Question:
Lap-Band Versus Gastric Bypass
It has been a tough decision making process for me. It has been nearly a month and still cannot decide what procedure is best for me. My BMI is 40. Which one keeps the weight off the best? Why do more people (approximately 80%) of the patients prefer the more drastic gastric bypass as opposed to Lap-Band? Does anybody know of somebody who has had the Lap-Band for several years that I can talk too? John [email protected] — jwyork (posted on October 31, 2005)
October 31, 2005
It is a matter of personal preference, cost and success rate. And the only
way to decide is to do your research, study them all and try to pick one
you feel you can live with the rest of your life. Knowledge is your friend
at this point.
— shoutjoy
October 31, 2005
Hey John. My DH and I both have had LapBand and are very happy with it!
Everybody's different; there are as many reasons to choose the Band as
there are Band patients. I have a list of MY reasons on my profile .. you
are more than welcome to check it out. Also check out the Band message
board on this site, if you haven't already. There are many success stories
there, and lots of people who can help you.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/posts.html
Feel free to email me if you like, and good luck!
— Jeanie
October 31, 2005
I started out looking at the band, but was rejected by the band docs,and
refered to the ds doctor, cant have a band or the rny, it is incompatible
with my previous surgery for gerd,no can do, only the ds, and now that i
know about that, i would not consider the band or rny if i could, come to
the ds forum and ask the question there.
— walter A.
October 31, 2005
Hey I just wanted to reply to your lap band question. I have a friend who
had the lap band done I guess its been about seven years ago, she did
really well with the weight for the first year and then for some reason she
gained a lot of it back. Now, I don't know if it was because she ate things
she was not suppose to eat, or if she just gave up on the procedure all
together. She had to have the procedure done again about three years ago.
However, when she had it done the second time it was just a waste of her
time. She had still not done well with loosing the weight. I had another
friend who also had the lap band done. She did wonderfully, and has kept
the weight off for at least two years.
I think that people chose the more intense surgery because it may seem like
it works better.
I hope that which ever you chose to do, it works best for you.
Please email me back any time you would like to talk.
Melissa Smith
[email protected]
— kizie23
October 31, 2005
You should know how both work and know what is the difference between
them,
The Lap Band is a restrictive procedure, It does not allow you o eat much,
(about 50ml at a time is about usual) and the By Pass is not only
restrictive but does not allow you to absorb much fat. and there in lies
the secret of success.
With the first op, one loses a lot of weight in the first few months (if
you exercize it is likely to be a longer more steady weight loss) If you do
not walk or take regular exercize you lose say about 20 to 30 lbs and then
your body reacts and thinks it is being starved and winds down your
metabolism and your weight loss stops because you are burning your food
fuel more slowly.
The By pass procedure makes it difficult to absorb fat but you still need
to exercize in your weight loss phase but once you have reached goal it is
easy to maintain and you can eat fairly well. The band on the other hand
makes it difficult to eat certain types of food (meat fish chicken and
other meat products, also bread) But then you can drink milkshakes and eat
icecream easily. You will put on weight. The difference in this case is
that with by pass if you drink a milkshake or eat ice cream or other
fattier foods, it is dificult to absorb the fat out of these foods and it
gives you diahrroea. So it is harder to regain your lost weight after By
Pass and easier to regain lost weight after banding as it does not restrict
fat returning to your body like by pass does. Those who have done well on
this procedure are usually motivated to exercise and watch that thy don't
eat too much fat. You will need to take supplements of vitamins and
minerals for the rest of you life and see your Dr regularly. A small price
to pay for looking and feel great. I have had both band and BPD (similar to
by pass) and wish I had not had banding as by pass was a lot easier to live
with. Good luck and go for it. feel free to write to me if you wish.
— Lise K.
October 31, 2005
Hello, I am a four year post-op Gastric bypass RNY patient. I was 375 lbs.
the day of surgery. I know weigh 160 and I have maintained that with little
effort since my second year out. I keep active and stay away from sugar
completely. Now this is just my opinion but people I know that have had the
banding compaired to Bypass are not as successful on a long term basis.
With a lap band they only restrict the amount of food you can take in. That
is your only tool. As for the Gastric Bypass it not only makes your tummy
tiny so it accepts little amounts but they also take out the first section
of your intestine called the duodenum all except a few inches of it. This
is where a person absorbs fat and callories so not only does the bypass
restrict your food intake it also makes it so you dont absorb all the fat
and calories from food either. Also in most not all but most patients this
part of the procedure also makes people intolerant to foods with refined
sugar and high fat content so if you eat those things it will make you sick
or in our language DUMP. It is your little monitoring device to make you be
good. I still need that sometimes and I am glad it is there to remind me.
All in all it helps in maintaining weight loss for a longer time. Instead
of just having one tool like the banding in having a smaller pouch bypass
gives you three tools really the pouch, not absorbing fat and calories, and
making you intolerant to things that will make you gaing weight like fat
and sugars. Hope I helped. Good luck in your decision making. God Bless Jo
Michalko
— Jo_Michalko
October 31, 2005
I myself made a list of the two; pros and cons. Lap Band has an easier
recovery but you have the port which is used for filling which is always
present (concern was what if something happened to the port in my body and
wasn't I just trading one diet tool (diet pills) for another (doctor
assisted-filling/removal of saline) and would I constantly need
filling/removal instead of just limiting food and increasing exercise). I
settled on Open RNY, yes it required a more intense recovery/eating
regiment. The things that I watched before; fat and sugar were much easier
along with portion control. I still am carful not to lift too much or
strain. Aside from the healing scar and making better food choices I
sometimes forget that I had the surgery. I am starting to live like our
counterpart skinny people LOL. I didn't want to constantly think about why
am I not losing weight maybe I need to go to the doctor and have him fill
the port. For me it is much easier too make good food choices and
exercise.
— 1968 Loser
October 31, 2005
Hi John
I am chosing gastric bypass because I have a problem with carbs. If I
decrease carbs (Atkins diet), then I lose alot of weight, but gain it back
plus some more once I start back to eating carbs, even small portions.
Carbs are digested in the stomach and by bypassing the stomach, I will be
able to maintain my weight loss. I lost 42lbs in 2003 and have gained back
30 of them since. Hoping to be approved soon.. Teru
— NurseTC
October 31, 2005
I had the band and I am so far very happy. It's true that for the first 6
mnths or so, certain foods WILL NOT go down ie, some meats, bread, rice,
etc. Your body will decide which ones it can tolerate and which ones it
won't. Pork, bread, and rice were my big NO-NOs at first. At the end of my
first 6 months all of the sudden I could eat anything...just in way smaller
portions. Prior to banding I would eat a footlong sub with a bag of chips
and a large drink in one sitting. I didn't even attempt to eat a sub for
months after my surgery until one day I just really wanted one. I got a 6
inch sub took it home and ate 1/3 of it and was very full and I didn't
throw up or have any bad side effects. It took me 3 meals (not snacks) to
eat that sub. I had the usual mayo, meat, extra cheese, on white that I
really love but this is an example of why I chose the band. In the long
run I still wanted to eat normal foods, just not abnormal amounts of it. A
piece of cake NOT THE WHOLE DARN CAKE, 1/2 cup of rice NOT A WHOLE PLATE
FULL, etc. Do Banders loose slower, yes, if loosing slow and steady is not
what you are looking for then you will not be happy with the band. I
sometimes am very impatient and wish I could of lost my first 100 lbs in 6
months but on the other hand I couldn't deal with looking sick, hair
falling out, possibility of dumping, taking vitamins and getting blood work
done religiously-those were MY issues. I watch my mom have RNY and the she
aged 10 years during her first year after RNY. 2 1/2 years later she looks
fine and the weight loss is great so it did work out for her, but watching
what she went thru scared the crap out of me. Incidently she thinks the
band is scarier then her RNY. LOL.
— Baby Blues
November 1, 2005
At a BMI of 48 I chose to be banded for some very basic reasons. Number
ONE concern ~~ Complication risks, either from surgery or months or even
years down the road. I didn't have comorbids so I was NOT willing to trade
my current quality of life (though FAT) for something that may affect me
for the remainder of my lifetime. Research and list what is possible, know
the risks and compare it with your level of acceptance.
Number 2, NORMALCY ~~ As a Bandster, I live and eat normal foods, only in
much smaller portions. I enjoy a wide variety of healthy choices,
sprinkled with a little bit of treats now and then. I did NOT want to live
a life ruled my WLS. At six weeks, I was back to the foods I love and cook
for my family. I choose to avoid sugar carbs and lower my fat intake on my
own. Which leads to my next decision.
Number 3 ~~ CHIOCES, I want to learn a lifestyle that is not riddled with
side effects for eating wrong. What things happen to a Bandster for not
sticking to the rules are painful and gross, but by far less trouble than a
good case of dumping. I can be out to dinner with my RNY friend, and have
an episode, spit it in my knapkin without so much as a indication of any
trouble. HER on the other hand, will turn ashen, start sweating, and feel
dizzy and nausious, as well as have stomach cramps. A case of dumping for
her, ends our evening out...it's NO fun!!! I want to learn to embrace that
I can make good choices about the food that I eat. I have and will continue
to learn healthy eating along the way. I didn't fall victim to the
illusion of a "Magic WLS". In order to succeed, I have to put
forth my effort in the battle. I happen to enjoy my new life and making
good choices overall.
Number 4 ~~ Malabsorbtion, since when is NOT being able to absorb your
nutrients a good thing? I can't seem to bring myself to believe that I
want to suffer the consequences of robbing my body of the valuable
nutrients it needs, to forego the calories. So I don't loose as fast, but
I am two months out and over 30 pounds down from surgery, with out a single
day of being sick or vomiting, no "other end" issues either.
Sure, I would love to have the weight off in 6 months or so, BUT, at what
price does my body pay for that to happen? Furthermore, a lifetime of
supplements and deficiency issues don't seem all that glamourous to me. I
would rather be able to eat and absorb them normally, and work on creating
a better lifestyle in the process.
Number 5 ~~ Appearances, Now this may or may not be something of importance
for some...I choose to tell of my journey, while others want to hide it.
You can't hide RNY...nope, nadda. The loss is too fast for people to
believe it is because of diet alone. If I had chose to be private about my
surgical choice, I could have...excuse it as gall bladder surgery or some
such thing. I eat like normal people do, just small portions. To all that
don't know any better, I am just good at watching my intake.
Number 6 ~~ Commitment, this is a touchy subject for many. I made the
proactive choice to get mental help for my food addictions and find ways to
deal with emotional issues without eating them down. Banding requires more
effort to make and adhere to these changes overall. I will get where I
want to be if I choose to be in control of my life. A huge portion of my
success hinges on my commitment to my WLS choice. If I hadn't been so
willing to switch gears and stop the destructive food habits, I would still
be sitting here spinning my wheels.
Do your research, visit the various surgery specific boards and read
profiles of people that have been there and done it. ALSO, don't forget to
visit the Memorial page. Find out about those that passed before us trying
to achieve the dream of being thinner and healthier. The answer is in
you...just do the best you can to become knowledgeable about ALL the angles
about each surgical choice...then weigh them against your own mind and what
you are willing to accept for the outcome.
— windylindy
November 1, 2005
— [Deactivated Member]
November 1, 2005
After years of research, I chose the LapBand. Why? Because it is the
safest, least invasive WLS method. I have no dietary restrictions. This
is a tool that is helping me to change my habits for life-long success. I
did not want to change my internal organs, just add a level of restriction
to help me change habits. It is working beautifully. I eat healthly,
smaller meals - three times a day. If I choose to have a snack, I will do
that too, as long as it falls within my daily program. I had no desire to
lose weight fast and have my skin hanging down around my knees. For me,
slow consistent weight loss will give my body and skin the opportunity to
adjust. I don't have to worry about a weight loss window in the first 18
months - the band is adjustable for life. Feel free to check out my
profile.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=B1119748452
Good luck, Chelle
— Chelle B.
November 1, 2005
It depends upon your needs. I never have been a big eater, so i chose RNY,
which prevents you from absorbing much from what you eat. From my
research, RNY has a better success rate and a better long-term maintenance
rate. It also depends on how much overweight you are. 40 is not so high.
Research your options and talk to your doctor.
— Novashannon
November 1, 2005
Hi John,
If you would really like information from a 2 1/2 year bandster, that would
be me! LOL I am doing just fine, lost more than 154 pounds to date and I am
still losing weight although much more slowly. I love my band, I have not
had any problems and I can eat most everything I want in smaller
quantities. Please feel free to email me privately.
Babs in TX
334/180
-154
— babsintx
November 1, 2005
I agree with the bandsters. I had it done because I researched this sense
2000. I am willing to take the slower weight loss than the death rate of
rny. I also want to ad that in two to three years we are at the same weight
loss as rny. We also have more time for toning as we lose. Leaving it more
likely to not have sagging skin or other surgerys. I had surgery 10/26 and
so far very happy. Just look long and hard into this. Your heart will show
you the way. Good Luck
— Bandygirl
November 1, 2005
When I read your post, I vowed that I would not respond, especially when I
saw that banders and RNY-ers alike were encouraging to make the choice that
was best for you and were explaining their own personal reasons for the
bariatric surgery they chose. But, then the misinformation began and you
deserve to have full and complete information to make an informed decision
that is best for you.
First, recent news account of a Journal of the AMA study did not segregate
gatric bypass from lap band risks-- in fact, the study chronicled all
weight loss surgeries into a single category and looked at the overall rate
of complications. Therefore, to suggest that recent studies show RNY to be
more dangerous than Lap Band is just plain wrong.
Secondly, there does seem to be some considerable confusion about the
method of malabsorption following gastric bypass. Nutrients, calories and
carbohydrates are absorbed in your intestine-- they are broken down
mechanically by chewing and chemically by saliva and gastric juices.
Because the RNY restricts your stomach size, not only do you consume less
but the upper part of your stomach from which the pouch is crafted has
relatively little gastric juice. Therefore, some types of foods are not
broken down enough to be adequately absorbed. Also, some of the small
intestine is re-routed so that no digestion takes place in it (because no
digestive juices enter it)-- therefore there is some malabsorption from
that change. However, it is not a draconian procedure and the bulk of the
weight loss is due to making good food choices.
Certainly, the limit on your pouch is lifetime-- but, if you like many of
us, you suffered from your obesity for a very long time--- many of your
eating behaviours may, in fact, be deeply ingrained since childhood.
Therefore, if you are in this category of people with lifetime eating
issues, why do you think that a temporary solution will be for you.
The level of attentiveness to be successful at either program is
comparable-- whether vigilently monitoring what you eat to avoid feeling
ill or vigilently monitoring what you eat because it won't make you feel
ill and you still want to control those foods that once controlled you, you
need to commit to eternal vigilence.
Lastly, both surgeries are permanent. The Lap Band is not designed to be
removed. Certainly, you can decide to have infrequent fills and minimize
the effectiveness of your lap band, but the band is not removed. Clearly,
patients need to address for themselves how they will feel about the minor
inconvenience of being injected with novacaine and then having their band
insulfated several times a year and how they will pay for those office
procedures. In much the same way that patients need to intelligently
balance the risk of requiring post-operative complications with either
procedure (which is about 4.6% for Lap Band and about 5% for gastric
bypass).
So, you gather accurate information about the risks and benefits of
surgical weight loss, find a surgeon with whom you feel comfortable and who
has significant experience with your chosen surgical weight loss method and
then make a promise to yourself to stay on course throughout your weight
loss and then weight maintenance. Tough choice? Sure. But, regardless of
what you do, you'll be affecting your life and improving your health.
— SteveColarossi
November 1, 2005
In my opinion, if you have a CHOICE of procedures, choose the band. I had
the RNY 7-9-04 and I have lost over 180 lbs. but unlike many others I have
not been able to STOP losing weight. With the band, they are able to go
back in and adjust it, larger or smaller. In my case, I had an irreversable
procedure that may take my life in the end.Of course, if I had to do it
over again I sopose I would, because my longevity wasn't much of a chance
if I didn't have it done either. But I sure wish that I had the band, where
they could go in and say, open it up or something.....
Best wishes either way you choose.
Velvet
— Fairysister
November 2, 2005
John,
Good Luck at what ever you choose. I had the Band and have lost 41lbs since
July 18th. I like the Idea of being able to adjust the band. My husbands
cousin had the band 2 years ago and has hit her goal wt. The sad news is
she has developed breast cancer and just had her band unfilled so she can
eat more. due to the nausea from her treatments she felt it best to be able
to get more food into her. She can always start fills after she is feeling
better. Check with your doctor about fills if your thinking the band is
what you want. My fills or unfills are free for life as long as they are
done in the office and not done in the radioloigy dept. I have had 2 fills
since my surgery the first was 2cc's 6 weeks after surgery. My second fill
was this past monday and it was .2cc's. they take about 10-15 min in the
office and it's only a little uncomfortable when they numb it. I have
started losing again and feel good about the fact that I can eat pretty
much what ever I want only less. My Mom will have the RNY on the 7th of
November. She had by-pass surgery in the late 70's and now her staples are
leaking and she will go in for a repair and the only way they can fix it is
by doing the RNY. she is sick all the time due to the leaking so I guess
I'm glad the RNY is out there for people to choose also. cynthia
— gurdy
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