any lap banders out there??

hi -

at this point i am on board for RNY - a total 360 turn from what i was thinking a year ago - but still keeping options open during my preop journey.  at the monthly pre op/post op support meeting i have been going to - there has yet to be any post op banders present - and this is a meeting of maybe 100 people (sometimes more) at umass.  it seems odd to me.
i know there are lots of band boards out there and one on this site - but was looking for mass banders, people on the fence, or those who may have considered the band but then chose RNY.
thanks!

I was just banded on Monday 3/16 at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.  I am glad with my decision, but I think it is different for everyone. I had specific reasons for choosing the band over the RNY, but I know that my medical team at Tufts wanted me to consider the RNY as well.  It is good to keep your options open.  Where are you going for your pre-op and where are you having surgery? CHeck out teh Lap-Band forum on this site....there are a lot of people who chose the band.  It might help you in your final decision.

hi, i am a umass-er. i was originally lap-band-or-bust! i dont have a surgery date, i am waiting for the surgeon to call me for my last appointment to make a date. i have heard from a lot of people that the lap band is fantastic and the fact that its less invasive is great. i chose to most likely go with bypass (i still want to see what the surgeon says) but with my eating habits and my vices i dont think the band would work as well for me. and i figure if im going to do this i need to be honest with myself and not say i can walk by a chocolate cake and not devour the whole thing just because id rather have the band. i think you should weigh what youre vices are and what your food habits are to best determine the right decision. i heard both procedures are great, you just need to find one that is right for you. you should contact the weight center at umass and ask either jenny prince or linda mackey if they know of any lapband websites for locals.
good luck!!!!

Hi, I got lapband done on 1/19/09 and I've lost now 62lbs since.  I know exactly what you are talking about in your post if you will be strong enough to walk by cake and no be able to withstand eating it.. lol I'm the same way.  I can eat what i want now. I dont mind eating good things but just eat a quarter of what I used to eat!  I love food and I'd never want the gastric bypass because you loose out on being able to eat certain things.  I work out everynight and I dont eat junk food at all anymore.  On the other hand I enjoy going out to dinner and I want to be able to have a social life.  I eat healthy going out but I CAN eat!  I am extremely happy in my decision on what I did and I was in the hospital on monday and went back to work on friday feeling fine!  Well I just wanted to give that piece of info I have and am living with now. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

hi...I've had both and they both have advantages and disadvantages.    I will say that  healthy eating with the RNY is so much easier with the RNY than the band. Things go stuck a lot with the band, and early morning it was hard to even get down liquids. It became that I would have a window to eat/drink from 11-5..  If I ate or drank at night I would get reflux.

Having surgery is quite the personal decision so make sure YOU are the one who decides..not a spouse or mother, etc.   And, it is hogwash that people say you can eat around the band, for you can eat around the RNY if you want to as well!

Joan