R-N-Y or Lap Band?

I went to the Orientation meeting at CMC last week with the plan to seek R-N-Y WLS but now I'm not sure.  I'm now wondering whether I should go for the lap band instead.  I'm a diabetic 53 year old 6'1" male hovering at 300#.  Any advice out there?

This is one of those hot button topics that people seem to get very passionate (and very defensive) about.  Both forms of surgery can be very successful-  you just have to figure out which one matches your personality and your lifestyle the best.

If you haven't already, spend some time lurking on the RNY and lapband boards here on obesity help.  There are pros and cons to each surgery, and it all boils down to figuring out what will work best for you.  :) 

Hi,

I had the same dilemma.  How I thought it through was I read as much as I could about each procedure.  I also looked at my lifestyle, and what would fit better.  The fast weight loss, and the invasiveness of the surgery bothered me about the RNY.  After attending Jeff Wagner's behavior modification classes though, I knew which procedure I wanted.  I had a hard time with the dumping, and really thought that I needed to make changes in my eating, instead of letting my body tell me what I could or could not eat.   You lose weight faster with the RNY than with the lap band, and I think either one requires changes in behavior, but I felt the lap band would work better for me and my lifestyle.  We boat, snow ski and snowmobile, and I did not want to have any problems with "control" during any of those times.

You do not have to make your decision so soon.  I did not decide until my second meeting with Nancy, our coordinator.  We also talked it through, and came to the conclusion that the lap band was for me.  Take your time, go on the boards, talk to people, go to support groups and listen.  You will find which one is best for you.

Start the process since it takes many months to be ready for surgery, anyway.  While your doing all the other stuff your program requires of you, do a bunch of research.  There are a ton of books on RNY and/or on Lapbanding and some books include both and point out the differences.  If you really can't decide on your own, after really getting to know the professionals in your program (ie. surgeon, coordinator, nutitionist, behaviorist/psych, etc. then ask them their advice.  Ask which proceedure will be most sucessful for you or fit best with your lifestyle/personality. 

Everyone usually just recommends whatever they had.  You'll either know on your own, and then go with that.  Or ask the pros, that's what they are there for. :-)

Hope that helps!  Good luck on your journey.

I wholeheartedly agree with each of the above posters.  Follow their advice and do some research and ask the pros.  Having said that, I think that one edge that RNY has over LB is that the RNY could potentially cure your diabetes.  I don't think the LB does that, but don't quote me on that.  It's just a question you may want to ask your doctor. 

Thanks for the advice.  With regard to the diabetes, my reason for seeking out the WLS was to primarily cure the diabetes.  I figured the weight loss to be a pleasant and welcome side effect.  So if the research shows that LBing doesn't have the effect on diabetes that I am seeking then that might push me over to the R-N-Y procedure.  I will say, however, that I did like what I heard about the day surgery procedure with the LB and a 10X less mortality rate (1/200 v. 1/2000).

Way to go NH board.  I read all the responses and they were good and well thought out.  I think that it is VERY true that the more research you do, the more you learn, the more the decision becomes....almost....'easy'.  You know yourself best, you know who you are and what your toleration level is.

Unlike the poster above----I really WANT the restriction that RNY provides along with the much stricter diet guidelines.  For me, if I had the lap band----just knowing that it is possible to eat a package of oreos....might be an issue for me.  The reality that 40% of the people that have RNY dump and become sick is somewhat of a comfort for me.  While I don't know if I will be in that 40%.....I know that I don't plan on testing that anytime soon.  The long term success of it along with it being the 'gold standard' and the fact that I am a diabetic.....all added to my choosing that over lap band. 

I know several lap band patients that have had long term success.  It really depends upon YOU>

BTW, I have Cigna and had no issues whatsoever.
Michelle

I am not sure, but I think that either procedure potentially cures diabetes.  You will just have a much faster weight loss with the RNY, making that success even faster.  I am not a grazer or sweet eater either, which is something you have to take into consideration.  If you are either one of those, then the lap band is not for you :-) 

I can't really add much to the stellar advice you've already got here (research, ask the doctors, etc.) but I did want to chime in about diabetes.  Recent research shows that the lapband is also affective when battling diabetes, so don't dismiss it before you can research more.  There are many other factors to consider, though, so crack those books!  Whichever surgery you choose, we're here to back you up as best as we can.

Welcome to the board!

Like everyone else has said, research, research, research.  Everyone  has their own reasons for chosing ttheir particular surgery.  I had initally thought lap-band, but have changed my mind in favor of RNY.  I'm still going through all the steps required.  In fact, I was at my first lifestyle change class last night and then went over to the meeting at CMC.  I've met a few folks here at OH who were also going through CMC's program.  Good luck!
~Donna