[nygal]

Hi all,

I reasearched Lapband for a year or so before I decided I would try to go for it. I THOUGHT I could handle some of the issues I kept hearing about ie: daily , getting FILL UP's to tighten the band, or reducing fluid to loosen band, band errosion/slippage, or the fear of food getting stuck and/or not able to pass through the band.

I think I would feel like a slave to the band, and ALWAYS have to worry that my band is in place and that it will not tighten up on me or get too loose-

Ugghh!! it seems just too complicated for a solution that it "supposed" to be "easy"- "worry free" and less risky. But I think all the worry over the band will interfere with me trying to enjoy everyday life.
And maybe I can handle it all, but then another thing it hit me!

I don't like the fact of putting a foreign object in my body!! It just does not sit right with me...

So I am second guessing my first option. I was dead set AGAINST bypass, the idea of re-routing my stomaceh freaks me out. The leaks, ulcers, hair loss etc. People told me I would have more issues and the risk of serious problems post op are greater. But in starting to research this, I see that the issues do not seem that much different except that with bypass there is no band.

AM I missing a MAJOR fact here? Or does bypass really seem like the easiest option afterall?

NOW I am on a mission to soak up as much info on bypass as possible.

I just joined this forum last night, and already have so many ppl welcoming me and eager to share their experiences with me

But I wonder, what made YOU decide to do the surgery you are doing/had done?

[FemmeMode]

I was like you....I decided on LapBand...and was going completely in that direction!!
Then.... I went to my surgeon for the consult...and b/c I had to lose 198#'s...he thought I was a better candidate for LapRNY.

His argument was that b/c I was 36 (at the time) and only minor co-morbidities...that I was low-risk...and that I most likely could lose 85% of the excess weight with LapRNY...but that with LapBand only about 60%.

The 85% of the 198 - would put me at about a 168# loss. (I've lost 148 now) This would put me at 165#'s....having to lose the last 15 on my own.

The 60% of the 198 - would put me at a 119# loss. Only putting me at 214#'s....still 65#'s overweight...still considered OBESE. awk!!

[ChuppyGirl]

Hi there,

This questions was asked before, please feel free to refer to that thread

Cheers,
Hanadi

[not quite Barbie]

The major differences are the mal-absorption and dumping. I'm specifically going for bypass because I know I could "cheat" with the band by eating soft foods (ice cream) or washing the food through with water, then it would go into the bottom of the stomach and be absorbed like normal and no weight would be lost. If I'm going to do something this drastic to lose weight, I don't want to be able to cheat.

[fr1endly2]

aCTUALLY what convinced me which path was when doctor ahmad said that with the lapband i would have proly stop looseing around the 210 lbs
and to me that wasnt enough.
I wanted to be in ONEDERLAND!

at the time he hadnt done as many lapbands. FOR Me at the 310 lbs
he felf the bypass was the optimum way to get down to numbers
that would thrill me.
so that was a big reason for me!!!! THE number Dr. AHMAD figured
I would end up with! HAVE you attended one of Dr. AHMAd support
group meetings you really can meet a ton of both side at his meetings.
AND that might help you make a choice. FOR me at the weight of 310
it was to much of a thought process which i had to do.

IN the same breath I would say the gastric bypass is not an easy way out.
NOR is the lapband. GASTRIC bypass is only a tool and after your honeymoon
of looseing if you dont use the tool correctly you can regain the weight back.
SO eating habits must be changed for life.

[grandiose16]

My insurance decided for me. They would not pay for lapband. They consider it still experimental. Plus I have known people who have had it and did not lose very much weight. Just my take on it. Mattie

[Kenyar]

Well I looked into both. I didnt like the idea of the lapband because it is a foreign body and i just dont do well with those. my body tends to reject things. so i didnt want to go thru the surgery to have it placed and then have to removed and then consider a bypass so i went with the bypass. i also wanted something permenant that would not allow for cheating. its really about YOUR goals and what you are trying to so, how much you want to lose etc.

[Ladyhawk]

My surgeon said he didn't like to do lapbands on diabetics. That we (the diabetics) seem to do better with the RNY. So, I am going with his advice and experience.

[DocSanae]

Originally Posted by Ladyhawk

My surgeon said he didn't like to do lapbands on diabetics. That we (the diabetics) seem to do better with the RNY. So, I am going with his advice and experience.

Yes, there is data that almost twice the number of diabetics see resolutin of their diabetes with bypass as compared with lap band. It seems there is some metabolic/hormonal regulation in regards to diabetes that is affected by bypass surgery, that is the subject of ongoing research and discussion.

[Kat]

I thought about WLS for a good 5 years before finally deciding on RNY. Deciding factor being that I felt as though I needed something that was permenent.