Band or RNY?

I had my first consult yesterday, and the doctor recommended the gastic bypass for me.  I'm interested in that, but very scared.  I am also very interested the Bands, but he thought based on my PCOS and personal ciru****tances, that the most I could expect to lose would be 50 lbs vs the 100 the RNY would shed.

I'd like to know the experience of other PCOS women, and whether or not you'd recommend your particular procedure to a cyster.

Thanks!

Personally I prefer the RNY for PCOSers due to the way we're 'reworked' it aids much more quickly in resolving IR & diabetes.  Also with a higher average weight loss your likelihood of loosing enough weight to resolve your PCOS symptoms is better. 

For me the Lapband was not for me.  It's too high maintenance for me.  Just cut me and be done (aside from labs)...no fill...fill again...fill again...oops...too much in now take some out...oops took too much out put some back in.  No worry about band slippage or erosion with the RNY.  Plus for me I don't exactly have the best luck with foreign bodies IN my body (I still have some pain & swelling from a plate & screws in my leg from a fracture in 2001).  That and lastly it was the average weight loss...I was not going to go through surgery & still be "fat".

The choice is up to you though.  I do know a few ladies who've done well with the lapband (but they don't have PCOS so I can't exactly compare ya know?).  Good luck getting your surgery regardless of which one you choose!

Hi ladies!  There are also a couple of other procedures.  One is VSG, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, where a portion of the actual stomach is removed.  It includes the portion of the stomach that produces the "hunger hormone" ghrelin.  The other is Duodenal Switch whi*****ludes a VSG PLUS an intestinal bypass.  You can research these and other procedures on these boards.  Like Kristy, I too didn't go for the band because of the foreign body and high maintenance aspects of it.  But all these procedures are choices (and aren't we lucky to have them!).  I wish you much luck in your journey to regain your health regardless of surgical procedure.  Take care.

Mimi

Thanks ladies for the reply...my doctor advised at his seminar that he will not do a DS unless you are 600# (which thankfully, I am no where near).  I don't mind the inconvenience of running back and forth an hour each way (at least) for band adjusments, because for me, it would reinforce my commitment to my tool. The idea of my body only losing half the weight I need too doesn't thrill me though, and I wonder if I could be one of the people who could be the exception.

The 2 things that concern me most are that I've had 2 other surgeries that have resulted in lingering pain/swelling in the surgical sites, and I am concerned that Gastric Bypass would too, and I read in  literature provided by my Bariatrician that one of the cons of of Gastric Bypass is gradual weight gain over 15 yrs. I'm not in a hurry to have my guts rearranged, lose weight...only to regain it back gradually.  What's the point?  I don't expect (or want) a quick fix, but a permanent one. 

This is all I can think about all day/all night, and can't seem to make a decision. Anyone have an "ah ha!" moment?  

If you have lingering pain/swelling at surgery sites it should be no different be it Lapband or RNY (or VSG) as they are all done laproscopically and have roughly the same amount of small incisions through the abdominal muscles.  As far as the gradual weight regain, I'm betting it's because people get comfortable with their tool and forget how to use it.  Granted I'm battling a 20lb gain, but I recently had my 2nd post op baby and will be 5 years post op next month.  I know that my body has adapted to my 'new' internal routing and I must work harder now at weight loss than before...but my tool does still work.  Just recently I buckled down and got back to basics to find that I'd lost 3lbs in 1 week.  My tool is that...a tool...and it still works.

My 'ah-ha' moment was actually a bit of prayer.  I'm not the most religeous person, however, when it comes down to it I do believe in God and His power.  I used to get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when I'd think of "should I...shouldn't I" have WLS.  So I prayed about it...and asked Him that if the RNY was the way to go, and that He would look after me and that I would be safe, to please take that bad feeling out of the pit of my stomach.  I went to bed and the next morning that feeling was gone.  That was my "ah-ha" moment and went forward with it.  I'm quite pleased with my results.  And even though I'm having a tough time getting the baby weight off I have myself to blame.  I've not been eating correctly and have been 'lazy'.  And although I have 20lbs to loose...I'm still 95lbs down from my 'old' self.

Hmm, the requirements are the same for the different WLS's, which is over a 40 bmi, or over 35 with co-morbidities, so if the surgeon actually tried to pull that, it wouldn't be hard to appeal, but on a quick check, I can't find your surgeon on a list of actual DS docs. Based on his nonsense about the 600# thing and that, I wouldn't trust his info on DS (or sleeve either, since he likely doesn't do them). It's such a big life decision, I wouldn't take one surgeons word about surgeries they don't perform - I'd find one actually qualified to do them all. Many of us found out the hard way that misinformation abounds from surgeons that are trying to discourage you from a surgery they can't perform.

As far as the PCOS, I've had resolution of it, and the symptoms that came with it. I read the DS helped with metabolic issues, but didn't expect the PCOS to be resolved. It was just the cherry on the sundae for me.

I researched all options.  I chose the Lapband and had it in March 2009.  I had POCS and it is hereditary for me.  Once i had the surgery and weight loss it caused me to have female issues even after surgery.  Losing weight puts stress on your body and it did a job on the female side.  It has been regulated now with birthcontrol Woohoo...  It is typical for things to take time.  

Don't assume you can't lose weight with the band.  I'm out 4 1/2 months and down 84lbs.  So its really up to you.  I just didn't want to be discombobled in the inside.  

Whatever your decision is gl!!! :)

It wouldn't hurt to do a lot of research about the DS and the RNY and then figure out what you think is right for you.

I had the DS specifically because of my PCOS and I'm only about 100lbs overweight.  Within days I got my period, which I have never gotten without the help of BCPs or progesterone.  For me the choice was about how the insulin issues are fixed with the DS and the metabolic component.  My surgeon referred to the change rate of DSers with PCOS as 'astounding'.

I'm sure you have a great surgeon and I understand why you would want to trust and stick with him, but I would consider talking to someone who specializes in the DS.  So many surgeons know very little about it and poo-poo it because they are not skilled in that particular surgery. 

I'd just suggest you know ALL your options - the stats for the DS are stellar.

@ I'm not in a hurry to have my guts rearranged, lose weight...only to regain it back gradually.  What's the point?  I don't expect (or want) a quick fix, but a permanent one. 

NEWS FLASH!!! Nothing will be permanent if you do not do what you are suppose to do. If you go back to your old habits you will regain your weight. Seems to me that you may want to do more research before you decide to have any type of weight loss. JMO