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Darla, I am 14 months post-op and went for a check up with my surgeon today. I am 125 lbs. lighter than over 1 year ago. I had the RNY and it was difficult to begin with...the liquid diet...pureed food...feeling weak sometimes. However, I can say that I have never been happier or healthier. The day after my surgery I do remember sitting in my hospital bed thinking, "Why in the world did I do this!" I had my surgery done with the scope and was not in so much pain but really sore. But still, I would not change a thing. I have about 15 more pounds to lose and exercise 4-5 times per week. But you know what...I actually feel like exercising! I think that you have to approach it as being just a really great tool to get you where you what to be. You will still have to exercise and watch what you eat. I have never felt better about myself and my health. Fortunately for me, I did not have some of the problems others experience. Good luck no matter what you decide to do. Katrina

I can't give you a cut and dr answer to your question. The 1st year for me was rougher than I thought I could handle. I still have some not so good days. At 2.5 years out, I love myself much more than I ever have, my life is good...After everything is done and said, I am happy all this is behind me. Don't know if I would do it again.

I am 18 months out, and my answer really is that I am glad I had the surgery, although I wish I had gotten a bit more information before hand. Some of the "discoveries" of post-op life have been unpleasant. The biggest thing I thought I would be rid of forever (aside from the weight) was my obsession with food. But, I spend more time on food now than I ever did before. What to eat, how much, if it is balanced, if I will get sick, etc...I still consider myself a prisoner of food! But, on the plus side, I was able to figure out why I ate so much, and get to the root of my obesity. Once I fixed me, I turned to other outlets for emotions, bordom, etc... Also, I was on a crash course with death. At 330 pounds, I was out of control. Sudden caridac death runs all through my family, and my heart would occasionally through some mean palpitations at me. My blood pressure was starting to climb, my legs stayed swollen constantly, and I was tearing my varicose veins with all the weight, and bleeding profusely each time I did so. I was also at the point of not wanting to climb stairs; I would take everything I needed to either my office upstairs, or to the family room downstairs. That's when I knew it was bad..really bad. I needed the restriction of not being able to eat huge portions. And the surgery gave me a tool to use that was invaluble. I have lost over 200 pounds, and went from a size 30-32 to a size 2-4. What a difference. I can now enjoy my family, and my husband and I have improved our relationship tenfold. Although he still says that my weight never bothered him, it was limiting. I remember him researching airline seat sizes when we went to Germany, because he was afraid I would not fit into an average size coach seat. He is in the military, and being fit is a requirement for him. Having been the fattest spouse at functions for years, I am now glad to be among the smallest. I was always self conscious about that. So, if I had it to do over again, I would, in a heartbeat. Nothing tastes as good as being healthy. And being a normal weight, shopping in regular stores, and getting compliments does wonders for a woman whose self image was so low for so long...... Andrea

Hi Darla, I am 8 months out and down 124 pounds. I hit goal last weekend. I am very fortunate and lucky. No complications, no pain, no discomfort, no side-effects, no dumping, not even loose skin. The best decision of my life. It has given me my life back. However, I know that is not always the case. For me, I would do it over in a heartbeat. Best wishes to you on your decision.

I'll be 2 years out from lap-band next month, have had zero complications, so far have lost over 130 lbs and have been really pleased with my surgery. The slower weight loss is less hard on the body and easier for the brain to keep up with so less occurrence of body dysmorphia (still seeing yourself as fat when you're really not anymore). It's nice to feel really normal about eating...the band had given me clear, normal hunger/satiety signals and the result has been natural weight loss. I don't have to worry about loss of lean tissue, significant hair loss, premature osteoporosis, strictures, dumping, bathroom issues from eating fats or simple carbs, foul stools/gas, fistulas, unreachable ulcers, chronic anemia, pernicious anemia, etc. Nancy 394/260/180

Darla, I got my LapBand two years ago in April. I do NOT regret it in any way. Yeah, I wish I was more than half way to goal but I knew the band was slower when I got it - and I took a year off from losing to try to get pregnant or I probably would be far closer to goal. Still, I am 100 times more healthy than I was - life was getting pretty scary up at 320# I was borderline diabetic, high blood pressure, insulin resistant, hypothyroid, etc. etc. etc. and now all of my bloodwork is smack dab in the middle of normal. My main goal was not some weight on an insurance chart somewhere, it was to get healthy and I have, even if I did not lose another pound from here (244) I am considering this banding to be a success. RNY was never an option for me. I looked into it years ago and decided right then and there that if they had to dice and reroute me I'd rather be fat, thank you very much! As soon as I found the band there was simply no doubt in my mind that it was the surgery for me. The other thing with the band is that if for whatever reason it isn't working out for you or you simply cannot handle it it is 100% reversible... It it's about 10x safer than RNY on top of that so it is hard to see how you can go wrong... JMHO. Best of luck with whatever you decide. Kiera Banded: 28 April 03 Started over 15 July @ 265: -21# (244) today, only 24# more to go for my milestone goal of 220.

Darla, I have been researching surgeries for over 2 years. I wanted the lap band but after 3 appeals an external review board of experts denied it saying I had too much to loose for it to be beneficial. They advised you only lose 50% of your excess weight and that would have still left met morbidly obese and still 90lbs overweight. How much do you need to lose? That should be one of the questions you still ask yourself. Another question is, did your weight happen in part because you love carbs, sweets and/or fats? If so, then I would take into consideration with the band, you can still eat carbs, sweets and fats and you dont' "dump". With RNY you have 40% chance of having the "dumping syndrome" it's a very bad experience and happens when you eat too much fat or sweets. I was not a sweet eater, but I loved loved love carbs....bread bread bread! When I was growing up my mom always cooked hearty meals on the farm with LARD and we always had a loaf of "white" bread on the table for every meal. I have to have something that will limit my intake of the foods that got me to 310lbs. It's just something to consider. I wish you luck in your decision - it's a personal one - and coming here is the best thing you could possibly do.......

Hello, Not everybody has the same mindset as me, so it's difficult for them to understand when I answer questions like these. I'm over 1 year post-op and at first I was so happy but then a month out I was sad because I wasn't losing enough weight to satisfy myself. Then I snapped out of it and realized that no matter how much weight I lose and how much plastic surgery I'll have, I still won't ever be completely happy with what I see, I will always have the scars to remind me what I once was, so I decided to sit back and chill out and let the weight fall off on it's own at it's own pace. I realized there was no big rush to lose weight as long as my health was improving. Now (if you have read my post you will know why I feel this way, and it's not because I "have only lost a small amount of weight") I TOTALLY regret this surgery with every cell in my body. I changed my life and my views on things and it changed me in a way where I could do this on my own. For me, it's not about time. It's about health. And yeah, these surgeries have saved lives and that's great, I just wished I waited so I could save my own life because wether people see it or not, they DO have the power to do it themselves. It's just so out of control, 98% of them can't do it. Which is fine, as long as you get some help with your weight. Whatever works for you, I don't judge. So it's safe to say (again, if you read my post lol), that I do regret this surgery and if I could turn back time I would. But instead I'm going to move foward and talk to my surgeon about getting this lap-band taken off. I wish you the best of luck, -LBP

My personal feeling is, if you have the option of choosing a reversable surgery,then that is the better pick.However since I have not had the lap band, I have no knowledge to speak of,than the choice. I am 18 months out from R-N-Y and have lost over 190lbs and I haven't been able to STOP losing weight. I am hoping that it isn't too late to examine the possiblity of reversal. I didn't think it was even possible until today. It seems that my surgeons office says I can still lose more weight, while my Primary care, and GI doctor are trying to fatten me up any way possible. The insurance company is therefor stuck in the middle. I eat more now than I ever did when I was fat...out of necessity. I wish there was a forum for people who had reversals to talk to. So do I regret the surgery, yes, and no. I chose WLS for my health not for vanity,and even if I don't make it..due to over mal-absorbsion,if my last years were to be able to walk around. I choose walking, rather than with a walker. Best wishes whatever choices you make.

Hi, just a side note to the post stating that you can only lose 50% of your excess weight with lap-band, that statement is based on very out dated information. It has been shown that at 3 years out lap band and rny are just about equal in weight loss (RNY tends to start regain at 2 years (not all but some)). The other thing to note is that unlike RNY, lap band does not have a "window" for loss. If keep up with my adjustments and am sensible about my eating habits I can keep losing - even if it takes 5, 7 or 10 years (I hope it doesnt but you know what I mean) Good luck with your decision! Lynn Banded 9/12/05 300/275/230/140 "Everyone thinks their surgery is the BEST"