Fear

I had an appointment for 4/25/11 to have the RNY and I canceled it know my pcp would like me to reconsider talking to the surgeon again and getting questions answered. But I think I might change my mind and go with the band I am very confessed and have a war going on inside my head. I have no medical issues at this time and I do not want to create any. I have about 60 lbs to loss to be at a healthy weight. Any help would be great.

I'm surprised for 60 pounds they would recommend RNY. I think its very possible to lose 60 pounds with lap band but it won't come off fast...but you will make a lifestyle change.... Band only restricts how much you eat not what you eat. You adopt good eating skills and lose the weight but remember you can still eat band things like ice cream and if you eat too much you won't lose weight.

I have lost 90 plus pounds and I love my band :)

Have you weighed out the pros and cons? For 60lbs I wouldn't do RNY. I'd consider the band along with the sleeve. Look around the forums here and see what you can find about each surgery. I was banded a little over a year ago and have lost 115lbs. While I do like my band..I am not sure I'd have gotten WLS with 60lbs to lose. I agree with the post above that the band can restrict how much you eat, when you get "proper restriction." I don't agree with the "bad" foods portion, as I eat ice cream, cookies, etc, and continue to lose weight. It's all about portion control and calories in vs. calories out, in my opinion. Weigh your options and definitely speak to your surgeon again about the options that are available to you.

Please consider the sleeve instead of the band. 

Getting " stuck " with the band is a painful and unnecessary way to lose weight. The sleeve is a restrictive only procedure just like the band without the malabsorption of the RNY and DS.
The band causes you to suffer from esophageal spasms.

What is esophageal spasm?

Esophageal spasms are irregular, uncoordinated, and sometimes powerful contractions of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Normally, contractions of the esophagus are coordinated, moving the food through the esophagus and into the stomach.

There are two main types of esophageal spasm:

• Diffuse esophageal spasm. This type of spasm is an irregular, uncoordinated squeezing of the muscles of the esophagus. This can prevent food from reaching the stomach, leaving it stuck in the esophagus.
• THIS IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND because many banded people think that their food is stuck due to not chewing well or they think they ate too fast.
•  
• Nutcracker esophagus. This type of spasm squeezes the esophagus in a coordinated way, the same way food is moved down the esophagus normally. But the squeezing is very strong. These contractions move food through the esophagus but can cause severe pain.
• Again, this is often explained away by band surgeons and banded patients as eating to fast and/or not chewing well enough.

Your profile says you have a BMI of 42+.  But you say you have only 60 lbs to lose.  Unless you are only about 4'2", that doesn't make sense.

In any case, you are considering two surgeries I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (well, maybe on her, just because she deserves it) - lapband, which has a horrible long term rate of failure and complications, and RNY, which also has a horrible long term rate of failure and complications, but for different reasons.  I'd rather remain fat than have either of those surgeries.

In your shoes, I would ONLY be considering the VSG (if you have NO metabolic issues) or the DS (if you have ANY metabolic issues).  The DS can be tailored for lightweights by increasing the length of the alimentary tract and/or the common common channel, and/or leaving the stomach somewhat larger.

I also would way your options RNY seems VERY drastic for just a 60 lb loss. In fact to me any WLS seems a little drastic for any amt under a 100 over your ideal weight. JMO and most ins will not pay without a fight if you have less than that to lose. Esp if you have no co morbidities. WLS is a huge lifetstyle chang no matter which surgery you go with so look at all your options and maybe get a second opinion on the RNY. Good luck on your journey .

I agree with Diana.  Please please please, think long and hard about the band, do your research and see how many problems people are having with their bands...not only immediately but one and two years out.  So many of us, myself included, have a permanently damaged esophagus.  Don't let anyone, especially newbies, tell you that people fail the band because of a too tight fill or a Mexican surgeon or any other reason because that's BS!

I had one of the best band surgeons in the country, I never kept a tight fill and after 10 months once I lost over 100 pounds, the hell started.  After 2 years of torture, two band slips, a dilated esophagus and permanent esophageal dysmotility, I revised to the sleeve 3 1/2 months ago.  I'm almost at goal, my esophagus is healing because I don't vomit anymore and I can live and eat like a normal person without being in pain and having to constantly run to the bathroom to throw up after drinking water or having soup.

If you don't have any metabolic issues, I believe the Sleeve is the best way to go.  It is restrictive and it works the way the band is supposed to.  I do have a few friends who have been successful with their bands and haven't had too many problems with it after several years, but sadly, they are in the minority.

Do your research, read the studies, talk to the doctors, go to the revision board, the failed weight loss surgery board and the failed lapband board and you will see how many  people have have more complications than doctors want to admit.  Don't buy into the "least invasive" nonsense.  My surgeon said, even if he didn't revise me and only removed my band, he still would have had to remove half my stomach along with my band due to scar tissue and adhesions from the band.  The band is removable, but certainly not reversible the way people will tell you.

I know 60 pounds is 60 pounds, but I wouldn't consider the lapband OR RnY for 60 pounds, personally. I was relatively healthy when I went in for lapband surgery. I had about 100 pounds to lose, no major health issues other than arthritis in my ankle and the "extra" weight made walking painful.

I came OUT of lapband surgery with severe diaphragmatic damage and a host of complications that still linger today. I had my band removed over 6 years ago and still suffer with the effects.

You need to be concerned about referred left shoulder pain caused by the band irritating the Vagus nerves near and in the diaphragm; constipation; painful eating; vomiting and esophageal health with banding. These are some of the most common complications.

I wouldn't recommend the band since I had such a horrific experience with it and I've watched many people experience the same things. There are better options that will help you better your health.

I'm so relieved that you stopped the surgery and took a step back. For 60 lbs I'd say you need a good dietician and exercise to lose and tone up.
I'd BEG you to not even consider the band. My personal nightmare started off out of desperation to lose 150 lbs. and gain a healthy life. I finally have that now after 8 months of DS living. I'm truly lucky that after the malnutrition, anemia, dehydration and esophegeal damage to be here and thriving no thanks to the band. And I am far from alone-there are litterally thousands of us with the same awful story.
None of my phisicians even considered the fact that I had metabolic issues which turned out to be the case thus no WLS would work in my case except the DS.
IF you are still considering wls, please check into the sleeve-if you aren't metabolically challeged it's the only and most effective long term surgery I'd consider.
God Bless

God Bless

I agree with Diana. I would not wish the lapband on my worst enemy.  They pain when eating can be horrible, along with vomiting, slippage, esophageal spasms, lowest percentage of weight loss out of any WLS, etc..  Statistically speaking do your research!
I am revising to the sleeve next month. It cannot come fast enough!