deciding on bypass or lap band

i'm gonna be honest with you, if your bmi is high you may want to consider roux n y gastric bypass as opposed to the lapband..the way i was explained was that...the heavier you are the you should probably consider roux n y gastric bypass...and if you don't have that much to lose try the lapband...with the roux n y...i've never lost a strand of hair...i started at 297 and am now 140-145 ..my lowest was in the 120's in which i was considered anorexic or wayyy too small..i stand 5ft 7 inches tall maybe taller....i wear a size 4-6...my surgery was 4/21/04..i am completely satisfied and loved my surgeon..he has taken care of me over the last 3 years....my quality of life is also way better...my pictures are at http://www.picturetrail.com/ihavcateyez if you'd like to take a look..but consider either for yourself not anyone else..if you want to experience maximum weight loss consider gastric bypass...if you are patient and can deal with the gradual weight loss..consider lap band..also know this...you have to get fills for the band every so often and may have to pay for the fills....not your regular insurance copay... ps, i haven't had plastic surgery of any kind yet..still waiting on that..i cannot afford it

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me.  I went to the doctor today, and he suggested, as he did to one of you, that I go to speak to people at both support groups.  Tomorrow, I will start making the million appointments I have to make, and then, hopefully, through the visits to the support groups and more research, I will make a final decision.  I am leaning towards the gastric by pass because I want to lose all of the excess weight.  I need to lose 125 pounds.  I just turned fifty, so my age may work against me.  I have a bad back, diabetes II, pains in my legs and feet (no one knows why-they want to diagnose fybro myalgia), so I want to lose all of the weight hopefully improving some of these conditions.  The lap band may get me close, but he wasn't confident that I would lose all of the pounds going that route.  The only negative is that I wanted to have the surgery so that I could go back to work on the first day of school in September (I am a teacher.)  At lunch, people find it interesting in commenting on everyone else's food (it drives me crazy) so I was hoping to be able to eat at least something that looked somewhat normal before their investigating eyes!! (HA!)  Again, you all helped me.  Thank you again.  Marisa

hi marissa turn it around -- look at what they are eating and comment on all the sugar and fat they are eating and then say 'no wonder it looks like you gained 50 lbs since june' :)  just my devilish personality at times  take care roberta

A fellow teacher chose lapband and she has done very well with it. I got RNY for a few reasons. One, if I try to eat high sugar- it will make me sick. The band to me is too easily "beatable" for that reason. I did not want to have to go for fills & pay every visit. I did not want to risk slippage. I have autoimmune issues. I did not want a foreign substance in me. Until they find the right amount of fill- you may not lose too much at all for a while.

My friend told me she cannot eat mashed potatoes, I chose RNY so I won't have that restriction. I've read alot of people who have lap and then have RNY. I wanted to be done with WLS, not needing a different one. I also felt once 30 days pass, I have lower risk of rehospitalization for complications compared to the slippage thing that can happen at any time.

Thank you for making my day.  marisa

Marisa, How much do you have to lose?  What's your BMI?  and to add to your research, there are several types of bypasses, the RNY, the DS, and the Vertical Gastrectomy.    Keep researching, so you can make an informed decision.   Your surgeon may only suggest the types he performs.... surgeons are funny that way.....   keep reading and asking questions!    Good luck,  Mary  C

hi i was sold on RNY no way did i want lap band i was in surgary  and they couldnt do it due to my anatomy the dr called my husband to decied what to do and my husband told the dr that i would curse him in the morning but to put in the band so the dr did.I am sooooooooooooooooooo happy! all of the things that turn people off about lap band i have heard and felt the same way.well i have had a new out look now. i am 7 weeks out and 30+ lbs down and 3 sz smaller. i have 120 lbs to go and well on my way. a few things that are different i absorbe all that i eat no hair loss and yes if you try to put to much in you will puke you are still very restricted i have friends that have both RNY and some have lapband and they both are doing great. i do not even have a fill in my band yet and loosing great. there is something that i have learned about RNY after 3-5 years people begin to get comfortable and start to put back on the lbs. i have the option to have a fill put in my band and be restricted when i need it and have my tool work for me the rest of my life.there has even been a case that a person who had RNY 5 years ago is now having a lap band put on their pouch. i wiss you the best of luck in lesrning all you can about both   Good Luck   Valerie

Yesterday I got to talk to another successful lap bander. She has lost 90 pounds. She said something interesting. I may have a bad meal, but I never have a bad day....so no slip of reating very well persists.

She and I shared so many similar experiences, depsite our different routes taken. We both love soups now. Now yesterday she had a large piece of cake, eating at least half. That reminded me why despite not having a BMI over 40, RNY was the better choice for me. I could never stop at one piece, a half a piece, etc. No matter what you choose, you have to change your mindset about food. It is eating to live, not living to eat. This woman never had to change after her first fill, but as I said my GF had to go frequently to adjust and was very frustrated early on not to lose. Me, I knew not losing till I found the right adjustment would frustrate me too much.

There's pros and cons to both. My Dr. does both, and we agreed RNY was the best choice for me. Take your time deciding.....and keep asking questions. These boards are great for information... Bernadette

Something else just occurred to me. Right before my surgery, I was told about two people I know who had gastric bypass. They looked like they never had it and both were terribly overweight, yeah obese. It made me seriously question if I would be one of them. I think taking the tool you are given seriously (RNY or band), and making changes to real quality food and increased activity is key. I was considered a "lightweight", because my starting BMI was under 40, but my B.P was crazy high. 47 pounds lighter, Post-op it has been 120/70 daily. Today is my birthday and I am under 200 pounds (wonderful onederland). Amazing. No more soda, diet or regular. No more coffee, it just doesn't taste good anymore. Only one headache since surgery day. No pain meds since 36 hours post-op. I HATED the post-op nausea while I was in the hospital 2 days, but it was a small price to pay for where I am today and how I feel. Bernadette

I would urge you to learn about the options of the vertical gastretomy, and tthe DS, the second half of the vg,   visit the the DS Forum,and and the VG forum ,  Knowlege is power.  I cannot have the rny, and or the lap band, tho that is where i began like y u and was directed toward the ds, even though my bmi is only 33