:help:***PLZ HELP...MY DR. CONFUSED ME....RNY VS. LAP BAND****:help:

Original Post by R. Rahi at 6:54 PM PST on 09/12/2004 Plano, TX I HAD MY FIRST VISIT WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGEON LAST WEEK. I CAME HOME IN TEARS....HE BASICALLY TOOK EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I KNEW ABOUT WLS AND TURNED IT AROUND. HE MORE THAN CONFUSED ME. I WAS OPTING FOR RNY BECAUSE I HAVE TAKEN PHENTERMINE A LOT BEFORE AND HAVE EATEN LESS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME ONLY TO LOSE SMALL AMOUNTS OF WEIGHT MOSTLY. I THOUGHT THE RNY WAS MY TICKET DUE TO THE MALABSORBTION THAT RESULTS FROM IT. HE SAID THAT LAP BAND AND RNY ARE THE EXACT SAME AND YIELD THE EXACT SAME RESULTS. AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO LOSE WEIGHT. THEN HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT LAP WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO GET THE WEIGHT OFF BUT AT LEAST MY "BONES WILL NOT BE CRACKING AND BREAKING AT 50 YRS OLD" & " MY HAIR TO FALL OUT". AND THAT I HAD MISINFORMATION FROM "WEBSITES" THAT CAUSED ME TO THINK RNY WAS BETTER. HE ALSO SAID HE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE ME THE "MORE DANGEROUS" SURGERY IF THAT IS WHAT I REALLY WANTED. ONLY TO FINISH THE CONVERSATION WITH "OH YOU HAVE CIGNA AND THEY WILL ONLY PAY FOR RNY......THEN HE SAID I MUST NEED MORE TIME TO "MAKE UP MY MIND" AND PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD. I HAD MY MIND MADE UP WHEN I WENT IN.........NOW I AM A MESS. I AM HAVING NIGHTMARES AND I HAVE 4 KIDS TO THINK ABOUT. I AM NOW FILLED WITH DOUBT...WHY WOULD ANYONE GET A SURGERY THAT CAN KILL THEM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE IF THERE IS ANOTHER SURGERY THAT IS THE SAME ...ONLY BEING LESS DANGEROUS? I REALLY WANTED THE RNY. NOW WHAT? PLEASE HELP... THANKS......

Interesting. Did you MD tell you how man Lap Bands Verses RN-Y's he/she has performed?... Honesly, I had the RN-Y and would have it again but I also had a surgeon that I think is wonderful. I have a friend who had the Lap band.. and thinks hers is wonderful because of the less difficulty she had with recovery. The truth is.. This surgery is a behavior modification tool. What kind of two do you need?.. Your whole life has been reset. You start out just like a new baby.. on liquids and baby food.. and you have to reteach yourself to eat... So, the RN-Y is considered to be behavior modification with a sledgehammer. However, the Lap Bad.. will pretty much just reduce your stomach size, it's reversable there there isn't the complications associted with the RN-Y. It depends on what YOUR GOALS & NEEDS are. I choose the RN-Y because I needed to SAVE my life.. and I have.. I have gone from 13 medicines a day to ONE. I exercise regularly and I FEEL WONDERFUL.. I am apporaching just about 10 months out.. Down about 129 pounds... But I did have dramatic hairloss. (OK... all hairloss is dramatic) but that's another long reply to an email.. However, I have to say this.. Because (not known to many, I work in the medical field). What you have reported about what your surgeon said confuses ME?. As a surgeon, they are there to GUIDE you in making YOUR CHOICE. However.. HE MUST BY LAW (THIS IS IN EVERY STATE)reveal all risks, benefits and alternatives to surgery Your response makes me wonder about how prepared you are for this surgery and what is his/her success rate. When I say Success Rate. I don't me surgeries completed but how few complications, not knowing your medical history, that may be why he is leading you to the lap band. You also sound YOUNG and that may be another issue in why he is leading you to the lap band. He may feel after interviewing with you (which should have been two ways) that a reduced stomach size maybe all you need and is really looking out for your best interests. So.. After all of that. I have probably confused you more. The RN-Y is MAJOR surgery where as the lap isn't and if you change insurances.. you maybe able to go from lap band to RN-Y... (that's and FYI) I hope I have helped Blessings. 321-129= 192 (On Friday ).. PS Perminent weightloss also helps with exercise.. which is why I am heading to the gym at 5am..

Didn't you post the same message on the Fla board about 3 weeks ago? How did that work for you? Kallen