Dr. Aranow/BMI 75

Hi all- I have been researching/contemplating WLS for 2 years now and I am finally to a point to take action. I am going to Dr. Aranow's orientation session in December. I am going open minded, but am seriously looking at the Lap Band, as RNY too invasive for me. I am 5'1 and 389, so I have a BMI of 75 , has anyone with such a high BMI had the Lap Band? Also, my partner is also going to the orientation and is considering Lap Band too. Has anyone done WLS with their spouse/partner? If so, any advise? Thank you for any help.

Hi Michelle, I would post this on the Lap Band board. I think you will get more answers to your questions there. Although I am a bandster, My BMI was 43 so I can't answer your question. I am sure someone over there will be happy to help you. Regards, Nancy

Great idea....thank you Nancy.

I have the book "Weight loss surgery for Dummies" and in it they suggest when you and your partner are both looking into it, to get it 3 months apart so that the first one who had it is healed enough to help take care of the other one and vise versa, you know? kind of makes sence, you need to be able to healp each other out. I recomend that book- lots of great info in it! I am pre op and going for the GBP, so I can't answer your other question, but good luck! Sheila

I never knew there was such a book out there, I will have to look for it! Thanks for your help Sheila!

As an addendum to my post... Prior to surgery...I went to amazon.com and looked up all of the books available on WLS. Then, I went to my library and ordered them all and read them. I was VERY informed on all the types of surgery prior to going into it. I suggest you do this. Don't buy the books, take them out from the library. They can get them for you from all over the state. Paula

Excellent idea Paula...thank you. I just got a library card for the town I just moved to, so I guess it's time to put it to use!!

I would def. go to the session and listen to what he has to say about his preferences for Lap banding. He may not be able to answer about your specific case until he consults with you personally though. It may be a matter of your health and personal cir****tances, rather than opinion or what you think you want that dictates which surgery is best for you. Dr. A will discuss all your alternatives, and I'm sure that afterward you'll feel great about your decision, no matter what it is! Good luck to you. I went in to see Dr. A thinking I wanted Lap Band and in the end wound up with RNY, purely because of the strength of his convictions that it would be my BEST choice (given my history, weight, med. complications and tendencies all rolled together). I feel great about my choice now. P.S. I think it's GREAT that you AND your partner are thinking aobut WLS. You can support each ohter! best wishes, Lisa C

Hi Lisa- Thanks so much for the feedback. I am going to listen to what Dr. A says, I hear nothing but great things about him. Although I want the Lap Band I won't make a decision until I meet with him and see what makes the best sense. Thanks again! Michelle

Hi Michelle, My husband went with me as my support person to Dr Aranow's seminar and added his name to the list "just in case he ever wanted it". I had my surgery in Sept '05 and he decided to have his and had it this past June. It does help to have someone eating small meals with me..but, we both have different things that we're sensitive to and can't eat. But, we're each other's support system and help each other with it. Dr Aranow will go over open RNY and lap band surgeries at the seminar, and when you have your initial appointment and he goes over all of your medical info and packet that you fill out, he'll advise on what surgery he things would be best for you, but in the end, he allows you to make the decision on what surgery you want. Your BMI is high, he may require you to lose quite a bit of weight prior to surgery to make it a more successful one. He'll let you know all of this. You're in good hands with him. Not just from my husband and me, but many on this board, and here in Rhode Island that choose to travel to have him as their surgeon instead of going to Providence or elsewhere! Good luck. paula