Question
Nan,
I am glad that you are asking questions. I have nothing to say about the lap band but can tell you my experience with the VBG. I had the VBG nearly two years ago have lost about 70 lbs and have been dealing with (from my recent inquiries) typical problems that most VBG people have. The opening from the new stomich is very small (too small in my case) and has caused acid reflux thus causing me a hyadal (sp?) hernia. I can't eat much that is very healthy due to the fact that the foods either get stuck or are just too much for me to keep down. I am planning to have a revision surgery to a full bypass (RNY). I would recomend that you continue to look at this web site and ask people that have had the VBG how they are functioning I have not heard very good results as a matter of fact the surgeon that I am working with now say that my weight loss (aproximantly 40-60%) and the issues I with acid reflux along with staple line disruption are the reasons he and many other surgeons no longer offer the VBG! Sorry to put a damper on this I simply would not recomend this surgery for anyone. I have a freind that although he had much more success with weightloss he still struggles most everyday with not being able to eat very healthy! I would encourage you to continue doing your resurch. Unfortainaly I didn't do the reserch on the VBG because up until the week before surgery I planned to have a bypass. I let my surgeon decide what type of surgery I was going to have. Good luck to you!
Tina.
Nan, The surgeon I met with a couple of weeks ago told me that the DS is a much more malabsorptive surgery... I think you should look here on OH at the link that shows surgery types and then take a look on the Revisions forum to see what the issues are that people have that is leading them to need a revision surgery. I have seen some issue with RNY but from what I understand the surgery is pretty successful for those that use surgery as ONE of the tools to the road in recovery. Good luck to you! Tina.