lap band or bypass?

I am trying to figure out which one is right for me??? I am 29, have sleep apnea and acid reflux. I weigh 362.

That is a personal decision.  Don;t let a bunch of strangers on a message board influence your decision.

Talk to your GP.  Talk to your sorgeons office as long as they provide both.  Do research on both.  qand make the decision that is right FOR YOU!

My 2 cents.  I had lap band, and am happy with it.

youre right. thanks

Check out the other 2 main forms of WLS as well: the VSG and the DS. If your insurance approves band and bypass, they will most likely also approve the other procedures even if it requires an appeal.

You should discuss all options with your surgeon. If he/she has a support group, check that out too and see how patients with different surgery types are progressing.

You also need to do some research on the success stats of the different procedures. Not only of EWL, but also of complication rates post-op. The band does have a very high rate of post-op complications (I am not really educated on the RNY), often requiring further surgeries for repair, replacement, or removal.

I have had both the lap band and the sleeve. For me, the sleeve is the big winner by far and I wish I would not have wasted time with my band. If you are interested in my story, you can search through my recent posts and check out some of my recent posts on this topic. I have also posted it in the Failed WLS forum and on the Failed Lap Band Group (which, by the way, I believe has over 100 members).

Best of luck to you in your decision!!
Lindsey

ETA: OMG...how did I miss that you are seeing Dr. Blaney?! He is so great. He does not do the DS, but I would still take the time to look into the VSG. He definitely has a great support group. It is held on a really bad time for me, so I rarely ever make it! If you ever want to meet up in person, just PM me and we could work something out.

I agree with Brock, it is a personal decision and many things can determine if the band or RNY is right for you. 

Some things to consider with the band: 

Bands are finicky and getting to and maintaining a helpful fill level can be difficult and require several visits to the doctor.  If you are self-pay this can be expensive, and if you aren't it still can be with co-pays.  In my case, my surgeon is a 4 hour drive away....so it's a real pain in butt and an expense to travel. 

If you have a very slow metabolism then a malabsorption effect of RNY might be better for you.

RNY is supposedly better for diabetes patients, but I am diabetic and was off all meds starting on my 5th month after surgery. 

Good luck with whichever surgery you choose!

Anything BUT the band! RNY, VSG, DS, .they are all 3 great options. But as far as the band.............I wouldn't wish the band on my worst enemy!

You might want to research a little further about the band:

ASMBS Lap-Band Gets Low Ratings

Is Gastric Bypass Better Than the Band?

It is up to you.  I have the band, but having it taken out because i have complications and I have stopped losing weight since Sept. 2009.  I am revising it to bypass. 

For your weight, I would recommend bypass.

I was more than you.. 383.. had a band 2 years ago, and have lost about 210 lbs.   No one can predict how one will do with one surgery over another.

Your choice on whether you want to deal with getting fills  or deal with the supplements that RNY'ers (usually) have to take.  There's no one perfect surgery..  no "one size fits all"  .. no " this surgery for that BMI". 

Good luck on your decision.  And remember no matter which one you choose, if you follow your surgeon's guidelines, you will likely do very well.  :)  Congrats on making steps to improve your health.

thank you that was very nice. I am slightly frustrated now becasue I dont know what to do. I will pray about it and put it in God's hands.

 I too was at that same decision.  I had no idea what I wanted to do.  I thought about it for a year.  I've had friends have both, some successful and some not.  The one thing I noticed when looking at pictures of my friends that had bypass is that they just didn't look healthy.  Very white skin, dark shadows under eyes, etc...They almost aged 10 -15 years.  Another thing that steered my away from bypass was the fact you constantly need to take supplements forever.  The lap band for me was a far less drastic move to my insides.  No rerouting anything, just a simple band around the stomach like a belt and could be reversible if anything went wrong.  With bypass-thats it, no going back.  What is cut away you can't glue back.  It is a personal decision and also one to discuss with your family and doctor.  They now do a sleeve which is less evasive.  Everyone reacts differently to each operation-so they will all have different opinions of each.  Sometimes the choice is made for you by your doctor depending on your health.  I was healthy as a horse I just ate too much.  So my dr somewhat steered me away from bypass.  The one thing they really drive home with any weight loss surgery is it's only a tool and you have to be willing to to do the work, there are no easy fixes or answers, it's work...I wish you the best in whatever choice you make, but be educated well in all surgeries.  Once you make that choice, whats done is done.  So far i am completely happy with my choice-but then again it was mine.  Good luck!!!