Hi everyone,

I am new to this journey and I have a tons of questions. I was dead set on having gastric bypass until I went to an informational meeting at Hershey Medical Center. Now, I think I am leaning toward the band. I would love any opinions especially from people who have Diabetes. I learned today that the resolution/improvement for DM with the band is actually much higher than is being reported and that 5 years out, banders are even with bypass patients as far as weight loss.

I'd love some opinions:sad_smile:

For myself, I chose the lapband because I have seen, four now, people that I know of who had the gastric bypass who lost over 100lbs and 3 out of the 4 gained it all back! With the bypass you can stretch your stomach back out.

I want to do this ONCE and be done!

something about the whole re-routing of the intestines just didn't fit well with my psyche.....I know they have made drastic improvements since the 90's but I have heard too many horror stories and then there is always the "gaining it back" issue. I am comfortable with the band and see such a benefit. Slow and steady wins the race.

Guess I am just afraid that the weight will not ALL come off. Not that it's a guarantee with bypass, but seems to be more successful. However, there is a study just out that shows that at 5 years, lapband and bypass level out and at 8 years. lapband actually does a little better than bypass. I think they said it was the New England Journal of Medicine. I'm looking for it now. It was written by an Australian doctor

I was riding the fence for a long time on which surgery to have done. What made me choose lap band was something my doctor said. She said with RNY surgery it doesn't take a lot of work to lose the weight. The work starts when your trying to keep it off. With Lap Band you have a little insurance. If you feel like your gaining a couple pounds or so you can always have a fill and it keeps you on track. That was the selling point for me. And Bandsters don't lose too much hair....

That's good because my hair is already thin!! I make sure and pop the chewable vitamins everyday!!

And I heard Biotin vitamin to take for hair.

For me there was no choice in the matter. It was lap band all the way. I would have done it years ago but my insurance didn't cover it until now. With the lap band I have to re learn how to eat and adopt better ways to take care of myself. With the bypass, IMPO, I wouldn't have to do that.

There is something to be said for actually making lifestyle changes instead of having them forced on you!!