Anything you can tell me GOOD or BAD?

I have pretty much de****d against the Lap Band, not because I think it's a bad thing, I just think that the RNY would suit me better. 40lbs is great keep up the good work. any if that anyone give is helpful thank you so much. Donna

Hi Donna I had successful WLS surgery. Complications? None. Has it been easy? No. Ya have to eat real slow. I mean really really slow. You will miss food. Your spleen will miss food! You have to deal with the hormonal changes due to the weight loss. There will be stares. There may be the loss of friendships. There may or may not be support from your inner circle. There will very likely be improved health for you...as well as...a happy face. You will be more likely to pursue the things you always wanted to do. People will look more at you and not at your weight. Your breathing will improve. Your heart, legs and lungs will love you more. I dont regret it at all. Do your research. Read what others have to say. Nothing will prepare you for YOUR experience. It will be yours only but you can be well informed. Ask your doctor questions about the things you see and hear here. Be sure he/she can give you a medically sound response. This is your health. Take it into your own hands. Wish you well. Nia

Thank you Nia and congrats on your success and thank you for responding this forum has been a great help to me. Thank you again Donna

Hi Donna! Good for you for doing your research! Definately check into all the different types to see what might be right for you. Personally, I had the DS, just at three months ago. I'm doing wonderfully- no complications whatsoever, no troubles eating or drinking (I was able to get in my fluid/protein requirements before a week was up after I was released from the hospital, but I'm a little odd in that respect... maybe a month or two ahead of schedule for protein), no nausea, no vomiting, no trouble with any foods or liquids, excellent initial weight loss (I'm down about 70 already). No troubles with gas or diarrhea- in fact, I tend towards the other end of that spectrum- which is often said to be *so* bad with DSers... come visit the DS board and you'll see that's not often the case, so it's not just me. If it weren't for the smallish meals I eat (maybe half a cup or so at a time, six times a day) and my teeny tiny incision scars (which are fading fast), I wouldn't know that I had surgery at all. *grin* I wasn't able to deal with the thought of dumping (I could do it prior to surgery and it was horrible... it definately wasn't something I wanted to have post surgery, but that's me), strictures, blockages, etc.- I was so grateful when I came across the DS (and, just so you know, I came across it while I was helping my husband research what kind of wls he was to have... he's over a year post surgery now and doing fine!). Life post surgery has been a breeze (I had probably the easiest recovery of anyone I know, so I'm not exactly a model example of what to expect). I fought my insurance company to approve the DS, but approve it they did (the policy stated they would cover it, but they weren't happy about it when the time actually came). I also went out of state for it (to Georgia; my husband went to Nashville and was completely self-pay), which also created some insurance issues, but I'm so glad I did (completely lap surgery, which I think aided greatly in keeping my pain level down and quickened my recovery time... honestly, I was ready to go back to work the week after I was released from the hospital, but waited till I was two weeks out. I also had some issues during surgery- not related to surgery, but rather to my screwed up anatomy, and I'm not sure that I would have done as well with any other surgeon). Take your time, think about all your options. Join in on all the surgery forums (at least the other three of the top four surgeries- RNY, DS and VSG- since you've already decided that the lapband isn't for you) and see what you think of the post surgery life for them, particularly those that are several months, even several years out. Most importantly, choose which surgery you think will be most suited to the life that you want to live. HTH Brandi

Brandi, It sounds like you are doing very well. I have been doing a lot of research and reading the forums and I really am learing a lot. Everyone has been so helpful and really have provided a lot of information. Thank you so much and I wish you and your Husband great success Donna