My surgeon had a nice talk with me and he said on patients over 300 pounds, he prefers that they get gastric bypass instead of AGB. I have always wanted to get banded instead, but at 400 pounds, am I SOL?

I think he's worried about complying with the longer period of weight loss and says I won't lose all the weight I should. My father, a retired doc, says RYGB would be surer of weight loss.

Opinions, thoughts, any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated! I need to decide soon, as all I'm waiting for is my PCP's letter.

Thanks in advance,

Bill (Red wine lover)

I was also confused on what to do. I was 319 before I had my lap band. And I love my sweets. But I have a couple of friends who had Gastric Bypass done and I knew it was not for me. I dont know if that is the same thing you are looking into or not. But I know for me the band was the best choice. I am losing slowely now. But I have had no complications and feel better then ever. I just did not want to have to deal with all the side effects and complications that can come from the other surgery. But it is a very important decision. Good luck to you on what ever you choose.

I chose lapband because it was noninvasive. The thought of the other surgery sounds much more difficult. On your case, if you have so much to lose just remember this..the lapband takes more time than the bypass. You can lose 1-2 lb a week once you hit a certain mark. I like the fact that the lapband is up to me in some regard. I can still eat sweets and drink alcohol. I also heard that the malabsorption is a problem with gastric bypass. Getting the right nutrition will be very important. Good luck with your quest.

My husband was banded and he was close to 500 lbs. He was the largest person (at the time) that our surgeon had ever put the band on. Everything went very well. He has had no problems and while we are both slow loosers, he has lost well over 100 lbs. in 2 years. I will say that it took quite a while for him to get good restriction which I think played a part in him not loosing even more weight so far. If you would really rather have the band I say go for it!

My surgeon had a nice talk with me and he said on patients over 300 pounds, he prefers that they get gastric bypass instead of AGB. I have always wanted to get banded instead, but at 400 pounds, am I SOL?

Hmm. I weighed 382 the day of surgery, about 9 months ago. That's about 130 pounds lost and I still have about 25% of my first year to go. Don't take that the wrong way, that's not "yay me" or "look how good I am" - has nothing to do with that. It's me, having been in your shoes, having to ask others if a 200 pound loss was even POSSBILE with the band, because in the research I did, it seemed like the average bandster had about 80 - 100 pounds to lose... and for someone as overweight as I was, surely the more drastic measures were all that could work.

I certainly wouldn't say I'm SOL, so I certainly can't say you are either.

I think he's worried about complying with the longer period of weight loss and says I won't lose all the weight I should. My father, a retired doc, says RYGB would be surer of weight loss.

RNY could be a surer way to lose weight, but it's definitely not a more sure method, it's just a method that removes some elements of responsibility for behavior and decisions.

I know a lot of people who have had RNY, and by a lot I'm talking about 20 - 25. Three of them are close friends. I can guarantee you from their experiences that RNY is not the golden ticket to weight loss. One of the three I know well is now heavier than when she had the RNY performed. One is 120# down - about 40# short of her goal but hasn't lost anything in over a year, and the other is within 5 lbs of her surgery weight. I can also tell you that only one is happy with her situation, the other is so full of regret she wishes she had stayed clear of WLS alltogether, and the third's words to me were, "I'm just now starting to see the long term effects of this thing. I wish I'd thought more seriously about the band."

Opinions, thoughts, any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated! I need to decide soon, as all I'm waiting for is my PCP's letter.

The band does require you to take ownership for your behaviors. You can eat ice cream all day, never PB, and never lose weight. And on RNY you can pack your pouch to the point that it stretches back out, and then what? It's not like you can just go in and get a fill. THAT'S when you're kind of SOL.

Thanks in advance,

Bill (Red wine lover)

Oh, BTW. My surgeon, who also performs RNY, was asked, "If it was a member of your family, which surgery would you encourage them to have?"

His answer, without hesitation, was the lap-band.

Every doctor has their preferences. Don't let that dictate what's right for you. Weight the pros and cons of each, look at the lifestyle, and go with what you believe will give you the best odds for success.

Feel free to post or PM me if you have any questions, about my RNY friends, my experiences, whatever.

I was 393 when I got the band. You're not too heavy. The choice is purely yours but if you don't want gastric bypass then don't do it!

GOod luck hon!

I think it's good to listen to people, and get advice. But in the end, make the decision that you think will work for you. Each sugery has it's pros and cons.

Bill -

You - NOT your Doc - will have to decide what is best for you. Your doc can advise - but he cannot live your life for you.

If YOU believe that you will be better off with the band - then go for it. You may have to fight with your insurance company - as I did - but it is well worth it. I didn't want the permanent change to my intestinal tract - and I would have been miserable with the stricter restrictions on food.

Besides the shock of losing the weight fast is not necessarily good for your body, or your soul.

But - you need to research both options - and YOU need to make the decision. Once you decide - don't let anyone change your mind - even us.

:]

Lap band is definately the more noninvasive option...but there is still work to be done...how committed are you...if you ARE then bring on the lapband..you'll do great! Just take one day at a time..

Bill -

You - NOT your Doc - will have to decide what is best for you. Your doc can advise - but he cannot live your life for you.

- - - - - - -

But - you need to research both options - and YOU need to make the decision. Once you decide - don't let anyone change your mind - even us.

:]

ReneBean,

You're absolutely right! I've spent the last couple of months researching both options. I feel much more comfortable with the idea of using the band as a tool, instead of malabsorbtion, which isn't exactly rocket science, just food not being fully absorbed in a re-wired body.

Thanks for everyone's advice, I *will* do what's best for ME!

Bill (Red wine lover) :eek:

I weighed 4 hundred something at the time of surgery but I don't remember what.

Lap band is definately the more noninvasive option...but there is still work to be done...how committed are you...if you ARE then bring on the lapband..you'll do great! Just take one day at a time..

Flabuless,

I'm definately committed! When I went thru the hospital's liquid diet, I lost 133 pounds, (early 90's), and never once cheated. (Shortly afterwards I was unemployed for 11 months, boy I hate being a stress eater!).

Now, all I have to do is get my insurance company on board . . . .

Bill (Red wine lover)