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Hi Heather, I so agree with everyone. You will have to make the ultimate decision on what will fit your goals and lifestyle. Each surgery will have its own set of rules that you have to follow. My perception at first was to go with the RNY because I loved to eat the wrong things way too much. But after getting tired of fighting with insurance I opted for the band down in Mexico. I got lap band procedure on April 19th of this year. Luckily I have not had any complications. I am still in a learning process of what my body can and cannot handle. I started at 421-422 ish and am down 33 pounds. Each surgery has its own reaction time. Not everyone will loose weight at the same rate. I just hope you remember that this surgery is a tool for you to learn to eat correctly, not a quick fix. It is definately a hard decision. Another perk for me is the lap band is reverisble more easily than the bypass from what I have researched. But again, research yourself, and then ask questions to Dr. Gupta. The Lord will guide you where ever you are. -Amy

Heather, Hi and welcome, I had Dr. Caccuci, Dr. Gupta's partner. I too got very very freaked out after reading about RNY, When I went to the initial meeting with Dr. C. I too wanted the lap-band, but after she explained both surgery's I new if I was going to do it I had to have the RNY, after that meeting I never thought about the lap-band again. Don't worry Dr. Gupta will help you make the decision that is best for you, and whatever you choose will be the right decision. Like everyone else says just research. Dr. Gupta's group is so good with pre-op education and post-op education. I bet after the first meeting you will feel much more confident. Sarah

Heather First of all Welcome to the Indiana Board. As you can already tell there are a group of wonderful folks here that are willing to share and support all of us. You are certainly doing the right thing by researching to find out about bar iatric surgery. I might say though that the more I researched the harder it was to make a decision as to which way was best for me. I decided on the RNY Laproscoptic, although Dr Cacucci told me that it may have to be done with open surgery, however that decision would be made after I was on the table and asleep. I have not had any regrets with my final decision. Note though, that the final decision has to be one that you feel best for you. You mentioned the horror stories about RNY. It seemed like the more research I did the more stories I read about deaths from WLS. Then I started to piece together the fact those stories stuck in my mind more than the success stories. In fact the percentage is very low. I also tried to find out why the person died on the operating table or soon after. I came to grips with the fact that some were in such bad health that the same would have happened no matter what surgery they had, being it WLS or another type of surgery. The other thing I found out is that some people do not follow instructions and do what they are suppose to do before and right after surgery. My conclusion was that my chances for survival was much better having the WLS then not having it. I have a couple of friends who had very difficult times after their surgery, but both say they would do it again even if they had to thru the complications they had. It is like reading about people being killed in car accidents, but very few ever say I am never going to get in a car again. Now if I read that someone died in a car crash because they had bad tires on their car, then certainly I will make sure I have good tires on my car. I know I have rambled on way to much, but wanted to share my personal thought process leading up to my surgery. I feel I made the right decision for ME and I am sure you will also make the right one to fit you. I think that after you meet with Dr Gupta and get answers to your questions the water will not seem quite a muddy. Best wishes to you. Dan

Hi Heather! Welcome (for like the 20th time) to the Indiana boards. The St. V's girls are great at what they do. I had a WONDERFUL experience with them. I was really scared when I had surgery, becasue as much as I wanted it and knew I needed it, the last time I was in the hospital overnight I only weight 9 pounds 12 ounces lol. I ultimatly decided on the RYN, although I had been considering a duodnal switch (dr inman i believe is the only sureong through ST Vs that does this). I breifly considered the lap band because it looked less risky. But then when I thought about it, I knew it was the wrong choice for me. I was pretty certain i'd eat my way out of it. IN short, I couldn't trust myself with a lap band. I decided against a duodnal switch. A friend of mine had that done with dr inman in december and though she is doing well with no complications, when i researched some of the side effects, I chose the RYN. THe other factor was that with the switch your pouch starts out at about 4 ounces- the size mine just now is at almsot 4 months out. The RYN is more restrictive and less malabsorptive, and the switch is more malabsorptive and less resiricted. I knew I needed the strictest surgery I could get to learn to eat the right way, and that's the majority of why I chose RYN. I was hoping I would dump on anything remotly sugary (alas I dont) and would be able to tollerate only fruits and veggies. Oh, how you change your mind about hose things. Hahaha. POint being, its your journey, and you have to make the best choice that will give you the best chance for sucess. You know yourself the best, and you have to admit all those things to yourself you dont like to think about. I had to tell myself " look self, you are weak when it comes to food, and I know you don't like to not be in control of things. But you don't control your food well, and you need a firm hand."

Hi Heather. Welcome. I'm from Greensburg, just up the road from you an am turning 30 in July. I just had the RNY with Dr. Evanson up at St. V's. I was like you and researched my butt off before going to the initial appt. I was convinced that I wanted the lap band. However after meeing with the surgeon, I decided on RNY. Like another said on here, I think that I, too, would've eaten my way out of the band. The RNY was done laproscopically and things have been great. Of course complications can arise and sometimes, do.......but I was more afraid of what would happen to me if I didn't have the surgery. Go to the meeing and talk with your doc. She'll be able to help you decide. Congrats on making this decision. I can honestly say that it's the best decision that I've ever made. I'm down 55 pounds in almost 14 weeks and I know that I couldn't have done it otherwise.

Hi Heather! I'm fairly new here too. I joined so that I can read about others' experiences and ask questions of them. It's been helpful. I too was only thinking of the lap band but the more I read and ask questions the more I believe its not the one that would be the best for me. I have my consultation with my doctor on July 19. I'm looking forward to asking questions and finding out things so I can make the decision that is right for me. My husband is also going through the process and his appointment is on the same day as mine. We're hoping to be well on our way to a healthier lifestyle soon!! Good luck. Anna

I went to Dr Cacucci... I have always known I was going to "get my stomach cut off" I am the drastic type.. I give everything my all... I ate till I couldnt eat anymore... thats how I got up to a size 28 and 300 pounds.. I had tried every weight loss trick available and have eatten about every pill that was supposed to help curb my appitite. Lap RNY helped me get into size 16's so far and I havent been in this size for 25 years!!! I knew I would find a way around the band to sneak in all the sweets and things that were not so good for me.. so I went RNY because medically I wanted to get sick and throw up and hurt if I did wrong. It works!!! I swallowed a bite of hot dog yesterday to big and had to sit out of the party for a little while... ouch!! But the pain is a great reminder for me to do what I know needs done to continue loosing and live my life for me!!! I dont throw up... never really liked the sensation so I just dont do it.. (mental thing) so I suffer the pain for an hour... helps me remember WHY... Which ever surgery you choose will work if YOU make it work. Jo has MADE HERband work!!! perfect example of a bander done good. Deb, Angie, Julie and Peggy, Dan, Sherri... RNYs that WORK!! Which ever you choose... You have already made the best choice... YOU CHOSE to LIVE and this is the best avenue to make that happen!! Surgery works! Linda

You are all so wonderful!! Thank you so much!! You are all right, the decision is up to me. I guess I've spent the last 30 years deciding to eat like this. And the more I read and the more I research, I could eat my way out of a steel bag if I let myself. If I can eat myself out ofa lapband, it might not be the best choice for me. Don't get me wrong the RNY sounds very scary still,, but so does death becuase of being overweight. I feel like I turned 30 and the tables all turned health wise, and I don't like that at all.. I'm ready for a change, and I'm ready to be healthy and smaller. I hope Dr. Gupta clears up my woes. Can you research a physician a little further?? Other then on this board?? ;-) Thanks again to everyone!! :)