Considering Lap Band

After reading message board I am concerned- It seems like it takes a great deal of discipline to loose weight after lap band.  If I am having a problem with weight loss because of disipline now, how will I cope after lap band?

Hi RDF,

    I was going to have the lap band when I started researching the WLS. I'm glad the insurance was hassling me. I waited 2 years and was able to have my surgery closer to home. When I hear of some of the things that happened to people I'm even more glad I went with the RNY. Fills and such for the rest of my life would not have been fun and costs money with every visit.

    I'm glad you are researching things. That's good. No one can tell you what is the right or wrong surgery. Dr.s some times will give you sound advice. Please keep posting and let us know how your journey is going.

     Mag    

Take the time to research your options.  Visit with others that have had the surgery you are considering.  It takes discipline after any of the procedures, the trick is getting surgery done to limit the volume of food one can consume at a sitting.  All of the procedures accomplish this.  Speak with your surgeon, discuss your other health issues and together decide what will serve your needs best. 

I was considering lap band too when I started the wls process.  With my diabetes, arthritis, and other health issues, the RNY made the most sense.  When I was researching, my insurance would only cover band or RNY.  I decided RNY due to the malabsorption and posibility of dumping if I chose to eat the wrong food.  I found out that I do dump and the feeling sucks.  Keeps me in line and on track. 

Most of the procedures can be done with the small laparoscopic incisions.  This helped me to change my mind.  I would do wls again in a heartbeat.  Life is sooo much better.

I have friends in wls support group that have had lapband and are doing wonderful, others, needed revision to another procedure.  You know you best.  Research, research, research.

Thanks for the input.

I too was considering the lap band before I learned about RNY and VSG... and ended up being sleeved... it really helped with the discipline :)

Read everything and ask tons of questions and then consider what would work in your life.  And what you can live with forever... Good luck to you :)

I too walked into my surgeon's office with lap band on my mind.  I had not considered the RNY until after talking with my surgeon.  My main reason for not wanting to the RNY is because of the vitamin B12 injections that my aunt has to take forever due to having her RNY close to 30 years ago.  When I mentioned this to the surgeon he explained that they use to bypass 2/3's of the small intestines.  Now they onloy bypass 1/3.  My main reason for switching from band to bypass was because of the total weight that I needed to lose.  There was more of a consistency of weight loss with the bypass vs the band.  It seemed that the band results were all over the place.  Where as the bypass weight loss was a little more consistent.  I was 360 pounds walking in that office and I needed to get down to atleast 180.  I also do not have to worry about going in fills, which was another draw back for me. 

Having the RNY was one of the best things that I have done for myself.  I have lost a little over 100 pounds...  it may be slow, but thats ok.  Slow is okay with me because I have felt great.  I have not felt sick at all, with the exception of in the beginning when I had to figure out how much I could eat.  My labs have been ok.  I take a sublingual B12 everyday and that is keeping my B12 levels within normal range.  So no shots needed.  YEAH. 

This is a personal choice, but know that it is your choice and it is your right to know about each surgeries so you can decide which is best for you. 

Do we have to make changes in our diets? Yes, whether you have banding or RNY.   If you do not follow the rules, the band will slip or the new pouch will stretch.  Question is do you want quicker weight loss? or slower weight loss?  I doubt that I would have gotten off this much weight had I decided to have the banding.  I am glad that I had the malabsorption with the restriction.  It is what I needed.  Don't think I would have had the discipline at the beginning that I would have needed with the banding.  After a year out, I feel that I have more discipline and am making better choices. 

Hey Fran,

How goes it? I just wanted to say I think losing 100 pounds in a year is not in anyway, shape, or form losing slowly. You've done wonderfully well on your journey. You are a blessing to me.

Hugs,   Mag

awww thanx.  Im not knocking the 100 pound weight loss, because i would never had done it on my own without the surgery.   I just see other people having lost more and I have weak moments.  I am sorta glad that it is slower..  maybe my skin will have more time to bounce back... LOL.. which i doubt by looking at my panni...