band vs. bypass

Ok, here is the big questions for me. I am in 2 different minds about which surgery is the best option for me. I originally thought I would have the band, then I decided on the bypass, now I am back thinking maybe the band. How did any of you decide? I am 5'7", and weigh 255. When I was thin, I was a medium build, so I feel that my goal weight should be145lbs. Will the band help me successfully lose more than a 100lbs? I just don't know....please any advise would be helpful.

I considered the band at first as it was less invasive at the time. My insurance would not cover it. That might be an issue to look into as well. Ultimately, that is what made up my mind. I am glad now though. I would not want the maintenance of the band. I like the permanant fix that I have. Getting fills and having to worry that if you switch insurances they will not cover fills is another issue. I have read where people have to pay out of pocket for all fills. I would inquire about follow up costs with your insurance company if they do cover that procedure. I have read where many people are happy with the results of their band though. I know there is a band message board, but not sure where on this site it is. Maybe someone else here can find that for you. They will be able to give more info. Terri

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/ Try this link.

This was a post i just replied to another person. You will have to decide what is best for you but this was my personal experience with the lap band. Best of luck!!! I had the lap band in 2003, in Port Huron by Dr. Anthony Boutt. he was wonderful. However, it didn't work for me. AT ALL!! I lost 23 Lbs and I gained 40 with in a years time. Yes I did have my fills done. also, I couldn't lay on the side that my port was in because it was painful for the whole time I had it in. when I would eat, you could hear the food going down like a funnel that has water being poured into it and going into a bottle it was loud gurgling and very embarrassing.. I stopped dating because every time I drank or eat this happened. when I would bend down to put on my shoes the port would rub on my bottom rib cage and that was not a pleasant feeling. so much for sit ups!! also, there were so many nights that I would pray to God that I could get this thing out. I could feel how tight it was and how it squeezed my stomach. if I could of I would have ripped it out. I just had it removed on November 17th, I had the roux-n-y done by Dr.Pesta in warren @ Bi-County and I have never felt so amazing in my life.. I have lost 63 lbs in 14 weeks and I came out of surgery and I already felt amazing because I knew immediately that that darn lap band was gone. Oh and I vomited all the time with it because nothing short of mush would stay down. I couldn't eat any form of beef (steaks, roasts, pork) no carrots, broccoli and that was just a small amount of problems I had. and yes, MANY times I called them and I was told repeatedly at Dr. appointments that "this isn't meant for everybody"!!! I wasted 2 1/2 years of my life on something that might or might not work.. so sad.. I am not going to tell you what to do but this is my personal experience and I have talked to MANY others that have had the same situation. I know with the Liv-Lite group, that they take out allot of lap-bands and do the gastric by-pass. I went with the lap-band because I didn't want the big scar.. vanity.. well I have the big scar and the laparoscopic scars.. so much for vanity!! I have double the scars but I am loosing and feeling amazing!! Best of luck to you and you have to do what is right for you.. God Bless!! Cheryl

I was banded March of last year. Although my weight loss was much slower then those with the RNY I don't regret my decision. If I had been compliant and followed the rules, always eating the right foods and being diligent with my exercise I could have lost more. The good thing about the band, is there is no honeymoon period. The band is a tool that will always be there to help me. I have been fat all my life. I've been on maybe a million and a half diets. Taking some of the weight off but never maintaining the loss for more then a month or two. With the band I've been able to maintain my 56 lb weight loss throughout the fall/winter. Sure I teeter tottered back and forth a few pounds but with the band I've basically stayed at one weight for longer then I ever have before. I think these months have allowed my head to catch up with the new me and get comfortable with the changes in my life. But now I am ready to move on and lose more weight and the band is still there able to help me. While both the band and RNY can be done laporscopicaly, the band is still less invasive because your intestines aren't re-routed. Chances of complication are much less. There aren't any issues of mal-absorption. I was fortunate, my insurance paid for the lapband So far I have only needed one fill but I realize that is not the case with most people. It was my understanding that my insurance would pay for any fills I needed the first year. I am honest with myself and admit it hasn't been the quantity of the food I've been eating - it is the poor food choices and lack of exercise that has stalled my weight loss. Now that I am back to being compliant with both my exercise and food choices I should start losing again. I see my surgeon again in March so if my weight hasn't started coming off again I will discuss the possibility of a slight fill. I believe the paper work I received said the fee was somewhere around $100. The link Terri suggested to the lapband message board is a good one. I learned a lot there and knew what to expect with my band every step of the way. I've also heard others suggest some yahoo bander groups. One for people with more then 100 pounds to lose - I believe is called extraordinarybanders but if you ask on the OH lapband board someone can tell you for sure. On the flip side of that - since my surgery I have been coming here and mostly just reading post - I only recall seeing two people with serious complications both have said given the choice they would do it all again. In my surgeons 's support group most of the people have had the RNY and seem to be doing good with only minor complications. Best of luck in whatever surgery you decide. If you would like to email me with specific questions my e-mail is [email protected]. Mary C