To La*****t To Lap. That is the Question.

Hey guys.  I posted this on the LapBand Forum, and got some good responses.  But I'd like to get some more male viewpoints on this, so here goes: My BMI is about 56.  Last summer I went in for the surgeon consult, the psych consult - all that good stuff, to try and get approved for what my surgeon recommended - RnY.  My insurance, in their infinite wisdom, said "no can do, you need 12 months doctor-supervised diet". OK, OK.  Well, in the ensuing 12 months, I've started to think maybe LapBand would be preferable - less risk, less slice-and-dice, etc. Got back with my surgeon's office and the woman said my insurance will outright reject LapBand for anyone over a 50 BMI.  So, I either have to RnY, or try to diet down to where my BMI would come in under 50 - coincidentally, that would be about 50 pounds for me - and then go for the LapBand. Now maybe the RnY is best for me anyway - I'm at 425 with several co-morbidities.  But it just seems like the insurance is being even MORE anal about this then normal (and that's saying a lot!). So how about you all?  Anybody lose 225 pounds with a LapBand?  Or is my insurance (and my surgeon, for that matter) right on this one, and I'm just getting cold feet about this? TIA!

Hello Boxman I'm an RNY fan, I lost round about 210# some guys have great success with the band, other eat through it...I myslef, and only for me....legal disclamer, I need to dump, and I need to malabsorb.... I know in my heart of hearts, I could eat through a band.... Plus for me...once I get this done, I want instant gratification....I lost a pound a day for the first 100 days....I would have stuck my head in the over for 10 pounds a months..... I don;t know that I would trust the insurance company...but I would trust my doc.... Ok I know this is a hot topic...let the games begin Russ

I hear you on the instant gratification, Russ.  Maybe it's shallow, but I want to see some result too!  And it wouldn't REALLY be 'instant'.  I've done my time with the calorie-counting, WW, South Beach, ad nauseum.  They say '1-2 pounds a week'!!!  Pul-leeze!!!  Maybe if you've got a total of 20 pounds to lose.... I guess I DO trust my surgeon.  She is one of three women in the practice, all highly-regarded, and  recommended by my PCP.   Between the 3 of them, they've done (4170) RnYs, and (65) - count 'em! - Lap-Bands. Thx, Boxman   

Look at the success / weight loss maintenance results for each. IMPO, there IS no comparing the 2. RNY was my saving grace. Look at the results. 12/27/06:   566lbs. 5/25//07:    390lbs.

Holy Cow, D!  176# in 5 months????  I want that!!! Thx, Boxman

Hey Boxman, sounds like it may be a case of cold feet. I did the same thing my self. Once I got close to completeing my six month pre-op diet for ins. I to wondered "what am I doing?" I had to think back to what got me to the point that I decided I had to do something.  I was 375 and only getting bigger. I went with RNY because I needed a drastic change. I did my research and found a surgeon that I believed in and trusted. I followed my docotors instructions and I have had no complications at all. Myhealth and the way I feel and the way I feel about my self is amazing. I was on three meds before surgery and had to use a cpap machine, now I am off all of them. I will have to take vitamins the rest of my life and watch what I eat, but I think it is a good trade off. The surgery gave me a tool to relearn my eating habits and control my appetite. No matter which surgery you choose you will be haveing major surgery and the risks that go along with it and with a lap band they are putting a foreign object in your body and attaching it to your stomache.  The day of surgery, 12-14-06 I weighed 324, this morning I weighed 220. One hundred and four pounds in five months and ten days and one hundred fifty five from my highest .  pan head or you.

You may be right, Panhead.  Last summer, I was sure I wanted to do this.  Now I sometimes think exactly what you said.  I also think that the insurance companies KNOW this happens, which as much as any concern for our health, is why they tell you to go back and do what you've already failed at for another 6-12 months - maybe you'll just give up on the idea (which will save them money).

I've got 4 meds for blood pressure, 1 for cholesterol, 1 for borderline diabetes, lymphadema, CPAP, and a partridge in a pear tree.  Yeah, I wouldn't mind trading all that for vitamin supplements for life. And 104# in 5 months!!   I'd take THAT, too!!

 

Boxman, I think your cold feet is normal but you should definitly stick to what your surgeon suggests! I had the RNY and it was laproscopy so the cutting was minimalized to 5 -1 inch scars. I thought about the band then I told myself, why would I want to be able to reverse this procedure when all my life my problem was being able to eat too much? I dont want to reach my goal and have the option to open my stomach again and with my love for food, be able to get back to being the wieght I was at. so I suggest sticking with the RNY and ask if laproscopy is possible. I am 94 days out and have lost as of today......68lbs. I know its not as much as the others but I have no time for work outs at this moment. I feel so much better and knowing that I am not able to reverse it when i get frustrated about not being able to eat as much helps. Good luck and make the choice that you are comfortable with.

Ben, Yup.  Definitely laproscopic is the way to go.  My surgeon recommends that for me.  Usually, the only time she does open is when she starts a lapro, and it becomes clear during surgery she's got to switch to open, and that's pretty rare.  And 68# in 94 days?  I'd call that great!!    Thx, Boxman

Hey Boxman! I am a Lap-bander, but I have to agree with all of the advice that you have received so far. If your Doc is saying RNY is the way to go... they are experts in the field. With that being said, I am a bander. When I started my journey I was BMI 57.44, 389# @ 5' 9". I was banded on January 30, 2007 so I am now 105 days out from surgery, 89 pounds lost forever, and feeling better than I have at any point in my life that I can remember (I am currently 47 years old). As has been pointed out, if you have a problem with 'comfort foods', fried, sweets, etc... stay away from the band! It will fail you miserably as a weight loss tool because it is so easy to eat around (Milk Shakes and M&M's go right through... no problem!). But if your problem is quantity... then the Band makes an excellent tool. I can still sit down and eat a 3000 calorie meal of spaghetti and garlic bread if it what I really wanted to do... it is just going to take about 4-5 hours to get it all down.... that is how the band works well for me... I don't have the time to eat (I was a quantity eater). In the amount of time I do have for meals, the band limits me to 300-400 calories per meal. As an example, if I decide that I want a Tunasalad sandwich for lunch (2 oz on 2 slices FF bread) is going to take me 35-40 minutes to finish that one sandwich. I sometimes get tired of eating, and just throw the rest away. I have been having no trouble staying in the vicinity of 1200-1400 calories per day. If anything, sometimes I struggle to get enough. I do realize that I am somewhat the exception, not the rule. I have had excellent results, almost equal to RNY, but it is not the band that is doing it. Any tool is only as effective as the user of that tool. The band is no more than a tool. I went through an almost unbelievable amount of mental preperation prior to having the band installed. By the time I received my band, I pretty much considered myself an expert in how to use it properly, and the proof is in my results. Whichever you choose, just be sure that it is you in charge of the decision as you are the one who has to live with your 'tool' for the rest of your life. Many on this board have went out of their way to help me mentally prepare... this is not a fad... or gimmic... it is there, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you cannot get away from it. It is a commitment. It will always remind you of who is in charge, but it is still dependant upon you to use it correctly. Whichever way you go, I wish you all the best and will gladly welcome you to the Losers Bench!