RNY 12/9/05 the questions and fear mount...

Up until 3 days ago I was planning to have the lap band. Then I went to one last seminar where the surgeon perform both the RNY and the Lapband. I found out that the lap band would practically double my GERD and that even with weight loss I would probably never be completely free of it. It took me for a spin, luckily I had been skimming info on the RNY too (it's hard not to when you're looking for info on WLS)! Anyway, I was holding on to the fact that the band is reversible (it was more of a safety net/comfort zone). Now that's gone. This is an anatomical alteration and it's for life. NO going back! I really believe that this surgery is the missing piece to keeping the weight off for good. Losing weight has never been easy for me, but I've managed to lose 30-70lbs during my fights with fat. Of course, it always comes back with an additional 10-15lbs. I go really good until I get sick, go on vacation, or have any kind of interruption with the "diet" or exercise routine, then it's pretty much all down hill from there. Luckily, I have managed to pretty much remove the emotional/control eating/binging that used to haunt me. That has been a great weight lifted from me. Now I want to make sure that I have done everything I can to prevent diabetes (it runs strong in my Dad's side), throat cancer (prolonged reflux), infertility (I already have a couple of obstacle in that dept. that were hereditary I don't want weight to be the final nail). Sorry, I kind of got off on a tangent. Anyway, I would really like to hear from people who have had the RNY recently and a year or more out. I need to know that a "normal" life can be led with the RNY surgery. I'm not as obese as most people I've met that have had or are going to have this surgery (I'm 5'3" 239) and am not looking to lose weight extremely fast (that's another reason I was going for the LapBand). The surgeon told me that he could increase my pouch up to 50% and shorten the rerouted intestine (so there'll be a little less malabsorption). I'm 29 and my parents are really worried that my "social" life might be inhibited due to not being able to eat "normally". From what I've found out through research and talking to people the first year is a little rough, but then you're more aware and everything has stretched out just a little bit more. Is this true have I been interpreting right or just making up what I want to believe? Sorry this is soooo long, but I had to get it out there Thanks!

Hi If you have been on the main lap-band site- there are always people that are debating the bypass and lap-band. There are good reasons for both- it is surely an individual decision. I had the lap band last Aug. My girlfriend had bypass almost 3 years ago, and worked on me all that time. She really told me the truth about dumping, throwing up, not being able to eat certain foods, and I decided against it. I don't want to give up certain foods. There has not been anything I have not been able to eat. I love to eat, and don't want to give up food. I just eat a whole lot less of it now- like a normal thin person. I have had 1 stomach ache, have never thrown up, never had diahhrea, and have lost 35 pounds, which is slow compared to by-pass. There are pros and cons, but I did not want such an intensive surgery. My brother has Khrons disease, and has had several feet of his intestines removed, and really suffers. I took that into consideration. He was a heavy drinker, and smoker which I am sure had something to do with that. I do not smoke or drink. From all that I have read- the lap-band folks pretty much catch up to the by-pass patients. The lap band just seems like more of a forever deal- where the "window of opportunity" they talk about with the bypass surgery can be less than a year. Both of the surgeries work, it all depends on if you follow the guidlines and change your habits. I think the other thing that people forget- if you are squimish with needles and such- the lap band kind of freaks you out. My first fill was scary, but as long as I didn't look at it, I was ok. Good luck- go with your heart. It's your body- no matter what anyone tells you, and it's up to you. I know I made the right decision for me. I am eating half of what I used to, exercising every day and feel great. I have more energy than I have had for years- I am 53 and can't wait to finish what I started. Cheryl

I am almost two yearw sout from Lap RNY and down about 150 pounds. I am so glad that two years ago my surgeon didn't do both so there was no decision for me. I have had a few minor complications but would not ever change a thing. My key has been an awesome surgeon. I think if everything goes perrfectly it doesn't make that much difference who your surgeon is but if there are complications you want someone who cares about their patients. I had several strictures, my gall bladder out, H pylori and finally a laposcopy to try to figure out my throwing up so much which was a twist in my intestines. As far as eating I eat like a totally normal person. I don't seem to dump (which I am not sure is a good thing) and for example last night we went to Cheeseburgers in Paradise. I ate a piece of a quesadilla, about half of my cheeseburger ( sometimes eat a little of the whole thing then take the bread off and eat the meat) some sweet potato chips--not the whole pile and a few chocolate nachos. I was very full--I don't eat like that normally!! My surgeon says that after about a year out we should "look" that much different than a normal person in our eating. If you observe how thin people eat you will see it is different than us. They are very careful of what goes in their mouth and are able to stop. I still struggle with compulsiveness and not wnating to stop if it something bad for me...one piece is good...20 pieces is better. Who is your surgeon? Let me know if you need more details. Will be gald to talk to you. Alice

The decision between Lap Band and RNY is purely a personal choice, and only you an your doctor can make. I am exactly one year out of the RNY, and I can assure you that live does go on and I consider myself to be as normal as anyone else. OOk, lets talk about "everything stretching out". No, your pouch does not stretch out. But the pouch does get more effecient and you are able to eat more after the first 6mo-year. That doesn't mean you can go back to eating an entire pizza, or a double burger with everything on it. Those are habits that got us to obesity in the first place. In time, after RNY, you can eat anything you want. Your portion size is drastically smaller than it is now. The whole point is to be healthier. You may CHOOSE not to eat anything you want, and to make the tool work best, you do need to watch your carb intake untill you reach your goal, then to stop losing, you increase your carbs untill you stop losing. Having RNY (or Lap Band for that matter) is just a "tool" that is being given to you. What you do with it, and how you manage your nutrition is completely up to you. So depending on what you consider eating "normally" may be the answer to your question. The only thing that some (most) have is a problem with sugar, and high fat foods that could make you dump. This can be a good thing as those are items that cause weight gain. Some of us do not dump, and falling back into old habits of eating these foods is a struggle. If you are worried about eating "normal" being unlimited ammounts of anything you want when ever you want it, neither surgery is for you. But I can tell you, I do go to restaurants and have no problem finding food to eat, I do make different choices now than I did before, and I end up leaving more than half of what is given me on the plate,,,,,, but I don't see this as a bad thing. Good luck in your decision. If you want to talk e-mail me,