Lap vs Gastric? And would you do it all again?

Hello all.  So, I have had my sleep study yesterday. From the checklist I was furnished; this is my last of the tests and the gamut I was required to do before the appointment with the mighty surgeon. Once that is done, my paperwork is submitted to the insurance company and we wait...

I digress, as time ticks I am contemplating even more my decision.  I have been head strong thus far about doing the Realize Band.  I did not want to have the alterations that come with the gastric.  A few folks I know have recently had surgery, some gastric some realize.  One person in particular had the band done.  She is four months out I think.  My first time seeing her in awhile and we went to a comedy show. She was eating something fierce!  Now I am not a big scarfer (probably the biggest vegetarian anyone would ever know) but I do love starches.  Watching her eat I was sure she would pop her band.  She said she can eat what she likes but beef is the killer for her.  I asked someone else and they said she probably needs a fill.  I am know thinking should I go with gastric?

My pros for the band is that it is reversible and I will lose weight more 'naturally". Being a pseudo vegetarian ( I do eat fish) I know that the diet will not be much of an issue and I can do the same as I am doing know to get my proteins in.  The cons is the slow weight loss because I want it NOW! LOL.  Also being subjected to fills

My pros for gastric is the quick weight loss.  That is pretty much the only pro.  My cons is malabsorption and the rearranging of my innards. 

I know that both are relatively safe and it is more up to the individual.  I only want to lose 80 to 90lbs to be comfortable and healthy.  I am currently at 260lbs and a size 16 (I cannot believe I told the world my weight! WOW!).  My question is to those who have had either surgery:

a) What motivated you to choose the option you chose?

b) If you had it to do all over again, would you stick with your original option or went the other route?

c) Banders, how frequently do you have to get fills? Do you think gastric would've been less expensive in the long run since you have to get fills? If you have had to pay out of pocket for fills, how much is it generally?

d) What complications, if any, have either surgery caused you?

I am so sorry for writing a book. You guys are so good with giving information freely so I had to ask what I wanted to know. Thank you soooo much in advance!

I have  had both so I will share my story. I had the lap-band in March of 2007 and initially everything was great. I began to have complications though related to the fills. The band usually doesn't work without fills so the reaction I was having to the fills was a big issue. To make a long story short, everytime I got a fill I would swell shut a couple of weeks later. Not even water would go down. I pretty much chose the band for the same reasons that you listed and I know it works for some but it definitely does not work for everyone. It is also pretty easy to eat around it because it is up to you to go in for fills when you need them and not eat slider foods. Also in the beginning the lap band is usually empty so you have to "diet" while you wait to reach restriction. How frequently you get fills depends on your body, everyone is different. My fills were covered by insurance and I just had to pay a co-pay $30.

In November of 2008 I had my band removed and revised to RNY. I really wish that I had that surgery first but I had valid reasons for making the choice that I made at the time. I can't really say I have had any complications from my RNY. I did have to have my gall bladder removed a few weeks after the RNY but there were stones there that they observed during the RNY so they weren't caused by the RNY.

Now I wrote a book, hope it helps in some way.

It definitely does!  Thanks for sharing Amanda!

Did you research the sleeve ?  VSG

My insurance won't cover it.  It is either band it or gastric it. 

I am an RNyer and GLAD to be one.  I didn't consider "natural" or "reversible" as an option cause surgery itself isn't "natural".  I had 200+ lbs to lose and the band just wasn't going to cut it - I know I am a sweet eater and binger - so the band would have had me sitting there like your friend, scarfing down food like there's no tomorrow!!! 

I have NEVER regretted my decision, I have done what I needed to do to make this tool work for me and it has NEVER failed me!  

Don't think about COST - focus on what will REALLY work for you what you will TRULY be happy with - this is your LIFE we are talking about - not the right time to get cheap!  LOL  buy a fake Coach is you must -  but pay whatever for the right tool for you.  

Good luck - keep us updated!!!! 

Hey Mama, thanks for the reply. I am not a slave to the label so I won't do the fake Coach (lol) .  Trust the overall cost I am concerned about is my life.  I was asking about the costs to get a general idea of about how much fills actually cost, the frequency and what it adds up to in comparison to the RNY done once and no adjustments needed. There are some people that I know personally who made the decision for one or the other because of the price they had to pay out of pocket.  I know that my decision will be what is suited for me (still leaning on the band since I am not a scarfer and several other reasons). 

And no offense on what my 'natural' statement.  Again, I know of a few people who have had the gastric and they lost A LOT weight before their skin could catch up, ended up looking quite odd.  The band seemed to offer a more gradual effect.  There are exceptions to every rule.  I know the RNY is reversible however reversing the band just seems less invasive to me. 

Thanks everyone for the feedback!  I saw two comments before I stepped away from the PC and came back to find all of these replies! LOL.  I guess I have the D-Day jitters. 

Hello AJ.

This is a really good question.  Here is my reply!

1.  I chose the band for a few reasons.  The first being that I was a "light weight"  (I was 237 on the day of surgery).  Second I liked the fact that it was adjustable, so I felt that I would have more control. Third I didn't want do deal with dumping (even though the band has its own issues)

2.  With all that being said, I'm not sure if I would have chosen the same option.  I love my band and I know that it can't do all of the work, but I think I would have have better results with gastric bypass.  I started at 237, right now I fluctauate between 187 and 190.  I still want to get between 140-150.

3.  In the beginning I got fills every month or so.  I only have to pay my $30 copay so that isn't bad.

4.  I haven't had any complications with the surgery.

I have a friend that got the Realize Band several months after me (I have the LapBand) and she lost A LOT more than I did.

Ok, I wrote a book too.  Let me know if you have any questions.

~Telaya~ 

When I went into this journey I was very adimant about having the Lap Band.  Thought the risk for complication was low and surgery was minimal. After talking to my surgeon( who was gorgeous by the way) he could have talked me into anything. He thought with the Diabetes, Hypertension, High cholestrol the RNy would be the best way to go.

Didnt have to many complication had a small infection at the surgery site but that was taken care of with antibiotics. Let me tell ou the first 3-4 weeks I was weak tired and still in pain. Not everyone will have the same pain that I did.

If I had to do it over again I wouldnt change a thing. It was the best thing I could have done and onl wished I had done it sooner then later.

Nothing feels good as having men take a second look at you when you are with your husband, going into another store besides Lane bryan to pay $69.50 for a pair of pants when you can nw buy 3 pairs for that price.

I wouldnt change a thing, just enjoy the ride becuase you will be so happ you did. I went from a size 24-10 I too weighed 268 lbs day of surgery  I am hovering around 170-175 and I am ok with that as it stands. I didnt hit my goal weight of 160 but I did come damn close. I will never stop trying to get to that goal weight,

Trust me I can relate. Ashley Stewart is going to miss out on my money!  I am determined not to buy another item until I either have the surgery done or lose weight by my diet routine.  Let's hope for the surgery!  I am soooo tired of the yo yo.