I am looking very hard at Bariatric Surgery, and I am still not sure which way to go, Lap-Band or Bypass ?

I have been big all my life I have been as big as 525, down to 250, and I am back at 385 with a BMI of 43. I have been a type 2 diabetic for about 9 years. and I had a 5 way cadiac bypass a year ago.

I have done alot of reading, a great deal has been done in the last 24 here on this site (Great Site !) I have been told I can beat the diabeatis in a few weeks with the bypass, longer with the band. There are good and bad with both procedures I am just trying to get some more insite before I go to the clinic in a few weeks for my first interview.

I would like to hear from some of you on how you decided which way to go.

Doc

I don't know which is best for you but the thing I like about the band is that it can be removed if necessary or your fill can be taken out if you become seriously ill and then put back in. I hope i'm making some sense. Anyway good luck to you which ever direction you choose to go!

My best friend and I shared more than a decade of dieting attempts..some more successful than others...and in 2005 we both pursued weight loss surgery. She had gastric bypass because her insurance covered it. I got my lap band because I had to pay for the surgery myself. We have both been fantastically successful and we both love what we chose. There can be complications with both...but in our case it was me who suffered a complication totally out of my control and had to have my band replaced which was NO FUN and very expensive. But even so I am still very happy with the Lap Band. I had a 37BMI to begin with so it seemed that for me the Dr.s preferred to do the Lap Band surgery on me anyway. It's certainly your choice but based on my own and my best friends personal experience I think you might consider the gastric bypass. If you have problems with it later, there are Dr.s who are placing lapbands over the bypass so a lap-band would still be a back-up option later if it was needed.

I have been going through the same.. I had open heart in 2003 and also a diabetic. My daughter and i have decided the lap band was best. Less recovery time, less stress for the heart and yes, maybe i will loose a little slower, but i can tighten along the way, it is reversible if needed and you can go back to work sooner. I have a friend that was banded a year ago, and she looks and feels great, no more diabetes, and and she is off all her medicine..i have chosen lap band and will be doing it right after the holidays....good luck

From my experience working in the hospital, I personally would not recommend RNY to anyone. I have seen more patients come in and have to stay in the hospital (sometimes for 2 weeks) due to complications from RNY. I have seen everything from vitamin and mineral deficiencies to small bowel obstructions even 2-3 years after someone has lost weight and in a few cases, emergency surgeries and I don't know what happened to those people after their surgery but I heard that a few of them died. Just some food for thought. Band patients don't usually come back.

Congrats doc1857 for being ready to take the next step for your health. I have been overweight my entire life and tried not to have WLS for years. This included paying for an intensive weight loss clinic where I stayed for one month learning new habits. Everything worked but nothing stuck and my BMI was in the 50's when I went to the WLS seminar. I thought I wanted the RNY but after the seminar I changed my mind. When I thought about what I wanted all that came to my mind is that I wanted something to keep me from eating so much when I slipped. That for me is the band. I also have the security of knowing that the band can be adjusted as needed. The surgery for me was easy and I was back at work in 2 weeks. For me the band alone has caused a change in my hunger. It takes less to fill me and that alone has changed my habits. I have yet to have a fill because I have steadily lost weight following the band rules. I only eat three times a day, I eat protein first and then fruits/vegs and high fiber carbs and I limit the volume to 1 cup (OK sometimes 1.5 cups, I admit it). I just passed my 5

month mark from surgery and am very happy with my choice. I made my choice based on my long term needs because for me this will only be a success if I can maintain a significant weight loss. I know it will be hard work for the rest of my life and I think no matter which choice you make that is what you need to keep in mind. Best of luck!