I choose the gastric bypass. My doctor said the band was good for people who were good at making healthy food choices but just needed portion control, but that people who ate a lot of sugary, high-fat food often do better with chosing the bypass. That's me. In addition, it's my understanding that people often lose more weight and lose it faster with the bypass. I also didn't want a foreign body inside my body. I didn't want to have to go back again and again for fills. I have since read that some people's bodies actually reject the band, since it is a foreign object.
Since being a member of this board, I have seen a lot of people with lap bands going back to surgery for a bypass because the band didn't work for them. They went through the surgery to get the band but failed to lose much weight. I have even learned that some insurance companies no longer cover the band because of its high failure rate and the possibility of complications.
Now, some people do very well with the band, lose lots of weight and have no problems with it. But getting the right fill can be tricky for some people. I wanted something that seemed more "guaranteed." In your case, you should also consider your diabetes. It's my understanding that that often responds better to bypass than band.
In the end, you're the one who has to live with your decision. Talk to your doctor about what is best for you. Don't base your decision on what well-meaning but uneducated people might tell you.
Kelly
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RNY 11/4/08
surgery/current/goal
270/147/130
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