I just got back from my first visit with Dr. Davis in Houston. His specialty is general surgery and he kinda pushed the RNY option.

I have decided to go with my gut feeling (no pun intended) and do the banding as opposed to the RNY.

HE thinks with my age and BMI (49 and 48) bypass would be the more permanent and for sure thing.

Are there any 50+ year old bandsters with high BMIs (almost 50) out there and have you lost 100+ lbs? I think I can, I think I can........ !

He stressed the importance of being tested for sleep apnea. Oh bother, I can't stand to think of someone watching me sleep. But apparently it is pretty serious stuff, this sleep apnea.

Just a couple more tests and letters and I'll be ready for a surgery date. Support and dietary and psychological help are biggies with the doctors at Methodist Hospital. That is a good thing.

Banded at 62 years with a 64 BMI. I'm 4 mo out and have a 52 BMI.

I have had absolutely no complications or side effects....not even a gas pain! When I read on the other boards all the complications people with other types of wls are having it makes me so thankful I'm a bandster.

I don't understand his statement that RNY would be more permanent. How much more permanent can you get than to have a band? It is a tool that will work for you the rest of your life as long as you work with it.

Just be sure your surgeon has adequate experience with the band. Many of the surgeons are still pushing the RNY because that's what they know how to do and that's what they are familiar with.

Best wishes!!

Thanks for the encouraging words, Jack and Gayle. I forgot to ask the Dr. how many lap bands he has performed!! I was so busy doing the crawfish out of RNY topics! I will call his office tomorrow and ask. His son is in my insurance network too, I'll ask about his experience too.

Gracias, very important question I forgot to ask!!:faint:

Y'all have both done wonderfully at losing. I hope I am as successful.

I am much more confident about the lap band choice and patient reviews tell me that Drs. Davis and Davis are a great father-son surgical team. I don't think there will be any regrets going with them.

For me the support/psychological and diet help they provide will be a big part of my recovery from morbid obesity.

I couldn't get my experience question answered today but I believe Garth Davis has good experience and both have exc. surgical skill and I couldn't ask for a better hospital.

Happy today w/ the way things are progressing :clap2:

I'm probably looking at about Thanksgiving or Christmas for surgery date. I hope.

You must have seen Dr Robert Davis. He's a very experienced surgeon and a sweetie but isn't into LapBands really. Check his son.

They've got a great Father/Son Surgeon office: nice family atmosphere!

His son Dr Garth (since they've both surgeons they often call them by Dr +First Name) is great - now he has tons more RnY experience but he does LapBands now and he's very enthusiastic about it.

So I would ask that you consult with Dr Garth before you make your final decision.

Good Luck!

~ NewSho ~

Who's seen or knows - dang near every Bariatric Doc in Texas, I think.. LOL :biggrin1:

I have to agree with Gayle. I don't know why RNY would be better. All I hear about is the trouble people are having with regaining. And that includes all ages and sizes. I know a lot of them. I think you're making the right choice. I haven't been as successful as some, my loss is pretty slow, but it's working. I am 51 and had a 50+ bmi.

Banded at age 49 with a BMI of 51. That was just shy of seven months ago. I've lost 85 pounds.

The band doesn't do all of the work for you, but then neither does the RnY. It still requires making healthy food choices and avoiding liquid calories but if your downfall is quantity or breads, the band is certainly more than capable of assisting you in the weight loss. Best wishes.

I am 48 and had a BMI of 62 when I started this journey. I have had three docs try to talk me into RNY, but I stood my ground. Yeah, I was afraid I wouldn't be capable of achieving the loss I want from my lap band, but I found someone on a mailing list who was -196 after two years and she was over 50. She has since gone past that loss and I have faith that I can as well. So far, I have gone from BMI of 62 to BMI of 55.

Good luck in your journey...

Thank you for all the support and encouraging words. I did see Dr. Robert, NewSho, and I have decided to go ahead with him. I will be his third lap band patient. He has been skillfully performing surgeries for 30 years. He will be assisted by Dr. Garth and another surgeon who has had over 500 lap band surgeries. I feel like I am in good hands and am enthused about how the Weight Management Center at Methodist treats the whole person as I need a lot of support pre and post op and help with the psychological aspect of recovery from this MO. I am excited to hear about others who have lost 100 plus lbs. Thank you for sharing this info with me.

Way to go PhotoNut. I hope I acheive such outstanding results so quickly. I hope you'll share some more of your good habits with me. I am developing my post op game plan and would appreciate the advice you can offer me on this!! My downfall is highly refined carbs.

Banded at age 49 with a BMI of 51. That was just shy of seven months ago. I've lost 85 pounds.

The band doesn't do all of the work for you, but then neither does the RnY. It still requires making healthy food choices and avoiding liquid calories but if your downfall is quantity or breads, the band is certainly more than capable of assisting you in the weight loss. Best wishes.

Sounds like you're losing about two pounds/week. That is excellent progress. I am not going to be talked into the RNY either. It is just not my preference. I am excited for you. Thank you for sharing your progress with me. I have hope!!

I am 48 and had a BMI of 62 when I started this journey. I have had three docs try to talk me into RNY, but I stood my ground. Yeah, I was afraid I wouldn't be capable of achieving the loss I want from my lap band, but I found someone on a mailing list who was -196 after two years and she was over 50. She has since gone past that loss and I have faith that I can as well. So far, I have gone from BMI of 62 to BMI of 55.

Good luck in your journey...

Well at least your weight is going in the right direction. I bet you're feeling better too. I have along journey too and I'd love for it to just fall off overnight, but if it goes slowly I'll be ok with the loss however I can get it. Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

I have to agree with Gayle. I don't know why RNY would be better. All I hear about is the trouble people are having with regaining. And that includes all ages and sizes. I know a lot of them. I think you're making the right choice. I haven't been as successful as some, my loss is pretty slow, but it's working. I am 51 and had a 50+ bmi.

Speaking of RNY, anybody seen the commercials for Celebrity Fit Club 4? Is that Carny Wilson among the hopeful losers??? Are my eyes playing tricks on me??? There is a good advertisement for not getting an RNY. Hasn't been that long since her surgery and already she is needing help to lose weight she had already lost at one time...

Heya Mert - My good habits would include:

1. NO flour (this means breads, pastas, etc Im a dough addict)

2. NO sugar (I do have peaches in light syrup but I drain them)

3. Minimum of 60g of Protein per day (fish, chicken, beef, tuna)

4. Minimum of 64oz Water per day

This month I have slacked off on water. I've been liberal with the wine. And I've been low on protein due to a too tight band. I only lost 2 pounds.

The fill is out and the wine is out, so it's time to get back on track! :tea:

I'd be happy to help you with any suggestions. Feel free to PM me if ya want. :bowl:

PhotoNut,

Thank you for the suggestions. I like that because it is very easy to remember and follow. Info overload overwhelms me.

I will have to find out what 60 oz of meat looks like.

Careful, there, Mert, that was 60 grams of protein, not 60 ounces of meat. I had to read back through the thread to be sure of what was said... LOL, that would be a lot of meat in one day. There are 6-7 grams of protein in an ounce of meat, so you would be looking at 9-10 ounces of meat, but you can get protein from other things, too, like cottage cheese, eggs, milk. A grande latte at Starbucks has 20 grams of protein... I can just see the size of your eyes, looking at 60 ounces of meat... LOL