Doing paperwork and pondering....
Ive been filling out the paperwork for my frst visit with the surgeon.....and its got me thinking....wich surgery do i REALLY want and which one do I really NEED? Lap band seems quicker to recover from, but will it be what works best for me? Gastric bypass seems so much more permanent and set in stone, if that makes sense. I dont want to go thru all this and pick the wrong thing and it not work and I end up being able to cheat it and gain the weight back....and it all be for nothing.
Tina,
I think this is one of those personal decisions that have to be determined by the individual but I can tell you how I came to choose the RNY for myself. I did all of the research and reading that I could about all of my available choices and I stood back and took a good, long, hard look at myself and my health and my past lifestyle and I also talked with my PCP and the Orthopedic surgeon that reccommended the surgery to begin with and my choice was the RNY. For one I know me and who knows you better than you, besides God?! I also wanted my surgery to be permanent with the restrictions and responsibilities that come with the RNY, but that's just my opinion. As far as healing, I walked the afternoon of surgery and walked out of the hospital, instead of being wheeled out. I think the recovery process is what one makes of it, mine was very easy, as I am sure there were many others that has had easy recoveries. I was determined to get better faster, so I walked short distances every other day until I had my staples taken out and now I walk 6 days a week, and haven't had the first problem. I just thought I'd share my experience with you. The choice is yours and good luck with whatever you decide to go with.
Diane
I think this is one of those personal decisions that have to be determined by the individual but I can tell you how I came to choose the RNY for myself. I did all of the research and reading that I could about all of my available choices and I stood back and took a good, long, hard look at myself and my health and my past lifestyle and I also talked with my PCP and the Orthopedic surgeon that reccommended the surgery to begin with and my choice was the RNY. For one I know me and who knows you better than you, besides God?! I also wanted my surgery to be permanent with the restrictions and responsibilities that come with the RNY, but that's just my opinion. As far as healing, I walked the afternoon of surgery and walked out of the hospital, instead of being wheeled out. I think the recovery process is what one makes of it, mine was very easy, as I am sure there were many others that has had easy recoveries. I was determined to get better faster, so I walked short distances every other day until I had my staples taken out and now I walk 6 days a week, and haven't had the first problem. I just thought I'd share my experience with you. The choice is yours and good luck with whatever you decide to go with.
Diane
Back in January '08 when I decided to have surgery I made up my mind to have the lap band. For the entire 6 months I was seeing my PCP that was all we talked about. Then the day came when I finally got to meet my sugeon, who I also told I wanted the Lap band. Then I decided to ask his opinion. He told me that both surgeries worked and it was my decision. He ask me if I would like to know the type of personalities he found worked better with each surgery. After telling me that I decided that I was definitely not a Lap Band kind of girl and decided to go with the RNY. I have not regretted my decision.
Having said that, it is up to each individual person, but before making that final decision I would ask the surgeon to talk a little about which type of person if the most successful with each type of surgery. You know yourself better then anyone and with that information then you can make the right decision for you.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
B
Having said that, it is up to each individual person, but before making that final decision I would ask the surgeon to talk a little about which type of person if the most successful with each type of surgery. You know yourself better then anyone and with that information then you can make the right decision for you.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
B
Tina,
I think this might be a decision the surgeon can help you with. He can tell you what you individually can expect from each type of surgery and then you will be able to make a more informed decision. I chose RNY because I have a lot more than 100 pounds to lose. RNY lets you lose a higher percentage of your excess weight than Lapband. At least that is what my surgeon's team told me. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. For me personally, I want the extra loss that can come with RNY. It is a much more invasive procedure though and there is that to take into consideration. You have to decide for yourself exactly what your expectations are for weight loss and then choose the one that fits you best. I wish you the best with your decision.
Karen
I think this might be a decision the surgeon can help you with. He can tell you what you individually can expect from each type of surgery and then you will be able to make a more informed decision. I chose RNY because I have a lot more than 100 pounds to lose. RNY lets you lose a higher percentage of your excess weight than Lapband. At least that is what my surgeon's team told me. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. For me personally, I want the extra loss that can come with RNY. It is a much more invasive procedure though and there is that to take into consideration. You have to decide for yourself exactly what your expectations are for weight loss and then choose the one that fits you best. I wish you the best with your decision.
Karen
Thanks guys.... I guess I need to just settle down a bit till I speak with the Dr, Michael Hodge. Ive done some research on him and he seems to come highly recommended. I am leaning towards RNY just because I know me, and If I can ever slack on something I will, and lapband I think I would not respect as much as RNY. Make sense?lol
I told me mom about my decision and she seemed concerned. Reminding me how life altering it is, the upkeep afterwards etc. I told some people at work too and they are supportive but worried. One of them however is lurking here a little (shout out to Julie!) and she is going to try and get approved as well with the same Dr....so I will have wonderful support with her and vice versa, and I think that will help so much. I just wish Sept 3rd would get here already, Im ready to get things rolling!
I told me mom about my decision and she seemed concerned. Reminding me how life altering it is, the upkeep afterwards etc. I told some people at work too and they are supportive but worried. One of them however is lurking here a little (shout out to Julie!) and she is going to try and get approved as well with the same Dr....so I will have wonderful support with her and vice versa, and I think that will help so much. I just wish Sept 3rd would get here already, Im ready to get things rolling!
Hey Tina! It looks like everyone has given you some good advice. they are right, it is a personal choice.
When I was going through the 6 month circus hoops of insurance, I started out with gastric being my surgery of choice. I was one of the lucky ones who lost a lot of weight during that time. So, with my PCP's thoughts, I started thinking about lap-band. I said I could do it and succeed. After a while, I started thinking how I could cheat the system and go to Mickey D's for lunch, get that 32 oz. chocolate shake (1160 calories & 203 carbs) and drink on it for a day. What good would that do for me?
A very dear friend, Paul, had lap-band and has done wonderful with his weight loss. With my demeanor, I knew it would not work for me!
It is a personal decision, and one only you can make. No one knows you, better than you! I wish you the best of luck with whichever route you take. Just as only you can make the decision, only you can make it work!
When I was going through the 6 month circus hoops of insurance, I started out with gastric being my surgery of choice. I was one of the lucky ones who lost a lot of weight during that time. So, with my PCP's thoughts, I started thinking about lap-band. I said I could do it and succeed. After a while, I started thinking how I could cheat the system and go to Mickey D's for lunch, get that 32 oz. chocolate shake (1160 calories & 203 carbs) and drink on it for a day. What good would that do for me?
A very dear friend, Paul, had lap-band and has done wonderful with his weight loss. With my demeanor, I knew it would not work for me!
It is a personal decision, and one only you can make. No one knows you, better than you! I wish you the best of luck with whichever route you take. Just as only you can make the decision, only you can make it work!
Tina,
You will hear pros and cons for both surgeries. I, too, was originally going for the lapband. Then I started researching it and talking to various doctors and surgeons. Luckily I am a RN and at the time was working in a nursing administration/quality type role so I had access to lots of learned opinions! First, recovery from a lapband and a lap RNY are similiar. The RNY does have the risk of some additional complications, though much more rare now than in the past. Second, RNY is reversable if it needs to be. That is why I chose it over duodenal switch (DS). Third, the real cost of both surgeries is not that different, exept that with a RNY you don't have fills to pay for after a year. And last, but not least, people lose more weight with the RNY. When I put all that together, I decided that was what I needed to do. I know myself, I would have eaten sweets if I had been able to and wouldn't have lost weight. My problem was never that I ate gargantuan meals, it was that I loved sugar, so I knew with either a lapbad or a DS, I would eventually cheat. Again, it is a VERY personal decision, and I am only telling you my reasons. I know several people who had the lapband who are extremely happy about it. But there is one caveat, every one of those people only had about 90-100 pounds to lose. Like I always say research, research, research!!!
Marilyn
You will hear pros and cons for both surgeries. I, too, was originally going for the lapband. Then I started researching it and talking to various doctors and surgeons. Luckily I am a RN and at the time was working in a nursing administration/quality type role so I had access to lots of learned opinions! First, recovery from a lapband and a lap RNY are similiar. The RNY does have the risk of some additional complications, though much more rare now than in the past. Second, RNY is reversable if it needs to be. That is why I chose it over duodenal switch (DS). Third, the real cost of both surgeries is not that different, exept that with a RNY you don't have fills to pay for after a year. And last, but not least, people lose more weight with the RNY. When I put all that together, I decided that was what I needed to do. I know myself, I would have eaten sweets if I had been able to and wouldn't have lost weight. My problem was never that I ate gargantuan meals, it was that I loved sugar, so I knew with either a lapbad or a DS, I would eventually cheat. Again, it is a VERY personal decision, and I am only telling you my reasons. I know several people who had the lapband who are extremely happy about it. But there is one caveat, every one of those people only had about 90-100 pounds to lose. Like I always say research, research, research!!!
Marilyn
Marilyn
Smoky Mountain Obesity and WLS Support Group
1/17 6:30 LeConte Medical Center
Hello Tina, I was in the same situation trying to figure out what I wanted. When I went to my seminar at Centennial Medical Center I had it in my mind that I was going to have the lapband. During the break I spoke with Dr. Houston and told him my medical problems and without hesitating he told me I needed the gastric. The gastric is so more involved, I didn't want all this done to my stomach but I know I need to lose weight. I figure since he does this for a living that I'm going to leave it up to him as to which one I have. He says that if a patient is set on one procedure over the others then he won't talk you out of it.
Lisa K.
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