How did you choose RNY or Lap Band?? - ThinnerTimes

taylormomto6 · 04-06-2008, 10:57 PM

I'm just so undecided. There are advatages to both procedures and I'm having trouble knowing which one is best for me. It's a huge decision and I don't want to make the wrong choice.

We have just now got insurance (Blue Shield Access + HMO) through my husbands employer (couldnt afford it til now) and if I don't make the right choice, I'll still be fat forever.

Why did you choose RNY over Lap Band??

CIndy T

Tashini · 04-07-2008, 12:59 AM

Hiya

After discussing my eating habits, diet history and medical issues, my surgeon decided the RNY would be the better option for me. I had a very sweet tooth and had a great love of fizzy drinks. I also had high BP and type 2 diabetes. The RNY was definitely the right choice for me as I am rid of all medical probs and no longer crave sugar or fizzy.

Before making your decision you should discuss things with your surgeon and then research whatever recommendation he makes for you to make sure you are happy with his choice BUT ensuring that whatever procedure you have is the one that is likely to give you the best results.

All the best

T xxx

LisaAS36 · 04-07-2008, 05:46 AM

I attended two "free information" seminars put on by two different medical groups, both did both procedures and were not pushing either over the other. However both explained that if you had a lot of weight to lose, the bypass would be most effective.

Another factor was that anyone I talked to that had bypass said they never regretted it, I also keep seeing that opinion on internet forums I would read over. However, I did see several cases of people with the lap band saying it wasn't working for them and a few cases where lap banders were now having the bypass surgery.

Even though I went through major life changing surgery ( I kept telling myself better now than for surgery after a stroke or heart attack) I didn't like the thoughts of having to keep going back and getting a lap band adjusted.

Please don't think I'm comparing the two in a one is better than the other way, I'm just laying out my personal thought process in why I went one route instead of the other.

good luck which ever way you go -

chiquita · 04-07-2008, 09:22 AM

My surgeon does both surgeries.
At first I thought I wanted the less invesive one and wanted the lap band because it was less invasive and less death risk and complication risk then RNY.
But after reading for a long time from a forum I was in called lapbandtalk.com, and hearing what the ups and downs of the fills and what not, I was starting to wonder if RNY was best for me, especially due to my weight. Most people having the lap band done where much much less heavy then I was.
When I got to the doctors office for my first visit I was going to talk to them about it but the nurse beat me to it, and she said that with my weight, I was a better candidate for RNY.
When the doctor came in to see me, he said that with the lap band I was likely to loose half of the weight I needed to loose, then after that it would take lots of work and effort of my part to continue. He asked me if I was happy if I lost only half of what I needed to loose, and I said no way, I want to get to 130. So that kind of answered that.

I would think it you have over 100 lbs to loose, you should consider RNY, less, then consider the lap band. But the decition is ultimately yours, do get informed and read read read all you can, good or bad, it should help you make your mind.

Best wishes.

chiquita

moosie · 04-07-2008, 09:34 AM

I went to seminars, talked to patients of both, spoke to my dr and my surgeon, and did tons of research. In the end I thought the RNY was best for me, good thing too, because my ins. didn't cover the band.

markntia · 04-07-2008, 07:12 PM

The numbers dont' lie: Long term studies have proven that people with the lap band lose (on average) 50% of the weight they need to lose, while gastric bypass patients lose 75-85%.

Plus we wanted something permanent rather than easily changeable.

Here's my surgeon's site on the subject: Weight Loss Surgery at the Institute for Laparoscopic Surgery - Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass or LapBand?

AmityA · 04-07-2008, 07:18 PM

I was die hard on the LapBand at first. Then I got online and starting reading forums and research papers. I figured out that I needed something that could keep me honest ( dumping) I dont plan on trying to cheat my RNY but it is the better option for me. Plus, my insurance didnt cover the Lap Band fills. I cant afford a couple hundred dollars every few months for maintenence.