So i dont have much approval from my family for gastric my mom keeps telling me just to diet but I need help. Debating if lap band is better my bmi is over 40 i weigh 235 only 5'1 1/2 sick and tired of being heavy..help i need some advice

I decided that bypass was not for me because I didnt want anything permanently done to my body. Plus I didnt want to deal with dumping issues and malabsorption issues. I know there will be issues with the lapband if you dont chew properly or take small enough bites but I like the fact that if worse came to worse and it had to be removed then it could. Plus my husband said not only no but HELLL NO to bypass but supported me in my decision for the lapband.

same here... a lady in my church had bypass, and had a ton of problems after surgery. she lost a ton of blood, blood transfusions, she had to walk with a cane for 2 years, and now she is blind.

My understanding was that people were primarily not band candidates if the shrink or surgeon believed that they would not be able to make the lifestyle and dietary adjustments required to be successful. (Also, heavy drinkers are not band candidates either)

Honestly, you have to work harder with the band than with bypass and we all have to ask ourselves how much work we are willing to do.

Beyond that, look at the stats!!! 1 in 300 gastric bypass patients die. While for the band, it is like 1 in 4000 or more.

A dear friend of mine lost her mom this past Christmas eve due to a gastric bypass gone wrong. There was a bile leak that took them months to find and eventually led to her death. That was enough for me to say I definitely made the right decision for me.

However! My brother and my sister-in-law both had gastric bypass and it has done wonders for them. They do have the occasional dumping syndrome, but it doesn't appear to be any worse than a stuck episode for me (which I've only had 3 in the year I've had the band).

It just needs to be a decision you come to and what you feel is absolutely best for you! There are some people who get the band and then realize it's not working for them and they decide to go ahead with band removal and gastric.

I am the same height as you and chose lapband, i had some second guesses this morning and my hubby talked me back to normal . i weigh 217.

you should be easily able to qualify for either.

I really prefer lap band for all the reasons mentioned, my only worry is with dentures I might be consigning myself to eating babyfood for life.

I picked Lap Band b/c it's safer and it's completely reversible. I know a lady that had severe permanent health issues from a bypass gone bad.

I thought the RNY was too extreme and at the time I decided to do something I did not realize my surgeon did the gastric sleeve. No one mentioned that option was available. I still might have gone with the band because I tend to opt for mininally invasive procedures. I can see, however, that once the operation and aftermath was over, that the sleeve would be simpler to deal with than the band. I'm not sure that would be a good thing, since there would be less control and accountability which is forcing me to change years of bad eating habits. So far I am happy with the band, but there are times when I wish it was all on auto-pilot.

Tink, my surgeon does the vertical sleeve as well, but I'm pretty sure I can't afford it, because I know it costs more than the lap band.

What got me waffling today, was knowing that it's affordable and a lot cheaper than the lapband if I were to go to Mexico. I can't do Mexico for the band because nobody locally will fill "foreign" bands. I'd have to drive 350 miles to the closest fill center. Plus my surgeons fills are $240 w/ a 3 day grace period, if I remember correctly.

I'm not sure what type of aftercare is necessary with the vertical sleeve, but no fills, no ports, no pb's make it tempting.

At my pre-op education class last week they mentioned that they get lots of people requesting lap band surgery after going through gastric bypass. They said they can't do it. I

thought that was interesting.

I like the fact that my anatomy will remain intact and that any nutrients I consume will be fully absorbed. Of course

the morbidity stats and complications of bypass are pretty scary too.

I really prefer LAP-BAND® for all the reasons mentioned, my only worry is with dentures I might be consigning myself to eating babyfood for life.

Is that how you're eating now? I have an full upper denture and a lower partial. Before surgery, I was eating pretty much anything I wanted, tooth wise, and expect to continue that once I'm through with my post-op phases. I'm confused about the connection between dentures and the lap band ...

I don't know about you Amaris, but I can't chew as well with them. I haven't had them long, so maybe that will improve. In fact, you've given me new hope..lol

I've had mine for a few years now. At first, it was a bit of a challenge, but now I eat just about whatever I want. Find a good adhesive and use it liberally -- that will help! Good luck to you, Sooz! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: