I am really going to do this - but need help.

Hi Abby, and welcome! I went with Lap-RNY; I never considered the Lap Band because I (sadly) knew of too many failures who had it. I also hate the idea of having a foreign body just under my skin...not sure why but that turns me off. Also...the fills are not covered by many insurance companies. I know a few people who did not know this before they had the lap band put in. If you do go with the Band, check with your insurance company before surgery. I could have gone back to work after 2 weeks but I stayed out for 4. I have a desk job but I wanted the extra time off to get used to the eating patterns and to make sure I was feeling okay with it. My hair loss was not bad at all. YES, it got thinner but I think it's reversed by now (almost 10 months out) and even if it stays this way.....my RNY is the BEST thing I have ever done. I wish I had done it years ago. Nutritionally, my levels have been great. No deficiencies thus far. I take one Multi vitamin and 2 calciums daily. I also take sublingual B-12 (2500 mcg) but I too this pre-op as well because I have Epstein-Barr Virus. Taking the calcium and vitamins is my biggest gripe; not even sure why! I just hate taking them but it's a necessary evil. My weight loss has been great, I feel great, I have my life back! I had one complication at about 8 months out. I developed an internal hernia that had to be repaired because 1) it was dangerous and 2) it caused terrible random pain. (details on my profile). Other than that, all is great. I still can't eat chicken too well; never tried beef or pork as I was never a red meat eater pre-op...in fact I was a vegetarian for many years. Feel free to hit us with as many questions as you can come up with! That's what support is all about. Hugs, Karen

Wow, Karen, I just looked at your profile and read your story - it's so empowering! I think my main fears are the surgery (I've never had surgery) and the thought that part of my intestine is going to be removed - OH MY GOD! I'm also nervous about the emotional aspects - is this going to destroy my relationship with my girlfriend? We weigh about the same, but she is adamant about not getting bypass and that means that by next summer, I could weigh half of what she does. Also, do people with Lap Band fail because they cheat or because the band doesn't work?

Abby

Abby, The book WLS for Dummies is a great resource and lays out information about the different types of surgeries.  I went to work about 4 weeks after my lap RNY; however, I was up and working from my computer at home within a couple of days.  My post op life has so much more quality than my pre op life.  Everything is so much easier now; it easier to get around and do things.  I'm not worrying about how my diabetes is impacting my health as my sugar reading are completely under control.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  Good luck with your decision. Mary

Abby, I have had both--the band wasn't right for me for UNRELEATED reasons. As soon as I couldn't have anymore fills I started eating all the wrong foods and regained 60 of the 83 I had lost.

It's very easy to "cheat" the band by eating cookies, ice cream, etc. I have a terrible sweet tooth. For some reason, when my band was working, I was able to resist all those foods.

I too had a fear of having my intestines re-arranged, but in retrospect, I should have listened to the first doctor I met with--he said "if you are a sweet eater rather than a volume eater, you're better off with the RNY." However my insurance at that time didn't cover WLS, so I guess this was the journey I was meant to take.

Yes, it does sound like your girlfriend might be insecure at the prospect of your being half her size. This is a common phenomenon among couples, friends, siblings, etc.

Having said all that, there are many happy "bandsters" and you will meet some of them here.

Did your doctor say exactly why he thinks you should go with the RNY over the band?

Hey Karen - the nurse practicioner and the surgeon both mentioned the RNY because of the amount I want to lose - about 130 pounds (or more). They mentioned that Lap Band peeps don't lose as much - some do, but not all - but RNY surgeries are far more successful.  I'm a volume eater - my sweet tooth is fairly minimal.

I'm going to get on the Lap forum as well and have my first WLS support group meeting next week. I wasn't aware that the fills stopped - I thought you could always do them??

Abby, you will find that many lapband people do lose their desired amount of weight--it just generally takes longer. Some others might be able to fill you in on the statistics.

The volume of fills you can have depends on the size of your band. My fills only had to stop because of the condition I had...I just posted the whole story on my profile.

Since you're a volume eater, the band might be more viable for you than if you were a sweet eater.

Good luck in whatever you decide & keep us posted.