Newbie with a difficult decision

I had my consultation with the surgeon this week and still feel fairly torned between the gastric bypass vs. the banding procedure.  I have directly and indirectly spoken to people who have had the bypass and are absolutely thrilled !  I consider this a once in a life time opportunity and don't want to lose slowly or risk regaining the weight.  I wonder if there are people out there with bands, and why you decided band vs. bypass and what your thoughts were.  Thank you all.

I went with the bypass because I wanted to lose weight quicker in the beginning and didn't want the "hassle" of having to go back for fills.  In my own opinion, I made a foolish mistake.  If I had it to do over again, I would go with the band for more practical reasons.

But that is just in my own expreience and opinion.

Have you looked into the gastric sleeve that doesn't cause malabsorption.  That is what I am going with at Lenox Hill Hospital.  Good luck.

I spent months researching and trying to make a decision also. I chose to have the vertical sleeve gastrectomy because of the potential negative things that can happen with both the band and the bypass. Please do as much research as possible-and when you decide, stick with your decision. I had my surgery on 6/1 at St. Francis in Hartford. I have lost 42 lbs in this process, 24 lbs since the surgery. Good luck to you.

May I ask what is it about the RNY that you are unhappy with.  I do understand that you have already had the surgery and cannot reverse it.  I had my RNY in March 2009 with the exception of a little gas problems I am happy with it.,

I had the band put on 7 years ago and I'm about to have a reversal to a RNY.  It was a waste of my time but of course that was me.  I'm only one person.. I only lost about  30 lbs with still 130 to go

I haven't had my surgery yet; not till the end of November or into December of this year.  But....

Originally I thought I would get the Lap Band, but in going to my doctor's seminars (awesome), I realized the Lap Band was not for me at all.  Why?  Mainly because I have a lot of co-morbities:  Diabetes, congestive heart failure 2x last year, high chloresterol, sleep apnea, high blood pressure.  With the Lap Band, the results of losing weight would be much slower, the chance of completely ridding myself of any or all of the co-morbities would definitely not be as good as if I were to have the Open Gastric Bypass.  So, with MUCH research, going to support group meetings and discussion with my doctor and other RNY patients, I have chosen to have the Open Gastric Bypass.  It would be my BEST option overall and for the long run. 

I have learned of too many that their bands have loosened and fallen off.  That's not to say there are many that have made out perfectly fine with the Lap Band.  I just realized it would not be a good choice for me.