Question:
Looking for Post Op Opinions: Band vs. RNY
I know the difference between the RNY and the band. I am just interested in personal stories about what helped post ops to decide. Any opinions would be appreciated. I have my referral for surgery and I have an appointment with a surgeon doing lap RNY and an appointment with a band surgeon. — kjonhjk (posted on April 1, 2003)
April 1, 2003
I started out wanting the band but decided on the RNY and am very happy.
Three things made my decision, I LOVED milkskakes pre op and high calorie
liquids are a bad idea for babndsters, loss rates of the band arent as good
as the RNY, and my wife Jen needed WLS too and our surgeon didnt feel the
band was suitable for her. She was a super morbuid. Ichosae the RNY and am
very pleased. Given all this some do very well with the band but my health
was so bad I didnt want to mess around perhaps going thru surgery twice.
— bob-haller
April 1, 2003
My feelings are similar to Bob's. My sister, LC on this site, had a Lap
RNY last July. I watched her adjustments to post op life, both positive
and minimally negative, (adjustments to food), and decided that I could
live with them, easily. I then started to read this site, and several
others, doing research for myself to be sure that I was as informed as I
thought I could be before my consult. My surgeon expressed similar
thoughts to Bob's, ie. the ability to sabotage the band if you are not
committed, the likelihood of not losing as much and possibly not keeping
the weight off as successfully. I also wasn't comfortable with the idea of
having the port and tube attached under my skin. I wanted something as
permanent as possible, with as good statistics as were possible for long
term success. I really wasn't concerned about lap vs open---my surgeons do
it lap, and do the band, and I said you could cut me any way you want in
order to do the surgery safely. I am 6 weeks out, and am not disappointed.
Best of luck to you. You will make the right choice for yourself.
— Fixnmyself
April 1, 2003
I was all set to have the band and then my insurance denied it, but they
would cover the RNY in full. In retrospect, I'm glad I had the RNY instead
- I would have been one of the ones sucking down milkshakes and other
sweets because I would have known that I could. The RNY and the fear of
dumping keep me honest (though I can still have sugar once in a while, I
try to avoid it). Also, in the same amount of time it's taken me to lose
70 pounds, I've met bandsters that have only lost 20. I would be so
frustrated with loss that slow. I think the RNY was the way to go for me.
I didn't look at your profile, so I don't know how old you are, but if you
plan to have [more] children someday, some bandsters will tell you that the
band is better. I have been told by my surgeon that pregnancy goes just
fine with RNY and as an example, my angel just had a healthy baby girl last
Monday:)
— Toni C.
April 1, 2003
Did you want people who have had both? I personally know about 20-25 who
started as bands, then converted to RNY. But not all have email.
— vitalady
April 2, 2003
For me, I chose the RNY over the lapband for a few reasons: the lap band
was a fairly new procedures in this Country at the time so there were not
too many skilled surgeons out there yet (it had been approved 7 months
before my surgery), my insurance would not cover the lap band (big reason),
I was uncomfortable with a portal under my skin, and I wanted to experience
dumping as I am a sugarholic. I've heard bandsters dont lose as much or as
fast as RNY'ers. There is a site for bandsters over at
spotlighthealth.com, go to morbid obesity, and support groups. They can
give you their perspective as most of those on this site are RNY'ers. I'm
sure many of them are happy with the band.
— Cindy R.
April 2, 2003
My first exposure to WLS was on a news program where three family members
all had the banding procedure done. I then called that hospital to get on
their informational meeting waiting list. In the mean time, I found out
that a friend of mine was having lap rny surgery and she suggested that I
consider all of my options, not just the band. After doing some homework,
I seemed to get the impression that the band had lower short and long term
success rates (less loss up front and less ability to maintain long term)
and that there seemed to be some issues with getting the band "just
right" in the first place...especially if you don't have the
adjustable style. I also read somewhere that there were/are some issues
with band breakdown over time (5-10 years though). Anyway, in the end, I
decided that if I was going to go through major surgery, as a last ditch
effort, that I might as well give myself the best opportunity possible to
suceed...and for me that seemed to be the rny...which I had done lap (and
am very happy with the results). Hope that helps. Good luck with your
decision!
— eaamc
April 2, 2003
I seriously considered the RNY before choosing the Band. I
suggest that you get as much information independently as you
can before you see the doctor; mine does both procedures too
but has a strong pro-RNY slant and could easily have swayed
me had I not done my own research. Both surgeries are great
in different ways, depending on YOU and YOUR personality/strengths/
weaknesses. Research shows that after 2 years, Band and RNY
patients show similar rates of loss/maintenance. It is just
two different ways of getting to the same place. Get your
information from different sources to avoid bias, and best of
luck to you.
— Jeanie
April 2, 2003
My surgeon offered me the band, and I did consider it...at his advising, I
sat down and thought really long and hard about the type of eater I was/am.
And I had to get really honest with myself...right into my big ole fat
gut...and the band had made me nervous...because I could see myself eating
around that band...slurping down milkshakes...and not getting the full
benefit of it. I knew in my heart of hearts I needed the permanence of
rny...that's what I got...and I've never looked back!! Have a Sparkling
Day!! ~CAE~
— Mustang
April 2, 2003
I personally chose RNY. My best friend since childhood had lap banding
done and was initially successful (moderately) but then failed terribly.
She now weighs more than ever. I initially was researching the band (I
thought I could follow the program better than her.) Finally upon meeting
with my surgeon, I decided that I did not want to have major surgery and
fail. I had failed so many times before, I don't think I could have
handled it! So we decided that 'the gold standard of WLS' RNY would be
best for me. P.S. Let's be honest here- sweets are a part of what got me
here, the band would not have helped me with that- I would have needed
brain surgery too. Good luck with your journey and speak in depth to your
surgeon before making a choice.
— LMCLILLY
April 2, 2003
Wow there is misinformation here!
The lap band doesn't break down. It will probably outlast us.
The lap band is adjustable. It is not the VBG or the nonadjustable gastric
band.
The weight loss results after two years are equal in the band and the RNY.
Really, who cares if you lose 100 pounds in 6 months or 10 months as long
as you lose it?
The band can be adjusted forever-you can avoid longterm post-op weight gain
that can occur with the RNY.
I love my band!
Make your own decision but at least check out some places that are less
biased. This website is very pro-RNY (and sponsored by some centers that
do RNY). Go to spotlighthealth.com and then go to the lap band support
page. You can find out what the band is really like.
My website has lots of info and links about the band. You can find it by
clicking on my name below.
— M. B.
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