Can you all tell me what made you decide on the band instead of gastric? I mean I know gastric is more invasive and all, but how did you decide? Also I go to my first meeting on the 28th and I can't wait to hear all the info. I am so scared, but tired of trying over and over again to loose this weight.

This is a common concern...understandable! But common!

Here's a link to a post just the other day about it:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/5-reasons-94316/

And here's a link to a web site about weight loss surgery that compares them in a "table" form:

Lap-Band vs. Gastric Bypass Surgery

And I'm not from MN so can't help you there!

For me the decision was simple. I did not want anyone slicing and dicing my insides and rerouting them where they are not meant to be rerouted. That was my deciding factor. Plus there are alot less complications involved with the LB. Good luck with your decision!

I felt that as a tool, the bypass didn't have enough options to really help me. I didn't want to just be left with a smaller place to put food that could easily over time be stretched and become useless to me. I have been over filling the original one for years. I hope that band adjustments will help me to learn to eat less and be satisfied over a period of time.

I did not like the rerouting of the intestines. I thought that I would have enough motivation to do the band and you do need notivation. I have friend who had the bypass operation, she did fine, no problems and is at goal weight now. I worked for her.

I live in Wisconsin, but I had my surgury in St. Paul, MN at St. Joseph's (Health East). They are wonderful!!!!!

Donna