Need all your knowledge ladies! RNY or lap band

Well here is the age old question..... lap or RNY. I have been looking at all forums and all have great experiences that have given me tons to ponder.  ME:   > I'm a fast eater, so I eat till I'm stuffed.          > Not a big sweets eater. To be blunt I over eat on healthy and junk food          > want/need to loose 90-100.           > acid refluc          > hernia ( moderate)          > Pulmonary arterial venous malformations.  it's where an artery and vein                     merge. there should be a capularie  in between to work as a filter . I have  2 small ones                that dont have the capularies. so those spots are weak. spots           > high blood presurre            Tired of what's next. I'm 35 not 105.          Just looking for a helping group of people. TAKE CARE . JILL 

Well, I'll speak only for myself, everyone here will have their own opinion. I chose the RNY because once I read up on how it works, a lightbulb went on in my brain telling me THIS WILL WORK!!!  The tiny pouch that can't hold massive quantities of food, the malapsorption, the dumping (although I've only dumped twice in nearly 11 months)...  And to my way of thinking, it was skipping over the practice session to the real deal.  I have heard of and met a fair number of people who started with the band, and ended up getting a revision to the RNY for various reasons.  (To be fair, I also know 2 people who had the RNY and ended up getting banded on top of that.  Those individuals may or may not speak up here...)  I also heard of potential issues with the port moving or twisting, and frankly, I didn't particularly like the idea of having to go in for fills.  I'll go in as often as I'm asked to for follow-up, but that whole scope/needle/fill thing just kinda turned me off. All in all, I'm really happy that I had the RNY.  I've still got a ways to go, but in just under 11 months, I'm a new person!  (okay, I also liked that the weight typically comes of FASTER with the RNY than the band, too.  There.  I said it.) There are plenty of people that love their bands, too - I'm sure you'll hear from both!  Whatever you decide, WELCOME!!!!!

 love you ladies on this forum. Great Knowledge. Thank you for your help! JIll

Good luck with your decision - it's a tough one.  I tried to decide between lap band & RNY, and my physician made the decision for me in the end.  I had about 90-100 lbs to lose as well.  I think RNY was right for me because I lost weight faster, and it is considered the "gold standard" by some people in the WLS community.  That said, you really have to take your lifestyle into consideration.  I wasn't interested in having to go in to have the band filled & adjusted, etc.  It's all up to what you want.  An example for me is I have a friend who had the band done 1 month prior to my surgery  and we both wanted to lose 100 lbs.  She had her band in 8/2006 and I had my RNY in 9/2006.  I lost all my weight within about 8 months, and today she has lost a fraction of what I've lost.  She might continue to lose some, but I don't think she'll lose what I have.  I don't want to start the lap vs rny vs ds wars, but that's my opinion, and only my opinion.  You really need to get your physician's opinion and make the decision from there based on your needs and wants.  Best of luck whatever you choose to do!

Thanks for the info. I'm glad no wars have started because of my post. I have seen simular post on other forums and It is nice to see all the passinate hearts out there but not the bashing part.. Didn't want to get anyone riled up.Well hopefully soon I will meet with my doctor and get his view on things. Take care. LOL JILL 

Please don't forget to check out the Duodenal Switch!!!

It is perfect for those that love to eat!  You can learn more on the DS forum or at duodenalswitch.com

both links are also in my signature in clickable form!!!
Know ALL your options!!

Thanks for the info. I can't help but laugh everytime I see the "come to the darkside, we have cookies" HA LOL JiIl

Briefly, I chose the band because I wouldn't have qualified for insurance coverage and could get it done in Mexico at an affordable price. I am not thrilled about the idea if maintenance, but then, on the other hand I'm looking at it as a "forced vacation" or at least a "legitimate" one because I plan to do my fills back there, if I can mange it. Who knows. From what I understand there are pros and cons to each. (Please do not quote me, I'm pretty new to all this and may be wrong.) Pros for RNY: Docs have fine tuned the surgery and have done more of these than bands (I think) in the U.S. Comes with a lot of testing, education and support. Rapid weight loss, improved health (if one takes the nec. supplements, etc.) No fills  No  possible slips/erosions/port problems/PBIng, or sliming (gross and very real I've heard) Insurance coverage in many cases Sugary and/or fatty foods will not be tolerated Demands discipline and can be sabatoged Pros for lapband: Simpler surgery and recovery Adjustable according to weight -loss amd weight maintenance needs Less expensive ~ for self-payers  Slower weight loss (less chance of hair loss, skin issues?) Demands discipline and can be sabatoged I enjoy reading about the different kinds of WLS, because they are all good for individual recipients. Lapband is good for me because I love the feeling of being "full" and I will get that very easily with the band IF I follow the rules. I do not crave sweets. . .  very often, anyway. I didn't consider anything else for the reasons mentioned earlier. I only had 50 pounds to lose. My main concern is MAINTENANCE and preventing diabetes. I go up and down, up and down and wanted to stop the rollercoaster.  Good luck with your decision!

Cindy

Thanks for passing on what you know. I appreciate it alot. Thanks for the support!  LOL Jill

P.S. The possible hair loss associated with rapid weight loss is (usually) temporary AND I've read that skin issues (saggy skin) can be "managed"  with a combination of good hydration, exercise, and/or plastics. Some people have no skin issues. You may not, you're young and your BMI is considered pretty low.