I'm pre-band, and my dr keeps pressing the RNY surgery on me, saying that I won't have good results at my very large size with the lapband. I'm 330 and have a BMI of over 50. I don't want the RNY, but I could use some words of support from lap-banders who started at over 300 and feel like it was a good choice. Thanks!

I started at 329! I am down to 284, and I was banded on 11/09/05. Don't let anyone pressure you into any surgery you don't want!!!

i know people (not on this board) that started out even higher then you and have done great with the band.

one person started at 445lbs and is down to 180lbs. alot of what is left is extra skin weight.

the weight loss is slower at first with the band but after (i believe) 12 - 16 months the weight loss is about the same pace.

I'm over the 300lbs. and look forward to the lap band

304 ...not yet banded, but will be on March 21!!!!

I started at 312. Not too far into the process yet, but no regrets either. There are LOTS of Doctors, but only one You! Do what you feel is best.

Brenda

Well i was almost at the 300 mark i probably was 300 at some point but date of surgery i was 297...

Kim

I Got My Band At 576...and I'm Down To 213...(Have An Appt. Monday To See How Much More I've Lost)...BUT.....I've been banded for 2 years 3 months & I've had a great success with the band!......

Started at 420, now under 320, banded on 7/19/05.

No problems, couldn't be happier!

I started at 305 and in 7 months got down to 230. I am now pregnant and not losing weight, but once baby comes watch out!

It can be done. Good luck to you.

I started at 307 (prediet) and have lost 26 pounds since surgery on Jan 9th. You couldn't pay me to get a bypass. Not noway, not nohow! The bypass will take it off quicker, but there are too many trade-offs for me. Stats show that three years after surgery, bypass and band patients have lost about the same percentage of excess body fat, but that bypass patients tend to regain the weight again.

Best of luck in your decision. And I agree, find a doctor that does what YOU want. Don't be pressured into anything you don't feel good about.

I also started out over 300...just a little at 303, but I can't see why at 330 you couldn't get banded. Like the rest are saying, there are many people over 300 who have it done.

i was 385 presurgery and 375 day of (aug 17 05) now 325 (6 months) . lap band is great i have no complaints at all . find some one else who is a supporter of lap band cause it doesnt sound like that guy is

I was 332 pre-band. I am now 275. We decided on the band together, my surgeon and I. At no time was there any pressure, just the comment that it was my life, my body, my decision. The doctor totally supported me. Maybe you should check into another doctor?

Good Luck

I am scheduled 2 weeks from today at 308 and 51BMI. My surgeon considers me a good candidate and he has done a lot of these.

:wave:

I'm significantly over 300 with a BMI over 50. Ok, so I'm an amazon too, but that's no excuse. I was told by my PCP that I was "the best candidate she had ever seen". My surgeon, who performs both procedures, never once brought up RNY during any of my meetings with him.

I posted a smiliar question on another board after seeing a lot of people with "only" 80 or so lbs to lose. I got an overwhelming response of 50+ BMI'ers with lap. It really made me feel better about my decision.

If RNY were my only option, I wouldn't be having WLS.

Oh, edit to add - my surgery is WEDNESDAY of next week.