On the Fence

RNY is reversible, since no tissue is removed, though it is seldom done. There is a guy on the R&R board who had an RNY that was converted to a DS after 28 years, to do so the top of the stomach had to be reconnected, or it wouldn't be a DS. I understand your concern, I was scared too. For me it was do something or die, if you can deal with the refills and extra maintenance of the lab band, many people have done well with it. The statistics say it is more prone to failure and less weight loss with the band is normal, but, those statistics can be offset by effort and diligence. Best wishes.

 I started with having my heart set on RNY but switched to the lap band.  I am 29 and 279lbs.  I also practice mixed martial arts and exercise a ton, but I can't control my eating.  

I was supposed to have RNY  on July 22, but had some stomach problems and that was the straw that broke the camels back.  So now my lap band is scheduled for Sept 30.  I am not against the RNY, I just want to try the least invasive procedure first.

 Oh and a doctor that only does open RNY seems to me like, well I don't know exactly, just a bit off.  Especially at your weight, lap should be no problem.

Hello - I started out at 5'8" and 270 lbs. I was all set to have RNY when two days before my surgery I wimped out and switched to the Lap-Band. I was banded at 7:30 in the morning on June 15th and was home by 1:00pm. I woke up in the recovery room and almost asked for proof that they really did the surgery. I have lost 58 lbs. since I started my pre-op diet on June 1st.  So far I am very happy with my decision to be banded and am comforted by the thought that the worst problems with the band are not life threatening. While most people do amazingly well with RNY, I have read and seen some horrific things that can happen with RNY and that scared the snot out of me and my family. Not trying to start a WLS war, it's just the way I felt about it. Having said that, I do believe that RNY is a much better tool which is why I was headed in that direction. I believe that the band will account for about 10% of my success and I have to do about 90%. If I rely on the band for more than that, I am afraid I will fail. Some would think that a surgery that does 10% isn't even worth the effort. But for me the surgery was almost more symbolic of what I was willing to do to get healthy. I have had two fills so far and I barely have any restriction yet. This is another reason I feel I have to be able to do 90% as so far with the band I think I have done close to 100%.  But even with having had to do almost 100% so far, I had many years of failed diets and starts before my Lap-Band surgery has some how enabled me to finally get on the road to good health. Good luck with your journey.
Regards,
Matt  

If your ins. will cover it (or you have cash $), I'd look into the DS.   Dr. Daryl Stewart up here in Denton is very good at the procedure and has some of the lowest cash pay rates for it in the U.S. ($19K, open, $21K lap)  There is also an experienced DS surgeon in Houston (Dr. Erik Wilson) as well as Dr. Ganta in Austin (although he does not take BC anymore) ..

  If you are too "nervous" to go for a full DS, I would suggest getting the V.S.G. rather than the band ... The V.S.G. is less problematic, you don't have to mess with "fills", and has greater weight loss.  That may be all you need to get to normal weight ..  If not, then you can see about having the "switch" part of the DS added by a DS surgeon later on, as above.    There are some relatively inexpensive VSG surgeons just south of the Texas border in Mexico that give top notch service to U.S. patients.   

   Good luck on whatever you decide to do .. 

**** happens dude.  I was like you, I pondered and tossed and turned the decision over and over and over.  On my surgical date, the last thing I remember telling the doctor was, 'I'm scared!' And he said, 'everything will be just fine!'  I woke up a month later in surgical icu and spent another 4 months off and on over a period of 10 months in icu.  The doc accidently cut the colon and my bowels flowed into my inner cavity.  They of course had to open me up from Lap form, and over the last year and half I've healed and lost weight.  Was it worth it to me, NO.  Would I do it again, No.  You have to understand that this surgery is not a miracle cure for obesity, when you come out - you'll need to change your diet totally and stick with it.  I still probably eat just 1000 or 1250 calories a day, mostly in protein, which causes gout in me.  Every ache and pain will cause you distress in thinking something else is going wrong.  Then there's the plastics, if you don't adopt for plastics then you'll have to live with your skin sagging and resembling an old man, bruising easily, and then some.  I'm a downer, yes, I was one of those 20,000 to one shots, but now I listen carefully to those who have had rny, and I find none over the 2 year mark that doesn't suffer from something because of it.  Be prepared to buck up.  I have had friends do well on the lap band, and friends to not do well.  It's a chance you have to take!  I don't want to scare you, this is my experience.  I was 6'0" tall and weighed 388, now I'm at 235, after a low of 190.   

Well I do own 9 handguns and have pick them up lately thinking of a faster way to lose than RNY.  RNY does not look all that bad when compared to the other.  Yes you are a downer, sorry for your loss and agrivation.  I will chose which way after I have my consult on 1 Sep 09.  Tricare my healthcare provider will not pay for the Sleeve.

Here is what they cover Gastric bypass, gastric stapling, or gastroplasty, to include laparoscopic surgical procedures for gastric bypass and gastric stapling, and vertical banded gastroplasty are covered by TRICARE.

Your appointment on 9/1 will tell you a lot, and you sound like you are doing your homework.  But I would most strongly agree with Ricco that if your surgeon doesn't do RNY laparascopically, I would question how up-to-date he is on techniques and run, don't walk, get a second opinion - no matter which surgery you choose.

I'm one of the lucky ones that didn't take a bit of pain meds once I left the hospital and my only complication has been an incision that seeped for about six weeks.  Open surgeries are far more risky.

Good luck to you in the decision-making process.

The Dr site says with the Open RNY the risk of leaks decreases allot.  So your saying if I stick with this Dr. and do and Open RNY I am a Dead man???  He also takes out your galbladder at the same time??