lap vs RNY

If you have had the surgery, how did you make your decision on what to have? I'm at a loss. I want the RNY, but I'm not sure because of the risks. Thanks

Hi, When I first looked into surgery I was seriously thinking about the lap-band. But after seeing the results of people who had RNY, I knew it was the best choice for me. Majority of all people who have had RNY usually lose more than people with the band, but thats not saying the band is a bad choice. I suppose there's a risk with any of the Weight loss surgeries, although Lap-Band has a quicker recovery time, the Lap RNY is pretty much the same recovery time. Personally I'd say if you have alot to lose go with RNY. Take care amd goodluck to you.

Tony, Just wanted to say thanks for not "bashing the band" like I have seen others do. Surgery for anyone is major, and should be a well thought out decision! I hope this poster appreciates your honest answer! I am looking more into the band, and hoping to be banded before summer's end! i look at it like a disease... if we were all on a cancer help forum/board, i can't see anyone saying this therapy or treatment is better or worse or whatever, so why people do it with WLS is beyond me! know what i mean??? WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WORKS FOR US! i haven't had kids yet, and haven't even really looked into whether or not i still could with RNY, but was one of my main concerns with WLS to begin with... anyway! I wish you continued success with your WLS journey! karly in KY

Hey Karly! You nailed it! I couldn't agree more. Thanks for the wishes, and good luck to you as well. Keep us posted on your progress and when you get a date! Take care.

As you know everybody is unique. I had RNY in October of 2005 and I have not had one minute of trouble. I think I have done well with my weight loss. My mother who is 69 years old had the RNY in March of 2006 and has really done better than I have. My sister is choosing the Lap Band route and probably will have this procedure in the next couple of weeks. She really wanted the RNY, but because of Crohn's Disease issues her doctor recommended the Lap Band procedure. I will repeat what my doctors have often said, "This is just a tool". I found this out about 6 months out. The real work started then. My diet is on my mind constantly. I would like to loose about 37 more pounds and I am having to work with every single pound I loose. Obesity is definitely a disease. My whole family is trying to beat this disease with living healthly and eatting healthly. This is the hardest part and the only risk that I have had trying to beat Obesity.

what's up richmond girlie??? i was in richmond for a very long time... 6 years to be exact, while at EKU! GO COLONELS! haha good luck with your WLS, whichever you pick! karly

Girlie~ I was tired of being heavy and having all kinds of medical problems. Now I am no longer considered a diabetic(after 2 months of lap rny), I got off my cholesterol meds @ 2 months po, off bp meds also @ 2 months po.....so it has really been great for me. MY surgeon decided what was good for me,, but at the time the consult he told me also that he may have to go ahead and do the open but he would have to decide that when he got me in the operating room, so I went into surgery not knowing for sure if my surgery was going to be lap or open Rny. I had the lap RNY in Aug 05, started at 278 now almost 10 months later I am at 185 and my surgeon says I am right on target. I sure hope this helps ya. Good luck with your decision on having wls(wt. loss surgery). It's an awesome Journey to go on! I thank God everyday not only for my health I have now, but for my weight loss doc also. Without him I could never had done this.

Hi Richmond Girlie, I'm just minutes away from you. I just had my lap RNY on June 5. I've had a few very sick days from just not being able to get my liquids and my protein in but other than that, I'm doing great. I've had no complications so far and hope I don't. I got my staples removed yesterday and was told about the "window of misery" that could come about in a couple of more weeks. This is due to the staple line in the pouch healing and scar tissue and tighening around that area, if I understood the doc correctly. I don't look forward to that but the nurse said "not to watch for it" as it doesn't ALWAYS happen. I looked into the lap band proceedure and was all set to go that route. I checked into the pros and cons. I read about slippage, people having to have the band removed for one reason or another and then started checking out RNY. I'm a self-pay patient and just could not afford to pay nearly $18,000.00 for banding and take a chance I'd have to have further surgery. I'm NOT saying lap banding is a bad thing. I've seen MANY success stories but decided RNY was the best for me and my situation. That being said, RNY is NOT without risks of its own... and some are very serious risks at that. With lap banding, it can easily be removed (I think). With RNY, if something goes wrong, it is not so easy to undo. It is considered permenant... although it CAN be undone in an emergency situation. I'd suggest reading all you can from patients who have been banded and from those who have had RNY surgery and see what you think. It's hard, in my opinion, for someone who has had RNY to be 100% objective with banded... as I personally would say RNY is the way to go. On the other hand, someone who has been banded may feel 100% that banding is the only way to go. We are biast. (or at least I am). Good luck in making your decision. Gale

hey Gale, just wondering, where are you in KY? I am in E-Town! karly

Karly, I'm about 35 or 40 miles south of Lexington. I'm not sure where E-Town is but I have kin folk in Louisville. I was up there about 6 weeks ago for my uncle's funeral. Perhaps all the KY RNY'ers can get together sometime for dinner or something? Wouldn't that be fun? Gale