Lapband or Bypass???

I chose lap band because I simply couldn't afford the risks associated with RNY.  My surgeon said I could be equally successful with either surgery so boo! to the other poster about that one.  My weight loss has just been slower.  No problem.  I don't mind that. I have NO regrets, am now down 80 pounds (I really am a slow loser do to other medical issues, too) and still losing. Lori

Thank you for responding to my posting, It is good to hear the stories out there.

Lori - which risks of the bypass surgery couldn't you afford?  There aren't many that are different than those of the lap band.  They are both major surgery.  Linda

Having just lost my mother and then finding out my niece was diagnosed with leukemia I wanted the surgery that had the lowest complication and mortality rate.  I chose lap band based on my conversation with my surgeon. Many complications with lap band can be easily fixed in the office and at a much less likely chance for another surgery. Now, I'm also not naive.  I fully expect to need another surgery or two that are band related but not for much longer.  And, since I'm now down 80+ pounds the additional surgery would be better tolerated. I also have other reasons: *I take multiple medications that are not related to my weight and will need to continue taking them post-op.  Some are time-release and aren't compatible with RNY. *There is a very good likelihood that I'll need to take even more medications in the future due to my hypopituitarism. *No one was sure how well any surgery would work for me due to my other medical issues so it was a lower risk for me to start with lap band with the possibility of another type of surgery in the future. My reasons are unique to my situation and what I felt I could afford physically, emotionally and spiritually at the time.  Also Dr. Jan prefers to band SMO patients (even if it is a "starter" surgery on the way to RNY or DS or whatever) because he says it is safer for the patient and safer for him. Lori

Good to know.  I take several meds that are non-WLS related also.  Two of them are time-released and I have had no issues whatsoever with them since surgery. Linda

Doing well with lap-band here. Down about 50 pounds in 6 months. There is a lot of maintenance but that piece really keeps me accountable. I have had no problems so far and am very comfortable with my decision. The loss is slower but it's helped me change my habits and adjust my thinking. There is no RIGHT decision. It's just what you're willing to do.

What are the maintenance pieces you are talking about? What do you think you account to your success of  50 pounds in 6 months? Could you be a little more specific if possible? I realize there is no right decision I am just trying to listen to everyone out there so I can make the best one for me.

have ou been to the presentations at legacy and OHSU? Although I had my mind pretty much made up before I attended these sessions they were very good at going over the various surgeries, risks and benefits. from what i have read and heard at these sessions here is what I know: more serious complications with rny (anethesia related, infection at surgery sites (intestines and stomach, too much intestine routed around and too much weight loss..), less but still existing complications with lapband (anethesia related, external infection, band cuts into stomach, slippage, stoma infection, incision infection). Complications for either mean more surgery, rny risks open surgery, for the most part the lapband complications require removal of lapband. weight loss-you lose weight more quickly with rny (some studies say you lose, on average more weight while others say they are the same). This surgery is usually choses by those with greater BMI (but no study says it is necessary). There are cases where regain and second revision surgery is needed. Lapband has much slower weight loss the 10 year data suggests that patiens lose an average of 40 to 50 percent of their desired weightloss. Some studies found that weight loss extends beyone a year because the patient can continue to go in for fills. rny weight loss pretty much stops after 1 year. I think you have to work hard after any weight loss surgery so easy is not part of any of your choices. I am looking for a reduction in the deep hunger I get after a long period on a diet-supposedly hormones are released becasey of the restricted stomach size and you stop feeling so hungry. I havent read too much about rny maintanance-i knwo with lapband you have to go in monthly for the first year and after one year periodically for fills and to check the band. I have opted for the lapband given this information. One the large scale medical complications are smaller, and it is reversable if there is some catastrophic problem (slippage, a serious illness like cancer, etc.). Im know rny surgeries can be revised but that is a much larger event. Oh i also heard form the hurse practicioner that if you have severe acid reflux that rny is the surgery of choice. but as everyone here has said-the decision is unique to everyone. OHSU seems to prefer rny. They say the track record of this surgery is solid and successful. Legacy seem to lean towards lapband and focus on the complications. I want a lapband because of the limited complications and reversability if something happens. I dont mind the idea of bits of plastic and metal floating aroudn inside me :) and dont mind the idea of getting jabbed with a needle once a month for a year. Others might prefer the quick weightloss, no bits floating around inside them, and suffer from specific conditions that are better suited to this choice. I am confident that both ohsu and legacy are quality clinics. I am at OHSU but am going to be weird and ask for a lapband :) good luck on whatever you decide. tina

I think it is an decision that should be made with you and your surgeon and you should discuss the options. My surgeon only does RNY but I had the option to go somewhere else so I checked out the lap band. I did think about it because I don't think I have as much to lose as some (100 pounds is really the top amount I can lose) and because lapband sounded less drastic (but both are major surgeries). I found lots of folks who were real happy with RNY that I know in "real life" and I couldn't get over the port thingy that they put the fills in. It sounded like something really strange to me. So I guess that is why is it a personal decision. Hopefully we all chose the method we feel the most comfortable with and it is successful for us. We can still be supportive of each other as we go through this journey to being healthier....

deb366