Why one vs the other?

I've currently been through my education session with DSM Bariatrics and will be consulting with Dr. LeMasters who I'd like for my surgeon. I have the utmost trust in the DSM Bariatrics team however I am curious why so many people are still choosing the RNY over the LapBand????  Can I get some feedback on why more people are not choosing the LapBand? For me I'm looking at all my co-morbidities and all the medicines I must take due to cardiac history.  I'm highly looking at the LapBand due to I don't want to have the challenge 5, 10, 20 years down the road with mal-absorption. Especially with all my medicines. Am I off my rocker????? I guess in summary .... why did you choose the RNY over the LapBand???? and vise-versa? Thanks JB

JB

 I really didnt get to choose when my RNY was done my insurance would only pay for that  I guess  everything has been good for me but I will be honest upon talking to my pcp and her nurse who has been thinkng about it I am glad that it turned out  that I had RNY  and I have said its up to the person and the surgeon as far as what is going to work  for you and that you and the surgeon are cobfortable  with each other and which procedure is best for you

hope that helps

Sheila

JB,

Good early morning to you!  I had the RNY done just over two weeks ago.  6 months ago, when I started this process, I weighed the options and spoke with Dr. Glas****'s office team.  They said, because I have a tendency toward sweets (big tendency), they would lean toward the RNT over lapband.  It is too easy for things like ice cream, etc. to slip through the band. I have two very close friends who are almost 4 months out.  One had Lapband and wouldn't change it for the world, the other had RNY and wouldn't change it for the world.  THAT helps, huh?! Here's the thing -- IF you have the lapband surgery done, each time you go in for a "fill", your insurance is charged somewhere in the neighborhood of $1000.  My friend pays $250 each time out of pocket.  For me, that simply was NOT and option. Just research the heck out of both.  Here is what I know -- I am 35, have been diabetic for 5-10 years and was on 2 injectables and 2 oral meds for it.  Since leaving the hospital, I have taken NOTHING, no insulin, or anything else for my diabetes and my numbers are staying in the normal range.  It is a small miracle and I feel very blessed.  If you need anything else, please ask. ~Val

Hi, JB! I had RNY one month ago today.  I guess one of the biggest reasons I chose RNY is because I've been told the success rate of losing the weight and keeping it off is better with RNY versus lap band.  This is a complete lifestyle change and I believe I will acheive my goals better with RNY versus the Lap Band.  Also, I had my RNY done at the University of Iowa and they don't even offer Lap Band because they don't believe in it.  (Just what I was told).  Another reason I didn't have Lap Band is because I don't want to have to keep going in for fills, etc,.  It can take a long time to find your "sweet spot" and it's not cheap getting the fills.  As for the malabsorption, that's a good thing to me.  That means I'm not going to absorb fats and carbs like I did before.  As for your medicines, you just have to have your levels checked once in a while to make sure you're getting what you need and if you're not maybe they will increase your dosage.  I don't know what kinds of meds you're taking now, but in the majority of patients after they lose some weight they don't even have a need for their prior medications anymore.  Example:  High blood pressure, diabetes.   I take vitamins now and will have to for the rest of my life, but it's not like I'm popping pills every 10 minutes.  It's a pretty small amount.  I have nothing against the people that chose Lap Band.  This is just my opinion on why I chose RNY.  Shannon

Thanks to all of you for your help!!! Its much appreciated. Jack

I am almost 4 years out.  When I decided to do it, lap band was considered experimental and no one around here was doing it.  So I only really had the RNY choice.  That said, if I were to do it all over, knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I would choose RNY. 

The first 2 years I did really well.  Then I started having hypoglycemic issues.  To make a long story short, this past June I had 60% of my pancreas  and all of my spleen removed due to a condition called nesidioblastosis.  The beta cells of the pancreas go nuts and make way too much insulin.  Mayo is seeing more cases of it as more RNY procedures are done.  While I am better, I still can't eat normally.  Anything with carbs can still make my sugar drop.  And I'm talking about complex carbs, like whole grains (oatmeal in particular) or popcorn.   My food choices are still fairly limited.  It gets boring.

Since the surgery in June, I am now have iron deficiency anemia and have been having iron infusions.  I have always been religious about taking my supplements.  They don't think the pancreatectomy caused it but probably just pushed me over the edge.

Would I do it again?  Not too sure about that.  I think I would seriously consider lap band.  As for still being able to eat sweets without problems, a lot of RNYers can anyway.  I'm not sure the risk for malabsorbtion problems and nesidioblastosis are worth not being able to eat sweets (maybe). 

Ultimately, you have to decide how much risk of complications is worth.  You do lose faster with RNY than lap band.  As for the cost of the fills, I'm sure it would be offset by the cost of vitamins and other supplements you would have to take the rest of your life if you do RNY. Do your research and don't be swayed by the quickness of wt loss with RNY.  You can lose as much with the lap band if you stick to the program.  It's a decision only you can make.  Just do your homework.

 

 

Hi there.... I'm also almost four years out and had RNY with Dr. Glas****  I never even looked at Lapband -- although I knew someone who had it done years before and still had major weight struggles.   I wouldn't change what I've done for all the tea in china.  Initially, I lost 140 lbs, but have since put back on 20 lbs, which is just about a perfect weight for me.  I exercise 5 to 6 times a week for a minimum of an hour daily -- usually close to 1.5 hrs +.   I do watch what I eat, and yes I can eat sweets, but nothing like I used to be able to.  After RNY I found that my body could adapt to a certain amount of sugar again.... however, I can also revers this process by not  eating much of it and I become a lot less tolerant of it. That being said I was diabetic when I started the process which was one of my main motivators -- was maxed on 2 different meds and the dr. was talking insulin -- I said nope -- did that when I had gestational and didn't want to go there again.  Initially I went off all my meds, but now I take 2 different meds again, but am in control.  The dr. told me I've done all I can with the weight loss and exercise and it's just me.  (I never have had a low sugar problem).   RNY is a life- changing experience -- yes you lose the weight quickly at first, but after that it's entirely up to you.  If I wanted to I'm sure I could eat my way back to my highest weight by continually grazing and eating the wrong things.  I choose not to... I'm so thankful for the tool I was given to get the weight off and I know it's in my hands to keep it off.  I've also found that a positive attitude makes all the difference in the world whichever path you take.  Research it all.... throw out the best advice and the worst advice and then make your own decision....  I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Janie

Thank you all for your feedback. I've heard so many things about both that its a hard decision. I expect that I will be choosing the lapband over the RNY with one of the main reasons being its somewhat less invasive and if for some unknown reason 20 years from now, it could be reversed. In addition I'm on >12 meds including a blood thinner, etc etc....... The lapband will still allow my body to absorb my medicines. 

My cardiologist is also more comfortable with the lapband. My history is I was first on the angio table at 30 and I've been on 8 times total. My background is as a paramedic... I can't even get a physician to prescribe a appetite suppressent due to my co-morbidities.

I've got to do something or I won't see my children graduate and get married. Therefore I believe with the lapband it will be a tool for me....  in addition I know I must exercise regularly.  Thank you all again!

I chose RNY over LAPBAND because I need consequences to succeed.  If I eat sugar there are consequences.  If I over eat there are consequences.  This helps keep me in line.  I am 5 weeks out and 41lbs gone! Plus there is no worries about slippage or costly fills. 

I was originally scheduled for the RNY surgery, during the surgery to discover that I had cirrhosis of the liver, which is counterintuitive to having the RYN.  My surgeon had no choice but to close, and to resubmit the insurance for the lap band, if I was yo have any procedure done. Now three months, postsurgery, I am very happy with the lap band.  I'm down about 65 pounds, have reduced or limited most of my medications and will be having my third fill sometime after Thanksgiving. Each fill for me runs about $1200, but from now until the first the year my insurance is 100% coverage.