The biggest reason why I'm glad I got a band rather than RNY

[vluckey 1]

I know, there's hundreds of reasons. But I have one in particular.

My experience has been that losing weight with a band is not all that dissimilar from regular dieting, with the exception of having a big help on the inside. You still need to exercise, make good food choices, and supplement. (At least I do)

Yes, I know you can lose weight without those things, but not as quickly and not a healthily. I'm doing this for health.

RNY patients (at least the ones I know) can initially really lose their weight regardless of food choices or exercise. That is why many lose 80% of their excess weight in the first 6 months. Fast, easy success. Sounds great, right?

Well my best friend had RNY 7 years ago. Lost 120 lbs. Didn't exericise, supplement regularly or make good food choices. She almost died from a serious Iron deficiency, has never felt great and is having all kinds of little health issues. She has pain all of the time, is being tested for MS and other things. She has serious digestion problems. I personally think it's from the Vitamin deficiencies. Besides all of that......she's back up to a 14-16. She was at one point in a size 6. She cannot get control of her eating.

I know that what I am doing today to get the weight off is what I will need to do for the rest of my life. So yes, I eat hot dogs, Cookies and sweets every once in a while. But I also generally eat better for the most part.

I guess what I love is that in order to get where I want to go, I have to work at it, which is setting me up for future success keeping the weight off.

So, why are you glad????????????????

[Elisabethsew 50]

I had a number of reasons for choosing lapband over bypass:

I already have Iron deficiency anemia.

I did not want a long recovery.

I did not want to take MORE supplements than I already do.

I was not keen on malabsorption as a means to weight loss.

The band is easily reversible.

That said, it is important to realize that I am not against any weight loss surgery and believe it is a personal decision that should involve the patient and the surgeon. I made the best choice for me. Now, if I could only feel some restriction... LOL (first fill 5/25).

[Jachut 487]

I couldnt have said it better myself. I want to do the work for this. Whilst I dont in any way look at someone who's filled tight or who's had a bypass as taking the easy option, I prefer for myself to remain fairly loosely filled and to have to actively work on my appetite and food choices.

I'm not actually doing that great at the moment, although I havent gained at all. I"m pretty sure I could gain at this level of restriction. But I really feel that I need to get control of these things not just rely on my band.

A lot of people may think well, why have the band then, but to be honest I've hit two Patches so far where I would have just chucked it in and regained all my weight plus some. If I stick at 93kg for a year I dont really care. Well maybe that's an exaggeration, lol, but I dont see the answer to it as being another fill, I see it as working harder.

[Musicmom 0]

I've been reading, researching and asking questions for about a year now and I've pretty much come to the same conclusions you have as the reason I want to have the band versus another form of surgery. I figure that God put the parts in me that he wanted me to have, so I'd rather not mess with them. The band just may be the tool I need to finally get the weight off without messing with my head, too.

[S@ssen@ch 745]

Vanessa,

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I personally believe that the band is "the thinking person's WLS". In order to be successful, we need to learn to adapt to a healthier lifestyle. The band is kind enough to give us lots of time to learn this versus the "window of opportunity" afforded the RNY patients. And should we fall off our plan, it's always there to help us when we're ready to use it's restrictions.

Yes, RNY is faster, initially. But, if the patients don't learn to eat healthy, exercise and make sure their malabsorbing bodies get enough of the nutrients it needs to survive.....problems usually follow. Those problems can range from malnutrition and digestive disorders, to osteoporosis and other joint problems, to even gaining most if not all of their weight back.

It's these things, among others that lead me to my decision to have lap band. Primary reason was that I refused to have my natural digestive tract permanently altered with a malabsorptive surgical intervention. With the band, it's merely restricted and that's enough for me.

[Nana~ 4]

Because I knew Sweet treats were not my issue I never abused them in eatting habbits. So why have a surgery that cuts my stomach up and that scares the all heck out of me in itself, but also from what Ive heard from people who have the bypass sweets make them sick.

My issue was not proper eatting. One fatty meal a day sometimes. I wanted "Help" loosing weight not something that could make me really sick and possibly too skinny and not healthy.

I love my band!

[Dragonwillow 0]

Hmm, my reasons. Well my mother had a type of bypass surgery...lost a ton of weight, got all types of medical issues and regained all her weight, She was in the 300's at least when she passed in her early 50's. As long as I can recall, I've never seen my mom make good food choices....some of the bad habits I myself picked up.

Just recently I had my 6 month blood work done. Some of my Vitamins were seriously low and are being addressed. I wonder, if I had RNY would I even have made it to 6 months without having to be hospitalized or worse. If my Vitamin D dropped to 14 when it should be somewhere areound 32-100 with no malabsorbtion issues, what would it have been with. My Iron is also low along with B1. It just makes me thankful I chose the right surgery for me.

[HamuChan 0]

My big reason for choosing the band....my sister was in the hospital for 2 months after her RNY and nearly died, very severe complications. Now all her weight is coming back on, I feel so bad for her. She feels so hopeless. Thank God the lap-band was invented. It is the BEST option for me.

[Miper70 0]

Hamu,

Just so you know, Dr. Ortiz in Mexico does RnY to lap-band patients all of the time. I'm not quite sure what he does, but you could call and find out.

http://www.obesitycontrolcenter.com/index.html

[legallyKristin 0]

I knew the problem was with my mind allowing me to choose bad food options. I needed something to help give me the will power to change those decisions. RNY was covered by my insurance, lapband wasn't. But I didn't want a quick fix, I needed a permanent fix.

Now I'm working through head issues WHILE losing weight. Not sitting around waiting on my body to dump all the weight on its own. I have to work with my body. I am finally in control of my body, rather than my body being in control of me. (Well my band is in control about 75% of the time, but we work well together generally!)

Kristin

[maudeispam 2]

I have several reasons for choosing the Lap band over RNY or any other surgery.

1. I didn't want stinky poo like everyone I know who has had RNY or other weightloss surgeries.

2. I wanted a tool, not a quick fix.

3. Lap Band is safer!

4. It can be adjusted for my lifestyle (babies), weight gain etc.

5. Was available here in town, I wouldnt have to travel far for follow ups.

[rachelbknox 1]

Thank you so much to all of you that posted. I am so glad to read this. I am considering Lap Band. I have 80-90 lbs to lose and I am considering lap band. However, my dcotor keeps pushing RNY. I am beginning to think it's because he can get more money out of my insurance!! I don't want the body alterations that come with the bypass!!! My husband is scared to death of bypass (after attending the seminar) but is more tolerate of the Lap Band. Oh...Another thing....they said at this clinic that Bypass will cure infertility (another struggle of mine) in 90% of patients. But, they said they have seen no increase in fertility among those who had lap band. Huh? My Repro Endo said ANY weight loss increases chances of ferility!! I suffer from PCOS which responds well to weight loss. What is up with them. They kept telling me I wouldn't lose but 50% of my excess weight, but I see so many people losing more on here! HELP....

[Dragonwillow 0]

I have never been reported to have a fertility problem....but I do know that before I got pregnant with both children I lost a good bit of weight. The oldest I lost like 30lbs before gettitng pregnant, and the youngest right at 50lbs. I'm near the 50lb mark now and pushing hubby towards a vasectomy. LOL My doctors says that any large weight fluctation...especially down, will increase fertility.

[Scott F 0]

My sister had stomach bypass surgery 20 years ago. No doubt it saved her life. But recently she was diagnosed with a severe Iron deficiency and was told she has been having a series of mini-strokes that are somehow related to a vitamin/mineral deficiency. She says she was never told of potential problems from the malabsorbtion, but it occurs to me that as an RN she should have stayed better informed herself.

This reminds me that over the next 20-40 years I need to keep up on what my lapband may be doing to me. Also, I have a venacava (spelling?) tulip filter that has not been tested long term and could cause problems. Perhaps a couple of Google searches every few years would be in order?

[Andy Liz 0]

Rachel - I had PCOS too, have since had a hysterectomy and have never felt better - except for the fat. I have not had the band placed yet, but have heard on several sites it referred to as the "fertility band". That tells me something right there! I wish I had this technology available to me before my hysterectomy but I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

Yes, any weight loss is beneficial to increase fertility in a PCOS patient. I went to a very aggressive fertility specialist and he continually encouraged me to eat a low carb diet and to lose weight. I'm sure your doc has talked to you about the insulin resistance issues involved with PCOS....? If not, it would definitely be worth investigating. Good luck to you and keep me posted on your decision and progress.

In keeping with this thread, I've chosen the band over RNY or other bypass surgeries because of everything that's already been mentioned but my biggest deciding factor is because it's not permanent. I just don't like the idea of my plumbing being reworked!

Andy Liz

Planning on a July banding with Rumbaut