How...............

Did you decide which type of wls was best for you?

If you decided on one type, but ended up having a different surgery, what changed your mind?


Me:

I did a lot of research, and kind of knew going into my info sessions and ultimately, my consult with DVR, that RNY would probably be the best bet for me.

HOWEVER, had DVR told me that lap-band, for example, would be better, I PROBABLY would've gone along with that, after hearing his reasons.  After all, the surgeon IS the expert. 

Just curious to hear your thoughts.

Tia

oh Good Question...

My original thought was that I wanted Lap Band.  RNY scared me.  After going to the seminar and hearing of the problems with LapBad and the fact that there is no dumping, that the port can be a problem, that fills can be an issue, that having a hiatal hernia is not a good thing with a LapBand and that people who love sweets (ME) do better with RNY, my choice was easy.

I changed to RNY.   my doctor DVR has agreed that RNY is a better choice for me base on my sugar addiction, and various other things. 

I had rewsearched and knew that the band would not work for me  so after talking to
DVR we decided RNY was my best bet;  and thats what my insurance company covered so
it was an easy decision to make.

Plus my best friend had RNY and her two sisters had so I had plenty of
people to ask questions  - and of course I found all of you on the board.

 

Well, I have my surgical consult a week from today (finally!) but I have personally decided on the VSG, and this is based on my research.

One of the main factors in my mind are that I take NSAIDS for my migraines.  I have worked with a neurologist for several years and this is the ONLY thing that even touches my pain.  I can't live without them.  This narrowed down my surgery to DS and VSG, which didn't hurt my feelings as I had already excluded the band (too much maintenance and potential issues) and the RnY (didn't want the possibility of dumping, or ulcers in the 'blind stomach'.) 

Ultimately I chose the VSG over DS because I am afraid of the DS.  On OH I have seen some wonderful results with this surgery, but as someone eloquently put it - for someone with a BMI under 40 -  it's total overkill - like shooting a rabbit with an elephant gun.  Also, DS'ers also eat higher fat  due to the malabsorption component of their surgery.  I'm afraid the general medical community doesn't know enough about the DS to properly treat me should I need extended medical care. 

VSG is the first part of a DS so should the need ever truly arise, I can add the malabsorption component.  Also, VSG removes most of the grehlin so hopefully extreme cravings and hunger will no longer be an issue.

I also want an eating plan that both my DH and I can enjoy together.  With the VSG I'll be able to eat 'normal' high quality, low fat foods.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! lol

oh i guess i should add that part of my choice to switch was because DH is having RNY and i thought us having the same type of WLS was a good idea.

I originally started researching lapband and did so for a couple of years but kept chickening out.  Once I found this website and others like it, I changed to RNY because I couldn't foresee having a foreign object in my body and the added step of having to get fills/unfills, etc.  The more I researched RNY, for about a year, the more I realized that it was the right choice for me.  When I attended the Information Session at Johns Hopkins Bayview, I kind of like the statistics on the DS better but when I had my initial consult with Dr. Schweitzer, we both agreed that RNY was the way to go.  I'm happy with our choice!

I think the research was showing me that the long term success rate of RNY was better than lap-band. Also, the idea of a non-reversible procedure sounded ebtter to me. Since I was making this life altering decision, I didn't want the option of turning it around ever.

Also, I had 2 people at my work, 1 who'd had a lap band and the other who'd had RNY and the second one was showing a lot more progress and doing better than the first one.

I always knew that I would have RNY someday. It was never a question of what surgery, just when it would happen!! So far, no regrets and I couldn't be happier.

Initially I chose LB.  Having support at home was critical to me and DH was afraid of RNY and felt LB was the safest.  Even though I wanted RNY because of my research that I am a huge carb and sweet eater and I knew I'd be able to eat my way around LB I was desperate for help and DH's support so I eagerly agreed, I'd make it work. After surgical consultation Dr. Steele agreed that because of my "relatively low" BMI that LB would work for me.  However, during my NUT appt and psyche appt they both suggested that RNY would be better for me and gave solid reasons that DH could understand and he agreed finally that if I was going to have surgery to have the surgery that would work best for me.  That's how I ended up loving my RNY. 

I started out wanting to get lap-band.  I read everything I could get my hands on about lap band and about RNY, including lots of posts and stories posted on OH.  When I went to my initial consultation with Dr. Lidor I was still leaning towards lap band.....for some reason it didn't seem as scary as RNY.  After getting a good medical history, Dr. Lidor said that she would not do lap band on me.  She said that I had too much weight to lose and too many comorbidities and probably wouldn't have as good an outcome with lap band.  She said that I could easily find a bariatric surgeon who WOULD do lap band on me if I had my heart set on it........but she would not do it.  I LOVED her honesty........what she said made perfect sense.....and that was that.