Bypass or Lapband?? How did you pick? Would love advice!

I have been doing some research, met with my physican and attended a support group. I am very unsure on how to determine what surgery I should consider.  I would love some advice, comments and or just to hear your experiance on choosing which surgery?

(My biggest concern is I am age 32 and I have a 4 year old son. I hear there is more risk with the bypass surgery. I just don't want to die just to have WLS.  I know that's an extreme case... but it's a remote posibility.)

Thanks!

RazzyRobyn
UMASS Weight Center paitient

Hi Robyn,

When I went to my first informational seminar, I was considering the Lap-Band.  I thought that was going to be the best fit for me.  By the time the Seminar was over I had changed my mind.  My reason for that is when I am older I'm not sure I want to have something that big and foreign inside me.  Taking it out is more risky than putting it in.  I also chose RNY for a selfish reason...to lose the weight faster.  I think both end at the same result in the long run and I am hearing now that the stats are becoming better in the risk factors for both as well.

It is a very personal decision.  My advice would be to make sure you do as much research as you can.

My surgery date set for September 9th.  Good luck with whatever you choose! 

~Patti

Good Luck with your surgery!!

Please let me know how you make out!!

Kindly,
RazzyRobyn

Your insurance coverage may decide it for you.  My insurance carrier, BCBS/HMO Blue does not cover lap bands.  Check with your insurance company before you go any further with your decision.  If you have your heart set on one procedure over the other and find that your insurance doesn't cover it, you could end up paying all the costs out of pocket if you proceed with your preferred choice.

I chose the RNY for the better statistics of long term success, plus it uses my own body to create my new tool.   The foreign body within my body is also a big concern to me.  Just look at the results of breast implants causing all kinds of medical problems because of the materials they were made of disintergrated and were broken down by our bodies own natural defenses which ironically released more toxins into the body, thus poisoning the bodies systems.  The long term use of the lap band just hasn't had enough research in my opinon to determine if the products it is made of will eventually also disintergrate inside the body.

Hi Razzyrobin,
I was at the same point as you in April when i did not know which one i wanted. What helped me make my decision was the nutritionist, she asked me what problems with food do i have. Do i overeat, large portions or is my problem with Sweets? Of course my problem is sweets, so she said the lapband better suits the overeaters and will help with portion control. But the gastric bypass will not allow me to eat the sweets, it will cause dumping syndrome. Whic (what i hear) is not what you want to have. I am choosing the Bypass one. Good luck on your decision
Diane

I did a lot of research. I checked out the operation I was going to have. I even saw some people on Youtube who have had the surgery as well as the operation shown on video. I spent many hours on the computer looking up RNY and checked out the program at Newton Wellesley.

My friend, Pat and his wife had the surgery and were on the other side when I went with Pat to an informational meeting one year ago this week.

I had my surgery in Jan and am very pleased with its success. Oh, and it is a lot of hard work daily. You must work it not just think the pounds slip away.

Linda

I wore my size 12 pants yesterday!

What does your insurer COVER?

Any surgery is risky - people die.  That said, RNY has a better long term weight loss than Lap-Band, but has more complicating issues sometimes.  But, I have been seeing more studies about people needing to take their bands out, revise, and quit them because of problems or regain, even if it is SAFER overall.

Tell me - can you get a VSG?

I had the band and now have the rny.  I was in your boat in 2004....I had 2 young kids...there had just been deaths at all major hospitals for the RNY. I knew I needed surgery but was scared to have the RNY.  Flash forward 18 mos...I was still loving my band...down 90 pounds.  Had difficulty getting the right amt of restriction...too loose or too tight.   Too tight you eat easy carbs,too tight and you are yacking phlem balls and having refulx at night. Can't eat or drink after 5/6 pm and can't eat before 10 or 11.  You learn how to pack a lot of food in those few open hours.  I Gained a few back...but I was still ahead of where I started by a long shot. Then one day I was hungry as a horse.  Went to the doc for a fill--and my band was empty!! No wonder I was hungry as a horse.   I knew then and there I wanted RNY....I had been around the bariatric practice now 3 years and I had been to support (joint rny and band) at one point and all those people were alive...not dead.   Laproscopically the surgery was perfected and with the State board of Health procedures put in place for safe standards for bariatric surgery.   I didn't have bariatric coverage on my new insurance ( a big concern for down the road with band surgery) so I had to wait for new insurance.
So....4 years ago I would have done the same thing, In 2008 ---if I were a first timer...I don't know..which was I would have chosen.    I am happy with my RNY...recovery was easier than the band(and that wasn't bad). I don't know if I am a dumper or not...haven't checked the waters!

Let me know if I can help you sort out your decision. 
Joan

You may want to consider, as well, how much weight you need to lose. The stats are out there. RNY-ers lose about 75% of their excess weight on average (I, like everyone else, I'm sure, intend to beat that, but that's what the research shows). Lapbanders lose 50-60% of their excess weight. So if I had a BMI of 35 or so, I probably would've chosen the band. But I started closer to 45 and want to end up at 25, so I chose the more aggressive surgery.

Ask your surgeon for their stats. That's a big center. You should be able to see their percentages of post-op complications, including death.

You all are so great to take time to write to me about this. It's sooo overwhelming. 

I am a sweets eater, big time... so it sounds like RNY is going to be the way to go... it just seems so scary. I will continue to do some more research. Thank you all.


By the way, I have BC/BS HMO and I already requested the information on what they cover for WLS, and currently they cover bypass and the band, just like the UMASS program.

Thanks again for all of your input. I have so much reading to do for this.

Have a happy labor day!!

Kindly,
Robyn