ATTENTION RNYer's: a POLL

I hope you realize I am just joking with all this! Which ever surgery you choose is a personal choice and as long as you get your desired results who cares which procedure you choose! GOOD LUCK! KB

Kenny, Ok so while I'm at it...what made you chose a LAP BAND over RNY and/or DS? To be honest...I never considered a Lap Band because (uh oh here we go) I rarely saw a large enough weight loss on anyone who had it. Yeah, there are always exceptions but in my experience (and I have thought about getting surgery of ANY kind for 3 years) I didn't see the success I hope to acheive. So...what made you decide? Thanks and hugsss, -Karen

Hey Karen I'd be happy to share my thoughts. First please keep in mind that I was close to 290 Lbs when I began my journey and my goal was to drop a little more than 100 lbs total. Last year when I decided to research WLS I met with Dr. Marina S. Kurian, MD, FACS at Lenox Hill Hosp, she is Al Rokers Dr as well. Any way she was very impressive and the all day seminar was very informative to say the least. However, as I began the long ride home to the Hudson Valley I could not help thinking that I did not think I wanted to deal with all the cutting as well as the malabsorbtion issues. Additionally, a major part of changing the reasons we eat the way we do, is worked on in your support group months and years afterward. I quickly decided that manhattan might not be the best place for me. Next I went to Dr. Peter Kwons seminar and he is strictly a lap bander. Just like Dr Kurian, Dr Kwons group was very informative, and much closer to home for me. At the time he had over 500 bandings to his credit and I felt that was a good depth of experience. So at that point I began to read as much information that I could and that is when I found the BEST DAMN SUPPORT GROUP OF ALL, "OBESITY HELP DOT COM!" My pros and cons looked like this. Gastric Bypass: Pros - Rapid weight loss a huge Pro! Almost a guarantee to loose my 100 lbs in under a year. If I cheat I will dump!!! Cons - Mortality rate of .5% More invasive, much more cutting yuk Potentially a longer hospital stay Dumping yuk It scared the crap out of me , LOL sorry for the crap word Not reversable? Concerned with my stomach for various reasons Potentially faced with a life time of vitamin B12 injections (rare cases) Future malabsorbtion issues with potentially needed drugs (just a future what if concern) I think that about covers it? Lap-Band: Pros - the ouch factor way less cutting just 5 small incisions and NO internal cutting No doubt I will loose my 100 lbs but will take a year or so to get there It is adjustable for the rest of my life Its reversable Same day surgery , in some cases back to work in less than a week. I am forced to learn new eating habits because if I don't it will fail Cons- Mortality rate .1 % Slower weight loss because my body still absorbs everything good and bad. Some people like dumping, NO DUMPING HERE Meds need to be chewable or liquid Implant in my body 4 ever ( at first scary) Sorry this is getting wayyy too detailed! Bottom line for me, this was my thought pattern and I'm sure everyone here has a different opinion. As of today I'd say that if I was much more than 100 lbs over weight I might have gone with the bypass but I in fact choose the band for the reasons indicated. I would do it again in a heart beat and wish I did it years ago. REMEMBER ONE THING! There is no magic bullet here with either procedure. I can eat anything I want if I don't make the right food choice I will get in trouble. Same holds true with Gastric patients. After that first year of rapid weight loss you can get into trouble if you begin to use you old eatting patterns You can stretch your pouch. My Dr has banded former gastric patients that have stretched their pouches. I suggest you research as much as you can and follow your heart! If you make the right food choices by attending support groups and working hard to change either WLS will be sucessful! best of luck and sorry it was SOOOOOOOOOOOO LONG! Kenny

Kenny...Kenny...Kenny!!! Never TOOOOOOOOOO much info! I appreciate the feedback, no pun intended! I fully understand all of your pros and cons and I can agree with them as well. I don't know your age but I feel like I wasted toooo much time Obese and I want to start "Chapter 2" ASAP. So for me, it was RNY vs DS and RNY won out. I fear the malabsorption issues terrible, due to Osteoporosis (my Mom got it 5 years after she had her RNY). Then again she was negligent with her Calcium. Keep me posted on your progress! I'll be a LOSER on Sept. 12th! Weeeeeeeeee! -Karen

Hi Karen, I think most people are strongly going to recommend the surgery they chose. All the surgeries have their good and bad points. As for me. I can honestly say at just about 6 months post surgery That RNY changed my life. I am living life again. I wasn't for a very long time. Take care and good luck on the 12th. Any specific questions I can answer just write. Nick

Hi Karen...I too asked the same question at a support group meeting....I asked the group by a show of hands if they would have WLS again and they all raised their hands and stomped their feet. Some even wished they had done it sooner. Susan

Hi Susan, Yeah I saw a question like that asked at a meeting as well. I have met only one woman (so far) *****gretted her WLS; she's still have MANY problems with the Lap Incisions. So you are loving your Band! Awesome to hear that! Hugs, Karen

Karen, As you can see there are many different opinions and reasons why we chose a given surgery but the bottom line is you have to do what will work for you! Every one has their reasons why a certain surgery will work better for them. I love my RNY and I would have not changed anything with my choice but learning all you can about as many surgeries choices is the best and will help you make that choice. I know your date is close and I wish you all the best hun, you are in awesome and skilled hands Debra P

YES....YES....YES....I am only 6 weeks out...but I know the end result will be a great reward for me. I strted off at 355 lbs. and lots of co morbidities...well, I am now 280 and feeling better everyday!!!! I lost 35 of the pounds after the sugery...the other 40 was what I had to loose to get the surgery!!!!! So yes, I am for it, especially when your health is such a risk to you...I know I will still have health issues, but with the weight loss I will be better able to take care of myself, as well as help ease the other issues because of less weight being on this body!!!!! If you're having second thoughts...give it time...you will see!!! You will be a much happier and healthier person in the end!!! God Bless ya! You'll do good and be fine!!!!! I was!

I saw several reponses to your post about people who did "research" and found that DSers have chronic DHR and gas. To be honest, DSers in general don't have any more problems with those things then RNYers, in fact if you read the main message board, most of the "issues" with those things come from RNYers. From the DSers I talked to (which have been hundreds), I have never met one that has DHR or gas that is uncontrolable or out of hand. I asked my surgeon about it (my surgeon does all 3 surgeries) and he said that he's never had a patient who has had out of control DHR or gas. I am passionate about the DS, it was the right surgery for me, and I do like to educate people about the benefits of it. Is it for everyone? No... but it fit my lifestyle perfectly. For instance bacon went from being the "evil" food , to being a relatively healthy protein choice for me (DSer malabsorb most of the fat they eat). Scott