Hi everyone,

I am in the beginning stages of the process-just received approval from my PCP.

Anyhow, I love reading all of your posts and comments. I have learned sooo much (thank you). I am wondering what helped you make the decision between the band and bypass surgery? For myself I work with a bypass patient and to be honest in the year since her procedure she has wasted away, she really looks pretty sickly. So seeing her journey sealed the decicion for me.

How about the rest of you?

Thanks again for all the great advice, and I know as my time comes nearer I will be begging you for more!

Good luck...

For awhile, I had a very hard time deciding between the two. Before I really did my research, I wanted bypass surgery and I wasn't even considering the lapband. I thought of the band as a step-sister of bypass. But then I started diving into the research. I went to seminars and support group meetings, read every medical column and on-line post-surgery blog I could find, watched You Tube surgery diaries, and watched the surgery being performed on You Tube.

The more I learned about gastric bypass, the more I started thinking of it as drastic bypass. Taking healthy organs and cutting them an re-routing things didn't seem right. The life-long malabsorbtion issues concerned me also. All in all, the risks seemed overwhelming to me. I kept telling myself that lots of people have very successful bypass surgery, which I know is true. But I couldn't get rid of my underlying anxiety about it.

Still, I spent several weeks changing my mind every 30 minutes, it seemed..... bypass vs. lapband. I was driving myself crazy.

In the end, the decision was sort of made for me. I was self-pay, and bypass was really more than I could afford to spend. Also, I knew that if I had any surgical complications, treatment for those would come out of my pocket too.... so not only was lap band less expensive, but the risk of complications was lower. I was relieved to have the decision made for me that way.

Less personal risk in having the lapband when compared to the Y. The Y was to scary for me.

Annie:

It's all about the risk factors for me. The risk was much lower with lap band. I've lost 142 pounds in 15 months, so it's been great!

I don't think I would have lost alot more with Gastric Bypass, anyway. I feel great and I don't look sickly. My before & during just got posted today if you feel like looking.

Good luck.

Sue

I am a nurse and after researching both procedures, I also feel that the band is the best choice for me. Both surgeries are tools, you still have to put forth the effort to lose wt.