RNY or Lap Band Pros and Cons

My doctor made the decision for me! he would not do a lap on me.
I think the thing that I would stress is that either is a tool not the final thing. You still have to watch what you eat!!
Also be responsible and listen to your body.

It is a really personal, and for some, difficult decision.  For me it was easy.  I couldn't handle the thought of rearranging my insides and not being able to get nutrition b/c of malabsorption.  I also liked that the lap band was removable if something happened.   THose were my reasonings and so far I love my band.  True, I am not losing quickly but I know in time it will come off. 

Your surgeon will tell you whether you are a candidate for lap band or RNY.  I know people who have gone from wanting a lap band to being told by their surgeon that for medical reasons, high BMI, medications that the surgeon would only do an RNY on them. I also know people who wanted RNY and for medical reasons weren't' t candidates for that and ended up with lap band.

Either way your success will be determined by your adherence to your diet.  You can gain weight with either surgery. It's all determined by the calories and excesses.  You can overeat and end up with complications with either procedure. RNY is going to give you physical side effects(dumping) if you end up being sensitive to sugars or fats. My advise- don't even experiment to find out if you dump.

Read, learn and ask questions. This is a life altering and ha*****anging surgery. Which ever way you go, good luck. These are wonderful tools, which should be considered permanent. Don't make this decision lightly.

I had RNY 10/6/08. I had an intestinal blockage in 1/2009 and required emergency surgical intervention. Would I do it again? Absolutely yes, in  heartbeat!.

Good for you to get all the information you can. Both surgeries are good choices however, it is a personal choice. We all have our reasons for our choices along with some of the choices have been made by our surgeons. I went in wanting the band and came out getting RNY due to my surgeons suggestion. I don't regret one minute of it. I would do it over and wonder why I waited so long. Remember, whatever your choice this is a tool. If you don't use your tool properly you will gain weight. I originally lost 80 pounds and over my summer vacation put 5 back on. It's comes back easy and quickly. I have since lost it but I had to get back to the right eating habits and exercise.

Keep researching. I'm sure you'll come to a decision that will work best for you. Honestly, no surgery is better than the other. It's how you work your tool that will give you success. Both RNY'ers and Banders have success and failures.

Good luck.

Too much room for error and to cheat with the band in the long run is why I went with the RNY. I think the lap is chosen because it doesn't have to be permenant. I want my weight to become permenantly gone.  You can change your mind if you choose the lap band. I didn't want that choice becuase I could see myself skipping the fills and gaining the weight back. To hell with that.

Thank you

Thank you all for your responses to my post.  I have read them all very carefully.  I am still on the fence... gosh... I wish I weren't!  It stinks not knowing, does anyone know of a check list that I can check off to make my decision? 

I don't know if you will ever get off the fence.  I choose lap band then think RNY.  What I really want is the Sleeve but my insurance does not pay for it.  So like you I have to decide.  right now I am schedule for the end of Sept for lap band.  But I am still on the fence, I wish the Dr would have made the choice for me, it would hve been easer