I'm new to the group and looking for some advice. I've been overweight my entire life. I have tried numerous diets with various degrees of success. I went to a seminar about 4 years ago about WLS with my best friend and her mother-in-law. At that time, the only options were the RNY and the lap band. I felt at that time that I needed to give it a go one more time on my own while they both decided on the lap band. With diet and exercise I was able to go from 299 to 208. Then I hit a major plateau and for other reasons, I was derailed and gained it all back. I just joined a gym in January and was excited to start again when I injured my left knee just by walking. I had already injured my right knee many times in the past. I had MRIs of both knees and saw an orthopedic surgeon. He said that I have severe arthritis and that my knees are like a 60 year old person's knees and I'm only 40! At this point, it's not a matter of if I will need knee replacements, but when I will need them. Even if I needed surgery now, I wouldn't qualify because I'm too overweight. He suggested I consider WLS. When I left the office, I was deviated. I thought about it and asked my primary physician last week. He told me I need to have the surgery and that he would like it if I have it this year because other than my knees, I don't have any other health problems. My biggest problem is I'm terrified of having surgery and the immediate post op period. I'm a nurse who works on a surgical floor so I know all too well the complications I can have. Right now I'm leaning towards either the lap band or the sleeve. I don't want malabsorption this early on. I was wondering how you went about making your decision and suggestions for questions to ask the surgeon. Thanks:)

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First of all, you probably do see a lot of horror stories from your job, but the risk of complication or death from WLS is VERY low. Much lower than that knee replacement surgery you know you are going to need to have. Which is saying something because, by definition, WLS patients are a high risk group!

Many surgeons aren't doing lap-band anymore, so that might be one of your first questions at this seminar. It may no longer even be an option with the surgeon you are seeing.

As for other questions, I can't think of many general ones that you couldn't already find the answers to here. I think you would maybe just want to ask specific questions about the surgeon, the program, what the requirements are for pre and post-op, etc. Every surgeon has very different requirements and guidelines, so you should use the seminar as an opportunity to find out the specifics of this surgeon.

You might ask about his success rate compared to national averages. And also rates for several years up to 10 years post-op.

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There are many forms of surgery available today. They all have their pros and cons. I chose RNY gastric bypass surgery for two reasons. The first was that I suffered from severe acid reflux (GERD) and this was the best way to address that condition. The second was that RNY had the lowest revision rate. If I went under the knife once, I surely did not want to do it again. So when you visit with the surgeon, listen to the recommendation from the surgeon and also ask why he/she recommended that particular option.

Also it is possible that the weight loss may improve your knee joints because it will remove significant weight from the joints. I know of at least once case where someone was planning knee surgery but cancelled it after they lost weight from WLS.

As far as questions to ask the surgeon: how many bypass procedures has s/he done, how many this year, how many sleeve procedures, how many deaths and serious complications, what percentage need revision surgery, what percentage regain the weight, what follow up is provided after surgery