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

Sorry - had to come back and add:

Who said RNY is not reversible?  It IS!!!! 

But if you get cut to lose and drop the weight, why on earf (yea, not earth) would you want to reverse it?    I know - surgery is a scary proposition and the thought of altering your body for the rest of your life is a big idea to wrap your arms around - but in that embrace is a newer, healthier life.

Ok - I will now dismount the soapbox..... LOL!!! 

i try my best to think my decisions through so i  won't have regrets......BUT......had i been a little more patient, i might have done either the sleeve or the switch.

but never the lap. it wasn't for me.

I have the lap band and I'm pleased with it.  If I had to have a weight loss surgery tomorrow, I would still go with the band.  I'm saying this because I have not had any problems with my band.  My rate of weight loss is different, but that's something that I have learned to live with.  I don't know the long-term results of having a band, but I guess I will find out.

It took me a year to decide which surgery to get.  I had to do a lot of research, attend seminars and talk to folks.  I felt that the band would be good for me.  I have friends that have lost over 100 pounds with the band.  And, I also have friends that eat around rny and the band.  I guess you can eat around any surgical weight loss proceedure if that's what you want to do.

Just do as much research as you can.  If you are going with the band find out as much as you can about the dr. that will be doing the surgery.  You will need to check the success of lap banders weight loss within that dr's practice and you will need to know how much experience the dr. has with either type of surgical proceedure. 

Follow up care is a must and it is wise to know up front what is expected of you after the surgery.  There are some weight loss surgery patients that are not getting good advice on what to eat after surgery.  I often see post on the board regarding advice on what newbies should be eating and drinking. It's always good to ask others for advice, but most of those questions should be asked before surgery and answered through the dr's office.

Good luck to you as you begin your journey -- your lifestyle, how much weight you need to lose and how quickly you want to lose it are going to be deciding factors also in which surgery will be right for you. 

P.S.  I don't want you to think that it's all sunshine and roses with the band -- there are days when I want to just rip it right out -- and there are other days when I feel so blessed to have it.

Karen

Karen you look great.

Thanks -- I'm still a work in progress

You look great!  The surgeon seems to be pretty experienced and I have heard good things from him.  That is my next step, meeting the surgeon.  Then the insurance submittal.  There is nothing like people who have been there and done that.  Plus I have two pages of questions to ask him all ready! LOL. 

I opted for the Band because as a nurse I only saw pts in the hospital with major complications.  Also I worked with several people and had a couple of family members that had the RNY done and they looked kinda sickly to me.  My PCP at the time was also pretty against a bypass.

I'm not sure I would have opted for the surgery at all.  Its been a yr and a half since surgery and I am stuck at -60lbs, I've got another $7500 to pay off this surgery that my ins was supposed to cover, and I've had a 2nd surgery I paid out of pocket $2500 for.  I'd be in a better position financially had I not paid out of pocket.  I was much more active BEFORE my surgery because I worked out pretty fiercely with a trainer and unfortunately that's something I cannot afford now.

I have not had a regular fill schedule.  I got my 1st fill about 6-8 weeks post op.  I am now sitting at 10 cc in a 14 cc band.  I am so concerned because I don't have a whole lot f room left in there and I still need to lose about 150lbs.  I pay out of pocket for my fills and it costs me $100.  My original surgery cost included free fills for the first yr, I unfortunately moved out of state and couldn't take advantage of that though.  My insurance WILL cover an xray if necessary that was used to help diagnose my flipped port.

See above, I had a flipped port and needed a 2nd surgery.  My surgeon added extra fluid at that time but I ended up too tight and couldn't have fluid removed because I developed a seroma and they were unable to get into thee port.  I had to have fluid drained from my belly a few times with a needle and needed a round of antibiotics.

Sorry this is so wordy, I usually try to be more concise.  Good luck, no matter which route you choose.

Edited cuz I can't spell worth a darn!

Yikes Michelle -- you have been through a lot.  If I had to pay out of pocket I'm not sure which surgery I would have chosen.  Self pays have a whole lot more options.  But, you still have a lot of mileage with your fills.  I have the smaller band and sometimes I worry that I will have problems with it -- I try to keep the fills to a minimum to keep the risk of complications down.

I know several people (personally) that have lost over 100 pounds -- I know that you are going to fall in that category also.  It takes time, but you will get there.

FRUITFUL, IS YOUR PAGE PRIVATE CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
I JUST BECAME BANDED ON FRIDAY AND I AM JUST GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR ME. I AM SORRY EVERYONE IS SO AGAINST THE BAND

hey there unique06 -

I think you may have a misconception here - everyone isn't against the band - it just wasn't for the folk that stated that here. 

There's no way in the world *I* could have lost 200lbs with the band.  Period.  That's just ME.  I am sure there's someone in the world who has - but I knew based on my habits and my need for restriction and control, the band would not be the right tool to help me lose all I wanted to lose.  

The Band is a GREAT tool for CERTAIN people - and each one of those people is DETERMINED to make it work - just like the RNYers are and the DSers are and so on.  

Please don't think this is bashing one form over another - every person here has their own needs and issues - this is all about tailoring the approach and tool to maximize success. 

BEST of luck to you - keep us updated on your progress!