What made you decide between lapband and

[stepbill]

What made you decide on the lapband over the gastric bypass surgery? I am still undecided on what I want to do and am looking at both possibilities. Thanks for the help.

[GirlyGirl]

Step, I only have a total of about 65 lbs to lose so I would not have even considered gastric bypass for my situation. I like that the band has a low complication rate, it's adjustable, removable and doesn't really change my innerds.

Don't want no one foolin' with my innerds!

[chattykathywlc]

I decided against Gastric bypass after watching my Mom almost die after her GB surgery.
She ended up on a ventilator for 8days, internal bleeding and was in a rehab hospital for 1 month to gain strength to walk again.
The lapband, being reversible was the choice for me!
Hope this helps
Kat

[GirlyGirl]

Kat, how is your mom now? if you don't mind me asking...

[wingsfly825]

I decided on the band after my sister got the gb surgery 3 years ago and she still has major issues with her body not absorbing nutrients. She goes in for special treatments. She has stomach pain and at times her doctor wanted her in the hospital but she is stubborn.. so for me the choice was easy like kat said the band is reversable... They say in 3 years the weight loss for both are equal. I have known people that have had both and with both you can eat around the issues and gain weight if you choose to. Best of luck to you

[kristina]

hey bill- been wondering what happened to you, my friend.

heres how i see it. IMHO.

the gastric bypass is more dangerous. if you survive the surgery...and most do...but there is a percentage...lets say you do survive the surgery...you will drop the weight-FAST. hardly any work Necessary. at first. but eventually you can gain it all back. ever hear of the dumping syndrome? if you eat sugar u can get very sick. some do- some don't. you wont know until you have it. you cant change it after its done. whatever happens happens. u have to deal with it. but again- u will lose it all, mostly, and super fast.
the reason i chose not to have the bypass was because my BFF in LA, has to have a shot every week in her butt just to have the energy to get out of bed...this is after taking vitamins 3 times a day. she begged me not to get it..said she would rather be fat.

the band.
you have to work Hard to get it off. restriction does not happen overnight. it will take you alot longer to lose the weight, and it will require more work from u. however- the surgery is safer, and the surgery is reversible. there are no malabsorbtion issues, and u can still eat sugar just smaller portions. the slower the weight loss, the better for your body, and the less obvious that u had surgery- if your trying to keep it a secret.
you can eventually gain the weight back-as well.
i have never heard of anyone regretting the band..even after they lose it..they are willing to have it put back in surgically.

they both have pros and they both have cons. its a very personal decision that only u can make. i wish u the best!!!

[bgrand]

I have had both and love the fact that i have both. It's the best of both worlds as I see it.
But, with that said you really have to do your research and decide from that and what are you willing to live with.
I had Bypass in 2001, and have never had any problems with nutritional stuff. In fact my blood work that was recently done shows that I have elevated Vitamin levels, so malabsorption problems for me have never been an issue.
There is some weight gain with bypass that is normal, but there is also weight gain with banding if you stray from your program.
Pro's and Con's of both, so good luck!!

[Stitchy]

I agree with everyone else's reasons. Lower mortality and complication rate. No rearranging of my guts. Reversible. Can still have sugar (:thumb:). While slower weight loss rate than GB, in the end it's still gone. Just seemed like a safer way to go.

[lyndele]

I liked that the band is minimally invasive and doesn't actually cut, mangle or mutilate my stomach - it just seemed to be as effective (over the long term) without the risk of the more unpleasant aspects of GB. I'm willing to be a little patient for the weight loss.

So far - in less than 6 months - I've lost 60 pounds. Best of all, it hasn't been the slightest bit difficult. Well, except for the 1st month or so. Even then, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Whatever you decide, stick with us and let us know how you're doing!

[GirlyGirl]

Lyndele....you are amazing!

[503-250]

I chose the band because it is reversible, less invasive and it scared me less. Plus I figured if it doesn't work...I yank it out and get the stomach slicer.

Now...to be fair, remember most of us here are banders...but...we smuggled in a few gastric bypassers.

Tonya comes to mind immediately...she's a sweetheart and a super success. Be sure to get both sides...its the only way to make an informed decision...I think both surgeries are great, but....I don't think they are for everyone.

Best of luck!

[MarkB]

I looked at both of the procedures for a long time and was going to get the RNY, however my sister got the RNY and did lose weight (about 60lbs). Now she is gaining the weight back and is really struggling with her weight again. From talking to RNY'ers at our local support group I have found that after 3 to 4 years the stomach of the RNY patients adapts and the mal-absorption part of the RNY procedure stops working and if the person has not changed their attitudes, procedures and ways they will gain the weight back.

Along with this is the fact that RNY people have more issues due to the more severe type of operation and changes in their body. Nutrition becomes essential to maintain with the RNY also since you do not absorb as well.

Couple all of this with the fact that both of my parents had cancer when they were in their middle 60's and I am approaching 60 right now. So if I do develop cancer I want to fight it and part of that would be that I have to increase my caloric intake to do that. With the Band I can either have it loosened or have it removed if needed.

These are my reasons and everyone has their own.

[Lovemylpband]

Great info here!

I was too chicken to even consider the bypass surgery. I didn't even know about the lap-band until my girl friends bother had it. I thought about it on and off and she kept encouraging me to call him and talk to him about it. I thought it was nice for him but I was content at 268 and was not going to risk my life to loose weight.
As time went by I would here a few more stories about the band. I was in a bible study that talked about suduction and I realized that my suduction was food.
After that I finially started seriouly looking into the band. 9 months later I was banded. 4 months later I found out that I had a leak in my band and that it had to be replaced. I have become such an advocate for the band that I got a job with NewHope Bariatrics after having the band for 18 months. Sure I had a real tough start with the band and since my second band I have lost a lot of weight however it hasn't been easy.
I no longer work at NewHope however I hope to get another job where I can do more to help people than I could there. I spoke with hundreds of people a week asking the same question your asking. My answer to them and to you is that the band is the safest wls there is. There is no rerouting of your insides. Less envasive and #1 reason for me adjustable. Where you loose fast with the bypass over time you can eat more you do not have the ability to be adjusted.
I can tell you first hand that I have lost and gained (some) and lost and gained, but nothing like preband. I had to have my band completely unfilled twice and I gained about 30 pounds. Now I am being filled again and this last fill has worked really well. With the band there is always light. When you get your band and your head together you can't fail.
Good luck to you. I would strongly recommend to you that you go to a few seminars talk to the staff and the dr make the best decision for yourself but be sure you will have support from whatever center you go with. Like I said I no longer work for NewHope but the 2 practices that they work with are exactly the type of practices that will help you and support you through your ups and downs.
Good luck

[spag1952]

My decision was the same as the other banders here. I didn't want my stomach cut, and I had already had issues with lymphoma. You never know when that stuff might come back and I knew if I had RNY there might be issues with treatments if they became necessary. I considered the RNY as too drastic a procedure for me. My BMI was right at 40 and I thought the band was the right decision for the amount of weight I needed to lose.

Best of luck to you.

[graciesaunt]

I chose the lapband surgery after:

1. Fighting with the insurance company who said I was not morbidly obese (my BMI was 53.9!!!) They refused to pay for any surgery. I ended up paying cash for my LB surgery. (and it was worth every penny!!)
2. I ended up doing more research into the LB surgery and found it to be less tramatic on the body, quicker recovery time, the body is more able to absorb nutrients--without having to get shots for vitamin intake.

A friend of mine had RNY surgery 5 years ago. She lost alot of weight quickly, but I could see how she wasn't getting any real nutrition from what she ate and how she needed the vitamin shots from her doctor. Plus, some of the things she ate came back up, she had bad gas that she had to pass and she would have the "runs". (forgive me for that)
I deal with an uncomfortable feeling if I eat one too many bites. Getting up and walking usually relieves that. I burp (non-productive ones) a bit after drinking liquids, but my heartburn is gone. My swollen ankles and legs are also a thing of the past. I do take liquid vitamin and trace minerals to ensure that I'm getting all of my necessary nutrients. What I enjoy most is having 60 pounds off and having more energy!! I just moved into a new high school classroom last week. My old self would have DIED by the moving, but the newer me was moving with the best of them. My kids carried the heavier stuff (they didn't want me messing up the band) and used my rear and legs to push items around. I was tired at the end of the day, but not exhausted like I would have been 6 months ago.

Good Luck with this surgery!!!!

[chattykathywlc]

Kat, how is your mom now? if you don't mind me asking...
Hi Jeralin,
sorry I just saw this. She is doing pretty well. It was a very hard road. She is 2 years out and has started gaining some weight back, kind of scares me.
Thanks for asking!
Kat

[ladytonya]

One thing that is important to know is how much weight you have to lose? That is a big factor in which surgery you choose. When I started even considering surgery, I was adament that I would not have my insides re-routed, I was going for the band all the way. I went to the local seminar in 2004 and was told I was too fat to have WLS. WTF? At that point, I weighed about 420 and had to be below 400 to be considered here so I tried to lose 20 lbs. Big mistake!

Two years later, I have no idea how much I weighed because I know that at my biggest I was heavier than when I went for my initial consult with Dr. Bauman. In September, 2006, I weighed 457 lbs. In addition to Dr. B, I visited with three other surgeons and all four recommended RNY for me instead of LB. The amount of weight that I needed to lose combined with my general eating habits led all four doctors to not recommend the band for me, two of them actually refused to band me. I went with Dr. B because he said he would do whatever I wanted, but he still strongly recommended RNY.

Now, 2 years later, I would not have had it any other way! I know me and I know what I do now. I would have eaten around the band, no question. Heck, I try to eat around the bypass, but luckily it won't let me too much and I like that! After all, isn't that why we have surgery? Yes, dumping can be a pain, but it is what has helped me lose what I have lost. Yes, everyone will tell you that they know someone who has had complications, yada yada yada from RNY, but you can have complications from any surgery, even gastric banding. They've been doing the bypass for many years and it is still considered the gold standard in weight loss surgery.

Ultimately, the decision has to be yours. How much weight to you have to lose? What kind of eater are you? Do you eat a lot of sweets? Are you a binge eater? There are a million questions to ask yourself and a hundred million things to think about before jumping in to any weight loss surgery. If you have any more specific questions about RNY, feel free to ask! My signature says "banded RNY" because I had a slightly different procedure from a regular RNY but the result is essentially it is the same. Mine is a modified Fobi pouch. I can explain what that means in more detail if you want me to. At this point, this post is long enough! LOL! Good luck to you in your research and decision making!

[GirlyGirl]

Kathy,

Hope your mom is on the road to getting better and enjoying a healthier life. I hope she find the right place for her weight and things work out...


Stepbill
My thought on the band vs bypass is that first like Tonya says, it might have to do with how much weight you have to lose. I have heard from my surgeons who are actually proctors for the gastric banding procedure. They teach the procedure to doctors all over the country, and they say that the band will eventually render bypass obsolete except in extreme cases. For all of the reasons that we already know about. Banding is less invasive, less complications, more cost effective, fewer negative side effects.

My experience also with gastric bypass has been with my husband's aunt. She had to lose about 150 lbs to be considered in normal weight range. She has lost the weight but she also had the malabsorption problem that many people experience with GB and all of her hair fell out... she now has a membership to a company that glues human hair wigs onto her head. She gets a new one every three or four months. The hair looks good, but it is something that she has to maintain the rest of her life and it is expensive. She is not a person of means so it is big cost to their budget, but she is glad that she has lost the weight and says she wouldn't change anything, except maybe her hair falling out...

Have you decided yet?

Let us know

[wingsfly825]

Hey step bill...Where'd you go ?

[ladytonya]

Jer, hair falling out is a very rare complication. Some people have to double up on the multivitamins, especially those who have severe malabsorption issues. Regardless of which surgery you choose, you're going to have to take a multivitamin for the rest of your life, period. If you look at the numbers, the complication rate for bypass is only slightly higher than the complication rate for the band. With the band, you have to follow up with your surgeon getting fills forever, or at least as long as you want restriction. It is something that will be inside your body for the rest of your life. If you choose to eventually have it taken out, then that is yet another surgery. This was a point that was made to me by someone at a support group before I made my decision and was one of my manhy reasons for ultimately going with the bypass. With the bypass, I have lost close to 80% of my excess weight in 2 years but I still want to lose at least 30 - 40 more lbs. I am convinced that while I would have been successful with the band, because of the amount of weight I had to lose I don't think I would be where I am now with it.

These discussions get started all the time, then the person who initiated it disappears. Very strange, but at least it makes for interesting conversation!

[GirlyGirl]

LOL Tonya! Yea, where's step?

And Tonya I'm sure the bypass was really the best for you with all the weight you had to lose. And you have done great. I bet you feel awesome since losing all that weight!

But either procedure is good because it give people choices and what I like about the band is that just as you chose yours because you had a lot to lose, I could never have had WLS if only bypass was available because I didn't have enought to justify such a radical procedure.

I am happy that you have had great success and I am hoping that I will have equally good success with mine. My weight loss is slow, but it is coming along

Merry Christmas everyone!

[Stitchy]

Jeralin, I have seen Tonya, and she DOES look awesome! Go Lady Tonya! You rock!

[ladytonya]

Thanks, Stitchy! You don't look too shabby yourself! *hugs*

[dumptruck]

looking at all these had it done and this is what happened had this done and had this, you know everyone is different, and all avenues have to be taken into consideration,