how did you decide or cope with all this?

So about 2 weeks ago i was all up for the lap band... but after many sleepless nights of reading every post on the failures forum and researching online, i said the heck with it, decided i think RNY would be the best for me, and yes i saw tons of people that had complications like hernias ulcers having to get their GB taken out,
its so stressful, sitting here wondering whats best for you what will be best for the long haul, what will be best for your body and your life style??
i attended yet another seminar lastnight and met Dr McKenna... fell inlove with him cannot wait to go see him at his office,
came home and did another no no, looked at the regrets forum, looked at the failures... and everything bad stood out about the RNY now...

i mean to the point my husband walks in the room and asks me if im running to mexico because my legs are shaking so fast...

how did all of you go through this? decide on something? and not be scared ****less? i know its not very common to die from surgery but to be honest and open with my past, i have been scared of dying since i was 14 and my dad died of a blood clot :o(...


id just love to hear your advice on how you dealt with this and how you over came it all?

Thanks!
Amy

i was going to have lap band but my surgeon suggested rny,which i am glad she did. i guess you have to ask yourself, what will happen if i do not take action? and you may wanna spend more time around people who have succeeded instead of failed. i think the success far outways the failures. they do exist of course, anything does, but thinking positive takes you a very long way! talk to your surgeon, see what he says. and go from there.

yeah im trying to stay away from those few forums, as my poor husband said hes going to block the site from me, but it is a major life changing surgery and ive felt like i should know all the info on such things :o( 
and of course i said i have to do this, im doing this for my daughter, shes 4 and i do not want her to go through what i went through after my dad passed away! i want to do this for her so i can join her with everything she does and not just sit on the sidelines watching :o(

but i agree its something i have to talk to my doctor about and decide with him

We all had the same fears that you have.  I, personally, was scheduled for RNY in December 2009 and chickened out.   I rescheduled for May 2009 and am thankful that I did.  I was 315 pounds and counting.  You have more of a chance of dying from being morbidly obese than you do having WLS.  I chose the RNY because the lap band was not enough discipline for me.  Here I am, almost one year later and 120 pounds less.  Went from a size 24/26 to a size 14 and loving life -- enjoying things with my kids that I could not do so before.  Fitting in restaurant booths, riding roller coasters, working out at the gym, and so much more.  Stay away from the negativity -- you do not need to focus on that.  Focus on the success and the positives of the WLS.  Schedule your RNY today -- you'll be glad you did.  Good luck.

thanks Gals!

thats what im going to do not pay attention to those anymore and foucus on what i need in my life!
im going to meet a surgeon tomorrow and then have an appointment with Dr McKenna on the 12th of june :o( i really want him but we shall see what this doctor is like tomorrow :o) im guessing dec-jan operation time frme for me!

Amy,

Please don't forget that your surgeon will also help guide you.  I wanted an RNY but my doc said, in his opinion, the RNY is major surgery and I'd be successful with the band as I didn't have a huge amount to lose.  I've lost 74 pounds and am nearing my goal.  He could have simply agreed on the RNY and, being self-pay, he'd have made a lot more money! That helped cinch it for me right there.  All forms of WLS have their pros and cons.  I could tell you good things about all of them and bad things about all of them.  One of the main reasons I knew I had the right surgeon for me is he gave me the information and guided me.  If you have a lot to lose, a band may not be the answer for you, but some people have lost well over 100 pounds, even 200, with it.  That's where the doc's evaluation of you, both physically and emotionally, and his/her experience comes in. I've never met Dr. McKenna but I can tell you there sure are a lot of his very happy patients on this forum.

If you'd like to ask me anything about my lapband, please feel free to PM me.  Best wishes on arriving at your decision and your ultimate weight loss journey.

Terri

i went in thinking lapband, but i had too much weight to lose and the lapband probably wouldnt have worked for me. my doc helped me choose, but the decision was mine. i have been lucky, i havent had any complications. i can tolerate sugar, i can have fat, i do not  have the lactose intolerance that some people could get. i have been very lucky. i did have my gallbladder out two weeks ago, but gallbladder disease happens over a long period of time. my surgeon said with the state of my gallbladder, i would have had to have my gb removed no matter what, even if i didnt have my RNY.

i guess the point of this is that you wont know until your going through your journey. it will be YOUR journey. we all have the same goal to lose weight, we all have similiar experiences, but i dont think any two people who have these surgeries have the exact same path afterwards.


listen to your doc, follow the rules, ask opinions and advice when you need it, and my all means be comfortable with what you choose. you are making a life changing decision. you will feel many different emotions, and all are ok!

there are many great people here who will give advice and share experiences.

i hope this helps.

Hello, I have heard good and bad about all the weight loss surgeries. I am leaning towards VSG since there is no rerouting or less malabsorption( I hope I have spelled this correct)  issues. I guess really it is a personal choice and each of us must do our research and make our own choices. I hope that you will make a choice that is good for you. I believe that talking and trusting your Doc is very important as well. Good luck and do your homework.

                                                                                                                    Julie

After I met Dr. McKenna and researched his complication rate, I felt comfortable with him and his staff.  Dr. McKenna has had two complications in over 2,000 surgeries and neither of the complications he had were as a result of the sugery.

I looked at it this way - I could die early from my obesity (I had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, CAD, and 1 heart attack under my belt already) or I could take control and have the sugery.

But this is a big decision - you have to be compliant with the program or the surgery ISN'T going to work.

The lap band was never a consideration for me.  I'd done so much research on the RNY and its affect on diabetes post surgery (I had also researched the DS, but needed that extra something that would keep me from sugar and sweets). 

I'm nearly six months out - my diabetes is in remission.  I'm off all medications.  Dr. McKenna and his staff have excellent after care.  I'm healthier than I've been since I was 10 years old. 

Amy,

I can give you my experience, but I'm in my mid 50s, so my reasons for having RNY were purely for health reasons.  I felt so horrible health-wise, that I started investigating RNY.  I felt that if I had a heart attack or a stroke, I would have a lifestyle change that I was forced to have and probably have residual side effects that were not very pleasant.  With that being said, I left it in God's hands and read as much information as I could, attended many support groups, and asked lots of questions.

For me, it was the best decision I could have made for myself.  No more meds for diabetes, high blood pressure, GERD, bladder, etc.  I feel better than I have in 20 years.  And.....I get to feel so much better wearing smaller clothes that I can fit into - YAY!  I walk on the treadmill 40 minutes/5 days a week and actually enjoy it (yes, I said that - lol).  I'm energized, can work in my flower beds, which I love doing, and loving life right now.  I thank God every day for my blessings.  I feel wonderful.

The answer will come to you....relax, gather as much information as you can, and then make your decision.

Good luck to you!

Debbie