Is The Lap Band Just Sticking Your Toe In The Water?

[120darby 7]

When I attended a support group the surgeon described lap band as just sticking your toe in the Water where as gastric bypass has less of a chance of regaining weight - I am leaning towards gastric bypass my BMI is 39.5 weight 235 like to lose 100 pounds -- looking forward to meeting with the surgeon on 10/5/12 for my consultation. Any thoughts?

[JustJenn 542]

Toe in the Water is a great way to look at it. I picked RNY for long term weightloss and faster results. I have heard and read tons of horror stories with lap band and the thought of 2 surgeries one to do it and one to change to RNY because of failure scared me more.

Surgery 7/25/12

[JustJenn 542]

& welcome!

Surgery 7/25/12

[120darby 7]

Thanks for the Welcome and reply! ????I am trying to keep an open mind until my mtg. But I feel that I will be discouraged if LB is recommended.. Too much maintenance and fine tuning and easy to trick from what I heard ... I hope my #'s work for GB ... And I agree with what you said about the faster results. Did you ever feel like what have I done? Post surgery?

[Vicki Loichinger 444]

I was banded seven years ago. And yes that is what it is like, "sticking your toe in the water" I was afraid of doing

anything more invasive or "drastic" as I thought at the time. But I should have went the rny route then and saved myself seven years of up and down weight, still all the comorbities I had and all worse now. I don't have any horror story to say about the band, but it just was either too tight, too loose, and between me and it we just didn't do what we should do. I have lost and gained the same 30 to 40 pounds, and now at my heaviest and sickest. I am waiting for insurance approval to revise from the band to rny. Again, I could have been living life and enjoying health benefits if I had just "jumped all the way in" I hope you have that option.

[EmpressLizBunny 18]

To be honest I wanted gastric bypass since I was 15 but my mom and my original surgon convinced me that the lapband was better for me as I was so young (22) I did really well the first year losing 100 lbs in 9 months but around my one year anniversary I started having complications I put up with them for another 2 years and gained all my weight back now I'm revising to rny

[120darby 7]

Well, went today and the surgeon suggested the sleeve for a few reasons. No absorbtion or dumping issues as with RNY, minimal follow up, no rearrangibg of the spinchter muscle (yuk) right choice for my weight loss goals, great results. I guess my stomach will be reduced to the size of a banana! I think this is the one for me.....

[EmpressLizBunny 18]

Do what you are most comfortable with and most likly to be able to live with

[vhoke1 27]

When I attended a support group the surgeon described lap band as just sticking your toe in the Water where as gastric bypass has less of a chance of regaining weight - I am leaning towards gastric bypass my BMI is 39.5 weight 235 like to lose 100 pounds -- looking forward to meeting with the surgeon on 10/5/12 for my consultation. Any thoughts?

Your surgeon is correct. I previously had the lap band, it failed me & I regained nearly all the weight. This past July, I had a revision done to remove the band and get the gastric bypass, in two months, I've lost 84 lbs and I feel absolutely great! Not to say I didn't have a few complications, which worked themselves out, but I'm very happy I had it done because I feel confident I won't gain it back

Good luck to you & everyone embarking on this journey!

[120darby 7]

Surgeon recommended sleeve for me considering amount to lose, plus absorbtion issues with GB, no dumping with sleeve, your spinchter muscle is left in tact (YUK) and very minimal follow-up! Was a well run office, huge staff, go back to meet with nutrionist, need ultrasounds on GI and stomach, sleep study, psych visit. That's it for now Been thinking of our conversation alot today -- I appreciate your advise!

[monken 135]

When I attended a support group the surgeon described lap band as just sticking your toe in the Water where as gastric bypass has less of a chance of regaining weight - I am leaning towards gastric bypass my BMI is 39.5 weight 235 like to lose 100 pounds -- looking forward to meeting with the surgeon on 10/5/12 for my consultation. Any thoughts?

I had a band twice and agree with others that I should have chosen the RNY. I was worried about the malabsorption, but have since learned that the is minimal malabsorption depending on your surgeons technique. I have a good friend that had the sleeve done she did well 6 months out and now I only see weight gain on her. you can stretch out your sleeve just as easy and your RNY stomach in time. The biggest difference the way the food is routed and digested with the RNY. I was offered the sleeve but told that the only difference between my band and sleeve is a foreign object (band). The gold standard for successful weight loss is the RNY you have to t ready to change the way you look at food and if you are a sugar addict you will suffer the consequences and I doubt you will every want sugar again if you have a dumping syndrome moment. I have a sister in-law with RNY same time I banded and she lost 90 lbs in the first 6 months, but now has gained back half. He surgeon won't even see her after a year post op! If you have a good surgeon/bariatric group you will be a lifer with followups which is the way it should be. Anyway sorry I ran on and on.

I will be band to bypass on Feb 6 and I am excited and nervous at the same time. I have a lot of scar tissue and adhesions that my surgeon has to contend with but I have the utmost faith in him as he has repaired many botched bariatric cases. This blog is great I have had many good conversations with people and hope to have more and learn more as my journey progresses. I am sure you will make a well informed decision and it will be right for you:-)