WLS - How did you decide?

 Valerie....my bariatric surgeon told us that if you have a "sweet tooth" that the band would be really hard for you to be successful because you can do slider foods and sweets that will pass right past the band.   As I said earlier....If I had done the lap band instead of the RNY GB....I know with all my heart that I would have failed.   That is NOT saying that you may be successful.   I know lots of successes also with the band.   I would look into the Sleeve ( VSG ) if I were you.   You have no malabsorption issues with it and you lose weight almost the same as with the RNYGB `!!!


Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

I can give you two stories.

My wife has fibromyalgia.  Not on meds for it any more since her RNY.  She has gone from 320 to 185.  From a size 26 to a 14/16 depending on the clothes.

Me, I decided to do RNY because she was successful.  Never dreamed I would be even more successful  I went from 360 to 210 in six months.  I never even thought about lapband because I am the type of guy that wants fast results.  Low maintenance.   Truthfully, and you may not want to hear this, but I can still eat sugar.   Just more limited amounts.  I eat M&Ms with no problem.  Ice Cream (even No Sugar Added) gives me an upset stomach, but I still eat it.  Much less often though.

RNY was the way for both of us because of the speed of weight loss.  We are both impatient people and want results now with everything we do.

I've had BOTH the lapband and the bypass.  For ME, the band didn't work at all.  I vomited daily for 2 years and lost nothing.  It was obviously put on wrong and caused me to have a HUGE hiatal hernia.  BUT like Liz said there are others on this board that did great with their bands.  I personally have a huge sugar addiction too but the funny thing is, I don't dump at all.  I can eat all the sugar I want but I CHOOSE to limit it to very small portions.  For me the biggest difference was I never felt full with the band but after a few bites I felt full and satisfied with the bypass.  In 2 years that I had the band I lost nothing, I reached goal in less than one year with the bypass.  Don't let your doc talk you into something that's not for YOU.  Do your research and choose the one that you feel will help you to be successful.

Wow...just wow. Again, thank you all for the replies, it really helps to know that I am NOT alone.

The fibro stories are uplifting, as I'm in a bad flare today. I am in no way expecting WLS to "Cure" me, however I do want to learn to put those damn Mrs.Baird's evil crack donuts back on the shelf. Also, I have three children to think about, one of which is already struggling hard with his weight and he isn't even a teenager yet. I've got to take control and be the leader, be the one he can look to and go "Wow, Mom did it, maybe I can too". That, and the fact that bless his heart, he can't resist the donuts either.

I've got some serious thinking to do, and praying. My husband is trying his absolute best to be supportive (and he always is). One thing he was concerned with gastric was the malabsorption issues.

What concerns me about your original post, and nobody else has directly addressed, is that it sounds like your doc is pushing you hard towards the band.  That raises a bit of a red flag in my mind.  There are many surgeons out there who are much more comfortable with banding because it's an easier procedure for them to do.  Some of them push patients in that direction for that reason and not because banding is necessarily better for that patient.

As several people replied to you, they do take meds for serious conditions, and the malabsorptive aspect of RNY does not cause problems in that area.  I have multiple sclerosis, take several meds for it, and have done incredibly well since my RNY.  In fact, I haven't felt this well in years.  My surgeon, who is very experienced with both RNY and banding, had no problem with my m.s. or the meds I take for it.  I went to him wanting RNY and he didn't try to dissuade me.  I don't know anything about your chosen surgeon or whether he is, in fact, trying to push you to the surgery HE wants to do rather than helping you make YOUR chosen surgery work for you ... but if he has done more bands than bypasses, you might want to seek a second opinion from a surgeon with lots of experience in RNY and see if you get different answers to your questions from him or her.

Best of luck to you.

Research Research Research!  The year prior to my start in the WLS options I was leaning towards the Band.  I had sat on a seminar and went thru all the hoops.  I was waiting to the see the Dr.  I never made it there (that year) - but my friend did and got the band.  She has NEVER reached her goal weight because bluebell became a friend again. 

Thru my second part of the WLS journey I sat in on one of Dr. Robert Davis' seminars.  90% of Gastric and RNY patients reach their Dr's goal weight and only 40% of Banded patients make it there.  WHAT! I couldn't believe it.  I did more research here and before I went in, I was on target.  I wanted the gastric bypass.  I am too a sugarholic and eating a cookie puts me under.  (In fact I haven't had one since my last mistake!). 

I started off a 22W and I just picked up white slacks from White House Black Market in a size 10! I am still on my WLS journey, I have 25lbs more to loose (for me).  Then I will be at my goal weight. 

I made the decision based on my experience with people around me, and with my Doctor.  I voiced my concerns, and my questions.  My suggestion is to write down EVERY question you have, and request a consultation.  Have them ready and read EACH AND EVERY question till they are all answered.  Explain that is what you are doing to the Dr.  They are MORE than happy to help those that are seeking answers. 

What are your worries?  The surgery? The process? Maybe someone here can answer how they dealt with a specific worry or issue.  We are more than happy to help. 

Please note that some people dont have a problem at all, and some of us have bumps along the way.  I am one that had a bump in my road (I had an incision not heal correctly).  But I can say for me, I wouldn't trade ONE SINGLE day of my journey at all.  It has all been worth it, and I am beyond happy that I did it. 
Hope this helps you! Best of wishes and tons of hugs. 

also please take the time to research the VSG as well :)
Many many many people are making it to goal with the VSG.. and insurances are slowly but surely paying for it.

I am currently making a list of questions to ask, and plan to call and make an appointment with the doctor himself. I also very well may get that second opinion.  Any feedback from others that have not responded, or any other advice from people that have responded, is still greatly appreciated :)

*edited to add: My insurance does not cover the sleeve unfortunately.

There is a book called "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies" . It is a wonderful reference book that goes through each surgery from benefits of each, what to expect from each, the type of diet for each, etc... It was a wondreful tool for me! I chose the RNY because I needed the strictness and limitations it gave me. Even though I have had lots of things happen since my surgery, even knowing what I know now about how my body will react, I would still do it again! I am 2 years out and have been at goal for 8 months! I lost 165 lbgs and this is the longest I have ever kept off any weightloss!!
Meggie

Thanks, Meggie! I actually came real close to ordering that book on Amazon earlier in the week but decided to see if I could find it at a bookstore first. Now, I'm wishing I had ordered it because it would be here now, lol