Surgery Envy?

SunnysGran · April 25, 2007

:nervous I attended my first WLS support group meeting last night at the Medical Center where I'll be having my surgery. All but one of the people who stood up to give their testimonials were RNY people. One lady, whom I had met at a seminar in Sept. '06 was there. She came over to tell me all about her surgery, which was 11/29/06, and her weight loss--over 80 lbs. so far!!! I got a little envious, and even started wondering if RNY would be better--they seem to lose weight so fast. This is ridiculous, I've been researching and considering lap band for over 3 years!

Does anybody else get these doubts? I guess when I think about it, the whole reason I felt lap band was better for me all along was that the weight loss seems to be a little slower, and it seems that there are less complications. Plus, the mal-absorptive feature of RNY is sort of counter-intuitive in my mind (for me). I would never deign to tell somebody else what is right for them, but lap band always seemed right for me....still....that envy sure did creep up on me.

Thanks,

Carol

Insurance approved 4/17/07, waiting on a surgery date--should be in May

niecyrenee · April 25, 2007

I have been banded but prior to learning about lapband, I considered RNY. Because of all the health complications that could occur and the long term reports on patients, I decided that wasn't for me. You have to decide for yourself but I urge you to research RNY long and hard. It is appealing at first to think about how much faster the weight could come off but I think in the end, lapband is the best choice.

I'll pass a thought onto you that a lady in my support group said last night who is waiting for insurance approval. She said that the decision for her was easy when she thought about all the patients that would be in the nursing home someday that would have to rely on the nurses to force feed them all the Vitamins they needed to keep going. Gives you a whole different perspective on things. :rolleyes

jillrn · April 25, 2007

I feel this way ALL the time b/c I know so many people that have had RYN and I am not anti RYN as some are, but I too couldnt swallow the mal absorption feature. But something that helps me is that ALOT of RYN people regain the weight and cant do anything about it other than diet. BUT if we start to regain in 5 years or so--we can get a fill. So yeah its gonna take longer but we have a better change of keeping it off-- assumin we dont have to be unbanded for some reason!

Teachlady · April 25, 2007

I knew I would never consider bypass surgery. No way do I want to be cut up and reattached and then have all that Vitamin stuff to figure out. I KNEW the lap band was for me and I'm so thankful I have that tool inside me now. Knowing that it is adjustable and reversible is a big selling feature for me.

dwarden · April 26, 2007

My sister-in-law is 20 years post bypass. She has all sorts of malabsorption problems and she's so anemic that she periodically has to get blood transfusions. She's been successful with her weight loss, and is a beautiful lady. But she told me outright that if she had known then what she knows now and had had the choice of a lap-band, she NEVER would have had the bypass.

She Smiles · April 26, 2007

I had my band surgery only a few days before the lady at your seminar had her bypass and I've lost almost 73 lbs. The band can be just as successful if you put your mind to it.

angelnurse · April 26, 2007

I originally was going to have the RNY but 2 weeks before surgery I had an "anxiety attack". I decided that I didn't want my insides changed permanently. I didn't want to worry about the anemia and the malabsorption. I'm now 16 months out and have lost 129 pounds. At one year I had lost 115.5 pounds. My surgeon said that I was right up there with his RNY patients. You can lose as much as the RNYers, you just have to do all that you can. You need to put forth the effort and work with your Doctor on "tweeking" your band. I'm glad I decided to go the lapband route, NO regrets here!

Jachut · April 26, 2007

RNY is not really an option here anyway and certainly wouldnt have been for me with a BMI of 35.

But I just dont get what is so attractive about losing the weight so fast. Its not healthy for you, so many people end up looking really bad when they just drop tons all of a sudden, you have more skin problems etc. And mentally, I think its important to take the time to come to terms with the changes.

Also the lap band only works if you work with it to change your habits over a period of time and that's got to be better in the long run. YOu dont want to be thin becuase you've starved yourself, you want to be healthy becuase you've changed the way you live.

Long term I'd worry about malnutrition, osteoporosis, all sorts of things.

If I needed to seriously lose 60kg or I was likely to have a heart attack any minute, I'm not sure even then I'd choose something so drastic since dropping weight so fast can increase your chances of exactly that occurring.

Slow and steady wins the race.

SunnysGran · April 26, 2007

You guys are so right--thanks for the support and the reminder of why I chose Lap Band in the first place. I remember telling the Surgeon that I had thought of the scenario of later in life, possibly having to fight some major illness, and having nutrition being important in that fight. Seems like Lap Band would be so much better in that situation. I'm back on track in my mind now, thanks to you all. Just waiting on my surgery date!

Carol