Decisions decisons???

I currently have the ball rolling with setting up a surgery date.  I have a surgeon, am scheduled for several of the tests later this month, already completed my 6 months supervised diet.  I went into this all set for Lap band.  But then during consultation, the surgeon through me a curveball and said I should rule out the RNY, her reason for this is because I'm a sweet eater.  I'm now questioning my will power, and debating between the two, going back and forth.  Let me give you some details before you offer your assistance

I'm 30 yr old female.  I'm fairly active, playing sports on the weekends, and walking.  Gym doesn't bother me.  My BMI is 47.  I have just about 150 lbs to lose.  The RNY and BAND are my ONLY options.  I do crave sweets over anything else.

I like the idea of the lap band because it is easily reversible, if EVER I need it to be...the slipping and infection makes me nervous.   Also, like that it the recovery time is less,  I don't like the frequent trips to the drs for fills, and the fact that you have to basically start the post op diet over every time you have a fill.  I feel like it safer. 

I like the RNY because I feel like it may be more effective, and not that I think it is easier, or that any of this will be easy, but I feel like it will require less work.  I'm afraid of malnutrition and malabsorption.  While I'm afraid that its more permanent, I like the idea of how permanent it is.  I'm also very afraid of the rearranging of everything, and the recovery time. 

I've done a ton of research on everything, and I'm pretty well prepared for everything, but I want to make the right decision.  My surgeon says only I can do that, she can only offer me suggestions and answer my questions.  She feels I'm a candidate for both obviously.  Please help...tell me what you love/hate about the procedure you had done.  Tell me about your experience and why you chose the surgery  you did....

I have loved EVERYTHING about my RNY.  My cousin had the Band a year ago and has lost 55 pounds; however, she said it is soooooo easy to "fall off the wagon". 

The recovery for me was not bad at all.  2 weeks and I felt completely back to normal.  My doctor told me I would not have been happy with the Band.

Just my two cents!!! HTH!

I hear Dr Li. is a great doctor. Have you thought about VSG? Many people have had good luck with that surgery. I do not like the idea of the rearranging of your inside either. I don't like the malnutrition problem either. I know many have done well with RN and others have had  many issues. I guess each of us are different and have our own issues. I think with any surgery there will be things that pop up and must be dealt with. I wish you much luck and I am sure you will get many opinions on which way to go. I say do research and talk to as many people as you can before  making your decision. You sound so active with all your physical activity and the gym thing. With all of that in place losing the weight will hopefully be easy.

 

                                                                                                                              Julie

I looked at the band almost 10 years ago and then RNY about 5 years ago. all the cons you've mentioned for the band are what made me choose RNY. I also did not like that it was temporary. I was making a life altering decision and I wanted the permanence of the RNY.

However, I know enough people on this board who;ve done wonderfully with their bands.

Also, even since my surgery 2 some years ago, there are so many more options.

In the end, it's what you are the most comfortable with.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Thanks.  Part of me feels like I need the permanence of RNY, maybe thats' just mental.  But I want to do this for good, and not ever have to worry about slipping or eating my way through anything

if you are a sweet eater, chances are you will not be able to eat more than a serving of any sweet thing with rny. which is good since we really shouldn't LOL. my cousin has the band and has been very successful but it also is very self paced. w/ rny, you are almost guaranteed weight loss even if u act like an idiot and eat wrong stuff (don't look at me!! LOL). As for vitamin deficiencies, i think as long as you do eat a good amount of food and don't get into the mode of eating as little as possible and take your vitamins you should be fine. in fact my bloodwork after 2+ years is stellar. since you are young, it makes it easier to keep ur vitamin levels up.

i don't think in terms of recovery time there is much difference between the surgeries and don't think that should even be a factor at all since it is very short term.

all in all i love my rny and am glad i did not do band. it would not have worked for me since i used to be a binge eater. there are times w/ my rny, like at holiday dinners, where i wish i could put my rny to the side just for a meal. but overall, i am extremely happy i did it. no regrets.

THanks,  for setting me straight,  you're right, I should not be worried about recovery time.

So what don't you like about RNY besides holiday dinners, i'm sure you're not the only one with that problem. =)

I can tell you the discomforts I have with RNY, but they are not necessarily things I dislike.

1. anything more than 1 square of chocolate or 1/2 serving of dessert and I am on the floor, wishing I could puke.
2. nothing is standard anymore. e.g. 1 weekend, 1 beer was enough to give me a nice buzz; other days I could probably down a 6 pack and not feel it.

That's it. And even that, as I said, I don't dislike either one of those. It's a lifestyle change and overall, I am LOVING my new lifestyle :)

awesome thank you!

I have to agree with Sylvie.
I have never been a huge sweet eater, but when I want it, I want it. Now, I can have a about 8 m&m's and be satisfied, and know that if I dare to eat more, I will regret it! The RNY is a tool that you have to learn how to use & learn how to keep it happy! Trust me, after one time of foaming & praying for death, you will not attempt that act again! Dont let that scare you tho...... you DO learn how to use what you have been given, and its not that bad.
I chose RNY because it was permanent, and it was a more stict lifestyle for me. With the band, of course the slippage and corrosion scared teh daylights out of me, but also the fact that I had MORE control scared me. I dont want the choice of a lesser or more fill......I want to know that everyday I am already structered. Yes, you have to take daily supplements but that to becomes habit. I love my RNY and wouldnt change a thing.