lapband

Hi,  Have any of you had the Lapband?  I am curious about the amount of weight I will lose and how it will feel.  I am an emoitional eater and think the dumping of the gastric bypass could help me but I think the surgery is a little drastic.  I can't decide on it or gastric bypass but am leaning towards it.  Thanks, Jaime

You have to pick which type of WLS is right for you. Everyone thinks there's is THE BEST.  It's good that you are looking at HOW YOU EAT. With that said here's why I chose RNY over Band. I wanted to be able to dump. With the band I could still have a ton of ICE CREAM, MILK SHAKES and a lot of other SLIDER FOODS.  I didn't want something inside me that could slip out of place.  I didn't want the PORT thing. I can't stand the thought of having a needle put in me to inject into a tube inside me to fill a band around me There are a lot of other reasons but RNY was/is right for me.  I have several firends who have had the band and LOVE it. it's just not for me.  Make sure you check out all the boards. RNY, BAND, DS, SLEEVE and whatever else is out there.  Then RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH SOME MORE and then choose what it the BEST FOR YOU.  Good Luck,  Robin

I have to second what Robin said.  The RIGHT surgery for YOU is whatever will best address YOUR eating issues.  Do your research and talk to people who have had the various surgeries you are considering.  one of the things I liked immediatelky about my surgeon is that, during her info session, they did not push one surgery over others... they gave us a ton of info on lap band, RNY, and DS, and then the nurse and surgeon were there after the session to answer any questions about our individual needs/issues. I picked RNY for many of the same reasons as Robin.  (I *love* ice cream, and I just knew that with lap band I would still eat it... I need the threat of dumping if I have more than just a taste.  This was the biggest reason I rejected the lap band for me.)  To be honest, one of the things that has surprised me most since my surgery is that I actually CAN be satisfied with just a bite or two of something sweet or high fat...  I don't have to have the whole thing.)  People who have had the DS will likely respond, though, by saying that with the DS they don't have to worry about dumping and can have more than just a bite or two. I also did not like the idea of the port, the band slipping, or of having to go through the process of the "fills" and getting everything adjusted early on.    The second reason I rejected the lap band was that I was also concerned about the slower rate of weight loss with the band.  With so much weight to lose, I was afraid that I would get frustrated and return to eating the things that made me fat in the first place.  With the RNY the weight comes of a bit faster, and there are consequences (dumping or diarrhea) if you eat too much sugar or fat.  I knew I needed that extra "boost" to my willpower. I rejected the DS (the other primary "bypass" operation) primarily because of the problems that some people have with gas and diarrhea, because of the increased nutritional deficiencies associated with the greater malapsorption of the DS, and because I thought the small pouch of the RNY would help me better control my portions.  I have a friend who is thrilled with her DS, though, and she likes that she can eat larger meals (and, for her, that is worth having to take the extra vitamins and the medication she takes to control the gas).  I was hesitant to alter my digestive system permanently, but the RNY seemed to best address my areas of weakness with side-effects that I could live with (and therefore seemed to offer me the best chance of long-term success). Good luck with your decision! Lora

Jaime, Most RNY patients don't have dumping long-term, although some do.  I discourage patients from choosing RNY to hope that they dump which will correct problems with eating too much sweets - in some patients it does, but probably 80% can eat whatever they want after a couple of years.  I do think the RNY is a good operation, as is the band, and this is just one consideration in a list of many in deciding which surgery is right for you. Good luck! Trace W. Curry, M.D. Lap Band and Realize Band surgeon Cincinnati, Ohio http://www.TheBandDoctor.com 513.559.1222 / 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER:  Any information contained within is meant to be general medical advice only.  Please consult your surgeon on your specific problem!

Hi, I have not had the band yet, I am scheduled for surgery April 17th in Cleveland. I Know a little about both surgeries. My sister had a bypass and my Mom had lap band. I chose lap band because it is less risky. I also chose it because I have seen others who have had bypass gain weight. They say it is not possible but it is. Good Luck and God Bless. Jana

i just got my band last wed and had my post op appt today.  people lose differently, (some gain right after surgery due to the huge amounts of fluids given in the hospital) but I have been fortunate enough to have lost 8 pounds.  Add that to the 20 pounds I lost during the 2 week preop diet I'm already down 28 pounds and I haven't even been banded a week.  I'm just telling you this because sometimes we look at the stats and see that with the band you lose slower...and that's true but it doesn't have to be really slow.  Just a little encouragement. P.S everyone is right though, you have to pick the surgery right for you...if surgery is right for you. but whatever you pick you have to be dedicated through the process. Good Luck Angela

Thanks for the advice.  I had not considered the fact that if the pouch gets enlarged that they could just adjust it back to where it was before.  I am thinking the lapband would be better for me b/c it is less risky and my husband is more willing to support me with it.  He thinks the bypass is too risky and that I shouldn't do it.  Good luck!

Your last two sentences , to me, were more important than any other in your posts...I, too, wanted the RNY...came within days of having it...at the objection of my husband and children....I cancelled the RNY, and we attended the lapband seminar at Barix....the doctor was listing the pros and cons of each surgery...when he was done, my husband looked at me and said "there is no choice."  He was all for the band....and that meant the world to me...our relationship went from Jeff seeing me as  being selfish and risking death and serious complications, to Jeff feeling like we had reached a significant compramise that we both could live with...I'd still be getting my surgery and losing weight, he'd be supportive and pay for it--we both won.......as for worrying about having a needle stuck in you for fills, take this into account----my normal digestive system lets me avoid having constant lab draws...yes..Lab draws that require a needle...and Dr Curry  uses a spray anastetic on the skin b4 fills....You feel NOTHING but a cool mist -and the fill itself takes all of about 10 seconds...check out my profile, and if you like, email me----me and my hubby would be more than happy to meet with you and your husband sometime dinner, and answer any concerns you might have.....God Bless Theresa R.

Thanks so much for the post.  I looked at your profile and I feel the same way you did at first.  I do think if my husband is more comfortable with the band that is what I am going to have to get b/c I can't do this without his support.

There are 4 procedures total that you want to learn about. RNY or gastric bypass LapBand Duodenal Switch or DS Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy or VSG They all work a little differently, which is good because we're obese for different reasons.  Look inside to your reasons for being obese, weight history, eating preferences, etc, and compare them to the details of how each procedure works.  With that, you'll give yourself the best chances for success.