Today was the seminar with Dr. Hadar Spivak in Houston, TX. I went there convinced lap band was the way to go. During the hour-long seminar, something happened and I've now signed up for the RNY.

I think it was when he said the average weight loss for his patients with gastric banding was 50% of their excess weight. At that rate, I'd still be morbidly obese. And I can't live with that.

What made you choose RNY over other procedures?

I'm in this place of confusion at the moment Nicole. I saw the consultant & his team for my initial appointment last Monday, all organised, researched, prepared & even excited about the thought of a band. THEN I saw him last of the day & he says he thinks bypass would be the better option for me, mainly because of the frankly amazing & instantaneous results on 84% of type 2 diabetics undergoing bypass surgery.

My BMI is 'only' 38.1 so I'd considered bypass too drastic an op for me, now I'm just confused & changing my mind daily & sometimes even hourly. My family & friends are 100% supportive of whatever I decide, but all have said they would feel happier about me going for the less invasive procedure of the band. I phoned the team nurse Friday & she was very helpful, but confused me more really because she said she didn't mention bypass to me as she thinks I'd succeed with a band & my BMI being relatively 'low'. She also told me that 48% of type 2 diabetics find their diabetes 'reversed' within 2 yrs of banding, basically due to the weight loss. 48% is a great figure, but 84% & instant is better..... oh I'm :confused2:

Another consideration that the nurse told me is that Derby don't currently do bypass surgery but are hoping to from January. They currently send their bypass patients to Leeds - who may not consider my BMI of 38.1 high enough to perform a bypass.

Good news is, they let me know within 4 weeks if they are accepting me for surgery. Both the consultant & the nurse have now told me they were recommending me for it & the consultant said he would recommend putting me on the band waiting list & then I can change to bypass if I want after reading more about it. So I am under no pressure to make my decision :thumbup: Got job, innit? :banghead:

I know how you feel with being confused! I was considered a "lightweight" too. My BMI was barely 40 when I got mine done. My ultimate decision was based on what my doc thought would work for me. I trusted his decision in the end and so happy with what I ultimately went with. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hi everyone,

I have changed my mind again! When I first attended the seminar in May, I was convinced that I would get the lapband or realize band.

I really would like to have the surgery and be done with it, no returning for fills or anything. Also, I am prediabetic and my whole family on mom's side is diabetic. RNY is a CURE for diabetes, so I am going with that.

The paperwork will be submitted to the ins. co. today, so now it is a waiting game.

Hi everyone,

I have changed my mind again! When I first attended the seminar in May, I was convinced that I would get the lapband or realize band.

I really would like to have the surgery and be done with it, no returning for fills or anything. Also, I am prediabetic and my whole family on mom's side is diabetic. RNY is a CURE for diabetes, so I am going with that.

The paperwork will be submitted to the ins. co. today, so now it is a waiting game.

You're a woman. You're allowed the change your mind! LOL Good luck with your choice.

I am so excited now that I have been approved. I have to go for an upper GI and GB ultrasound.

It looks like I will be having my surgery in October. My birthday month.

:cursing:

I am so excited now that I have been approved. I have to go for an upper GI and GB ultrasound.

It looks like I will be having my surgery in October. My birthday month.

:biggrin:

Congrats! Your date will be here before you know it!

that's cool your surgery is gonna be in your birthday month. Congratulations your going to be reborn to a hole new you. I haven't had surgery yet and I am constantly changing my mind rny v/s lapband. I think you made a good point about the diabetes. Diabetes runs in my family too. I also have poly cystic ovarian syndrome which makes me insulin resistant. So I think I'm gonna jump on the rny band wagon. Let us know how it all turns out. God be with you on your journey.

:biggrin:gottaloseit-

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I also have PCOS, so between my medical history and family history, I am going with the RNY.

I try to blog a couple of times per week, sometimes more. I will definately keep you posted. I expected to get a date on Wednesday 09/10.

I am getting nervous, excited, apprehensive, and scared! I see the nutritionist Thursday. That is the last (I hope) thing on my check list before the paperwork goes to the insurance company!:thumbup: I don't have to do the 6 months diet with my insurance company.

Does anyone know how long it generally takes to get approval/disapproval after the surgeon's office submits the paperwork? I know each ins. company is different but I am hoping it doesn't take too long. I would like to have my surgery done when our school district is on Fall Break 9-29-10-13. The surgeon thinks it's possible but I don't know how long the insurance company is going to take and how long it actually takes to set up a surgery date. :cry_smile: My doctor requires a minimum two week preparation diet before he will do the surgery. High Protein and all that. Lisa

Thank you for this post, I wanted to post the question of why Lapband vs Bypass since I don't know the reasons for the choice. I have my first seminar next week and I'm ready for lapband however of course wondering why I don't just ask about bypass.

I do see with Lapband it seems that not all have to wait and do a 6 month pre op diet and it seems with Lapband they are getting back to work pretty fast.

One of my best friends had bypass and lost weight pretty fast and had to have skin removal, I don't know if with Lapband will I have that same problem? I thought with Lapband I could lose slower and work out to not have that issue but I don't know if that is even correct.

I really want to make the right choice and I guess my doctor would be the best one to help me with that. I can't wait until the seminar next week so I can learn more.

Thank you for this post, I wanted to post the question of why Lapband vs Bypass since I don't know the reasons for the choice. I have my first seminar next week and I'm ready for lapband however of course wondering why I don't just ask about bypass.

I do see with Lapband it seems that not all have to wait and do a 6 month pre op diet and it seems with Lapband they are getting back to work pretty fast.

One of my best friends had bypass and lost weight pretty fast and had to have skin removal, I don't know if with Lapband will I have that same problem? I thought with Lapband I could lose slower and work out to not have that issue but I don't know if that is even correct.

I really want to make the right choice and I guess my doctor would be the best one to help me with that. I can't wait until the seminar next week so I can learn more.

What I suggest (which is what I did) is to do lots of research on the net. If you ask here, most will say the band is the way to go. If you go on a RNY forum, they will say it's the way to go. The ultimate decision is yours and your doctor's. Good luck!

HELLO, I HAVE HAD A DISAPPOINTING YEAR WITH THE LAP-BAND AND WISH I CHOSE THE BYPASS INSTEAD.I HAVE BEEN BANDED 9/13/07 WITH ONLY 18LBS WT. LOSS SO FAR (7 LBS. WAS 5 DAYS POST-OP). MY ONE YEAR BAND ANNIVERSARY WAS HORRIBLE. DID I MENTION THAT THE DAY I WAS BANDED, 2 HOURS AFTER MY DAD VISITED ME IN THE HOSPITAL HE DROPPED DEAD OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK, SO NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT 9/13 IS A VERY EMONTIONAL DAY FOR ME PLUS BAND FAILURE DOESN'T HELP. I HAVE A 4CC BAND I'VE HAD 11 FILLS IN 11 MONTHS NO RESTRICTION UNTIL I WAS FILLED TO 4 CC WHICH ONLY LASTED A FEW WEEKS. BOTTOM LINE I HAD PORT REPLACEMENT SURGERY ON 8/28/08 BECAUSE MY PORT HAD A SLOOOOOOOOOOOW LEAK IN IT. BOY DO I WISH I WENT THE BYPASS ROUTE, I MAYBE WOULD OF BEEN DOWN ALOT MORE WEIGHT THAN PRESENT. I CANNOT GET A FILL UNTIL 10/7/08. SO NOW MY BAND IS COMPLETELY EMPTY FOR A MONTH....NOT A GOOD THING.I THINK I'LL WAIT UNTIL THE NEW YEAR AND SEE HOW THINGS GO WITH THE NEW PORT, FILLS AND RESTRICTION THEN MAYBE I'LL DECIDE ABOUT BYPASS. SO BEFORE ANYONE DECIDED TO GO LAP-BAND ROUTE PLEASE RESEARCH IT FULLY BECAUSE LAP-BAND IS A VERY LONG PROCESS AND YOU DON'T HAVE SURGERY AND IMMEDIATE LOSE WEIGHT FOR MOST PEOPLE IT TAKES TIME TO FIND THE RIGHT RESTRICTION. ANYWAY GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!:embaressed_smile:

Thanks to everyone on this thread for being here when I needed them.

I was all set to go with the band, but at my first surgery consult today, he recommended RNY because of my age (52), BMI (51.7) and number of meds I take every day, including insulin. He said insulin-dependent diabetics respond better to the bypass.

So now I've got to think about what I'm going to do. I'll definitely check out the Dummies book and Thinner Times forum someone mentioned on here.

Good luck to everyone!

Thanks to everyone on this thread for being here when I needed them.

I was all set to go with the band, but at my first surgery consult today, he recommended RNY because of my age (52), BMI (51.7) and number of meds I take every day, including insulin. He said insulin-dependent diabetics respond better to the bypass.

So now I've got to think about what I'm going to do. I'll definitely check out the Dummies book and Thinner Times forum someone mentioned on here.

Good luck to everyone!

Hello Julia

I chose RNY because of the diabetes thing as well. While I am not diabetic yet, it is just a matter of time. A study was done which demonstrated that RNY is a cure for type II DM.

:regular_smile:I ended up choosing RNY because I did a lot of research and was seeing data that was confusing the heck out of me! I went to my surgeon and spent 2 hours asking him questions (he works for kaiser so he does not have any financial bias what so ever)! He was wonderful! My husband was sure I should have lap band as we walked in and 1/2 way through our appt. he was totally sure it was not the right choice for me. I will tell you what I was seeing in the research, and what my surgeon said to me. I am posting here because I do not want LB on the main forums getting all rowdy with me. I understand that everyone has to make there own choice and LB still works wonders for some people as their WLS tool.

I asked my doctor to be 100% honest with me and tell me what surgery he would recommend. He told me this "if you were my daughter or my wife I would not want you to have the LB surgery, you are too young there is no studies long term enough to say what a the band will do in 20, 30 or more years in you". I am summarizing his words... He also said that the LB has approx 30% failure rate (needing some kind of re operation), 30% successful rate, & 30% just do OK with the LB. Every time you do a surgery no matter what it is you are raising your risks significantly that exist when having surgery. My attitude was well if the LB fails, erodes, or has complications, then I will convert to RNY. He said no (he went into details that I will not here because this post is getting very long). He also told me that if the studies out of Europe are true LB may not even be done in the next 5+ years. Not because it is a bad surgery but because they are testing other surgeries that look more effective that do not have the GB. The reason we wet into this, is because I really wanted the VSG which looks like it may eventually replace LB. But, for me at this time he said no (I will not go into details of that either because it does not matter now I had the RNY).

So, I with tons of fear chose with my hubby to do the RNY on 9-18-08. I feel great, little pain, & had a hard time believing they did anything in there at first. But, they did and I am loosing wt, and I know without any doubts that I will loose 100% of my excess wt. Do not freak because my BMI was 38 with comorbities, then at the time of surgery I was down to BMI of 33.5 and now I am down to BMI 31. So, this was the hardest decision in my life!!! I felt like why would I take the risks at my BMI? Well, the facts are this, I trust my surgeon he has nothing to gain by giving me this advise. He is the Chief of Bariatric surgery and has cared enough about me from the very beginning. He is so overly cautious he canceled my first surgery because I came in with a bad headache & lightheadedness from being dehydrated, but he would not do the surgery because he was worried I "may" be getting sick and did not want to take any chances. I also wanted to make the best choice and make this a one time deal.

So for me this is why I choose RNY over LB. I have moved to obesity help.com full time, but will still get PMs if you message me. I am willing to share my experience, but really this is the hardest decision I ever had to make. I wish each of you luck in researching, studying, posting, going to support groups, talking with your Dr. & loved ones in great length. But, in the end it is a very personal decision and I had to realize only I could make the final call.

Truly,

Gina

Wow! I am so glad I found this thread on here. Long story short, I have my consult coming up (already done the seminar and already have ins. approval). When I called today the woman in the office really made me think....

I am seriously considering RNY instead of LB. I have (at least) 125 lbs to lose, and considering the statistics of the LB, I think the RNY might be the way to go.

I worry about the 'dumping' and other complications the most. But, in the end, I just want to be healthy for my daughter so that I can live to see her grow up.

Thanks so much for all this info on here. I will be checking back all the time to see how you are all doing and get any advice you are willing to give!