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????????????????

I have a friend who has had the Gastric Bypass (2 weeks prior to my surgery) and she looks great! She went from 250 to 150 in less than a year and is in a size 10 but she did have major complications afterwards and to me she is losing way too fast. I know some people who have that surgery can get dark circles under their eyes and a lot more loose skin than those of us who have had the band which is a slower process for weight loss. To me the biggest reason was because of the ability to reverse this surgery and you couldn't the bypass. It just seemed safer to me and gave me more than one option.

The safety issues and reversibility if necessary were the biggest issues. Malabsorbtion just doesn't seem healthy to me if weight loss can be done some other way. And I also didn't like the idea of reworking my insides! I'm so thankful to have had the option of the band. Even if it does have to come out someday (hopefully f aw into the future), I'll always be glad I did this.

Emily

Thanks so much for your reply. I agree with you about the plumbing issue!!!

Yes, my doctor has discussed with me about insulin resistance. I am going in tomorrow for a Glucose Tolerance Test. I have been on Metformin but no ovulation. Gonna try a few more fertility options...shots, clomid, etc. If no luck in a few months (when insurance stops paying) gonna go for banding and adoption!! Thanks again and good luck with your banding.

For me, I went through a very difficult time in my life where I put my weight loss aside to deal with other issues. For 2 years, I was able to put it aside. I gained, but not as much as without the band. Once I got back on track, my band was waiting for me. If I had the RNY, I would have gained the weight back, then been back to square one, but with rearranged insides... I like knowing that you can put this aside if you are dealing with medical issues, etc and come back to it when you are ready.

I do believe that the RNY/DS is the way to go for some people. But I think that no matter what surgery you choose, you HAVE to learn to eat properly and totally change. For RNYers, they have to learn before their window of opportunity closes, or they are fighting the battle of losing more or just keeping the weight off. For bandsters, it can be more gradual. You may not lose as fast, but you kind of learn as you go. And after a couple of years, we should be in the same boat, though the band is still adjustable and the body is intact.

For some people, they don't realize that it is the journey of losing weight that will make you successful, not the actual surgery. You have to change the way you eat while making the correct choices of food and movement. Or else you will feel frustrated and defeated that the tool that they chose does not work.

I have a friend who lost 196 pounds using the lapband. Her doctor is removing some of the fill because she is still losing and she hit goal a while ago. How sweet is that? The band is adjustable. If she had the RNY and she was losing past her goal, she may be in trouble medically, like some RNYers find themselves.

For me, the lapband was the best option.

Many infertility issues are helped with weight loss. It doesn't matter what surgery you have, if you have any surgery...

And I believe that you have to decide what surgery is best for YOU. You have to do all the research and decide based on fact, not from the opinion of a surgeon. For many surgeons, they are for RNY and DS because it puts more money into their pockets, require less maintenance (bands need adjustments), and they are less experienced (here in the US). If your surgeon is pushing for bypass and you are not 100% comfortable with that, find another surgeon. Go outside the US, to Mexico, and be self-pay. It was the best $10k I ever spent.

Ok, so I am not banded yet... but this is the reason I chose the band over RNY.

A few summers ago, I worked at a Bariatric Surgery Center answering calls, signing in patients etc. I saw so many things go wrong with the RNY patients and I swore I would never do it. One phone call still sticks in my mind...

A woman called me post-op. Crying/screaming. She did not know why she had done this to herself and wanted it reversed right then. "Can't the doctor just sew the parts back in the right place before I heal up?", "I don't know what I was thinking... take it back... fix it... help me please..."

I did the best I could with the woman, and finally gave her to the nurse on duty.

That call repeats in my mind, especially lately since my date is so close. But I know if I freak out and need the band removed, at least they can do it.

I sure hope that woman is doing ok now.

I absolutely hate the idea of malabsorbtion. I had complications with my bad, but at least I could remove it. I am happy with my VG so far.

Rachel!

Good luck with whatever avenue you take to have a child - all those options all are very stressful and get even more so over time - just be prepared for lots of ups and downs but don't give up! I'll pray for your success!

Andy Liz

Wow Poodles. That is so frightening.

It just goes to show you the power that food has over us. I'll be honest, I've had a few days like that, especially the week or 2 after surgery. Last week wasn't so hot either.....filled too tight, mushy diet for 6 days before ANOTHER unfill. But, that's the key word.....unfill. Fill, unfill....get pregnant? unfill Can't stop eating?....fill going on vacation???? unfill (uh, well...)

My girlfriend who had RNY almost died while pregnant and after she had her baby. They couldn't figure out what was wrong. Found out it was severe anemia. She had to quit her job, they lost their house and have never recovered.

Although lapband is not without complications, it is reversable...