HOW DID YOU DECIDE?

How did you  decide between  the Lap Band or the RYN?

I never even considered the lap band.  I had close to 200 lbs to lose and did not feel it was the appropriate choice for me.  I also have numerous friends that had RNY and was very familiar with the diet & restrictions etc.  But YOU need to decide with how much you have to lose, your lifestyle, etc which is the appropriate choice for YOU.  Best wishes.

ditto what she said...lol....... what i mean is... i always knew the bypass was for me.......i have a sweet tooth, love junnk food, need more restrictions, i'm impatient with wieght loss, and i hated the thought of getting fills..... i think it's a very individual choice.......... i know people that have done both.........but i did what i knew in my heart i had to do.........the band was just not going to be strict enough for me.... what is your personality like?.... what are your food issues? what is the support you have?( that's important for the after care from a bypass in my 2cents) if your on the fence it would be best to get as much information that you possibly can about both surguries....... good luck to you!

Great Question!  I haven't decided as yet, nhsuga.      I'm still in the research phase and I've appreciated all the help this website and its members have given me.      I'm full of questions like 1.  how do we evaluate a surgeon or program when we don't get to interview the surgeon until so late in the game?  2.  does anyone in this area even do the DS surgery?  3.  if I fill out a packet for say, PRH, does that mean I've chosen them?      I'm at the point where I have questions that the informational seminars don't address.  If I fill out the packet, I'm on my way with their program and that doesn't seem to fit.  Anyway, just wanted to join the discussion.  It's a real important choice to make.  Treading

Hi Treading, I communicated with Nancy Seesman, the WLS program coordinator at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, about your three questions and she gave me the following replies: 1)  At the info session, at least two of the three surgeons are on-hand to personally answer your questions.  You can also visit the hospital's Web site (www.portsmouthhospital.com; there's a link to the WLS program in the intro paragraph on the home page) to both review the program and the credentials of each of the surgeons (click on "Find a Physician" on the top-left of the home page (choose "Specialty" then click on "Surgery.") 2) We do not do the DS surgery, and we are unaware of anyone in NH that does it.  But we haven't polled every hospital in the state about that. 3)  If you submit an application to the program at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, it tells us you're intererested, but you can change your mind at any time!  We understand that this is an elective program/surgery so the process is entirely voluntary. Hope this information is useful to you. Happy New Year! Regards, Grant Portsmouth Regional Hospital www.portsmouthregionalhospital.com Parkland Medical Center www.parklandmedicalcenter.com

Hello Grant,     Thanks so much for the reply and the information.  Truly appreciated.  I am, in fact, coming to the informational meeting at PRH on Jan 10th.  And I have spent much time at the PRH websites and the surgeon's website.  But I need to ask about complication rates (at 30 days post-op) and detailed questions about experience of both the surgeons and the hospital's OR capacity and staff.   I have had 2 big surgeries so I'm perhaps more sensitive than others to these factors.  Do people usually ask these questions in the meetings?  I suppose I could ask them through the staff ahead of a consult?    I kind of suspected the DS wasn't an option in NH.  But thanks for confirming that for me.  My main concern is to have my surgery done by a surgeon who is VERY experienced at doing that surgical method in a hosptial that is completely capable of handling any problems.  So, I want an experienced OR team and surgeon that can switch to an open approach if needed and so on. So, I'll look forward to my meeting on Jan 10th.  As far as the band vs RNY - I guess I still have much to consider.  Thanks again for the reply - Treading

I will be at the meeting, too -- so please seek me out to say hi, if you like (I'll have a badge on with my name). People ask anything and everything at the sessions, so feel free to ask away.  I'm confident that Nancy and the surgeons attending the session will be willing and able to answer all of your questions.  I always ask people to keep in mind that the question you ask is probably on the mind of someone else!  And you're right, prior to the actual surgeon consult, Nancy is willing to help you with any questions you might have after the meeting is over.  I've also been told you are welcome to attend a support group session even if you haven't officially "enrolled" to get a feel for those as well.  Good luck in your journey! Regards, Grant Portsmouth Regional Hospital www.portsmouthhospital.com  Parkland Medical Center www.parklandmedicalcenter.com

"I want an experienced OR team and surgeon that can switch to an open approach if needed and so on." -Treadingh20 You actually have to sign somthing before surgery that states they will attempt to fully do the opperations laproscopicaly (sp?) but if they cannot do it, you give them the consent to do it as an open procedure if needed. Mine was RNY and done lapro with no problem, but then again this was my first surgery.

Hi Monty,     It's very reassuring to hear of your positive experience.  And thanks for the info on the pre-op signature.  I'm asking that question on the advice of some OHers on the RNY forum who warn that some docs and OR teams might not be set up or well-prepared to deal with a problem that would require a switch to an open procedure.  Hard to believe but it is suggested that one ought to check this out.  So, I will try to do that. 

   I'm looking for a team that has enough experience to recognize complications early and the ability to deal with them swiftly.  That is the key to lowering the risks.  I am leaning towards RNY with the hope that I will, like you, receive the expert advice of a surgeon.  If my chosen surgeon thinks I should go with the band, I would be influenced strongly by the advice.  How did you handle the longer recovery time for the RNY?  I imagine needing a month off of work is hard for many of us.  Well, thanks for the input.  Treading