Torn between band and RNY

Hello~
I have been scheduled for RNY surgery on 6/11.  When I started my journey 7 months ago I wanted to have the band.  Along the way I changed my mind and decided to have RNY. 

I started my pre-op liquid diet today and the surgery now seems to really be coming fast.  I am now questioning my decision to have the RNY and I am thinking about going back to my original decision to have the band.  When I read some post on both the RNY and Lap-band forums I get anxious about having either. 

Can someone please tell me more about your success with the lap-band?  Post op recovery, weight loss, etc?  I would really appreciate any advice.  I understand it is my decision to make, but I am trying to get all the info I can.

Thanks!

 The band, like all surgeries, has its successes and failures.

There are FOUR currently used procedures. You should evaluate them all before you make up your mind, to see which one will offer you the best chance of success.

And whatever you choose - best of luck to you on your journey!

I am 5 months post op w/ the Realize Band. I weighed about 40 pounds more than you did at the start.. I lost 23 pre-op and about 65 post op. Weight loss varies greatly and your results will too. I would guess that is true of most WLS.

All the choices have risks, pros/cons, etc, and none are a promise of success.

Post op I didn't really have pain, more so discomfort from gas and swelling for about 4-5 days. It got better each day.

I'd talk to your doctor or his staff. Maybe they have a support group you can attend as a pre-op and you can get a chance to ask questions of others.

I think you need to consider your eating habits now...did you eat large portions, all day, snack frequently, eat more surgary foods, etc.  Depending on that one surgery may be better than another.I think your age plays a factor when selecting the band...but these are things your doctor should be able to help you with.

I was second guessing my choice of the band just prior to surgery being scheduled.  I stayed w/ the band decision in the end. I'm happy so far...but this is a very individual choice.  Good luck with your decision. 

 I have a cousin and a good friend who had RNY the month before I had the Lapband. They lost fast but neither one has been able to reach goal. One was over 500lbs. She lost 200 and stalled. She is getting a band now placed over her bypass. The other lost about 40% of her excess and has been gaining since. She is also considering the band over her bypass. One of them spent a month in ICU on a vent due to complications of her bypass. I am not yet at goal, but close. No complications and my Lapband is going strong! 

I think this is a difficult decision for most people and most also are very nervous when it gets close to the surgery date. This is not uncommon!

I chose the band for personal reasons and my doctor really talked tome about it because I have 150 to lose. He wanted my commitment to exercise! I was a carb and sweets aholic!

I set my mind to what I. Needed to do and the band has worked by keeping me from getting hungry. I think I have been very lucky that way.

Be confident with the decision you make. You will be so excited after surgery and on your way!

Good luck and welcome!

Hi there.  I have been banded for 21 months and down 80 lbs...size 24 down to size 14-16 currently so I consider myself a success so far.   The problem with the band though is it can be such a crap shoot as to whether  *your* body will agree with it or not.  I have been fortunate on my journey, never hesitating to contact my doc for any questions or concerns.  The biggest help has been being a member here, because I read all the posts, positive or negative because everyone has something to contribute...even if they don't phrase it "nicely".

The possible risks of the other surgeries were too much for me to accept because Ive already endured 20+ surgeries (non-wls related) including a nearly fatal staph infection after one surgery.    I did not want to re-route anything nor remove 2/3rds of my stomach.  There are downsides to each surgery but I was most comfortable with the risks of the lapband. 

I have been lucky.  If you choose the band, I hope you are fortunate too but PLEASE do yourself a favor and decide what YOU can live with.  A good start would be to read the revision forum.

Does your insurance company cover the Sleeve?  If you want the Sleeve after your research, you can appeal to your insurance company.  Several people here have successfully done that.   So far, it seems to be the safest restrictive
procedure.  If something happens to my band, I would consider the sleeve  but never the Rny because of hypoglycemic problems in my family and the rebound effect after two years. Thats just me.  Some people do great with the Rny.  It just wasnt for me.

Good luck with whatever surgery you choose. 

 
I can't give you a success story in my case, I almost died from having the lap band and I have issues now years later that I will experience for the rest of my life.

For me, personally, I wouldn't get either procedure.  I would get a sleeve or DS.  Much better weight loss, and the sleeve has far fewer complications.

If you are not decided about EITHER surgery and you are already on your pre-op liquid diet, PLEASE talk to your surgeon NOW....

As many have said, all WLS have their pros and cons.  There have been many successes with either surgeries, however, there have also been many failures with both surgeries.

I do not want to tell you to get one or the other, I want YOU to look at the pros and cons of all the surgeries.  Like Bette said, there are more than just those two.  If your surgeon only does those two, then maybe you need to seek another surgeon.

My only experience is with the lap band, which I had placed in 2007.  I quickly lost 80 pounds.  In 2008 I developed a hernia and had all the fluid removed.  I NEVER got any fluid put back into my band.  I always had restriction without the fluid, however, my body stopped the ability to digest any type of protein within the next 2 years.  I ended up gaining about 45 pounds back, then last December my band slipped and almost killed me within 3 days.

I am NOT telling you this to scare you, I am telling you this because it can happen.  Not saying that it will, it is just possible.  When they took out my band in December with emergency surgery, I ended up having just a slightly larger version of the sleeve.  I did not have a choice, the band literally killed over half of my stomach and the necrotic tissue and gangrene had to be removed.

So far, I am very pleased with the sleeve, however, like I said, it is new to me.  However, I am able to once again digest protein, therefore, I am able to eat the nutrients I have not been able to eat for years.

Good Luck with whatever decision you choose... 
Again, I cannot say good or bad about anything that I have not had, however, realize that every surgery has the ability of complications.  I just wanted to let you know to what degree of complications I personally had.

You would get a sleeve?  Or you have a sleeve?

 
I have a sleeve.  Much easier weight loss journey, much easier.