newbie considering lap banding vs. bypass - lots of questions

Hello everyone This is such a great website!! I have been reading profiles and post since Wednesday and feel like I know so many of you already. (sounds a bit bizarre, but true). I'm 29 and have a BMI of 47.7. About 3 years ago, I talked to my PCP about bypass surgery and he said NO WAY, even though I qualified, he did say that I should call Mass General and check out there diet program, well I called them and it was a 6-18 mo wait to just get an appointment, so I didn't bother. Well, my husband and I have been talking about having kids and my cycles are all irregular (due to weight I'm sure), so my ob sent me to a fertility specialist this week. He point blank looked at me and said I will not work with you until you loose 100 lbs. I was crushed, yet relieved all at the same time. I want to loose weight so badly, but need help. I know that if I have this surgery that I will have to wait at least a year if not two before trying to get pregnant. I'm ok with that. I want a healthy pregnancy and long life to share with a child, more than I just want a child. So I have made some calls this week to different programs around the Boston area. Some of the programs have really long waiting times just to get to an information session. I know that it will take several months before the actual surgery, but I don't want to have to wait an additional 3-6 months just to start the process. I am going to an information session on Monday June 27th at the Salem hospital. I have read that a few others will be going as well, so hope to see you all there. One more thing.... Lap banding VS. bypass? I know that you loose more quickly with bypass, but lap banding is so much less invasive. I'm sure that I will get more info on Monday, but would love to hear your opinions!! Also, what are the recovery times like? How long would I be out of work? Also opinions on hospitals, doctors or programs... anyone had a GREAT experience? Or a really bad one... let me know.... Thanks for any information!!!!

Dear Newbie, I'm One Month Post-op from lapro RNY and feeling great!! I had a very easy time during surgery. My husband said I was in recovery within 3 hours. Brigham&Womens is a great hospital. Dr. Lautz is great. He and his staff are very easy to work with. Had my Surgery on May 23rd. Pretty out of it on Monday and Tuesday. Turns out that I don't tolerate Morphine and it made me nauseous. Throwing after bypass surgery isn't my favorite experience, but I can think of lots of things that hurt worse... (my babies were 8lbs 13 oz and 9lbs 8oz respectively)...OUCH Once they stopped the pain meds, I was raring to get out... They wouldn't let me go on Wednesday. I did so many laps, that they let me go on Thursday morning just to get me out from underfoot. Took it easy at home on Thursday. Snuck into work on Friday. Ended up working a few hours. So needless to say, things went very well. I have 6 small incision scars. (My hubbie says it looks like I was attacked with a butter knife). I was down 38lbs at 4 weeks. I have not regretted doing this for one second. Don't know much about the banders, but I didn't choose the option because you need to keep going back for fills. With my busy lifestyle felt that RNY was the best for me. After you get all your info, that's what it boils down to.... What is best for you..... Good Luck, I hope this helps.... Kate Z 313/270/125

Those of you who have had the lap band... does it take alot of time to go in for a fill? I'm not against RNY, jut dont want to be out of work for several weeks. In fact, I can't really be out of work more than two weeks.... that is my biggest fear for RNY.... just the recovery... THANKS KATE FOR YOUR ANSWERS!!

Fills are usually very quick procedures - usually 5-10 minutes (not incl. waiting room time, etc.). LOVIN' my band, Caeli 348/323/272/198 5'10"

Hi, I can't give you any info on the lap band because I had an open RNY.....I just wanted to say welcome and good luck with your pursuit of a healthier body and a baby! I know that the hospital program that I went through offers lap band. I went to Brigham & Women's hospital. I know that they currently have three surgeons....Dr Robinson (my surgeon), Dr Lautz and Dr Vernon.

I am getting the lapband BECAUSE it is a slower method of weight loss, and because I just feel it is a safer procedure overall. (Death rate of RNY is 1 in 200 or so, while the death rate of the band is LESS THAN 1 in 2000 - ) I am hoping my skin will have a greater chance to bounce back into shape if I lose more slowly too. With the lapband, you still have to do some work - it is just a tool. It allows you to eat smaller portions of just about any food you want....which to me is a lot more safe. I don't ever have to worry about malabsorbtion of the foods I will eat as people with RNY have to - they will forever have to take multivitamins and have their vitamins and minerals somehwat monitored....I won't....I just am not comfortable with the idea of my insides being rerouted/resectioned.....I'm going to try the band - My surgery is July 12! I can't answer your questions completely about the recovery times - I have attended many support group meetings, and have learned a lot from this board. One woman I know said she could have been back to work 3 days after the surgery...but she seems the minority! Many take a week, and a few take 2 weeks. AGain, the majority are back to work a week or so after surgery.... Regarding a bad experience, well, I have read of some people having trouble with the band finally giving them restriction - you have to wait 6 weeks at least after the surgery to get your first fill - or adjustment to the band. And that is just the start - it can take some people 5 or more fills before they finally feel good restriction, which is what the band does for you...once it is properly restricted. Some people see this as a drawback to the band - the long wait. But it took me awhile to get here so it doesn't surprise me to see that it will take awhile to come off. Good luck to you in your journey. Feel free to email me more questions! I love to chat about the band! Can't wait for my surgery next month.

Just to clarify this a bit, the RNY is still just a tool. You will still need to do work afterwards. Sometimes I think it's more work than the band, simply because we have to be so conscious of the nutritional components of everything we eat to make sure we get enough of what we need. I had my RNY in March, 2005, and had no surgical complications, but this has been FAR from easy for me. I've posted in the past about my troubles so far, but feel free to email me if you want to know more. I just don't want anything to think the RNY is a magic bullet that requires no work to lose the weight. It's just a different tool than the lap band. For some, the band is better, and for others it's the RNY. I chose the RNY because of my eating habits, and my tendency to eat high fat/high sugar foods when I feel certain emotions. I was certain I would outeat the band and defeat it altogether. For all the issues I've had so far, I still think I would outeat the band, though I sure wish I could eat SOMETHING without any trouble. Mary Ellen

Hi Kimberly--as far as the lap band vs Rny--it is such a personal decision. There are advantages and disadvantages to both procedures. To be honest-I was too chicken to do the RNY--fear of the surgery death rates. However---now that I've been around the block-I shouldn't have been afraid knowing what I know about the major boston hospitals. Last year protocals were set up for safety in wlsurgery by the dept of public health. The major boston hospitals participated in this. Also-Beth Israel is hosting via Harvard Medical a 4/5 day seminar for docs on Weight loss surgery. Some docs are from around the country, but many are in our back yard. Sometimes the banner flashes on the top of the mass board then click for the info. I would suggest going to the info sessions, but more importantly look on the main RNY board and the main lap band board to read peoples posts and profiles. I think the reasons why we are here are all the same--how we get outselves out of this predicament is slightly different. I hope that helps. Joan

Hi Kimberly I had my RNY surgery at Caritas Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center (CSEMC) in Brighton almost a year ago and have been very happy with the program, the people and the results. My first visit to CSEMC was in March 2004 and my surgery was in August 2004 so I had about 5 months to go from new patient to having the WLS. I'm not sure if the same time table still works there but you can ask the people at the Center For Weight Control. They are very user friendly there! I chose to have the Laproscopic RNY surgery over the lap band for a few reasons. These are just my opinions and I don't mean to knock the many people who chose the lap band. Ultimately, it's your personal choice but as someone getting to know the process it will help for you to hear others' reasons for chosing their procedure. 1) Permanence - After going my whole life gaining and losing weight, I needed a weight loss solution that was final. The lap band seemed like it was less permanent than actually altering my anatomy with by-pass surgery. 2) Maintenance - I'm no expert but I understand lap band people may occasionally need their band adjusted and they actually have a fill aperatus near their skin surface. No thanks. I wanted something that was done and over with rather than something I had to maintain. 3) Fear - There seems to be something dangerous about putting a medical device into your body over the long term. We hear of artificial heart rejection, breast implant problems, and you may recall the Dalcon shield health problems. My fear may have no basis but it still seems dangerous to put something artificial into your body for a long time. 4) Suspicion - Again, there may be no basis to my suspicion but to me the lap band is a medical product marketed by a commercial business. Like any commercial product, the sellers want to make money on the device and they push their product regardless of whether it is the best solution for you. RNY surgery has no medical device manufacturers marketing it and is popular because it works, not because its marketed in a big way. Once again, these are just my thoughts and my concerns. Welcome to the forum and good luck on your journey! Dave

I love my band and I love my surgeon (Dr. Vernon at Brigham & Women's). I truly feel as if this having this surgery was the best decision I ever made! B&W has info sessions (for all WLS) once a month if you're interested. I have PCOS and my cycles had been irregular since I started menstruating at age 12. Now eight months post-op my cycle comes like clockwork! I too want to have kids someday and knew my obesity would be a major obstacle. With my band its now possible. In fact, it was a huge factor in my decision to get banded (the lap band is the safest WLS for those wanting to get pregnant). Please feel free to read my profile and email me if you have any questions. I also encourage you to visit the lap band board: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/LapBand/posts.html. Best of luck whatever you decide, Caeli 348/323/272/198 5'10"