Question:
I am 5'9" and around 268. my surgery request gets submitted next month.
I am still not sure what surgery I want. I am in need of suggestion on what surgery would fit me better. I would like to weight about 180lbs. Any input appreciated — Julie W. (posted on July 25, 2008)
July 25, 2008
RNYers usually lose 100 lbs or more...Since you have less than that to
lose, I would imagine you'd be happy with the lap band...I personally had
150 + pounds to lose and lapband didn't seem prommissing for me long
term...I needed more strict discipline and chose RNY...If I had less than
100 lbs to lose I would not have had surery at all...But that's me...I got
too sick too fast and could not get a hold of my health and had slim
chances of getting better on my own. The choice is yours...Do research and
compare...Most people are loyal to the surgery they had...Just to warn you!
LOL
— .Anita R.
July 25, 2008
Unless you are self pay (no insurance)then there are restrictions on RNY.
BMI>40 or BMI 35-40 with mulitple co morbidity issues, like sleep
apenea, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Lap band is normally for those
who need to lose 60-80 pounds, possibly a little more. It takes longer to
lose the wt with the band, and since there may be issues with the band
working OK. Many who have the band ended up with a RNY revision, as wt loss
was not as expected. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
July 25, 2008
I am 5'8 & was 261 lbs. before WLS. For me, after doing a lot of
research, the VSG was for me...hands down. I've lost 50 lbs. in 3 months.
The weight loss is quick & effortless in the beginning. I would like to
lose 50 more lbs. and then have a tummy tuck. However, I expect these next
50 lbs. to be harder to lose but I know I can do it now.
The other surgeries that mess with your intestines just seemed a little to
dramatic to me. And the lap band seemed like you would still need a lot of
willpower, which I already know I don't have. There is all kinds of info.
on the internet comparing the many different surgeries. It gives you pro's
& con's on them all so you can see what you think would work best for
you. Good luck with your decision. :)
— AprilJM
July 25, 2008
You and I are the same height but im about 30 pounds heavier. Being tall
most of my life really threw people off because i never really looked as
heavy as ive been. I carry the majority of my weight in the front since I
have PCOS. I originally went for the lapband because it was less invasive
but once I told my surgeon that I had PCOS she immediately told me that I
would have a better chance with the bypass since lapband only offers
restriction and not the metobolic changes the bypass offers. You do lose
weight faster with the bypass but can really get sick if you dont following
the rules. If you dont take your vitamins or get enough protein you can get
malnutrition and can even lose your hair. Eating fatty food and sugar can
really get you sick and if you overeat you can stretch your pouch. With the
band you get restriction and if you dont chew your food thoroughly the food
can get stuck and ive heard thats rather uncomfortable. I think the choice
for you is whats going to fit best for your lifestyle and any other
co-morbidities you have. Most diabetics who get bypass either see an huge
improvement in their blood sugars or with most people with type 2 diabeties
it goes away. I would talk to your doctor aboutt he pros and cons of both
and then decide. Your insurance may only pay for one or another so that
could also be a deciding factor. Good luck with your decision. I am going
with bypass but still have to complete my 6 month supervised diet for 3
more months till they will resubmit to insurance ( i got denied the first
time)
— jenbn
July 25, 2008
I had an RNY. I had a very difficult recovery. I needed to loose a minimum
of 100 pounds. I was/am diabetic and RNY offered me the best chance of
reversing that disease and diagnosis. Otherwise I would have gone with the
lap band. It is so much less invasive and RNY can have life long
complications and some are life threatening. These are only a possibility
but still I would have gone with the band for that reason. Give it serious
consideration.
— Gena L.
July 25, 2008
I had Lap RNY and have had no problems. My friend who is a surgical nurse
(Gasstric surgeries) told me there are more problems wtih the Lap-Band. I
think you need to talk this over with the surgeon you have selected. He
will give you advise based on your current medical condition. Good luck!
Lisa
— ldillabough
July 25, 2008
Go to this website: lapsf.com On the home page go to "How it
works" on the left. Arrow over to " Weight Loss Surgery
Brochures", click on the blue line (link) that says "Minimally
Invasive Surgery for the Morbidly Obese". Read all the pages or
scroll down to "Comparison Of Weight Loss Procedures". It has a
picture of each surgery with the pro's and con's and it even states based
on how much weight you want to lose. Also, when you print it, the print
will be small so I suggest that you photo copy it and bump up the size so
you can really see everything clearly. A lot of insurance companies will
only approve the RNY, because they say the others are experimental. So I
went with the RNY because I knew it would be covered by insurance and it
just so happened that was the one that I really needed for the amount of
weight I had to leave. hehe
Hope this helps, if you need further help with the lapsf website, please
email me at my profile. I would be more than happy to assist you. Best
Wishes
— Kristy
July 25, 2008
I was in you situation a while ago and wasn't sure which surgery I wanted.
Initially I thought I was going to have the Lapband, but then made the
decision to have the RNY. I did a lot of research and surfed this board a
lot. It's a great source of information. I also spoke with the Dr's. at
the Bariatric Center and my PCP. I was advised to have the RNY because
with RNY they would only promise me a 60 lb. loss. I have a lot more to
lose than that. I think you need to think about what the band will entail
(Dr. visits and adjustments) and what the RNY will entail (taking vitamins,
minimal Dr. visits) and how quickly you want to lose the weight. If you
will be satisfied losing is slower, the band may be good for you. If you
might get frustrated because you're not losing "fast enough", the
RNY may be for you. It really is a personal decision as there are pro's
and con's with each surgery. For me, I thought about what my goal is. To
weigh 170. I didn't see myself getting to my goal with the band based on
what I was told and the research I've done. If I was going to have surgery
I wanted to be sure it'd be a tool that could best help get me to my goal.
I'm about 290 right now so there's a lot to lose. RNY is best for me. It
may or may not be best for you. You're BMI isn't that bad so you may be
happy with the band. Good luck to you in your decision. Keep us posted.
Tammy
— runningagain
July 25, 2008
I am 5'8 and 244, I am having VSG surgery on 8/4. Initially I wanted the
band but after doing the research and attending a seminar I decided against
it, (erosion, GERD, slippage). Maintence was a big issue with the band
also. I would say to go over the pros and cons with each surgery and
consider which one you are able to maintain better.
— [Deactivated Member]
July 26, 2008
Hi Julie,
I went back and forth for 5 years.
I finally decided to have Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass over the Lap Band
Surgery.
I weigh about 248 and I am 5'3'' I hope to lose 100lbs.
The choice is so individual, my reasons for the R&Y ; It seems that
with this surgery it is hard to tolerate sweets and fried foods. The
dumping syndrome is like a huge slap on the wrists! I am in fear of it and
I have yet to have the surgery. I have a sweet tooth, luckily fried stuff
does not appeal to me. The dumping syndrome would be real behavior
modification for me. ( I don't plan to rely on this alone of course)
Another reason I decided against the Lap Band, is for me I seem to be able
to eat beyond the comfortable state. So would some restriction bother me? I
am not so sure it would detour me, maybe I am all wrong on this though.
lastly having something inside me for life... and the visits to MD for the
fills.
I did want Lap Band when I saw how much simpler the surgery is.
I think if you choose a surgeon who is well versed in whatever surgery you
are going to have, no matter how complicated , surgery should go well.
This is the best site to check out what people have gone through in either
surgery.
Good Luck to you with whatever you choose :)
— Cat C
July 28, 2008
Julie I also have been going back and forth between lap band and gastric
bypass. I have read 2 books on the lap band. After that I started to
think about bypass instead . I was pretty set on the lap band but now I am
wondering if bypass would be better. I am 5'9" and 262lbs so about
tht same as you. I have a very hectic lifestyle and just started wondering
if I really wanted to travel 2 hours for fill and unfills if I needed them
or if there were any kind of complication I would need to go back to
Richmond where I had the surgery. This whole thing has consumed my life I
kind of just want to have the surgery and move on. I think as far as food
goes I am not a very disciplined person, so probably the bypass would be
better. started having doubts after researching the lap band. maybe I
researched too much. Anyway I think I am going to go with the RNY gastric
bypass. My MD said I could go either way. My sister in law had bypass
and is doing so great. That my .02 mary
— mtitus
Click Here to Return