Lap Band vs Gastric Bypass with diabetes & GERD???

[wash 0]

Hello Everyone,

I am feeling conflicted about getting the LAP-BAND® instead of the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass. Let me tell you what recently happened to my 66 yr old sister (BMI 36 or 37) regarding her recently diagnosed Type II diabetes and ongoing GERD. She had been prediabetic for several years but maintaining a constant fasting # of 117 and her A1c's (??) were always within a good range. She went through a bariatric program in AZ and had a surgery date scheduled for the LAP-BAND® on May 12, 2010. She did her preop on May 5th and had her 1st surgeon visit on May 6th at which time she found out the results of her fasting preop blood work. Unfortunately she finally crossed the line into diabetes with a 130, whereas just 2 months earlier she was a 117! She had a 2 hr glucose tolerance test the next day to verify and started the medication May 10th. Her surgeon now refuses to do a LAP-BAND® on her and said that she now definitely needed the GBP due to her Type II diabetes. She said even if my sister were still prediabetic, she would have still recommended the GBP due to her severe GERD. Her Dr said she has been doing these surgeries for so long (she's also on some board of bariatric surgeons) that she now knows that mostly all Type II diabetics or those with severe GERD who get the LAP-BAND® continue to struggle with both, whereas her Type II diabetic patients who get the GBP actually get it reversed to the point where medication is no longer required! She also said those with severe GERD do much better with the GBP and it very often gets totally resolved. After much discussion with her family, she became comfortable with GBP now being her best option and is now in a waiting mode for her insurance to approve the GBP instead of the LAP-BAND®.

I can't help to now question my own decision to have the LAP-BAND® instead of GBP since I have severe GERD too. I also have a hiatal hernia that my surgeon is going to repair at the same time but there is a poll here on another thread where the majority of Lap Banders who voted, continue to have GERD! My sister doesn't even have a hiatal hernia with her GERD. BTW, my BMI is 36 and I was denied by insurance so now I have to appeal it which gives me more time to sort this out for myself. The bad news is that my surgeon's practice does Lap Bands only, so if I want to switch to the GBP I would have to enter another program and start all over again. I need to hear from others any comments or experiences you may have had like my sister's but your surgeon still allowed the LAP-BAND® and your diabetes and GERD resolved or didn't resolve??? So sorry for the long post!

Priscilla

PS. My 44 yr old niece in VA who is in excellent health but needed to lose over 90 lbs just had a GBP on May 10th instead of the LAP-BAND® on the advice of her surgeon because he said he has found that his patients that have over 70lbs to lose (I have 60 to lose, I'm only 4'10") are much more successful with the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass.

[CASSIEME1 1]

Hello Everyone,

I am feeling conflicted about getting the LAP-BAND® instead of the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass. Let me tell you what recently happened to my 66 yr old sister (BMI 36 or 37) regarding her recently diagnosed Type II diabetes and ongoing GERD. She had been prediabetic for several years but maintaining a constant fasting # of 117 and her A1c's (??) were always within a good range. She went through a bariatric program in AZ and had a surgery date scheduled for the LAP-BAND® on May 12, 2010. She did her preop on May 5th and had her 1st surgeon visit on May 6th at which time she found out the results of her fasting preop blood work. Unfortunately she finally crossed the line into diabetes with a 130, whereas just 2 months earlier she was a 117! She had a 2 hr glucose tolerance test the next day to verify and started the medication May 10th. Her surgeon now refuses to do a LAP-BAND® on her and said that she now definitely needed the GBP due to her Type II diabetes. She said even if my sister were still prediabetic, she would have still recommended the GBP due to her severe GERD. Her Dr said she has been doing these surgeries for so long (she's also on some board of bariatric surgeons) that she now knows that mostly all Type II diabetics or those with severe GERD who get the LAP-BAND® continue to struggle with both, whereas her Type II diabetic patients who get the GBP actually get it reversed to the point where medication is no longer required! She also said those with severe GERD do much better with the GBP and it very often gets totally resolved. After much discussion with her family, she became comfortable with GBP now being her best option and is now in a waiting mode for her insurance to approve the GBP instead of the LAP-BAND®.

I can't help to now question my own decision to have the LAP-BAND® instead of GBP since I have severe GERD too. I also have a hiatal hernia that my surgeon is going to repair at the same time but there is a poll here on another thread where the majority of Lap Banders who voted, continue to have GERD! My sister doesn't even have a hiatal hernia with her GERD. BTW, my BMI is 36 and I was denied by insurance so now I have to appeal it which gives me more time to sort this out for myself. The bad news is that my surgeon's practice does Lap Bands only, so if I want to switch to the GBP I would have to enter another program and start all over again. I need to hear from others any comments or experiences you may have had like my sister's but your surgeon still allowed the LAP-BAND® and your diabetes and GERD resolved or didn't resolve??? So sorry for the long post!

Priscilla

PS. My 44 yr old niece in VA who is in excellent health but needed to lose over 90 lbs just had a GBP on May 10th instead of the LAP-BAND® on the advice of her surgeon because he said he has found that his patients that have over 70lbs to lose (I have 60 to lose, I'm only 4'10") are much more successful with the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass.

i agree in the long run gbp is better.i have type 2 diabetes and am struggling since lapband i have gerd.the is all about them getting money and paid!!!!!!!!