Lap or gastric

I recently attended a WLS support group BBQ.  The information that I was able to attain was fantastic.  The women were up front , honest, and extremely supportive and welcoming, which was great.  I didn't feel strange asking any quesitons.  The one question that I did ask, was why a specific surgery was chosen?  For the majority, it was gastric and the reason given was it was the one surgery would pay for.  I guess I am fortunate enough to be able to choose between lap or gastric.   So, I guess I am wondering if you were able to have a choice between the two, which would you preferred to have had and why?  And for those of you who have chosen, what have been the major challenges you have faced?  I am new to this and am trying to make the best choice for me. Thanks for all your input! Brandon

Hi Brandon - I can have either surgery, but I chose the RNY Gastric Bypass over the LapBand.  These are my reasons -- most folks will have their own reasons why they chose one over the other.  1)  In all the things I've read, it seems weightloss is a bit more effective with the RNY Bypass.  The reason being that not only are you restricted in the amount you can eat, but you also have the malabsorbtion issue -- part of your small intestine is bypassed, so you can't absorb all of the nutrients you take in.  Now, that can be a disadvantage in some ways, as you do have to be very careful to take you vitamins and calcium and, if you take meds like thyroid hormone (which I do) you will have to be tested afterwards to make sure you are absorbing enough of that or you will need dosage adjustments there.  2)  Surgery of any kind is a big decision.  While I realize that I  will be having one of my internal organs cut, I didn't like the idea of having a foreign object put in my body and I didn't like the idea of a port under my skin that could float around or that I would need to have a long needle inserted into for adjustments.  I've also read some horror stories (although they exist for both kinds of surgery) about scar tissue forming around the band, slippage of the band, etc.  3)  I've read an awful lot of posts about people having a revision from Lap Band to RNY Gastric Bypass.  If at all possible, I'd like to only have to do this once.   4)  with all the above said, I figured the Gastric Bypass would give me the best chance at maximum weightloss, which after all, is why I am doing this in the first place.  I want to be thin, healthy, and comfortable!!

I have considered that the Lap Band might be a good option for me because of the meds I need to take (thyroid hormone, allergy meds, etc), but I'm still going to do the bypass.  I just pray I'm making the right choice.  Now -- what I would suggest for you is, see up at the top, where the work Forums is?  Go there and visit both the Lap Band and Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass links and read all you can.  That may help you make up your mind.  That's what I did. Good luck to you, and hope to see you at the next event! Linda

Hi LInda, I too take Thyroid meds and I did have to have the meds adjusted once but since then everything has been ok... in fact the adjustment was to lower the dose.  I have no thyroid at all so I get all of my hormone from the pills... just and FYI... Good luck Darla

Hi Brandon, You are going to find the most people here have had the gastric bypass procedure.  It was the surgery I initially planned on, but once I found out I could do the Lap-Band, I immediately knew it was the surgery best suited to me.   My research indicates that though weight loss with the band is slower, over the long term it is equivalent to bypass.  For me, I felt that the band offered the flexibility that I want, so if I decide to have children, it will be easy to adjust the band to meet my nutritional needs.  I also am more comfortable with the band because it is very reversable, easily even compared to other procedures, and doesn't involved any actual cutting of the stomach and intestines. That said, there are many benefits to bypass.  It is immediately restrictive. There is a HUGE incentive not to eat sugar and fats, due to dumping, and generally you lose weight very quickly.  This can be a very big incentive.  I do worry that it with the band it will be very easy to become frustrated with the slower weightloss, even though to me the slower weight loss is going to be a positive long term. I would suggest you read the gastric bypass and the lap band boards.  There are people who love and hate both.  There are people who have had negative and positive experiences with both.  I would also suggest you read up on the benefits, disadvantages, and possible complications associated with both procedures.  This will help you decide what you think will work best for your body and your lifestyle. Tammy

Another thought - do you have Weightloss Surgery for Dummies?  I bought the book and found it very informative.  I'd loan you my copy if I could find it.  Let me see if I can dig it up and I can either mail it to you or loan it to you when we have our next group meeting. Linda

You're an    Thanks Linda so much for the offer....I ordered the book online yesterday.  Can't remember who, but someone recommended it as it had a lot of information to offer.  I should have it by Monday or Tues at the latest.

I chose lap band because I simply refused to accept the risks of any other surgery.  My insurance would have also paid for RNY. I am thrilled with my choice and have no regrets even though I've lost more slowly than others.  I'm 20 months out and down about 60 to 70 pounds (my weight really can fluctuate a lot regardless of what I've eaten).  I also started out at 427 pounds so I'm no lightweight, either. Really, it just boiled down to risk.  Having just lost my mom and finding out that my 3.5 year old niece had leukemia, I knew my sister needed me -- and she needed me healthy.  I flat-out refused any other surgery. BUT I did tell Dr. Jan that if he got in there and saw I wasn't a candidate for lap band to go ahead and do RNY (yeah, like he would have been able to do that and have insurance pay, lol). I like the fact, too, that lap band revisions to any other surgery (barring any complications like an erosion) are relatively simple procedures.  Converting from RNY to something else is a bit more challenging... Also, I really was convinced that it wouldn't work.  It has.  Just slowly. I suppose I should add that I also take a lot of other medications (not weight related necessarily) and was concerned about dosing with RNY. Lori