New, introduction and gastric vs LapBand

Hi, I found this site while researching WLS and am really excited to see a group for "lightweights".  I figured I would introduce myself and maybe get some feedback from you all.

I'm Ashley, 26 and from South Carolina.  I have an appointment in Columbia, SC next week to meet with Dr. Antonetti.  I'm 5'5", 225 pounds.  I have struggled with my weight my entire life.  At my lowest I was 160 (high school).  My highest was 245 during pregnancy with my daughter.  (Who is 1 today!)  We found out a few months ago that my husband's insurance will cover WLS for people with a BMI over 35 and comorbities.  I have suffered from HBP since my early 20's and am currently on Procardia.  I also have chronic Tachycardia which seems to be directly related to weight gain.  The more I gain the higher my heart rate gets.  My insurance requires a 5-year weight history which is no issue, but I hate having to request records from when I was a miiltary dependent lol.

Anyway, I am struggling with the decision of gastric bypass vs LapBand which are the only two WLS my insurance covers.  My concern with the LapBand is the possibility of it slipping since I am prone to vomitting pretty much every time I get sick.  I also have a super sensitive stomach and will get sick any time I smell fish or eggs lol.  I have been that way as long as I can remember.  My main concern with gastric is having my bowels messed with.  I know that probably sounds strange but I do worry about them tinkering with everything down there.

I will be sure to discuss all this with my surgeon.  I'm curious if anyone with low BMI has had gastric and what their results were.  I'm leaning more towards gastric bypass right now.  I know no matter what I will be having WLS though!

Have you verified that your insurance company wont' cover the gastric sleeve?  I'm hearing that more insurance companies are covering the sleeve.

I have a low BMI and even lower for the past years.  So I'm curious as to what information my insurance will accept.

Welcome to the LW board.  Not sure what to tell you on your choice as it is such a personal decision.  The main thing between the two, if they are your only choices is that one is purely restrictive (band) and the other is both a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure (RNY).  I am 2+ years post op RNY and I am very happy with my decision.  The DS was not an option but my doc did offer the VSG and I declined because I didn't know anything about it.  I wish I had taken the time to learn about it.  We have a lot of VSGer's on this board and they are doing phenominal.  I know you said lapband and rny were your only choices, but it might be worth digging a little deeper to see if that is their final answer.

Good luck finding the answers you are looking for.  This board is a very friendly wealth of information.

Julie

Welcome, Ashley!  You will love this board - it is the most helpful and friendly place on OH. 

I had gastric bypass on 02/09/2010 and I am now 5 pounds away from my first goal of 145 pounds.  My weight at surgery was 220 and I am 5' 4", so I am definitely a lightweight.  I have had no complications at all from surgery and feel that it was one of the best decisions I ever made.  I feel healthy, I am more active and I look way better than before - something my husband definitely appreciates!! 

I didn't consider banding because the long-term results of that were very dismal.  I wanted a lifelong solution and everything I read pointed to RNY as the gold standard of weight loss surgery.  My doctor also did offer me a vertical sleeve, but his surgical experience was overwhelmingly with RNY and I wanted the advantage of his extensive experience and expertise with the RNY. 

I would recommend that you read everything you can on the procedures to make the decision that's best for you.  I am sure you will find that there are those who will weigh very heavily on one side or the other, band versus gastric, but ultimately you must make the decision as to what's best for you.  So just educate yourself as much as you can.  We are always here to support you and answer any questions you may have.

Congratulations on the start of a very exciting journey!  And again - welcome to the Lightweight Board!!

 

 Hey Ashley. Welcome :) I have just joined the site a few weeks ago and people (especially on this board) have a lot of advice and experience to share! 

I am in a similar position to you. I am 22, have been overweight my whole life, etc. etc. etc... I'm currently investigating my WLS options, but am definitely leaning towards lap band. In my opinion, the bypass scares me too much. It is ultra invasive and non-reversible. At such a young age, I look forward to being pregnant in the future and I know that bypass can potentially cause issues with that. Not only that, but I feel like at a younger age, we are more active and don't need to be so drastic. 

This is just my opinion. I don't have the medical issue that you do regarding frequent throwing up, but I know that can definitely be an issue with the band. My mom and brother both had the band and both did fabulously. Mom lost about 100lbs in 1.5years, and my younger brother lost about 85lbs in 1 year. It's a struggle every day for them to maintain their weight loss, but as long as they are honest with their doctors and keep up with their fills, they are great!

Please let me know what you choose. Most of the people on this board have opted for bypass or sleeve, so the advice you might get could be biased!! Just to keep that in mind :)

Good luck :)
Alyssa

hi Alyssa,
i just want to clear one thing up . this forum is not Biased one bit . we r all here to give u the best information possible for what is right for you. no one here will try and persuadeanyone into anything.

i decided to have the vsg verses the lap band cuz i didnt want any maintenance. i cant be bothered go9ing to dr once a month for a fill/ tightening.
i was afraid of the rny cuz rerouting my insides scared me but funny i chose to have 80% of my stomach removed lol .

 Hi browneyedDeeva,

I am sorry if I offended you or anyone else on this board... I in no way meant that the board was biased - I just meant that more people have had RNY/VSG then Lap-Band, so she was going to get more responses reflecting that decision. Despite the fact that I have chosen Lap Band, everyone I have spoken to has been nothing but supportive, yourself including!!! I'm sorry if you took that comment the wrong way.

hey sweetie , u didnt offend me. it takes a lot to do so lolol, but i just wanted to make sure that u know on this particular forum , all of us here really try and help be there for everyone in need
u might wanna try the lapband forum too maybe u can get some info there as well good luck in what ever u decide ohhhh this is a funny story
i was a self pay in mexico, when i was walking out into the lobby after my surgery there were about 7 woman waiting to begin the process . i , being my friendly self said hello to all and said good luck one of the woman asked me what i had and i told her the vsg she asked me why and i told her and that wass that later on the next day i found out that not even realizing it i changed 5 out of the 7 woman that was going for lap band surgery lolol 5 of the got the sleeve lol

Hi Ashley and welcome to the LW Boards.  It is a very personal choice as to which WLS to have.  Be sure that you study and read as much material as you can get.  You really only want to do this one time and you want to make sure that you get the type of surgery that will work for you.

I had RNY in August 2009 and have been very pleased with it.  At first I wanted to have lapband also.  I went to two different surgeons and both recommended me not having the lapband due to Type 2 diabetes.  My insurance would not cover the sleeve at the time.  I would check with your insurance to be sure the sleeve is still not covered.  A lot of insurance companies are now covering this.

Good luck and be sure to keep us posted on your progress.

Linda

Hi Ashley!

Welcome to the LWs board!  It's great to have you. 

I don't have any advice about your surgery, except to say that I just hope you figure out what is best for you!  

I can tell you that I LOVE MY RNY.  I, too, had initially wanted the band, but I decided to go with the surgery that offered the greatest likelihood of higher numbers for weight loss.  I wanted malabsorption and restriction together.  Plus, I couldn't be sure that I'd always have health insurance that would cover the fills for my band, and didn't want to have to take that on as an extra expense.  That was how I made my choice.  

If my insurance covered the DS, I probably would've seriously considered it, too.  

Anyway, whatever you decide, we're happy to support you on this board throughout your weight loss journey.  

Good luck as you discern!