Opinions Needed

Hi Everyone,

My name is Brenda and I am new to the boards.  I have wanted WLS for quite a while now, but it has not happened.  Actually, in 2006 I went through all the testing and procedures for the Lap-Band, (everything but setting a date)  but my insurance would not cover it because I was just under the 40 BMI and they did not feel I had enough co-morbidity's.  What a disappointment.

Now I have started the journey again.  I am at a 41 BMI and still have a few co-morbidity's.
My question (dilemma) is this.  I am not sure if I want to do the Lap-Band or RNY.  Before I was sure I wanted the Lap-Band, but now I am not so sure.  I keep hearing about a lot of trouble with the fills - that the tubing gets poked and then leaks; not being able to get restriction; cost of having to go in for fills; trouble with the Dr's finding the port.  Also bandsters having problems with food getting stuck in the stoma (I realize that can happen with the RNY too if you don't chew everything well).

This just seems like a big decision to me and I want to make the right one.  I am a sweet eater (grazer) and I have heard that sometimes the RNY is better for that. However, I am a little scared over the procedure being a higher risk. 

Was this a hard decision for all you too?

What do you all think?  What have you like about your Lap-Band or RNY?  What have you NOT liked about your Lap-Band or RNY?

Thank you all in advance for your opinions.

Well it's a very personal choice, but I chose RNY because my BMI was over 50, and I had plenty of co-morbs.  And I was 45 at the time, so I wanted quicker results!  (Okay, so we ALL want that to some degree...). 

I chose the RNY because of the malabsorption factor, it really clicked in my brain when I read about that.  And I WANTED to dump, as a negative reinforcement for making bad choices.  (I rarely do )  I also had diabetes as one of my co-morbs, and the RNY has a really good track record for resolving THAT. 

Why didn't I choose the band?  For the reasons you listed, plus the nurse who lead the info session I went to had first had the band, then had problems with it, and ended up getting a revision to RNY.  I've had ENOUGH surgeries in my life, I didn't want to put something in place that could potentially put me in THOSE shoes.  And I didn't like the maintenance aspect of it, meaning fills, un-fills, possible twists & kinks, all that.  Just Git 'r done!!

But look at our Elena?  She's the band QUEEN! 

Welcome, Brenda!  I went into this thinking I wanted the lap band, too, because the thought of RNY scared me to death!  I'd always heard horror stories about people dying in the first year after surgery, etc.  When I talked to the surgeon, he told me that the followup and supplements were basically the same as the band, without the fills, obviously, and the weight would come off faster with RNY.  The whole point of having surgery at all was to lose weight, so I went with RNY.  I have never been happier with a decision I made!  Mine was able to be done laparoscopically and the recovery has been a dream!  Just do all your research and go with what you decide is best for you!  Good luck!

The commercials about the Lap Band had me convinced that it was what I wanted.  That was probably two years ago though and I've done lots of thinking and research.

I'm 26 years old with a BMI of 50.  I'm 5'2" and weigh (currently) 264 with my highest weight of 280 just a few months ago.  I decided to go with the RNY because I realized that it's not the end of the world.  After a year or whatever I'll be able to eat food that I've been able to eat before just smaller bits of it.  The weight will come off quicker.  My husband and I want to be able to maybe have a baby in the future.  I'm just tired of the wait.

Plus, I am really sick of visiting the doctor's office and I get tired of the maintenance of mental health meds that going for visits to make sure I find the "sweet spot" for a band just irritates me.

Hi, Brenda!  Welcome to the board!
I, too, went into my first info session wanting the band.  The first info session I attended presented only the band and the RNY as options, so I chose the RNY.  To me, it was a no-brainer: more %EWL, faster, with RNY.  Also, I heard that some banders are bothered by rolling over onto their port at night once they've lost a good amount of weight.  (I am the kind of person where the tiniest little fold in my sock bothers the hell out of me!)  I was approved for RNY while researching the Duodenal Switch.  I have since cancelled my RNY date and been re-approved for the DS.  I really don't want to step on any toes or offend anyone, but I highly suggest to you that you do your research and decide which procedure is right for you.  I'm not saying any of the 3 are better than the others, it's a matter of personal choice, knowledge of your own preferences and what type of lifestyle you want to lead.  I personally chose the DS for many reasons. One thing about the RNY that really scared me was dumping.   That's a big one for me.  I work in the criminal justice system and can't afford to risk dumping- it would put me in real, immediate physical danger to be at risk of getting sick because the kid at Starbucks forgot to make my latte sugar-free, or my body decided not to tolerate something one day.  While that is an extreme example, it is a real possibility, and it's not a risk I am able to take.  I AM NOT KNOCKING THE RNY OR THE LAP-BAND, they are wonderful procedures that have helped lots of people.  All I am saying is research all of your options carefully to find the procedure that is right for you.  Best of luck to you and keep us posted!   

First not many band folks use this site so I'd go to the band site and ask this question also. for me I had the band for several personal reason . I wanted moderation not depriravation in my diet. I did not want to have dumping And I got that. I have a family history of health issues and I wanted to know that if needed my surgery is completely reversable RNY is not.  Also there are fewer complation and the risk of death is less with the band but there still are some risk  it is surgery. I'm also a grazer and niether the RNY or Band is going to fix that you have to get your head in the right place you can eat around either surgery and have problems with either surgery.I have a great DR. and clinic they're very supportive and I have no complaints . as far as fills go can't tell you about that cause I got restriction with my band placement and lost my hunger so to date I have not had a fill. I'm down 120 pounds in 16 months. With out a doubt I love my band my only regret is not having it sooner. You may hear about the negative things from band folks about rny and rny about band . if you can go to support groups or coffee groups talk with the folks from both surgerys. people are happy with both and unhappy with both. I think both are good choices but its is hard to choose and only you can know which is right for you I wish you the best of luck on your choice .

Honestly, the lap band scared the hell out of me - not a knock on the banders or anything of course! I was 20 when I started researching, so longevity was a big concern for me. If I'm going to deal with this for 60 years, which one will be easier to maintain? I get that the RNY pouch can stretch, that your body can adjust to malabsorption after a few years, et cetera, but those seemed like more reasonable alternatives than having to have surgery again due to band issues.

I also was fortunate enough to see both of my parents  go through RNY. My mom is 10 years out in August, and has kept off all but 20 pounds of her nearly 200 pound weight loss. My dad gained a lot back. If you work the tool, it'll work for you. Neither is an easy way out.

It is a seriously personal decision, but just know that regardless of which way you go, the surgeons know what they are doing. You'll be in good hands, both surgeries carry a risk but a knowledgeable surgeon can carry you through it.

I had wanted the band for years and thought if I were to do WLS that would be the only thing I would do, but after attending the info session, and realizing at some point the band may need to be replaced, I didn't want to deal with that.  Also, my understanding is with laproscopic RNY, there is only 1 more incision compared to the band. So 5 instead of 4. So no real benefit of the band as far as that goes.
 
Lots of people do so well with the band, RNY and DS, like everyone has said, very personal decision.  Just making the choice to have WLS is a great thing, good luck with your decision.

My husband and i are both having surgery and he wanted the lap band and i wanted rny and what made him change his mind was the rate at which the weight would come off.  the band is about 1-2 lbs and the rny is 3-4 lbs so since he and i both have to much weight to lose we wanted to see quicker results.  so good luck on your choice

I've researched WLS off and on for five years.  The last meeting I went to I was convinced about having the lapband.   After seeing the presentation, reading this board and doing add'l research, I decided that RNY was the only choice for me.  I have diabetes and am severely insulin resistant.  I take well over 200 units of insulin per day and my hope is to at least be able to manage my diabetes in a better way.  If I were able to walk away from all meds that would be a godsend.  For now, just being able to get a controlled sugar would be great.

Good luck with your research and the choice you make.

Lauren