Had my first meeting with the surgeon on July 2nd. Was positive I was going to go the lapband route but after my EGD he said that is not an option (hiatal hernia). So now I'm trying to decide if I should do the bypass instead. He is strongly encouraging me to go for it but it is so much scarier than the lapband. It just seems so extreme. Any thoughts?

It is extreme but so is dying prematurely from obesity related causes . I had a band, it sucked, wished I'd known then what I know now. I would have started with the RNY. You have to be comfortable with your surgery so do a ton of research, talk to people that have had the surgery, talk to your doc. All I can say is that I'm happier and healthier then I've been in years. However, I'm lucky enough to have had no complications at all so far....knowledge Is power! Good luck with our decision

HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 204.2

I had a band to bypass revision and am 1000 times happier with the RNY. I feel like a smaller portioned normal person. Not eat and pray I can vomit quietly without ruining anyone else's dinner. The band may be technically less invasive, it causes nasty problems. Loving RNY.

Another band going to bypass. Will say I also had a small hitial hernia and the surgeon repaired it when doing the band, so don't know what the problem is having a hitial hernia as long as it gets repaired. But wish I had researched the band more because I would have gone with RNY instead of the band which is one the cardiologist recommended and suggested I have done. A lot of well known hospitals are no longer offering lapband because of complications arising now. The day I had my band removed, my surgeon was removing two more. Just an FYI.

well I guess I am what you dont want to be, I had a band, had my band repositioned after it prolapsed...( it never worked again after that) ...got sleeved on november 1st 2010, and here I am, going for the gastric bypass next thurs...I just want this rollercoaster nightmare over...do it right the first time and get it over with..I was 51 when I started this and now I am 56 and still fat and miserable..wish I would have done this 5 yrs ago.....

Had my first meeting with the surgeon on July 2nd. Was positive I was going to go the lapband route but after my EGD he said that is not an option (hiatal hernia). So now I'm trying to decide if I should do the bypass instead. He is strongly encouraging me to go for it but it is so much scarier than the lapband. It just seems so extreme. Any thoughts?

Do the full stuff. I don't wanna be a bummer & I'm not an expert but a lot of ppl are revising

I too am a band (2007) to bypass (8/26/13). I went for the band because it was less evasive and I was scared of the bypass. Why was I scared idk because my Mom had it done in 1992 and she's a success story. So here I am going for a revision. I regret the fact that I could have possibly been a success story had I did the rny the first time. Now I'm sitting here dreaming about my upcoming surgery and what my life will be like. Do your research and ask questions. There are so many people here willing to help you through every step of the way. Best of luck on your decision and your journey! Keep us posted.

My husband has the sleeve and I had the bypass. I also had a hiatal hernia and my BMI wasn't over 50 so my option was the bypass....best decision I could make...I have had minor complications but have lost 92 lbs in 4 1/2 months ....my husband was 392 and had the sleeve and almost 3 years out and has lonely lost 130 lbs ....the sleeve is more of a 1 step process to going for the bypass....

I had a band and it was the absolute worst decision. I wish someone would have told me just to go straight to bypass. My surgeon said that she's trying to away people from the band these days because she has so many revisions. Honestly, my bypass has been the best thing ever. I wish I would have done it in the first place.

Tilly, I don't know about you but I'd say that you're getting some very powerful feedback here from folks who have been there done that. I've only had the bypass. So I can only tell you that I would do it again without hesitation. All of the surgeries have their success stories. And all of them have their nightmares. But as SoccerMomma said, do the research. I think you'll find that bypass is the gold standard of bariatric surgery.

Wow....I haven't had mine yet but just reading these comments makes me even more excited for my decision. I can't wait....and good luck!