Ins Approved RNY-Regrets not Lapband?

I'm sorry, I didn't explain. I went with RNY. My deciding factor was that i love sweets and the insurance company wanted an entire new review of my situation to discuss the lapband. No way was I going through that again. I had the RNY and I am doing great and have gone from 242then clear liquid preps to-232then surgery-250(after surgery fluids) to 228 one week out.Kim M.

All the very best to you on your WLS journey Kim! Leila

Good for you Kim. I wish you the best of luck. Did you have the lap or open rny?

I had lap rny and am down to 216 at three weeks out. Yahoo.

I got the lapband in Oct 2004 and I regret it now because I am having complications (slipped band, threwing up blood and everything else). At the time I had the lapband I could have paid 5 thousand dollars more (Mexico)to have lap rny. I was wondering if I had made the right choice or not. The band is great for some people and worked pretty good for me too (95 pds lost in a little over a year) But if you are a sweet eater and like junk food............the band is not the one for you. Lots of sweet food and cookies do go down very very well with the band. It all goes back to they are both a tool. You do still have to diet. Sad but true. I found a doctor who hopefully will do a revision on me in the next few weeks. From the band to RNY.

My insurance company approved either- but with the research I did I felt the lapband was not for me. 1. You have to wait 6 weeks post op to have any saline solution injected into it to baloon it- on the RNY- you would have already lost up to 30 pounds- 2. You have to keep going back to the dr for adjustments- on the rny- you only go back one time per year. 3. the lapband you only loose 50% of your weight- on the RNY- you loose up to 85 % the first year- and more after- 4. The lap band can deteiorate in the body and have to be replaced with the RNY in time- the insurance company would not pay to repair it- it has only been in the US for 4 years and is still considered experimental. 5. you have to watch what you eat on both- and exercise- so why not go with the one that would give me the best results for my weight loss- as I needed to do this for medical reasons and needed to loose all the weight- not just the 50%- So for me I needed to choose the RNY hope this helps you I have surgery tomorrow May 15th- Lee Minnesota

Lee, I think you have a lot of misconceptions about Lapband 1. my surgeon filled my band with some saline during surgery - I was never empty. Every surgeon is different, but I can get a fill whenever I need it. 2. I see adjustements as a huge benefit - if I plateau, I get a new fill and get things moving again.....if I get pregnant, it can be all let out to allow for healthy eating for my baby, and then filled back up afterwards. It's a custom tool, not a "one size fits all" surgery. 3. that weight loss statistic is WHITHIN THE FIRST YEAR....if you read the research, you will see that after 3 years, Lapband patients are equal or ahead of other WLS patients in weight loss - our loss is slower, but we have a better chance of keeping it off. 4. There is a VERY small chance of deterioration....and it is not still considered experimental by many insurance companies. My insurance company WOULD pay to repair or replace my band should something go awry. 5. Yes, I have to watch what I eat and exercise....same as you. Some of us lose slower, but that is HEALTHIER!!! I'll never become emaciated, hospitalized for malnutrition, or vitamin deficient. I made the right personal decision...and it truly is a personal decision....but I don't like when people who are miseducated spout off untrue "facts".

Lee, While reading your post, I am tickle to death with your misconceptions of the lap band. Especially on number 3 you said and I quote you "CAN only loose 50% percent of body weight with the Lap-Band, well, I hate to burst your bubble, I have lost over 85 pounds in 7 months and to top it off, I still can literally have my cake and eat it too, with NO SICKNESS...hehehe.. Naomi--

Totally false facts!!! i am 3 months out and have lost 70 pounds to date!!! I love my band!!!! Laura fuller

I'm glad you are very happy with your choice, but we do owe it to folks to let you know most of your list is a little off from our reality. Don't take offense. I'll tackle just a couple: *I lost about 26 pounds *before* my first fill. I had one fill for a year, but I had doctor's appointments and so should you -- every six months is often recommended for RNY blood work. *I've already lost 50 percent (first year) of my goal weight loss and there's no indication that my tool will lose it's potency after 18 months to a year. #4 is just way off. Again, I'm sorry. Not all insurance companies consider it experimental and it's been here longer than four years. Again, I wish you well and I see your surgery was today. We aren't ganging up on you, but we have the lap band and I think we are the better testimonies to how and when it works. All my best, Frances