Help!! New Girl on the block!!

Hello, everyone. New girl here. My surgery is set, the problem is i just am not sure which one i really want. I am right now leaning toward the lap band. The bypass scares me. What if i'm one of the ones who lose it all to only gain it back. But with the lap band i have been told you only lose 50% of the weight. Well at my weight that's not enough. I am so scared. I know this is what i want but just not sure which one. Please any info would be great. Thanks, Tina

Hi Tina, and Welcome to this wonderful OH site. What a great place to come when you have questions and concerns. You might want to go to both sites off of this page, (up top on the left side under the blue tab that says messageborads) there you will find much information. I know lately I have read alot of having leaks with the lapbands. That would scare me. I had my surgery 8 weeks ago, and had the Lap RNY, and just love it. So far I am sooo happy I chose that one. I too am worried as heck to gain an ounce of what I have lost. BUT....I just mentioned to my husband last night, that it feels sooooo great for me to have control over food, and for the food to have no control over me. That is one relief right there. You really have to have the self confidence in doing either surgery. It is just a tool for you to work with. I wish you the best of luck as your journey through this new life. Please keep us posted, and if you have any questions, please feel free to write anytime. When is your surgery, and where are you having it done? Who is your Dr.?? Hugs... Cheryl

Cheryl, I can't believe the response i received on this one little post of mine. Thank you so much you did give me some really great advice, everyone did. Some of them just make you feel so good that you just want to cry. I guess when you go through life overweight you just think and feel alone. I guess not i was just talking to the wrong people. I have really spent aloooot of time on my dial-up slow internet this last weekend doing more reserch. I am now standing firm with the bypass. I just am scared. And feel alittle unprepared. I am set for surgery in Alma with Dr. Cudjoe on Nov 7th. thanks again, tina

HI Tina: Welcome to a whole new world! Yes you should be scared, but obviously prepared. For me the mental part of weight loss was harder than the physical. What advise has your physician given you? I had an open RNY. I would not say it is for everyone but it saved my life. I was 338 pounds at 5' 6" tall. I now weigh 180 lbs after 2 years and 3 months. My daughter had a laproscopic RNY and her success was even better than mine. Only that her recovery was alot quicker and not as painful. The power of not having food control your life is what is the best of it, what ever procedure you choose. Having energy now and health problems disappear is amazing!! Whatever you choose will be better than the alternative, but talk with your surgeon, family physician, dietician etc. follow your heart because you are stronger than you realize. The strength and confidence you gain as you loose is also powerful and will give you new hope and dreams. Take care and if you ever have any questions please feel free to e-mail me. Beth

Beth, Thanks to you for answering my post. I just can't believe the response i have had. I do know now what i want. I was at first leaning toward the lap band as i said in my post. But after talking to people who i know had it and reading some infor on the new all weekend. I think for me i Do feel the bypass with work. I just am scared to death of it. I guess both. To me in a way it feels like giving up. But my motherin law had the bypass two years ago says the pain and life change is not giving up by no means in fact in some ways it is alittle harder. You still have to have will power. Thanks again, tina

Welcome Tina. I too was going to go with the lapband when I first started checking into WLS. After the orientation though, my husband and I talked about the differences and what would work best for me/us. We decided the lap RNY would be the best and I'm so happy I did it. A couple of the reasons I decided to go with RNY were having to go back and get fills every now and then at $150 each. I also knew that the lap band hadn't been in use for very long and Vioxx kept popping in my head. I was also afraid that my body would absorb the band. The biggest reason though was the fact that when I retire, we're moving to the Las Vegas area and I didn't want to have to worry about finding a WLS doctor to handle my fills/ releases. It's just a whole lot easier for me to have the RNY. I'd suggest you do a lot of research (this site with the different messageboards under the forum tab) will help you a lot. Make a list of the pros and cons for each surgery, talk with the surgeon and then make a decision. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and if you want, you can email me (look in my profile).

Tina: Welcome to the group. The information here is wonderful and everyone is so supportive. Personally I've chosen to have the gastric bypass surgery. I seriously studied both the RNY and Lap-Band surgeries and found that the bypass would be best for me. What scared me the most about the Lap-Band is that it's only half of what the RNY is ..... it's only restrictive, whereas RNY has both restriction AND malaborption. So I don't actually absorb all of the calories I consume. The other thing that scared me about Lap-Band was that its easy to sabatoge yourself by "drinking calories" freely. For instance I could have a milkshake for every meal and the dumping syndrome would not kick in because I still have my full stomach. And because the milkshake passes right through the pouch opening without really filling up the pouch (cuz it's liquid) I won't necessarily feel full. I don't trust myself enough to live without the dumping syndrome. The percentage of weight loss was also a factor - however after 3 years, studies have shown that the percentage of total weight loss is about equal with RNY and Lap-Band. But the process for Lap-Band is much much slower (1 to 2 pound per week). So that's what helped me make my decision. Of course you'll have to do your own research and figure out what is best for you, but hope this helps you think of a few different angles. Pam

Pam, You have given her great advice. You have done your homework well. You to will soon be on the losing side....You go girl!!!

Pam, Thank you so much for all the gread info you gave me. I see what you mean about the cal drinks. I was interested in the fact that in a three year study the results were the same between the two. I just really truly am not sure. I feel like in some ways i would be ok with the band. except for the fact of the 1-2 lbs a week. Heck i can gain more than that!! Ha the quick fix is very tempting. But then the losing it slower is really better for you, right. I guess i just am not sure. I am right now leaning toward the bypass. I guess i hope in the next couple of weeks they show me something that helps with the decision. I just don't know alot about the bypass, becuz i guess i was thinking lap band i guess i really didn't let it all sink in. thanks again, tina

You have been given alot of great advice. Just do lots of research and do what is best for you. Good luck on your journey. God Bless---Toni