Hello Minnesotans

 Thanks Kelly :) 

 Hi Chuck! I had the LapBand almost 3 years ago... I've lost about 150lbs and keeping it off. The tool is wonderful for me and wonderful for a lot of men, too. I would go over to the LapBand Board  and talk to people there. Keep in mind that usually the people struggling are the ones who post most, so it's kind of an ubalanced view of reality. A lot of successful bandsters are out there. There are a ton of knowledgeable people on that board. If you have any questions, you can email me: [email protected]. I also have a blog: www.bandstergal.com. There are before and after photos there. Glad to have you here!!! :-) 

Thanks everyone for all the messages / comments. I really appreciate all the info. I hope to learn as much as possible to help me make the right decision for me. After reading more and more on OH and other websites I am now more interested in  learning about the RNY procedure. Just the other day I contacted Dr. Thomas Jones office and they have scheduled me for another seminar to learn more about WLS specifically the RNY.  I will keep everyone posted on my progress as I learn more and more about WLS and figuring out which one is right for me.

Thanks again to everyone and please keep posting your pros, cons, highlights, rewards, ect... I am the type that wants to lean as much as possible when it comes to making important decisions especially ones that will affect the rest of my life.

Chuck

Learning as much as you can before making a choice is very wise.  I personally believe that once a person understands how each type of surgery works, what it takes to maintain and any possible complications there could be, that one of the surgeries will just click with you.

I personally chose RNY because I WANTED the malabsorption factor.  I had diabetes - although I'll probably always carry that label, my doctor feels I've essentially been cured of it.  I haven't taken a single pill or shot for it in 3 years, and my A1C numbers are normal.  He calls me a rock star 

I didn't want the maintenance that goes with a band - the fills and such, nor did I like the potential for any issues with kinking of the tubes or slippage of the band.  The nurse who led the info session I went to at Methodist had started with a band, but had issues with it and ended up with a revision to RNY.  That screamed at me.  I was also in the over 50 BMI range, so my intake nurse (WHO I LOVE DEARLY TO THIS DAY) recommended RNY over a band.    I might have liked to explore the DS if it had been an option for me insurance-wise, but it wasn't, so - RNY it was.  And I haven't regretted it for one moment.

Like I said, just know how they each work, and what you have to deal with post-WLS.  My guess is the surgery right for you will pick YOU.