OH Magazine Issue 3 2007 is on its way to your mailboxes! The latest issue of OH Magazine features OH spokesperson Jackie Guerra, who updates our readers on her story since we last heard from her in Issue 2 2006. Her husband, Bill Torres, also is featured in an article titled Together where he talks about his relationship with Jackie. Readers will also be treated to the story of OH member Ramon Lopez, who was recently seen on the hit tv show Big Medicine. Other articles include Heart Health by cardiologist Shalizeh Shokooh; Completing Your Journey by Dr. Edward Domanskis; and Safe Exercise for Arthritic Joints by Mark Allen, MPT. We also provide delicious recipes; fitness q&a; and support group news. If you are already a subscriber, your issue is on its way. If you want to subscribe to this bi-monthly publication for the low cost of $25 for six issues, click on the purple word "magazine" on the top of the screen and follow the directions to subscribe.

I really like the spiritual side of things, it's brings it home for me. I keep praying for god's will and not mine :)

I know I"m late to the conversation here, but I was at a similar place.  I went in for my initial consult planning on lapband - my surgeon does both - and came out feeling the RNY is right for me.  The reason is because my surgeon said that for people with BMI's over 50, the success rate with lap band is 20%... I am self pay, and i didn't want to spend that money on something that I would only have a 20% chance of succeeding with... also - my surgeon said with lapband success is defined as losing 40% of excess weight, whereas with RNY it's 60% or more. They said it was my call and they would do either one... but, my surgeon has done so many RNY's and his mortality and complication rate is actually the same as the lapband rate, so he's way below the national average for death/complications... that made me feel much better about it.  They also have tracked their patients and have been doing the RNY for years - so do have many patients who have kept the weight of with rny for over a decade.  I have read the boards where people regain after RNY - but i've also read a lot of success stories.  I was over at lapbandtalk.com reading too, and there were a lot of people who weren't losing with that.  So that's why i am having the RNY on July 30th.  I am also working on my food issues and love to work out - so am hopeful that I will be a success story -- but I also feel better knowing that if I am not, the stomaphyx procedure is starting now - which is an endoscopic procedure to reduce a pouch that has stretched after RNY.  A surgeon in my area is one of the few trained to do it.  I don't plan to ever need this - but it added another layer of comfort to my decision for me. Good luck in whatever you decide! Mary

Just to add my two cents,,,, Although some say other procedures are reversable,,,,,,just try and find a surgeon willing to reverse a RNY.  Even if you could,,,,,if you have no insurance, how would you ever pay for this? (Not you specifically,,,just 'you' in general).  As if WLS didn't come with enough risk on it's own, a revision doubles the risk,,,, What you are doing is important.  Lots of great posts here.  Research, research, research!!!!!

Pinklady, Someone else recently recommended the Vertical Sleeve Gastroplasty to me as well! I would LOVE to be like your daughter and lose 160 pounds! (The sooner the weight is off, the better, in my view!) I am not sure what to do. I've really been putting this off and off and now I need to get serious and just get my surgery. This has taken 2 years this August and I still haven't even gotten surgery! The VSG sounds good, but my doctor doesn't do it. How do I find if another doctor in my area has done it?