: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......

Oh honey - you met with a (pardon my french) crappy doctor. There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between the RNY and Lap Band. Lap band is NOT as long-term effective. RNY is the 'gold standard' for weight loss -the surgery by which all other surgeries are measured. There is a significant difference. Not to slam Lap Bands - for some people, they are the answer - however, if you are looking at the numbers, RNY has a better success rate, more weight lost per patient, and better keep-it-off percentages. Do your homework (yes, even on the internet) - and meet with ANOTHER doctor. Lap bands work for some people. But there is a reason some insurance companies only cover the RNY - IT WORKS! Dont let one doctor, who obviously prefers lap bands, to influence your decision. I did the research, and for me, RNY was the best decision. If the doctor had tried to change my mind, I would have CHANGED DOCTORS! If I can help you at all, please email me! Helen RNY 4/13/04 293 210

I understand your concern and confusion. I think you had a pretty good idea going into see your Doctor what the issues were. It sounds to me like he wanted you to buy what he had to sell. RNY is a more comprehensive procedure, as other responses have indicated. There are downside risks, all of which have solutions. The malabsorption issue means, among other things, that you MUST take nutirtional supplements for the REST OF YOUR LIFE to compensate for the fact that the part of your system that used to absorb some nutrients has been diverted out of the digestive path. Are you willing and able to take supplements regularly? If so, you should be alright. They are inexpensive to take and just become a part of the process once you make them a part of your regimen, like exercise, portion control, good food choices, and a positive mental attitude. Weight loss surgery is not 100% of the answer. It is only a tool to quickly take off the excess pounds. You must do your part to insure that you make healthy lifestyle changes, and follow your doctor's instructions. Of course that means making the right choice initially on which program you will go with. Insure that you chose a program that supplies expertise from dieticians, psychologists/psychiatirsts, exercise physiologists, and a good doctor who will work with your primary care physician to insure that you get the ongoing care appropriate to your individual cir****tances. I can discuss this further if you would like. Just know that overwhelmingly, the people who need and have this procedure (both RNY and lapband) are happy with their decision. If you do your part, you WILL get the weight off and keep most of it off. Al Christensen RNY 6/12/04 378/262/190

Please share with me who this Dr is . I have a friend with Cigna and I want to forewarn her!

I am so sorry that you had that experience. What a nightmare!! I suggest that you talk to one of the doctors that many of us have used (tried and true). A doctor should be encouraging you not discouraging you. Find one that you like; after all he will be managing your heath care. It is probably a good thing that you had that experience it will help you find a doctor you are more Satisfied with, take this experience as a good thing and move forward!