Lap band v. RNY

Any thoughts?  My husband is freaking over my possibly having my intestines resected and possible unforeseen long-term consequences.  And he has a point.  He's a smart guy, a scientist for a living.  FWIW, he is not opposed to surgery in general and would be thrilled if I lost a bunch of weight.  (After all, he said he'd happily pay for a tummy tuck and boob job.) I went to the initial consult thinking "lap band," but the surgeon said he always recommended an RNY because he says it's a better choice for diabetics.  Surgeon said that the RNY produces bigger losses and seems to clear up the diabetes issues more quickly. FWIW, I think I probably would be successful with a lap band.  I actually enjoy exercise when I'm not this fat, so I'd be a very compliant patient in that respect.  Exercising does wonders for my sugar readings, so I'm going to Curves and hitting the dreadmill some even now.   I just need some form of surgical intervention to get me started, because 143 lbs looks pretty daunting from where I stand now.  (143 lbs lost would put me at a BMI of 25.) Thoughts? Edie

Hi Edie and welcome to the MD forum. When I first started researching I was all for the lap band.  I even looked into DS too.   When I went for the information session at the surgeon's office I learned some new stuff that I had no idea of.  When I left that session I was convinced that the lapband was not for me for various reasons.  When I went to the consult appointment with my surgeon I asked him a lot of questions. He was kind and very reassuring and really put me at ease.  My husband also was not happy with the idea of getting my intestines rearranged either.  But one thing my doctor pointed out to me was that if I ate a lot of sweets and stuff high in carbs then the best thing for me would be the RNY instead of the lapband.  I was a pepsi holic and even though I was a diabetic I ate everything sweet in sight.   If you have the RNY exercise is something you need to do no matter what. This is a tool that everyone has to work hard for.  What I do suggest is that when you research your information to share it with your husband, also take him to the information session and the consult so he can ask all the questions he might have.  Usually after talking with the surgeon and getting these questions answered is when finally we are at peace with our decision.  No one but you can make this decision.  I wish you all the best in your journey. All the best,

I agree with Cira. I looked at the different options for WLS but in the end I decided to go with the RNY. I also had surgery with Dr Schweitzer and I know at my initial consult I actually wanted the lap-band surgery performed, but like you I was told that the RNY surgery would be a better fit for me due to a couple of reasons. I trusted Dr S completely so I took his advice and had the RNY done. Dr S is one of the greatest doctors in our area. His statistics speak for themself and many people come from all over to have him do their surgery. Maybe it would help your husband if he could read Dr S's bios and find out more about him. I think we all had a little fear going in about possible long term complications, but with our weight issues alone we run into long term complications so you have to measure the risk. I had my surgery on April 3 of this year and so far I have been completely satisfied with my results. Of course each of us thinks we should lose all the weight instantly, but we all differ in the amount of weight we lose and how quickly. If you are under 300 lbs when you have surgery, weight loss is not as fast as those with heavier weights. I can attest that RNY does help diabetics. I took two different medications twice a day before surgery for my diabetes and ever since coming home from the hospital, my blood sugar has been in check and I am no longer on any medication. For that alone I am very greatful. I hope that as you continue your WL journey that you and your husband will feel better about the decision you make because it is a life altering decision. I don't really know if you area praying person, but prayer is a powerful thing and maybe the two of you could pray on it together.  Carol

I am under 300 even now.  My highest weight ever was 315, which I was for about 10 years, and I am currently 293.  I've been holding under 300 for over six years now.

I am definitely a praying person.  It was prayer that got me to this point.  Last March, I lost an uncle to diabetes complications.  He was only 64 but weighed over 400 lbs (even at 6'6" that was way too much).  Then in August, I lost my dad.  He was 83, 140 lbs and otherwise very healthy, but fell and hit his head.  He survived brain surgery twice, but died of a hospital infection.  Both these losses have had a huge impact on me.  Uncle Jim's death made me see just how bad Type 2 could get.  Dad's loss made me realize that I owed it to my young daughter, who is only 5, to try to be here as long as possible so that she wouldn't feel the pain of losing a parent at a young age.  She already lost her first parents, who were unable to care for her and left her at a police station in southern China.  God really impressed upon me that I had to do something NOW and surgery wasn't the lazy man's way out (as I had long believed). Sorry to ramble so much.  I'll read more of Dr. S's website and see if I can get DH reading.  DH works for Hopkins, so using a Hopkins doctor was the sine qua non. Edie

Edie, you owe it to yourself to investigate all alternatives. Have you look at Dr. S's website. It is extremely informative and gives you all the information and links you need to decide between Lap band, RNY or DS. My husband was very concerned too because I have chosen to have the DS. What I did was sit him down in front of the computer with me and let him see all the research that has been done.  Good luck. Jo

My diabetes is resolved!!!!! I no longer have my "breakfast of champions" each morning (10 pills). I'm glad my surgeon told me that RNY was my option. Aime

Edie,  I respect Dr. Schweitzer immensely and he is also my surgeon.  I had lap-band on 9/14/06.  Pre-op (306 pounds) I was taking 50 units of insulin at bedtime, the max dose of Glucophage per day, AND fast acting insulin with all of my meals.  The day of surgery I stopped taking all of that and have never had to go back on it.  I am free from all my diabetes meds.  My A1C was 6.0 (PERFECT)  RNY is definitely a faster loss than LB, but it is you that has to decide which is better for you.  I'm not one to sway anyone to one surgery or the other.  I work my band and you have to use it as a tool.  It was the right choice for me.  I didn't want anything moved around inside of me and I'm fine with having a foreign object in my tummy.  In the long run according to 3 year studies RNY and LB patients lose the same amount of weight.  Listen to your heart.  Are there other reasons Schweitzer might be leaning toward RNY for you?  Are you a sweet eater????  He told me and my husband he would only do LB for us if we were NOT sweet eaters.  I'd take turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing over a piece of cake any day! hehehe  Good luck to making your decision.

Hi and welcome to the MD boards.You have to do what is best for you. For me lap-band would allow me to eat the things that made me obese. RNY helped me stop those and helped me loose 164 pounds in 11 months and still going (slow now but still loosing.) Your husband should go with you and see how the surgery will work. Also there is a show called Big Medicine on Monday nights on TLC channel I think at 9 it shows the things with Laproscopic RNY. Then you and your husband can see it first had and all that comes with it. Good Luck and keep us posted