Lap Band? Rny?

Just a question -  did I make the wrong choice? I selected the lap band (In fact, at home right now recovering for surgery this monday, feeling quite sore...) but I see so many RNY folks on this forum I wonder if I made the wrong choice? Is RNY better?

You probably did alot of research before you made your choice.  Both have their advantages and disadvantages.  You have to weigh them both.  I am sure you looked into the RNY and rejected it for your reasons.  So I bet yes you made the right choice for you, if you did your research...Brian

Well, I'm certainly no expert on this by any means, but I CAN tell you what the surgeon I saw told me about the difference between the two surgeries.  I only met the man once so far, as I am in the pre-op, getting all of the steps met phase, but I did think he had a lot of credibility, because he has done almost 3000 RNY bypasses and about 500 lap bands so far.  He said: 1)  He recommends lap bands for those with moderate morbid obesity problems, up to 100 lbs or so, and primarily those with adult-onset morbid obesity, not those who are severly morbidly obese and who have been so their whole lives, because they often fail with the lap band.  I fall into the second category, so I am hoping for the RYN. 2)  He also said that lap band is best for "binge eaters" who don't eat constantly all day.  Because there is no "dumping effect" as with the RYN, lap band can be easily defeated by overeating small amounts all day, particularly with liquid, sugar and fat dense beverages like milkshakes and coffee drinks. I guess it's like anything else, you still have to work at it.  I know a woman who had the lap band and did great on it, losing almost 100 lbs, and I know of someone else who actually gained 30 lbs so her insurance would pay for it, had it put in, lost about 25 lbs, got upset with the fact it didn't work faster, started to rebel and eat, and did exactly what my doctor said NOT to do, slurped down McDonalds milkshakes and lattes all day and went about 50 lbs OVER her weight at surgery before going back to weigh****chers and finally losing about 100 lbs.   I don't think you should be second guessing yourself at this point -- just work with the lap band and try your hardest to make good use of the tool which you have been given.  I would suspect that, if it does fail to work with you, in time, it could be removed and you could be given a gastric bypass or other surgery if need be. 

Hey Dadoftwogirls -  i had the lap band done myself -  i have to tell you you undoutedly made the best decision for yourself.  Others chose their opperations for specific reasons, and whatever yours were they were the right ones for you.  Most importantly we all chose to do this to change our lives permanently.  I think you may be having a bit of buyers remorse.  This is most commonly caused by the last of the anestesia leaving your system.  I felt it and it passed.  Now i am happy as a pig in ____ .  You are at the begining and you just have losing to look forward too.  Enjoy it.

I know what you mean.  I have my lap band surgery scheduled for Sept 10.  I am sure that I will do great with the lap band, but then I have times when I think why not just get RNY so I can lose it faster.  I do have quite abit to lose, but my surgeon said both will work fine for me.  I am a fairly active person and I do think some people that get lap band don't exercise at all thus they lose slow or don't lose much at all.  I plan on exercising a bunch so I can be one that loses fast.    Good Luck! 

I think it's a close decision for many men.  For people who are big sugar eaters or have emotional eating problems (predominantly women, I suspect) I think the RNY is superior.  For "big eaters" who are willing to exercise some discipline, I think long-run they both work.  For me, I had a slight preference for banding but chose RNY because it was the much cheaper option.  Given that I've had no serious complications, have dropped weight rapidly, and am able to eat pretty normally (but in tiny portions), I think RNY worked out better for me than a band would have.  If I were one of those people running to the bathroom all the time and getting iron infusions, I'd be wishing I'd ponied up for the band. For a person still considering surgery, I might go into more detail on my opinion.  As for which might have been slightly better for you, it doesn't really matter at this point, though does it?  If ever there was a case of water under the bridge, this is it.  Just follow the eating plan, exercise, and take it as far as you can.  With some effort, I'm betting that will be pretty far. See you Sunday at the weigh-in.

Hey, first of all, congratulations with your decision to take a positive step for weight control for yourself and your family!  That's no small deal right there. There are a lot of us who are preop and *****present differing types of WLS in here, like it has been said, your needs and research are important in you deciding. Check out this page, www.nealslapband.com  and see neal's journey, wow.  Again, Congratulations. BobM.

First of all - congratulations on your surgery!    I had lapband on 4/10/06 and have lost almost a 100 pounds, no longer take blood pressure or cholesterol meds, don't have to use the seat belt extender, went from size 52 pants to size 42 pants, from 3xl shirts to some xl/some xxl, dropped 1/2 a shoe size, grew several inches of my man, have more energy, can eat most anything except doughy bread/pastas/rice.  It is hard - once the swelling from the surgery goes down and meds wear off, you will be hungry.  It took a while to get good restriction - several fills - before the steady weight loss - about a pound a week - but I really questioned my choice during that time.  Advice - don't get too agressive with the fills - seems you get too tight too soon and too long that causes reflux and other problems.  I am totally unfilled now but still have restriction.    Is this the best choice for you?  I can't answer that but I feel it was the best choice for me, at that time, and hopefully the only choice I have to make.  Good luck!

I think if you've already had the surgery, it's pointless to ponder the question.   MANY post ops I've ever talked to, regreted having surgery within the first week....regardless of the surgery.   All the thoughts about why you should have had another surgery flood in...as your hormones go crazy.  What you should be focused in on right now is recovery, and the journey that is before you.   There is no "best" surgery, although almost any post op ou ask will ask will say "thier" surgery is the best...because once your a post op, you have to be fully commited to make your surgery work.    I like the DS (the surgery I had), it was the best for me as a former SMO person....it is not right for everyone, esp. people who won't take their suppliments or go for annual blood work. Scott

I'll chime in. First of all, hope your recovery is going well. As has been stated, there are pro's and con's to every type of WLS. Your already post op, so relax and start to enjoy the ride. I had lap band. I lost just as fast, if not faster than many RNY patients - 155 pound in 9 1/2 months. I have been fat all my life and loved to graze all the time, and threw in binging from time to time! :) The band will work if you work it. Make good choices in food and the band will keep you satisfied once you get good restriction which may take a couple of fills. 3 and 5 year studies show almost identical success rates. The band tends to loose slower and RNY tends to loose fast, but have some gain back. In the end, they end up about the same. DS has a slightly higher success rate, but its no magic cure either. You have to work at every type of WLS. Best of luck and let me know if you have any questions.