Oct 29, Sleeve or band???????

My hubby and I met with the surgeon today to go over details of my upcoming Lapband on Oct 29. I was prewarned that he might try to talk me into the bypass or sleeve instead, and sure enough he did. I do have type 2 diabetes and reflux (amongst other conditions), that he stressed would absolutely be eliminated with the bypass, but probably just improved with the Lap Band. Now I am so confused!!!! I have researched both so well and thought I was sure of the Band, and now the sleeve is starting to look good. I like the idea of losing faster with the sleeve, but, that is removing most of your stomach so it scares me. The Band just seems the safest way to go. Also, now I don't want to offend anyone, but ALL the bypass people I know, (7)lost too much weight and they don't look healthy to me, they are too skinny and look much older than they used to. these are people I know personally, mostly from my work environment. Please, please do not take offense at this, but this is a concern of my mine, and I need to be completely honest here. I guess I need some feedback on the pros and cons of Band/Sleeve/Bypass. My surgeon wants me to consider all of these and give him an answer by Weds. My surgery is scheduled for Oct 29 and I need to lose 100lbs, but would be happy with 80, as I am 256 now.

hi, I cannot have the band nor rny, due to my previous surgery for reflux, so extreme that I had a fundoplication, only the DS, which is the complete surgery that goes with the "sleeve" as you refer to it, the verticalsleevegastrectimy is the top portion and the ds is the bottom, it is the best of the wls, no dumping and It cures diabetes, that is why I'm a having surgery, only about 50 doctors in the US do this surgery, that is why it is not well known ,the rny will have you live like a diabetic, strict diet for life, the band is a diet with a choke chain. and if you have gerd, you don't want the band, listen to your doctor.
visit the ds forum and ask why the DS.

if you read the ds forum you will note that many rny get revisions to the ds, with the sleeve you will be half way there at least if you decide to go all the way later, if not complete up front. which would be the cure for the diabetes, which the y do in Europe on skinny diabetics to cure diabetes. its that powerful. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/a,messageboard/board_id,5357/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjWhqo2u5-o

Thank you so much for responding. I have done nothing but pore over the pros and cons of the various surgeries these last 2 days. After the overwhelming response from LapBanders who had type 2 diabetes, and their ability to control or eliminate it just weeks or months out of the surgery, I have decided to stick with that, it is really what I am most comfortable with. I really appreciate sharing your story and I wish you much success.

hi there tough choice -- have to do more research and no one can answer that question but you on what surgery to have  both my husband and i had the RNY and neither of us 'live like a diabetic"  i choose not to buy rice, potatoes, pasta, real sugar since these are the foods that helped us get fat in the first place -- i make  sure dinner consist of protein first -- i make sure that ross has a sensible lunch for work so he does not go to BK or McD's or whatever -- that is what made us fat -- our consumption of fatty carb filled foods -- i also don't buy any soda anymore -- i am almost 11 months out and i'm holding steady at 135/137  ross is 17 months out and he's holding at 180/190  the people who knew us before the surgery think we lost too much -- the people we meet now never say a word and have no idea about the surgery -- i think it's because the people who have known us have always known us to be FAT -- they don't know how to react to the normal size body -- people actually think i look younger --which is good cuz i'm older than ross haha  reason i did not get the lapband is because what happens if i lost my insurance --how would i get a fill -- i read messages from people who had to find a new doctor to do the fill because they moved -- i wanted a one time deal -- go in, shake hands, do surgery, say bye, move on with life -- the way i look at it is -- i do not still see the surgeon who did my gallbladder -- i do not still see the doc who delivered my children -- why do i have to have an ongoing relationship with my bariatric surgeon?  i for one have never regretted the choice i made for one moment  there are risks with all surgeries -- and with any WLS you can still gain back the weight if you do not follow the protocol of your surgeon and nutritionist and eat wisely -- you fall back into those bad habits and the weight will come back -- no matter what type of surgery you have  check out the RNY board, DS board, Revisions board, Lap Band board -- keep an open mind and choose what is right for you -- not what was right for someone else -- also check out other message boards --not just OH -- do some other searches with Google and Yahoo -- there is a ton of information out there to be found  good luck to you  Roberta

Thanks Roberta for responding. I am no longer confused, lol. I have spent the last 48 hours devouring all I can of the pros and cons of the various surgeries. The lapband is what I am comfortable with and so that is what I am choosing. I have received an overwhelming response on the lapband forum from previous type 2 diabetics, some just weeks out of surgery who no longer need their meds. I understand that it could take longer with band then the bypass to control my diabetes but I am comfortable with that.  I want to thank you for responding, I have enjoyed so many of your posts and profile over the last few months,(yes, Im more of a lurker than a poster), you and Ross have been an inspiration for sure. I am ecstatic over the fact that when my husband joined me for the surgeons meeting last week that he is now considering the gastric sleeve. The surgeon said that would be the best choice for him as he had many abdominal surgeries before. Up until that point Pete has steadfastly refused to even consider weight loss surgery, and I understand why, he has been through so much, colon cancer most recently, and complications following that required 3 more surgeries. he has a big problem with adhesions. He has had diabetes for 15 years and it scares the hell out of me, so I am thrilled that he is now considering wls. Thanks again 

i am glad that you are comfortable with your choice :) everyone is so different -- the best of luck to you and your husband -- it's the best thing we ever did together as a couple!! makes it easier to do other things as a couple ;)  like fit in the car!! what were you people thinking??????  if you have questions just shout them out!!  take care roberta