Question:
Approved & scheduled for RNY but considering AGB
I am approved for a RNY on 4/22 but having second thoughts about switching to LapBand. Are there any downsides to the LapBand other than slower weight loss? Thanks for your help. Judd — Judd M. (posted on March 8, 2003)
March 7, 2003
We recently had a doctor come to our support group to talk about the
banding procedure and I will share with you the two things that concern me
about banding. I did consider the band before I had my RNY so this is in no
way bashing it, though I would not have it done to me. 1) the average
expected weight loss is 50%. In your profile I notice that you have a
pretty high BMI so if you have 150 to lose you could be done at 75 pounds.
I personally would not want to go through any surgery and still have, in my
case, 65 pounds still to lose. 2) I think, and so does my surgeon who has
done many a revision on the VGB (also a plastic band) that any time you put
plastic in your body do not ever expect to remove it. I would be interested
to know what other surgeons might have to say about the plastic thing.
I do think that if this were in reality easily removable then there is
certainly a place for it among teens and women who want children after WLS.
Seriously this is JUST my opinion and everybody has to be comfortable with
the choice that they make for their own body!!!! It took me a year and a
half to decide on the RNY. Damn, I could be done right now if I were not
such a worrier! Good LUCK!!!!!
— Carol S.
March 7, 2003
In the beginning of my journey, I was going to do the lap band, b/c I wasnt
that well informed on RNY, but after reading profiles and reading as much
info on Rny and the Q&A, RNY is for me. I'm not sure but it seems to
me with the RNY most all co-morbids are eliminated or somewhat deminished,
and most go off a meds. Where as with the lap band I dont think they are
elminated/b/c you CAN drink reg milk shakes and fatening soups and still
get all the calories and fat and keep the weight. Where as with RNY you
have malabsorbtion and dumping. Im still pre-op but thats my reason. You
might ask your surgeon to be sure and if you choose lap you can always get
a RNY later. Good luck on yur journey :0)
— wizz46
March 8, 2003
My surgeon's main reason for not doing any of the banded procedures is
because it is putting something in your body that could deteriorate or be
rejected over time. The only thing added to an RNY's body are staples that
have proven over many mnay years that typically they do not create problems
for people. I'm sure there is the rare individual that has problems with
staples but for the great majority it's like nothing was added to their
body, just original parts reworked. For me if I reach an ideal weight I
have 250 lbs to lose and 125 would be a big disappointment to me. I don't
care if I get to the 250 because my body says enough but losing 200 I feel
is definitely within my reach because I have lost that much before on my
own. I have also heard and read the 50% loss with any of the banded
procedures.
<p>However, it is a much less invasive procedure and does leave your
stomach function intact. If these are important things to you then a
banded procedure might be right. You have to be TOTALLY comfortable with
what you choose, so you have the best possible chance of succeeding. If
you are unhappy with the procedure you will be miserable for the rest of
your life. A banded procedure can be redone into an RNY but an RNY is
there for life and other than how much is bypassed nothing can be changed,
without some sort of life-threatening situation. So just because the
procedure says you will only lose 50%, that does not mean it applies to
everyone, but it will take a very long committment to lose most of your
weight because of the slower losing. My understanding is the lap band and
the AGB are different procedures. If they are, then if I was going for a
banded procedure I would go for the AGB as in my opinion it has the best
chance because the restriction can be easily increased.
<p>Some even more important questions to get answered before you make
any decisions. First does you surgeon do this procedure? Second does your
insurance cover it? The idea of changing may be a moot point unless you
are willing to self-pay.
— zoedogcbr
March 8, 2003
I also was going to go with the lap band till I talked with my doctor. He
does not believe in having something in your body that is not suppose to be
there. My friend did have the band and had a lot of trouble infact she had
to have it out. She still has trouble because there is scar tissue where
it was and will always be there. I am sure there are some people that have
had it and had no trouble I just did not want to take the chance. Good Luck
Diana
— Diana B.
March 8, 2003
I also wanted a Lap Banding, but after more investigation(mostly on this
site) and reading everything I could get my hands on. I decided to go with
the RNY procedure and am scheduled for 4/2/03. I too think it is an
individual decision and that you have to have your midset 100% on what YOU
want.I have heard and read good things about the Lap band as well as the
RNY. Yahoo groups has a good Lap Band support group.
— Helen L.
March 8, 2003
My research has revealed that some doctors are shying away from the LAP
BAND, because it tends to be tooooo restrictive and for other reasons. You
can read a comparison of the two RNY LAPs on sabariatric.com and decide for
your self.
— Ron T.
March 8, 2003
Judd, I think it is a personal decision, obviously, and there are positives
and negatives to all surgeries. Out of the 5 surgeons associated with WLS
and the hospital I had my RNY at, 2 of them perform lap band. It is
supposed to be safer overall (besides the possibility of foreign object
rejection over time) and you don't have the malabsorption issues that you
do with the RNY. But there is slower weight loss like you said, and my
surgeons said there is a 50% chance possibility of regaining weight,
whereas with RNY it is 10% chance of failure (diet alone is 95% failure
rate). I chose LAP RNY, I already took alot of vitamins, so that wasn't
going to be a problem, and I didn't want to have surgery to lose a smaller
amount of weight. Not saying that people with it don't lose all their
weight, I honestly don't know. I just want to be sure I would lose all my
weight and get to goal and keep it off, and so far I am 10lbs. away from
goal in 9 months. SO it's up to you-goodluck!
— Lezlie Y.
March 8, 2003
My Surgeon and I discussed banding. One of my co-morbs was GERD and he said
that the band exascerbates acid reflux problems and he does not suggest it
for those with GERD or gastritis or any other reflux-related problem. I had
RNY 5 months ago and am thrilled with the results so far!
— JoAnn B.
March 11, 2003
I was going to get the LapBand, then switched to RNY. I took a look at the
pros and cons of each one and had to decide which features of these
surgeries were a higher priority. I was/am PRO LapBand (and IT IS the same
as AGB), so my decision was not because I think the LapBand is a bad
choice.
When it came down to it, I realized I am not a LapBand candidate: I like
sweets - especially shakes and ice cream. I don't have lots of will power.
I need to lose more than 50% of my excess weight.
I decided I had only chosen the Band because I was "gun shy" and
had not given the RNY procedure the same attention and research. Once I
gave as much attention to the RNY - I changed my mind.
The hardest part was facing the fact that I did need a permanent solution.
Everything else that's different about the band (all social, non medical
features) became insignificant to me once I became honest with myself. So
I will live with a scar on my tummy (it will blend in with my stretch
marks!) and I'll need more recovery time. My surgeon prescribes nearly the
same post-op diet to gastric bypass and LapBand patients. So not even THAT
is too different.
Bottom line- take a look at who Inamed (manufacturers) say is a good
LapBand candidate and decide honestly, if this is you. It would have been
easy if this was me, but, alas, it is not. GOOD LUCK!
— toolio
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