I Have a date Too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be having LAPband Surgery on Monday 1/30 by Dr. John Oldham. I wanted RNY (I felt like it was more of a sure thing, I KNOW I KNOW) but my PCP, wife (who does not own a fat cell), and Daughter (who is very strong willed to put it nicely) wanted me to have the band. After meeting with Dr. Oldham they convinced me to have the Band based on daily diet history I had turned in to them. I eat huge meals, no sweets or deserts, no sugar based sodas, and very seldom any snack between meals. Dr. Oldham said there was no way he would consider RNY verses the LapBand for himself if his eating habits were the same as mine (and he needed surgery, which he doesn't). He said long term if the Lapband does not work we could consider RNY. Healthwise I could have had either surgery, my insurance had approved either. Anyone out there that can make me feel more warm and fuzzy about the decision. For six months while going thru the process I was set on RNY, then Tuesday everything changed I am kinda in shock..

Hey there Barry, I had RNY so I don't know alot about lapband but I will tell you this. I have been spending alot of time with Dr. Oldham and Dr. Weiss over the last several weeks and I can say they know their stuff. I trust them completely in helping making the right decision..Just remember to follow the rules and you will do just fine!! They have probably the best after care program I have ever seen ... good luck with the surgery, and keep thinking positive..

Barry: Just remember one thing...we want patients telling prospective patients about us. Patients unhappy with their weight loss results, generaly don't refer others to us. We want you to be successful and happy with your results. Based on the type eater you state you are, and the fact that you are a man (great losers no matter how they choose to do it), you should be very successful with the band. I had bypass 3 years ago before the band was in this area. If I felt I could have been successful with the band, I would have opted for it in a second (had it been available). My problem was that I was addicted to sweets, and snacked on them all day long. I was not a volume eater. SO I would have been at the Dairy Queen ordering my Moo-Latte blizzards 3 or 4 times a day to get my sweet fix in. Once an addict, always an addict and I would have eaten my way around the band. True volume eaters do great with the band. It is much safer as well. The biggest indicator for how successful a patient will be with their weight loss surgery tool, is their committment...band or bypass. Half that battle is mind set. Be positive with this decision and go into the morning of surgery knowing this is the right choice for you. You will do very well. Best wishes... Cathi Roskind,RN Education/Support Coordinator The Bariatric Center at Georgetown