Question:
Am I making the right decision?
I was feeling confident about my decision for Lap RNY. I am scheduled for August 30. Now I am asking myself if I made the right choice. Maybe I should have considered Lapband instead. I am 5'4" and weigh 221 my BMI is 37.9. I am open to any thoughts. Thanks! — deeport (posted on August 24, 2006)
August 24, 2006
Only you can decide if you are making the right decision but I started out
like you. I am 5'3 and started out at 225... I had my RNY Oct. 22, 2005 and
now weigh 124. I know everyday i made the right decision! Remember what
brought you to this decision in the first place.
Hang in there, it is very common to start second guessing yourself right
before surgery.
Kim
— kimmy
August 24, 2006
Hi first I would like to say congratts!!! on your surgery date. I am
4weeks out and I chose the Lap rny and I do not regret my disicion. I t
was the best thing I could do for myself. I have lost 27lbs so far. If you
are unsure you sould check wiith your surgon to see if this is the right
one for you. Only you can make that choice. Lap rny is permenat. so... be
very sure this is what you want.
Much Love BJ
— Bettye Jones
August 24, 2006
Of course you have to make your own decision but I was where you are in
July. I'm 5'5" and weighed 222. I had Lap RNY on July 10, 2006 and
have never regretted it. I'm 6 weeks out and down to 183. I too had
second thoughts about which surgery was right for me so I talked to my
surgeon. He encouraged me to have the Lap RNY and like I said I have never
regretted it. Good luck in your decision and I'm praying you have a speedy
recovery........Terry
— MamaPea
August 24, 2006
The question isn't how tall you are, or what your bmi is, or how much you
weigh.
The question is... how do you EAT?
Do you sit down and eat a huge meal and then not eat again until the next
meal?
If so, the LapBand may well be the right choice.
But if you are a sweet eater... or a muncher... then you need the RNY (or
one of the other more drastic surgeries) in order to have any hope of
success.
The LapBand is a wonderful, wonderful thing. I have friends who have had
much success with it. But the one large failing of the lapband is that if
you are the sort of person who can sit and nibble on a bag of chips, or
candy all day... or drink milkshakes all the time... then the lapband is
going to be nothing but a huge waste of time and money for you. Because
the lapband offers NOTHING to help you curb those behaviors.
The key element in the RNY surgeries is the dumping. Too much fat... too
much sugar... and you get sick as a dog. Trust me, once you have
experienced it once (and mine was totally by accident) you NEVER want to go
through it again. You are physically incapable of eating those things.
It's not perfect... you could still nibble yourself into oblivion, with
slightly healthier foods. But it's a big help, if you're the sort who
needs that help.
I did. And I couldn't be happier with my results. 7 weeks out, 45 lbs
down. About 120 to go.
— liatha
August 24, 2006
i have to disagree with previous poster. the lapband CAN work for people
who snack, and it DOES help curb cravings. the band is two
part--restrictive in nature-can't eat much volume, and the band puts
pressure on the vagus nerve, which dims your hunger. and when you aren't
hungry, its much easier to avoid snacky food. frankly, you can't graze all
day and expect to lose weight with any sugery...
lastly, not all people that have bypass dump--so don't count on that side
effect. and many people that do dump initially, don't after time.
good luck with your decision!
— jessicamegan
August 24, 2006
It's very normal to start second guessing yourself as you move closer to
your surgery date. It is a life changing surgery. Talk to your surgeon,
talk to people that you might know who have had surgery, go back to the
reasons you wanted the surgery in the first place, take it to prayer.
Whatever works for you. In the end, only you can decide if this is right
for you. I had major doubts two days before surgery but can tell you know
that I am very happy with my decision. Good luck and God bless.
— KC
August 24, 2006
Gosh - you are in a tuff spot- I did the Lap- hence I would recommend the
lap- i think it works no matter what kind of eater you are- most important
long terms affects are some thing I question with RNY- what happens to your
body from this surgery when you are 50+ 60+- The lap bottom line less
invasive.
Good Luck
— ELIZABETH C.
August 24, 2006
I am in the same boat. My surgery is August 28th and I am just now getting
nervous. I have gone back and forth to wether this is the right thing for
me but I have to think about my quality of life. I have a little girl who
will be 4 in 3 weeks and I really have to weigh what is right for me and a
lap band just won't do what I need. If you are truelly doubting your
decision then don't do it. If your just nervous then think of what your
life will be like after. Good luck and I'll be praying for you.
— Lost4Ever
August 25, 2006
Like everyone has said it is your decision. I know people who were
successful and unseccessful with both surgeries. I choose Lap RNY because
I did not know to much about it and it just started getting more populated
and the surgen I was going to did not do that surgery. I can say Lap Rny
you will see a much more drastic weight loss in the beginning. I will come
off with Lap band just slower. I myself had some problems I had scaring
near my stoma which caused me to purge for almost a month until the problem
got fixed. It was a tough time but I do not regret for one minute doing
the surgery I am so happy and my life is changing to the better every day.
— Tina G.
August 25, 2006
I think if your surgery is less than a week away, and you are unsure of
which surgery is best for you, then you are not ready to have either
surgery. Both surgeries carry certain risks and offer certain benefits ...
You should have discussed YOUR situation with your surgeon and decided
together which procedure makes the most sense for YOU. Neither procedure
is a cure ... Only a tool.
— peacefuldaizy
August 25, 2006
First off CONGRATS! for making a brave decision to have surgery at all.
Secondly I'm 5'2" I was 240 when I started my process, I was 218 when
I had surgery, I am down 42 lbs since surgery (Lap RNY). Yes you are going
to second guess yourself before and after, there are going to be good times
and bad times. Only you and your surgeon can make the right decision for
you. I wish you the best of luck on which ever you decide to do.
— Karen R.
August 25, 2006
Hi, I was in the same boat, days before my surgery, and really only because
people were telling me your not that big, you should just have the
lapband, that's why I was confused. I had the gastric bypass 10 days ago,
and the first 3 days, I was still confused but it was too late then, on the
4th day it was a complete turn around, I knew then I had made the right
decision, and when I went in for my 1 week appointment and lost 15 lbs. I
really knew I had made the right decision then. Go for it!! Keep your head
up, people are probably the ones confusing you.
— Norma H.
August 25, 2006
I am in no way an expert, but I have wrestled with the same decission. I am
a pre-op and I have decided on Lap RNY also. You have to weight the pro's
and con's against what is important to YOU. So I don't really think anyone
should be able to write you and tell you that you made the wrong decision
and change your mind! To me the LapBand was a + because it was reversible.
The Lap RNY was a + because of the long term results. I kept asking myself
"What happens if something goes wrong and the surgery has caused
damages that can't be repaired?????" So I went back and forth and back
and forth. And I personally came to the decision that the risks are so low
that the problem wouldn't be able to be fixed that I would rather just go
ahead and get the RNY and there would be no going back. I could never
imagine getting a LapBand and losing so much weight and finding this new me
that I plan on being sooo happy with, then something going wrong anyway and
the best (easiest) solution for the problem being to just take it out. Once
it comes out all your weight will come back and if I were to finally get
rid of it for the first time in my life I don't know that I could live with
myself this way again. Plus I am AFRAID of needles and the thought of
having to go in for an injection into the interior of my stomach every 6-8
weeks scares the living hell out of me. Not to mention, I wasn't real big
on having "foreign matter" installed in my body. I came to the
conclusion that if I am going to put myself through this, spend all this
money, and deal with what comes after...if I am going to do ALLLL that then
it will be for better or worse, til death do us part. I am going to go for
the full monty and hope for the best. I am not expecting to NOT have
complications. With my luck I will face some difficulty, but I am just
going to hope for the best and try to follow all the rules to avoid what I
can. Good luck to you and I hope I have helped with all my rambling, but
again this is my personal view point and if your heart tells you that you
shouldn't go with the RNY then don't. By the way, I am 5'3" and weight
about 240 (YES I HAVE LOST SOME WEIGHT!!! WOOHOO!!!). When I started this I
was at about 254. They say that the more you weight before your surgery the
higher the risk, so I plan to keep losing. Hopefully but they time I get to
my date I will ONLY be 100lb over. I would be interested to know what you
decide to do. Let me know if you don't mind! [email protected]
— Shaniece H.
August 25, 2006
Thank you everyone for all of your insights and information. Because my
insurance will cover RNY or Lap Band my options are limited. After reading
all of your responses and weighing out all the reasons that I need the
surgery, I have decided to stick with my decision, not look back and face
this with a good attitude and determination. So in four more days, I too
will be on the losing side. Looking forward to being healthier!
— deeport
August 25, 2006
I was 5' 3" 356 lbs. and when i finally got the got the answer i was
going to get my surgery. I was thinking is this really what i want to do.
I fought for 3 years to get mine and i still was scared when it came down
to it. I did it and it was the best decision i ever made. I'm down 100 lbs
now. I feel better and I know that I will keep getting better. I will get
to see my grandchildren when they are born and I have more confidence in
myself. Not just because I lost the weight but I fought for it every step
of the way. I know it's scary to change your way of thinking and eating
but it's worth it. I know the closer my surgery date came the more scared
i got but i did and it was the best decision i ever made. It will make the
world of difference in your life. It is scary but it's worth it doll I
promise you. You will start to love yourself again and have more
confidence in yourself than you ever did before because you did it for you
and everyone you care about.
— alice L.
Click Here to Return