RNY vs Lapband

Ok. I am like 99% sure that i want to have the RNY. But and there is always a but...  I keep thinkining about the Lapband.  Here are my thoughts. I am impressed with the amount of success that the RNY has.  I would like to lose between 100 and 135 pounds and feel that this is very realistic with RNY.  I am not so sure with the lapband- for me any way.  The lapband seems so much easier to "cheat" with.  I think that i could really benefit from the dumping syndrome that happens with RNY.  I am afraid that if i had the lapband i would go back to my old eating habits quickly.  Granted, probably smaller amounts, but nonetheless.  I feel that I was be too scared to dump with RNY that i would steer clear of some of those choices ( i know noone is perfect).  But, I am afraid with the RNY i might be miserable, not being able to eat things that i really enjoy, like chicken and steak, for example.  Is this just temporary that you cannot digest these things or is this forever?  Will i never be able to eat sweets again?!  I am not a big candy or sweet eater, but i do occasionally indulge and the thought of never being able to eat a piece of chocolate cake again terrifies me.  I would like to hear other peoples perspective on this.  I thought that i was dedicated to my decision to have WLS.  I mean i have been thinking about this for the past 5 years and have really started researching and preparing for the past two.  But, my wishy washiness is making me second guess myself.  Is that normal?  Again, I am like 99% sure i want the RNY but theses are my 1% doubts.  Are they valid? I would love to hear from both RNYers and Bandsters! Thanks so much. I can always count on people here to be so helpful and honest!

You are correct with the band you can cheat...   BUT...  like I have always said, "why would I go through all of this?"   (the approval, the surgery, the recovery, huge needle in my tummy every 6 - 8 weeks) only to cheat?  Cheating means I'm not going to get healthy..  so I might as well not done anything... 

I had the same thoughts as you, but went with the band due to the time in the hospital and the recovery time.   I am a single Mom, at that time he was two.     BUT I wouldn't do anything different now,   I am glad I picked the band, and I've worked my band.  At the 6 month check up band people normally loose 25% of their excess body weight, I had lost 35% of mine.  (RNY I am sure is MUCH higher percent at 6 months!) I have a LONG way to go, and yes, I realize it is going to be slower with the band than the other surgeries, but I will get there..  I'm glad to be the turtle in the race..  slow and steady will get me to my goals.

NOW with all that being said, you decision is YOUR decision, but I commend you on reaching out and asking questions.  You have to be 100% sure of your choice.  I'm sure the RNY'ers will chime in, I agree it is a great surgey and had my little guy been older, I might have gone that way.  BUT I'm ok with the band, and I'll continue working it...

Hope my ramblings helped just a little and good luck with your decision!!
HUGS
Amy

 I agree with Amy, ultimately this is your decision.  You know in your heart the right one.  Some things may get cloudy as a pre-op because of all of the unknowns and fears, but you know what is right for you.

When I first went to the seminars,  Lapband was my choice too.  After learning more, I realized it wasn't for me.  Here is why.

I hate needles.

My bad will power is what got me here.  Since it is easier to cheat, I was afraid of that big time!

I think I needed the quick results.   I am 6 mos out today!  woo hoo.  I think I have lost 75% of my excess weight at this point.  120 pounds overall.  I still have about 30-40 to go.

Yes, there are things that I cannot eat.  I needed the restrictions and concesquences.    I will tell you the first couple of months SUCK.  LOTS of things you can't eat. Lots of buyer's remorse.  Lots of "Oh, crap, what have I don?".   but about a month ago,  a switch just went off and I started being able to have "normal" meals and feeling like a normal human instead of this modified freak that has to explain herself all of the time.  I am grateful for this.  I eat chicken. I eat steak.  I have had a piece of caramel here and there.  If I wanted a BITE of cake, I would probably eat it but this would probably be a once-a-month thing and it wouldn't be a whole piece by ANY means.  
The thing about RNY,  It has forced me to make better choices.  I spent a lot of money and a lot of time and a lot of puking with this surgery (I am hard headed and had to learn things the HARD way!).  I don't want to be a failure.   I look at my food and have to make the decision "is this worth my time?".  If not, I pass.  Pizza, not worth it to me.    There are foods that I have absolutely no problem with - chips, crackers... basically carby, salty things that I have issues with.  These are my trigger foods.  I have to avoid them.  They do not make their way into our home.  

Good luck. It is a very difficult decision and it's not for everyone but ultimately, you know the right choice for you!  

I believe you've just received a good over view of each, so I will try not to be redundant.

I think the band takes more will power simply because you can defeat it at any time (milk shakes, sweets etc.).  As the band needs refills I've known some that keep putting it off so they can enjoy the extra capacity.

Some bander's choose this type of surgery much like some go into a marriage thinking if this doesn't work I can always get a divorce, not a good way to go into a marriage or WLS.

Of course they both have challenges.  Most rny patients will tell you even though they worked on your guts you would swear they did brain surgery.  Because in most cases thing you craved before WLS are just not appealing after.
 
Any WLS can be ruined if you don't adhere.  Good luck on your choice.  C'ya Bob

I will be stating some of the same things as above.
I originally was attament that I was doing lapband, because I was not going to have my stomach all "cut up".  That is what I had in my mind all the way up to the first few meetings with the surgen and support group meetings, even my PSP was ok with this.

I then understood the reason that I needed to have my mind changed into RNY.  I loved sweets!  That is one thing that made me fat, also regular soda.  I NEEDED that negative reinforcement, that scare of dumping.

I'm almost a year out and have lost all but about 5 lbs from my original goal weight.  I am considered a success.

I no longer crave some of things that I did before.  I don't ever see myself as drinking soda again, any type even diet, NEVER.  I do have the occasional sweets, but they are "better" for you sweets (things like SF pudding, or one TINY bite of cake), but never reguarly.

You will not miss those old habits.  You will enjoy being "skinny" and healthy and wonder why you ever ate those types of foods.

One last thing, please discuss your choices with your surgen as they can help you with your decision.

Michael.

Dr. Houston also does the VSG and DS.  Have you totally ruled them out?  Please be aware that there is more to choose from than the band or RNY.  I'm not intentionally trying to add to your confusion.  I just hate to see anyone not explore all the WLS options. Why not visit some of the specific surgery boards here on OH before making a final decision?  Of course you must decide what's ultimately the best for you based on your unique situation.

Best wishes on your journey to health.

Thanks to everyone that has responded.  It is good to know that other people have had the same concerns before surgery.  Like I said, I am not a big sweet eater.  If I say I eat dessert once a month that would probably be an overstatement.   But the idea of never scared me. So just to know that one bite of cake down the road want send me over the edge is a relief.

I did research all WLS options. I really liked VSG and the DS but my insurance does not cover VSG and will only cover DS if my BMI is over 60.  So that just left me with three options: Lapband, RNY and verticle banding.   

I am aware that this is my decision and mine alone.  However, insight from people who have been down this road is so helpful.  I do beleive that RNY is the option for me.  Again, thanks everyone!

Well, sweets, you've already made one very good decision in Dr. Houston.  Can you tell I'm biased just a little?  Actually I would have been comfortable with anyone at Centennial.  Yet it is nice to have so many options here in Middle TN so that with limits from insurance companies on where we can go and what we can have, we can still get top notch care in state.

There's room for you on the bench!

I have had the same battle of lap band versus RNY.  I like the idea that the surgery could be undone if somethign went horribly wrong.  After much research and debate and talking with Dr. Houston, I deceided on RNY (surgery on July 27th, I can't wait).  The thing that put me over the top with RNY is the fact lap band introduces a foreign object into your body for life.  By nature, your body tries to reject foreign objects.  In my opinion, lap band is a class action waiting to happen.  I can envision a scenario ten years from now, there is a newly discovered issue with the band and the FDA recommends all be removed.  It was a big decision to have WLS, I plan to only have one surgery.

That is my two cents.

Casey

U know Casey that is one of my fears with Lapband too! I thought i was the only one who thought like that!  Thanks