I have an aquaintance-type friend who recently decided to have RNY--i think the time between her decision to do it and actual surgery was about two weeks--she paid cash for it--no insurance authorization necessary----

Anyhoo---why would anyone want RNY over LapBand? I can't think of one reason!

Wondering what your thoughts on this are....

Faster weight loss (initially), some people actually WANT the dumping syndrome so they'll be stopped from eating sweets. some people think the 'maintenance' of a lapband is more than they want to deal with. little do they know that maintenance is FAR less than they'll have to deal with with RNY. They don't really register that malabsorption and taking supplements for LIFE literally really means LIFE. They don't hear it when people discuss their incessant flatulence and diarrhea problems.

I think it's more of an instant gratification thing.

That's interesting--since this gal (to each her own) didn't think about weight loss surg until I told her mom (who is a good friend of mine) that I was looking into insurance authorization--then poof! I got approved and she had a surgery date--for RNY--

she is a three pack a day smoker, too....

I just couldn't figure out why someone would take those risks instead of the band.....

Has she had her surgery yet? Let's just hope that she's one of the lucky ones who don't have any serious after-surgery problems!

I've wondered about this, too. Given ALL the facts I cannot understand why someone would choose RNY over banding unless there is really a dire health situation that requires immediate and substantial weight loss. RNY boosters seem to gloss over the fact that the effects of the surgery will fade after some time, and to say the risks are essentially the same as those with "any surgery." Hah.

There's a lot of talk about the "tool" aspect of WLS, and how patients have to use it correctly or it won't work. But there's no TIME to learn to use a bypass correctly--immediately after surgery RNY patients are forced to eat their tiny amounts and avoid any foods that might be problematic. This strikes me as a formula for emotional and psychological difficulties, added on top of the various physical challenges RNY surgery presents. Yikes.

Nope, I don't get it. People opting for bypass often see it as a path of immediate results and can't or won't see past the near future. I know I used to believe that "if I can only get this weight off I KNOW I'll be able to keep it off!" But we all know that's not true, and even having compromised digestion and metabolism won't guarantee permanent results.

*Being* thin doesn't mean one will *stay* thin. EATING LESS is all that can make that happen. And one doesn't necessarily learn to eat less with the bypass.

Yes, she had surgery on Friday. I saw her on Wed. last week and told her to get out of that bed as soon as possible after surgery!

Time will tell how she does--apparently she has a good friend who had this done--I met the friend--what a sour puss she was! however, she was about 160 pounds lighter than when I had seen her years ago......So I am guessing that she told her how great it was and that is why she chose RNY over lapband.

Can I say it here???? I think that decision is CRAZY!!!!!

On a sad note I had a very dear friend who had the gastric bypass in January..she never left the hospital until she died this past Tuesday morning..her funeral was today. I wish she had done the lap band, her problems she has suffered since her surgery is part of what made me go for the lap band over the gastric bypass. She was 58 years old and a nurse here at our local hospital.

Oh! I am so sorry to hear about your friend! That's really terrible and sad.......((hugs))

I don't mean to sound overly critical of my aquaintence friend, just the way it played out made it seem like a really impulsive, uninformed decision.......oh, and the SPEED of a cash transaction is amazing!

I am truly hoping she heals quickly and adpats nicely to her new way of life.....(but just know that I am going to look better!)

LOL

You dont sound over critical..believe me I tried talking my friend out of this but many think quick weight losss is the way to go.

I have another friend who had the bypass 2 years ago and I saw her yesterday for the first time in about 6 months, she got to goal and had the plastic surgery to remove the loose skin but when I saw her yeaterday one look and I knew shad had been putting weight back on and of course she told me she had gained about 15 pounds back, I noticed though she was grazing all day long near the food table. Not to mention she had the dumping syndrome going on all day long due to her sugar intake with the cookies and brownines she was eating, if she wasnt at the food table she was in the bathroom. This is what happens alot with bypass patients there window of opportunity runs out and eventually the start regaining the weight back unlike us who are banded can just go get a fill to tighten our bands to decrease our appetite and our intake. Yesterday was the firsttime she had seen me since my surgery, she was very surpised with my progress and very happy for me. I just hope and pray for her sake she gets control over this and does not put all her wieght back on.

Michelle, I'm so sorry about your friend! I think a lot of people are so desperate to lose the weight. And, in some cases, their insurance will only pay for the bypass. I know I seriously considered the bypass. But, fortunately, for forums like this I was able to get some factual information that helped me in my decision.

My friend had the RNY along with a co worker and she lost and her co worker ate through her procedure. She came home from the hospital and had a grill cheese sandwich. She said it was the most painful thing in her life. Anyhoo I say all this to say that people don't know a lot about the band yet and so they don't trust it. They have seen a lot of pub about the other one and not nearly enough on how much damage it actualy does. When I mention that I had weight loss surgery they are quick to ask if I had my stomic stappled or had the rny. So there is not a lot of knowlege out there about the band. But as an aside it sounds as if her friend knew the difference and choose the more dangerous procedure...

Just my 2 cents

Michelle, Im also so very sorry to hear of your friends death. How horrible :think Fortunately I do not know anyone personally that has died from WLS.

When I was thinking about WLS, the GB surgeon said that it WAS permanent and "the band" was only temporary (meaning one day you may have it removed and the weight comes back). Of coarse I know the truth NOW.

I vote on what Leatha said, its the instant gratification thing.

I agree that alot make it for the instant gratification thing..

However since i been reaing about that lap band and working towards getting it. However it seems like insuarnce wats ya to get a rny.. Since i know if i wanted it i would have no problems i am facing gettng the lap band.

But on another note. The surgeon i am seeing about a lap band will even tell me if you have diabetes or other health issues he pushes ya towards a rny over lap band. So I dunno.

A rny scares me to death persoanlly..