Do you Regret it?

Hi John, Welcome! I had RYN surgery (laproscopically) at NEMC in September. I did alot of research before making a decision and the best advice I can give you is to do the research and make the decision you feel better about. I also had thought about lap-band but decided to have the gastric bypass instead. Before the surgery, I had high BP and diabetes. I was on medication for these illnesses as well as high cholesterol. Because gastric bypass seems to have the greatest benefits for diabetes, I chose to take that route. My only regret is that I did not have the surgery earlier in my life. I feel so much better now and have alot more energy. As a result, I now exercise regularly and the pounds are coming off. I'm off my BP meds and most of my diabetes meds. I still take Lantus insulin once a day but the dase has dramatically dropped and the doctors feel that with continued weight loss, I will some day be off that also. Good luck to you! Sue

John, you are asking some great questions! Keep asking until you feel satisfied about your decision. First, I would like to say that all of us are going to support our surgery of choice. While I have been researching for about 5 months now, I have not been able to find any posts about complications (a few minor ones) or deaths from lap banding. You will not find many "regrets" about RNY on this site because they are posted under the regrets message board or are on the "memorials" message board (they died from complications). Lap band is reversible, yes, but not so you can change your mind and have it taken out. It is meant to be a lifetime device and the only good part of it being reversible is if you have a medical reason for taking it out, such as stomach cancer, etc. I will never understand a person's fear of having an "implant" or having to get a few very tiny needle sticks but at the same time be willing to have the entire digestive system rearranged FOR LIFE. The band is less invasive, has a mortality rate the same as general anesthesia (so no more deadly than ANY surgery) while the RNY has 1 in 200, and yes it is reversible. The overall excess weight loss for both the band and the RNY is the same in 2-5 year studies. Also with the band there is no "window of opportunity" like the RNY, you can continue use it your whole life to maintain a healthy weight. And the glory of it is, if you are worried about it, the band can be taken out and RNY done afterwards if that's what you decide to do. Why not try something so much less deadly and something you can control rather than a drastic surgery such as RNY? Just my opinion! Good luck either way!