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lap band or rny?



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I'm getting surgery the end of may but i can't decide which one to get. how did you guys decide?

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I'm getting surgery the end of may but i can't decide which one to get. how did you guys decide?

I started with the lap-band....because it seemed so easy. Reversible, help my appetite, etc. I was miserable with my band for 2 1/2 years before it slipped, herniated my stomach and requiring emergency removal. My 'so easy' lap-band had done so much damage and scarring that my surgeon could not convert me to an RNY and sent me home to heal for 6 months....I'm now2 weeks post-op from my RNY.

The band works for some. I was not that lucky. Even following the rules I had problems. Even with a band that was empty or almost empty I had problems. If my allergies were acting up or I had a cold I wouldn't able to eat for days. The week I started my period I couldn't eat. If I was stressed out I couldn't eat.... I would live off warm fluids and that is all...I developed horrendous reflux eventually getting so bad I would wake up at night with stomach acid coming out my nose. I also had near constant chest and shoulder pain (which was gone the second I woke up post-op after my band removal!). My surgeon is now doing very few bands due to the complications.

I won't say don't get a band but I will say proceed with caution and be sure to educate yourself fully on it!!!! Good luck with your decision!!!!

HW 312, pre-op (lap-band) 294, pre-op (RNY) 255, surgery date 2/11/13, goal weight 154, current weight 234.8

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oh wow I'm sorry you had so many complications! And goood luck! i had always thought i wanted the lapband before I went to the seminar but then after that I just felt like the rny was right. i feel like the bypass will help me stay on track more if that makes sense. andsince you've had both of the surgeries how would you compare your immediate post-op pain of both surgeries?

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I had a longer hospital stay with the RNY because I wasn't passing gas and my surgeon is picky. I honestly don't recall a huge difference in pain between the two. For both I took pain meds for 3 or 4 days after I got home and that was all. I took a couple extra days off after the RNY. I was definitely a little slower getting around after the RNY.....that said 16 days post op and have been back at work full time several days and I'm going camping with cub scouts this weekend....so I'm okay :)

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 0 replies
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    • Doughgurl

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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