RNY vs Lap Band

Hi Everyone, I had already experianced the Lap Band and my band slipped. I was violetly ill for weeks then I was fianlly diagnosed with a slipped band and the band needed to be removed. Now I am waiting for ins. approval for the RNY. What I am looking for is some comparrison. I'm trying to find out what if feels like to have the bypasss. Do you feel the same way when you eat? For example With out any procedure we were all able to eat and eat. Now I realize that is not going to happen but what do you feel when you get full with the Bypass? Are you very uncomfortable or do you just feel full like you did before the Bypass. I am looking for any comparison to the lap Band. Weather certain feelings were horrible with the lap band but with the Bypass you didn't notice any discomfort. I am sorry if I am confusing you. I just had such a miserable experiance with the Lap Band that I am very nervous that I might have the same problems with the Bypass and their is NOTHING I can do to correct the problem.

Are you serious??? Oh my gawd. That must have really been a devastating situation for you. I am having RNY on 7/26 but was considering Lap in the very beginning of my journey I quickly changed my mind after viewing the device etc etc. I have done extensive research on both procedures and I have found that RNY has lower side affects and better results than Lap. Thats what statistics also show. I want to have on procedure done and not have to worry about adjustments et cetera et cetera. Well good luck to you in your furure endeavors. Vette

The lap band does not alter the digestive function of your stomach. At best, it creates a volumetric restriction whi*****ombination with a proper diet, can help patients lose weight by experiencing fullness. That methodology does not work very well if the patient eats liquids or soft foods, which slide right through the restrictive band, never creating the pressure sensation of fullness. RNY physically portions off a part of the stomach and re-routes it to the intestines, farther down the line from where the original stomach connects. This results both in restriction and malabsorption, because the food by-passes part of the intestines. There is also some evidence that the decrease in the stomach area that is exposed to food results in reduced release of hunger inducing hormones. The remainder of your original stomach never sees food again but is retained and is still attached normally to your intestines. It produces digestive juices that then mix with the food from your pouch in the upper intestines. Additionally, your original stomach has a pyloric valve which regulates the release of sugary foods into your intestines. RNY pouches have only a stoma, an open whole. Sugar that you consume will go directly into the intestines, which produces a release of insulin. If too much sugar is consumed, enough insulin may be released to lower the blood sugar dramatically enough to create symptoms that include sweating, nausea, diarrhea, etc. which is referred to as "dumping syndrome". This 'side effect' is generally considered a blessing by those who experience it, because it helps to curb the sweet tooth when you would otherwise not have the mental strength to avoid sugar. Not everyone gets it. My friends who don't, wish that they would. RNY is malabsorptive. Patients who do not commit to a lifestyle of proper nutrition and vitamin supplements are at risk for serious illness that may take years to develop. In addition, eating improperly can prevent weight loss in spite of the surgery. Despite surgery, it is still possible to consume more calories than your body needs and thereby prevent weight loss by eating the wrong things and by perpetuating bad eating habits. Gastric Bypass is not a cure-all. To be successful -and when I say successful I don't mean just to lose weight, I mean to become healthy- it takes a significant amount of effort on the patient's part to change their diet and their eating habits. Excercise is also crucial to the patient's long-term health. To your original question: Eating too quickly, too fast, or without enough chewing can cause discomfort in RNY patients. Doing it consistently may lead to expansion of the volume of your pouch, the same way it lead to expansion of your original stomach. RNY is reversible. Some patients develop complications and have to have it reversed, for example, acute vitamin deficiencies or ulcers. If you think you would want it reversed because you wouldn't be able to change your eating habits to avoid the pain of overfullness, then you need to think more about surgery and discuss with your doctor whether it is really the appropriate course for you. I can't recommend enough that you get educated. If you don't take the time to learn about the surgery, it suggests that you're not going to take the time to learn how to live afterward. Having RNY was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I don't believe I could have lost the excess weight I have lost without it. I can RUN now, my cholesterol is awesome, my mental health is better.. it's not a new life, I look at it as the life God intended me to have from the get-go. With or without surgery, in order to become healthier for the rest of your life, you will have to make significant changes in your diet and lifestyle. It will start with education. I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do. Jennifer

Hi jennifer, Thank you for your response but I think you might have misunderstood me. I completly understand the difference between the two types of surgerys and their limitations but if you have ever experianced the lap band your way of life just stinks. The best way to expalin it is that my body just rejected the band. I watched my diet chewed properly and didn't eat fast. I was concerened about having the RNY reversed because of the nighmare I lived with the lap band. I was never able to eat with out getting sick. It didn't matter what I ate or how little. Every night at 2 am I would wake up throwing up. My DR told me that I was doing everything right this just wasn't meant to be for me. I was trying to see if anyone ever had the two surgeries and what was the comaprison to the two was.

Dear Jennifer, This letter should be published. I had a RNY on Monday, June 13th. Any questions I had are answered right in this letter. I am very well informed, but I still seek out more information constantly. I have honestly not read one piece of literature that explained this procedure as well as you just did. Kudos! Thanks for sharing your knowledge so well! Rossana Kearny, NJ

Hi Debbie, It sounds like you were just a very unfortunate statistic. For whatever reason, your body just didn't want the foreign object inside of it. I have had RNY just a few days ago. I have to be honest, I have not yet really identified the feelings of hunger OR fullness! When I feel something, I think, "I wonder if this means I have to go to the bathroom??". It's a little confusing at first, I guess. I look forward to the magnificent results that this can hold with my cooperation and a very good surgeon. I had Dr. Trivedi in Hackensack. I have to say, he was terrific. His whole team was very attentive and concerned about everything. Make sure you are seeing the right doctor. Although, I don't think that had anything to do with your misfortune. God bless you, and I surely hope that your experience is better with RNY. I think you are amazingly brave to even try it. Most would give up! Write if you would like. Talk to you soon! Rossana Kearny, NJ

Im haveing a proceedure known as the ds, it is more forgiveing than the rny but more effective also. it is restrictive and malabsorbtive as well but it doesnt have the complications of the rny, it keeps the plyoric valve and the stomach functions normally, just a portion is removed, it requires a higher skilled surgeon, more or time and cost is higher, there is no dumping or sugar reaction and it has a 95% cure rate for diabetes. part of it is used to cure diabetes in eruope for those not obese. unfortunatly most insurance companies exclude it and may be forced to cover it. visit the ds forum under wls sites on the list of forums for more info.

it also allows a normal diet, "normal" portions that a skinny would eat. and a different vitiamin regement then the rny, with concentration on cacium. you must be able to commit to a life long regiment of quarterly blood test, and daily vitimins, costing about 1200. per year.