Question:
Which type of wls keeps the weight off permanently?
I am trying to decide which surgery to have, the lapband or rny. My main concern at this point is which one will keep the weight off better after 5 years out. I keep hearing about people who had the rny and gained back a lot of weight years later even though at first they were successsful. I know i can lose weight with either procedure, but keeping it off is the truly hard part. If i have the lapband and i start to gain weight back say in 5 years, can't i just have a fill and put a stop to it before it gets out of control? I am afraid that in the long run with the rny i will get used to eating too much again and gain it back. I know someone who had rny and lost 150 lbs. but now has gained back at least 30lbs and is gaining every day. Foods she couldn't eat after surgery like high fat foods are no problem for her now. It even says on this website under types of surgeries that a con for the rny is the possibility of gaining weight back. That terrifies me. I think the answer to this question is the key to my choice of surgeries. Can anyone give me advice on which type of surgery will keep the weight off more successfully long term ? — longislandamy (posted on February 17, 2007)
February 17, 2007
I agree with you. I wont have the RNY for that specific reason. 5 years
out and I didnt learn anything about eating right....the weight woudl come
right back and then what??? You have already had your insides
rerouted...there is nothign else to do. With the lapband (which i am
getting) i can have it tightened or loosened as needed for life....and
nothing inside me gets rerouted or changed. I simply have no choice but to
eat right and work WITH the band....it is just a tool. Not a magic
bullet.
Hope this helps.....
~Laura
— cherokeegoddess
February 17, 2007
You are the ONLY one that can keep the weight off. Both procedures are
just TOOLS to help you lose the weight. If your worried about gaining the
weight back after 5 years, think of it this way, the lapband is putting a
foreign body inside (that's pretty scarey) of you. The rny just makes your
stomach smaller and you will have 5 years to condition your brain and mind
to not go back to your old eating habits. Good luck!
— crystalsno
February 17, 2007
I went with the lap band because of health problems and the lap will help
you to learn portions and not overeat..I had the surgery done Jan 23,2007
and I am already learning to eat portions and to me that's great...also I
can't afford plastic surgery and I am hoping that losing slow and with
walking that will take care of the excessive skin problems..I also know
that is you can get a dr to okay excessive hanging skin as a problem..folds
lay on the skin and causes rashes and so on so as far as some plastic
sugrey that might be helped thru my PCP...but as far as right this minute
..I am glad I went with the lap band and learning how to eat
portions...also..my 1st fill will be on March 7 and then I will learn again
to eat smaller portions...it's a tool that will teach me portions, portions
and smaller portions and healthy eating...thanks
— shortskirt_ky
February 17, 2007
I have Lap RNY on 11-13-06. The whole idea of WLS is just a tool to help
you change your life. If you are concerned about gaining the weight back
then you really need to take a step back and think long and hard about
doing either one. You have to be willing to make a lifestyle change and
that means changing everything about the way you eat, what you eat and how
much. If you have the idea that you will gain it back in 5 years then you
are setting yourself up for failure. I was advised against the Lapband
procedure from my physician because it allows for failure. You don't get
the side effects from eating things you shouldn't like if you had the RNY.
I hope you make the best choice but remember what you are doing it for.
— Boxerma3
February 17, 2007
Although my doctor does both types of wls, he disqualifies many of his
patients for lapband because he feels they will not be successful with it.
Also, if you have diabetes, lapband may not help your sugars get regulated.
I was told that lapband is not restrictive enough. I don't think fills
are the easiest things to get and there is a charge for them. You need to
find out if your insurance company will pay for them even 5 years down the
road. The people who gain the weight back get comfortable and are addicted
to food. Right now, I am addicted to shopping!
— Sheri A.
February 17, 2007
neither procedure is a miracle "cure" for obesity. The are ony a
tool. Like a shovel is a tool to make digging a hole easier. You have to
use the tool to your advantage. You have to learn what made you obeise in
the first place. Then you have to use your tool to your advantage. Of
course, if you go back to your old ways, you are going to end up in the
same situation. If you learn from your experience, you will keep the weight
off because you will eat healthier. Some people just dont get it and end up
back where they started.
— aremat
February 17, 2007
There are no guarantees with any WLS that you will keep the weight off
forever. WLS is just a tool, the person that has it needs to work to keep
it off in the form of eating correctly, exercising and making permanent
life style changes. Both my husband and I are in our 4th years after having
RNY and we are keeping our weight off. There are many others out there also
that are doing the same thing. All forms of WLS are only tools to get and
keep the weight off. The person just has to make the decision with the help
of their doctor to make the right choice for you. And as far as getting a
fill with the band you can eat around the band and all WLS by eating
incorrectly. If you are a sweet eater you can get your calories into you in
the liquid sweet form and have way too many calories that way. So, actually
I do not believe your theory of getting a fill to put a stop to weight gain
holds water. And as far as people gaining weight back that you have
"heard" about, how compliant have they been with their programs,
like the someone you know? This whole thing is about making life style
changes and not thinking that you can sit back and not do any work to keep
the weight off. There are several people on this Q & A that are 5 years
and more out and have been successful with keeping the weight off.
— ChristineB
February 17, 2007
I am more than 5 yrs out after RNY. I am 5'2" and weigh 122. I have
been at this weight for over 3 yrs. I am a size 6. The things that made
me sick in the beginning still make me sick if I try to eat them. Like
others have said, the surgery is a tool. You MUST use the tool correctly.
Would I go through the whole thing again? A resounding YES! I have had no
complications as I have done exactly as my Dr has instructed the entire
time. I do not want to be where I started so I continue to make wise
decisions where my eating is concerned. Whatever decision you make I hope
the very best for you.
— Elisha
February 17, 2007
I had RNY on 8/06 It was the best for me I have lost 110 lbs. I think
either WLS is tool a to help you control eating habits. So if you are
willing stick to the program for the rest of your life it can work. I can
eat everything but apples & carrots at this point, but that doesnt mean
I should be eating everyhting like sugars & sweets...I am a diabetic
& now take no insulin shotsnow, i was at 4 shots a day before
surgury.. so I, ME, MYSELF have to have the control to only have seets on a
special occasion, I had chocolate for Valentines day i had 1 piece. & i
had 3 bites... thats how i eat sweets.....thats what works for me as of
today,,,, but every day is a new adventure. I wish you luck.....
— babs810
February 17, 2007
There is no doubt that both types of surgery have been a blessing to so
many of us who were obese, but bear in mind, the surgery is but a tool in
the long process of altering your life and reconditioning your brain to
find a more productive route that doesn't include eating.
You must stick to the diet, which doesn't include high fat, lots of
carbohydrates, but is primarily protein and a minimum amount of protein for
that matter.
You must take your vitamins, you must exercise, eventually, and you must go
to support meetings or you will fail and you can stretch your pouch out too
much and risk abdominal leakage, hernia of the pouch, or other problems.
I would like to stress the importance of support meetings, and if they
aren't available, get online buddies to help on a daily basis.
Support reminds us of our objectives, it gives us the details we too easily
forget or try to ignore, especially when we have a pity party.
Get online and look up bariatric surgery or bariatric eating. Read
everything you can find and ask questions.
You asked for this, now deal with it. Good luck!
nancy
— nancymweasel
February 17, 2007
Hi everyone,
I want to thank ALL of you for your advice. This is the greatest website
ever. I realize this is a decision for life, especially if i want to be
successful. I really like the suggestion of getting support for life. I was
supposed to go to my first support meeting last Tuesday but it was
cancelled due to a snowstorm, but you can bet i will be there next time!!
Thanks!
— longislandamy
February 17, 2007
First, you MUST change your eating habits. Learn which foods are the right
ones. Second, as stated above, the surgery/procedures are tools. I too
have heard the stories of people gaining their weight bac, but, when
questioned these same people acted as if the surgery was a failure...it is
NOT. They refused to follow the dietary guidelines and kept eating as they
did before surgery.
My RNY surgery was done July 3, 2006 (weight 307.5#). On Dec. 21, 2006 I
had lost 113.2# (196.5#), and went from a 34/36 dress size to an 18/20. On
Feb. 20, 2007 I weighed 186# and down to a 16T, which is now too big. You
can see the amazing results on my page.
But, again, these surgeries are tools. It is very hard, and I really try to
follow the diet strigently, but I do cheat (myself) and when I do I pay for
it with painful stomach cramos, and the dreaded "dumping
syndrome".
I urge you to attend educational classes, and to speak with a wide variety
of patients who have had success.
On a side note, my dad had the gastric bypass done way back in the 70's at
UCLA. There were 11 people in his group who had it done, and accept for my
dad, none of them followed the dietary regimine; my dad lived for 22 more
yrs. He died because of an infection not related to the surgery. But, he
did live 22 yrs longer then what he would have.
Please, please, get more information, and ask lots of questions.
Peace, love, health and happiness.
Dana
— Dana M.
February 18, 2007
The February date should hve been the 10th. Unfortunately I can't see into
the future. My fingers put the wrong date in; it's a plot!!!!
Dana
Peace, love, health and happiness
— Dana M.
February 18, 2007
Good question Amy, but bad perspective. Hang with me for a minute. There
is no wls surgery available that will change the mind. Obesity is a head
issue with a body consequence. If you are not working on the head issue,
you will eventually have the wrong body consequence again, even after
initial success. Many people weigh the difference from lap band to rny.
Both are good tools, but you have to know what you want. I can't decide
for you, but here is what I did. I prayed a lot, first, and gave God the
option to direct my path. For me that was very important. Then I
researched out the wazoo, read books, went to classes, support groups, etc.
I researched while I waited for my initial visit, which took almost 9
months. I went to every informational meeting, and even though some info
was the same, I learned something new every time I went. My insurance
would not pay for the lap band. I appealed, but to no avail, but we would
have considered paying cash if that was the best decision for me. When I
weighed it all out, for me RNY was the best choice. I am glad for the
decision. I am almost 3 years out, and still maintaining about 120 pounds
lost, and a size 4/6. I love it. I really dont' think I could have the
same result with a lap band. I know myself, and I need the negative
reinforcement when I take that extra bite. I don't have much
"dumping", but I know when I have eaten too much. I try to eat
until I am almost full, then stop. You learn, mostly the hard way, but if
you listen to your body and change your "head issues", daily I
might add, then you have a fighting chance. The question isn't which
surgery will work best for me? The question is, which tool can I use best
to my advantage? The choices of how you use that tool will be up to you,
every day. Your tool will do nothing if you don't use it. Not at 1 week
out, not at 10 years out.
People regain because they go back to old lazy habits, they decide to not
change. They gain because they don't exercise or drink water, skip protein
and don't do what their doctors tell them. They want a miracle in surgery,
and it is not a miracle, but only a tool. Don't use your tool, which ever
one you choose, and you will regain weight. I met a woman the other day
who had RNY and only lost 30 pounds. How sad is that? If you get a tool,
you have to fight to use it right to get what you want. It won't come
cheap or easy.
Side affects? I think they are the same. You can get a leak with RNY, but
if you have a surgeon with a good record and many surgeries under his/her
belt, you have a better chance of fewer problems. How is your health now?
The more health issues you have now, the more you are at risk for surgery,
ANY surgery. Lap band can imbed into your stomach. I also met a woman who
wanted to get RNY after lap band (I will confess that many do feel this
with lap band), but she could NOT get the RNY because the damage done to
her stomach from the band. It happens.
People who do only bands, sell the lap band surgery, surgeons who only do
RNY sell that. My surgeon did both, and when she layed it all out for us
several times in the informational meetings, I could see that I could cheat
the lap band much easier than I could the RNY. For me it was the right
choice.
Don't be fooled by anyone, no matter what surgery you choose, you can have
big risks that can cause death. The decision is a big one. I really don't
think the risk is greater with RNY than with lap band. The big thing here
though is to choose what is right for you, and start now at identifying
what causes you to eat, and deal with some of those issues before hand. If
you drink soda, stop, if you drink caffine or smoke, stop. Do something to
prove to yourself that you will make changes before surgery.
I am a diet coke, every day with lemon. Every day! I gave up my diet coke
6 months before my initial visit with a surgeon, and stayed soda free for
about 2 1/2 years post surgery. I am enjoying some now, but it was just
this summer that I began to re-sip my favorite drink. I am really proud of
that, and I can tell you it caused other changes too. If I could give up
soda, I could exercise. If I could exercise, I could drink water. If I
could drnik water, I can eat the right kind of protein, etc. Prove to
youself that you can move forward. You don't owe it to anyone else, but
before you go under the knife and put your life at risk, make the risk
assessment real and personal. Make it the truth. You will be taking a
hard and long look at yourself in this process. It is an emotional ride.
I wish you well, and hope you find what you are looking for. The Bible
says that God will direct my steps if I depend on Him. I did, and He did
not lead me astray. I believe and trust in His Word as truth, and am
thankful for the guidance. If this is of interest to you and you would
like to talk about Jesus Christ, just write, I will be glad to talk with
you about my Lord. Best to you, and thanks for asking. Patricia P
— Patricia P
February 18, 2007
— vitalady
February 18, 2007
When I was talking to a surgeon I found out some statistics. He said that
there are just now any longterm stats on the lap band. He said that after 7
years > than 90% of lapbands are nolonger effective. The balloon and
port on the lapband can only be used so many times before they wear
out.Then there is the cost of getting it removed ect.. From what I have
read the RNY is only a tool to loose weight...life long diet changes and
exercise once small enough to do it are needed to keep the weight off.....
— kerryf
February 19, 2007
My decision was an easy one....1.) I've decided to make lifestyle changes
for life - I started right before Thanksgiving '06, cut out soda, watched
portions/serving sizes, calorie intake, starting to take the
vitamin/mineral supplements I would need to be on for the rest of my life.
I lost 30 lbs. I decided on RNY for a variety of reasons; the success rate;
the lifestyle change and tool resource for life. I've had several friends
who have had RNY and have kept the weight off.
I would suggest you search your soul and decide if you want to make the
lifestyle changes - 4ever. I made the commitment to keep my portions small,
not overeat and to keep a healthly lifestyle. I don't want to go back my
same eating habits. Those who do have a deeper pyschological issue that
needs to be addressed. Whatever you decide to do - WLS is a tool and is
never a guarantee of anything. What you decide to do with your tool is up
to you. I have decided to change my life and keep it healthy. Good luck
with you decision.....
— jammerz
February 19, 2007
Thank you all for giving me advice. I want to change my eating habits and
be healthy. I feel so much better when i eat right. I am leaning towards
the rny because i really don't want a foreign object in my body, especially
one that has silicone in it. I am a little fearful of re-gaining but i feel
a little fear is healthy. It will keep me focused. It's just that everyone
is very adamant about the type of surgery they chose and I've heard horror
stories from both sides but ultimately i must make the decision and stick
to eating right. I guess one is not better than the other. It all depends
on me and my ability to follow the dietary guidelines. Wish me luck!
— longislandamy
February 25, 2007
The long-term success of either method depends upon the person who has it
changing her lifestyle and not going back to overeating.
— Novashannon
February 25, 2007
I can't believe all the incorrect information I have just read. As far as
the lap band being a foreing object, correct me if I am wrong but aren't
hundreds of titanium staples that can come loose foreign objects. Only you
can decide which surgery is best for you and weather or not you want to
subject yourself to the possibility of complications or mechanical failure.
— Snickers T.
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