just registered tonight

[ekabara72 0]

Hello, my name is Ethel. I have been reading everyones blogs on this site for a while and have learned a great deal. I have been approved by my insurance company for bariatric surgery. I have attended a six hour class about the surgery. I had made up my mind to do the lap band, but the surgeons I am working with say that because I am diabetic with high blood pressure, I would be much better off to have the gastric bypass. This is something I will have to give some thought to. If any of you have some insight as to why gastric bypass would be better, I would love to hear from you. My surgery is supposed to take place in May 2009. In the meantime I have been instructed to lose as much weight as I can. I am nervous about alot of things but am willing to take things one day at a time. I am nervous that I will get very thirsty and will only be able to drink ONE OUNCE of fluid! Somebody, please tell me that this is not a big deal. I have decided that I will have to do whatever it takes, this is too important, but I still have the questions and these things do come to mind. I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you. :thumbup:

[YngGram 73]

I think that with bypass the weight loss is much faster in the earlier stages. With your issues it might me the doc's attempt to get those under control as qucikly as possible. The other poossibility is that he perfers to do that procedure. I don't think it will be a big issue of being thristy but you should talk to you PCP and don't get pushed into a procedure you are comfortable with. I don't have your health issues and I haven't been banded yet, so all of this is just my opinion. I thought of the bypass for the quick weight loss, but can't handle having the bod rerouted, also it is very permanant. Good luck

[susan1961 0]

I have never had the slightest problem drinking liquids.... I certainly have no 1oz limit. I still guzzle Water, just not with meals. Carbonated beverages are a no-no, but I never drank them anyway so don't miss them.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Ekabara may I suggest you go to a totally different surgeon/seminar? The lap band can also resolve HBP (because you lose weight) and type 2 diabetes (depending on how long you've had it and if you need insulin or not...a surgeon can help you)

I had borderline high blood pressure and borderline DM II and no one...NO ONE tried to talk me into bypass. In fact my primary care doctor (the one who diagnosed me with those conditions) recommended the lap band, NOT bypass.

Don't be pushed into anything. Do your homework, read up on the outcomes of both procedures, and really see a different surgeon.

That 1 ounce thing is, well, nothing I've ever heard unless they just mean immediately post op (some have swelling at that time and can't drink too much too fast...but that isn't everyone, and that is just the first few days post op)

I too can drink quickly. I have even chugged Water a time or two, and have not exploded or hurt anything. liquids flow THROUGH the stoma....there's no problem there.

[Headhunter 6]

Hi, Ethel;

Welcome to the Board. You'll find a LOT of good advice here. You will also find a WIDE variety of opinion. This IS a Lap-Band oriented forum, so, as you can guess, the opinions here will be overwhelmingly in favor of the Lap Band.

I have had both the Lap Band and Gastric Bypass, so I can give you some perspective on both of them.

I would echo a previous poster who said you need to get additional opinions. I would heartily agree. But NOT just to find a surgeon that will prescribe a Lap Band. A Lap band may not be what you need, a GB MAY be more appropriate. It all depends on YOUR individual requirements.

Some surgeons prefer doing one type of surgery. They all have their reasons. Some have better results with one kind, some make more money with another kind. It's sometimes hard to tell what their motives are.

But DO get a second opinion. And a third, perhaps. I think a lot of patients go to a seminar, and are sold on the spot by what THAT surgeon has to say. And make no mistake about it...it is a SALES process. Don't be SOLD....be EDUCATED.

So shop around, the same way you would a car, a house, or anything else.....this is your BODY, your HEALTH, your LIFE we are talking about, so you need to invest the time in finding what is right for YOU!

So, start asking questions, we'll start giving answers!

Best of luck to you in this process.....whatever route you choose, it WILL be life changing!

HH

[ekabara72 0]

Thanks so much to everyone for the advice. I'm pretty sure that I am going ahead with the lap-band. This is what I am most comfortable with. Right now I am just playing the waiting game. I have an appointment with my surgeon on March 18th and have already completed the phych eval and been medically approved by my insurance company(HAP). Does anyone else out there have HAP? I have been told that there may be a $1000 dollar copay. That's OK if there is, of course I'd rather there wasn't but it wouldn't be a deal breaker.