowledge, too. BE PREPARED AND YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND AROUND TO SEE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN!! Good Luck!
   — Erica Alikchihoo

April 6, 2009
I am 47 I had bypass in october of 2008. I had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, back problems, told I will have to have both knees replaced by 50, boarder line diabetic and just depressed and unhappy most of the time. I decided to have the bypass because of all of the above and because I knew that I needed a tool that would cut the conection between my stomach and my brain. I needed a way to stop diabetes in its tracks and a sure fire was to drop weight to save my knees. I was an emotional eater and knew that I needed help stopping that, and the bypass changes the things I can eat not just the amounts that I can eat. It was hard at first but I don't remember my days being unbareable and the results have been amazing. Just under 6 months out and I am down form 287 to 203 and feeling great. Yeah my knees still hurt and my back still hurts but the pain has decreased so dramatically that I can bear it now. My blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is normal, my sugar is normal, my apnea has all but dissapeared and I am happy and health. I had to get a cardiac clearence too but it is a requirement that my surgeon requires of all his patients. I would not change my decision for anything. But everyone has to be comfortable with their own decision and completly confidant with their surgeon. Anything I can do let me know.
   — Safetygal

April 6, 2009
I am 54 and had my lap RNY 1/09. I was afraid just like you and went for my consult thinking about lap band. My surgeon convinced me to go with lap RNY and I'm glad I did. It has not always been easy but worth it. I now eat to live. Itis wonderful not being hungry all of the time and not having any cravings. I amaze myself at the healthy choices I make and my tastes have changed so that I don't crave sugar for now. It literally is a weight that has been taken off of my shoulder. I also was scared about what the cardiologist would find because I had become so short of breath with exertion. To my amazement I passed my stress test and was cleared for surgery. I was so depressed before my surgery and went to work everyday and then was too tired and in too much pain to participate in life. Just in a few months I have my life back so go for it. Whatever happens it's better than just sitting on the sidelines and letting life pass you by and being miserable. It's overwhelming. Best of luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 6, 2009
I got banded 12 wks ago and am really happy so far. I wasn't scared of RNY, just didn't think it was appropriate for me at the time. If you have 100+ pounds to lose, RNY is a great choice but the band can still be effective. Don't worry about the cardio exam, it's routine stuff and I'm sure you'll be approved. Good luck!
   — slimcolagirl

April 6, 2009
TY so much for all your comments-- I am 54 with a BMI also in the 40's and having Lap RNY on APRIL 27!!! It is so exciting to hear about the changes--- and I agree- I want the "punishment" if I should eat the wrong things--- enough to stop me from doing it again. TY Eve M
   — eem211

April 6, 2009
i am 52, BMI of 41 and just had lapband done last week. I wish I would have had the guts to persue WLS years ago. I am diabetic and had a heart attack 7 days after my 51st birthday. it took a year before my cardiologist would give me clearance for surgery. i had a stress test in Feb and was so afraid that it would cause me to have another MI. I did fine. try not to regret anything in the past but move on from this moment. We have a lot of life to live but we need to get the lbs off, and change our lifestyle. I am so blessed to have another chance at life.
   — camelgal94

April 7, 2009
I am 45 now and 5+ years post RNY...When I decided to have WLS, I was going to go with what I thought was the least invasive in case it didn't work mainly (lapband)...Then I could have it reversed. I researched it and read all the failure stories and as far as invasive??? What could be more invasive than a big plastic contraption being put in your body that you need a port and fills for, every so often? That's pretty invasive to me! LOL I decided that if I was going under the knife, I was going to do something that was dependant on ME and MY behavior and NOT a band of air that might or might not malfunction no matter what my behavoir...I wanted something DRASTIC ("Invasive" is a good word for lapband...DRASTIC is a better word for RNY)Both are scary words regardless! I had about 150 pounds to lose as well and RNY would force me to change my eating style and habits as well as prevent me from absorbing calories and fats! It did do that! It offered me great benefits as well as trade offs. My comorbidities are all gone! RNY offers the very high chance of full recovery from diabetes-type II in most people, cuts cancer in risks, improves heart disease...It was a scary decision, but I knew in my heart I could do it if I put my mind to it and I have because of the tool I chose! Plus my surgeon was highly skilled and can reverse his RNY! Ask your surgeon if he can reverse RNY! IF not find one who can! I have learned that taking vitamins and getting yearly labs as serious as serious gets! I learned that the hard way (After malnutrition and anemia) PLEASE do not take that part of your health for granted (as I did) after going thru all the trouble of getting healthy! Here is a link to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition...BOOK MARK this site!!!! You will find all the medical studies you ever wanted to read about...Do a search on Weight Loss Surgery under "Journal of Nutrition" and read all kinds of interesting facts/studies and comparisons of the different WLS's etc! You will be amazed at what you learn here! http://www.ajcn.org/ Good luck with your decision...You really have to decide what is the best suited surgery for you personally...NO ONE can work that tool but you, so you have to decide to commit to whatever surgery you have and stick to it! But research it well before you do it! Good luck!
   — .Anita R.

April 7, 2009
I had the lap-band in 2004. I also had it out in 2008. I do not recommend at all. I was in the ER for dehydration many times because I could not eat or drink at times. So I would go into my Dr's office and he would loosen it. Of course I would start eating everything in site and start putting weight back on. So once again, I would have it tightened and then back to the ER again. It was a viscous cycle and my Dr could not find a happy medium for me. So, I am now going to have the duodenal switch. I am so excited about it. Good luck with your choice!
   — sybil5

April 7, 2009
I also have numerous health problems. I have lupus. I have had both knees replaced. And I have some herniated disks in my back. I needed WLS because I knew it would help me get back my energy that the lupus robs me of. And it would be so much easier on my knees and back. I considered both the lap band and RNY. I went with the RNY @ my surgeons advice. I AM SO HAPPY THAT I DID! I am only 3+ months post-op and am down nearly 60 pounds. I am already feeling a lot better. Last month, I was even able to start a walking regimen, again. Trust me, I was extremely nervous going into this. But it turned out to be a breeze compared to the knee replacements and everything else. I have been fortunate in having no complications, either. I didn't want to go with the lap band because I didn't want the hassel of having to go back to the doctor frequently for fills or what not. I just wanted something permanent and to be done with it. I know in my heart I have made the right decision and it truly was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Gather your courage, trust God, and go for it! :)
   — PaulaJ

April 7, 2009
I know how you feel scared, depressed because you feel you are totally responsible for your situation. Even though I believe that we are all responsible for our own actions I do believe that outside influences have an influence as well. I was raised in front of the telelvision, with having a membership to the clean plate club, as well emotional abandonment by those that were supposed to be there for me. Add to that learning your feelings and suspicons growing up were true. That your mother never wanted children at all. No we can not blame others for everything that happens to us in our lives, but when we are young , innocent and vunerable those around us are responsible for what happens to us, teaching us to eat properly, exercise and to feed out self esteem. Lets face it the world is a cruel place. However the best way to make changes no matter at what stage to take the control and do what we have to make the rest of our lives better. I am not much younger than you and also have many of the same co morbidities including the need for a tkr. However my orthopediest feels the wls would be able to possibly delay it for almost 10 years.( I hope) Currently I can not stand, walk, do house work or drive with out diffuculty. The orthopediest is being conservotive and is concerned about sever complications for doing a tkr on anyone over 200 lbs. Such as the replacement comming loose, the thigh or shin bone shattering under the pressure. For every pound lost that takes 4 pounds of pressure off the knees. In my case when i get to my goal weight i will have taken 576 lbs of pressure off my knees as compared to 1076lbs of pressure on them now. If wls is the only way you can have quality of life and be healthier and happier then do it. Don't beat yourself for your past, celebrate your future and enjoy everystep it takes to get there. Hugs lori PS if you need to talk off line i can be reached at [email protected]
   — abuddingrose

April 9, 2009
I've had both; first the band and it was uncomfortable and I threw up a LOT....I was revised to RNY and it's simple. I've only thrown up 2x in 2 years..and frankly, less back and forth visits to your doc for followups. With the band, you need fills and tweaking for the sweet spot (that they never get)....A gastric bypass beats a cardiac bypass anyday...good luck to you!
   — Cathy A.

Click Here to Return