male only RNY or Lap Band

[Haku 0]

My insurance will pay for RNY or Lap Band only. Which should I get? I a man about 305 pounds and 5'10.

[greytz 4]

You will get varying opinions on here. My suggestion would be to do your research. Visit free seminars in your area for both procedures and visit the websites for both as well. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Make an appointment to see your Primary Care Physician and talk to them about it because you will need their support anyway in order to have any procedure done. They know your health history and co-morbidies that may make a difference in your decision making process.

[Haku 0]

I already did all that an I am on my pre op diet for the lap band. I am just getting on the fence and want to may sure I am making the right choice.

[kkarryall 0]

Your only 44 yrs old...I say try the lapband; do your research so you know what kinds of things to expect. Everyone's story is different...I have lost 111 lbs in 14 1/2 months...

Good luck to you!!!

[Guest gregnorth]

i chose the band because they don't have to change your plumbing other then installing the band. i'm 272 and 5-11. the dr. told me i would loose about 70 lbs or so on average. that would work for me. later greg

[betrthnever 107]

There are so many people locally I've met who have had minimal, if any at all, success with the Lap Band (myself included). Granted, on here collectively many have had success with the Lap Band. Most don't want to read about those who haven't succeed 'cause we want the positive stories only when we're psyched up about it.

My GF's husband, who's well over 350 pounds, gained back everything he lost while at great restriction less then a year after getting banded. Of course, you have to "work" the band but you also have to eat right if you get the RNY as your body can get use to carbs again.

I would suggest going to the support groups your Dr office offers for his/her patients, if he has them, or try meeting people in your area who've been banded & who've had the RNY. But no matter what, success depends on a few things - self motivation, family support & the Dr's support. My self motivation died (and depression set in) after 8 months when I found out that the person giving me fills in the Drs office never hit my port and so I never new what restriction was. A different Dr just a couple of weeks ago finally gave me the restriction I need and helped get my motivation back.

Your decision is definately a personal one. But please note, neither are going to be a cure all and work will be required

[RestlessMonkey 7]

If you are a snacker or grazer, and/or have a sweet tooth, or if you have recent onset diabetes II, the RNY Bypass may be your better choice and you should discuss it with your surgeon, do some research.

If your major problem is Portion Control and hunger, then the lap band is the tool you need.

That's in a nutshell...but should help.

[Nanook 2]

Personally I've had both done and the only one that worked for me was RNY. I know they change your "plumbing" but that's what has helped me with my weight loss. I was at the point when I got banded that I couldn't even lose weight anymore, it wasn't just a keeping it off thing for me plus I had many co-morbs and was easily approved.

As another poster has pointed out going to support groups with people who have had both surgeries is a really good thing to do. If you can't find a mixed group than find one for each type of surgery you're considering. Mine is actually run by a nurse who had RNY six years ago and the group has been very helpful to me.

As you can read on this site many there are a wide variety of situations going on. From people doing very well to people who are wondering why the weight isn't dropping off and if you're open minded you can read between the lines. No matter which surgery you choose it's a major decision and you want to make the right one for you. Good luck, Nancy.

[B-Man 1]

Well I can say it was never a question for me. I have two friends who both did RNY. The 1st lost 240 pounds and has maintained the weight loss, of course he almost died from an infected Gal Bladder that the Dr's attributed to the RNY and loss of Protein. The second friend only lost 50 pounds and has gained it back.

Now I have 4 friends who have had the band. 3 have them have been very successful, 1 has not.

I personally have lost 115 pounds, and for the most part am keeping it off. I am now at 20 months post op. I tend to graze, and still have a bad sweet tooth, but I also bust my butt at the gym three times a week. I absolutely love going to the gym, and I feel that has been key to my success.

Just a little motivations for you.

I started off wearing a 3x shirt that was tight... I now comfortably wear a size Large.

I was wearing a size 54 pants, now a size 36.

I can run 5 miles easily now. I climb 20 flights of stairs a day.

My Friend that lost 240 pounds with the RNY looks like crap, has no muscle development, and can't even do two flights of stairs.... but he is skinny and weighs less than me.

[KartMan 58]

You should get the one that will work for you.:blushing:

I wish it was that easy, unfortunately people just don’t know what will work (or not work) until they have it done themselves. It’s easy to get a bunch of band cheerleaders on here and I’m sure you can find an RNY friendly site that will tout all the glory of that WLS.

I agree with the Monkey though, if you are fat because you are a portion eater, then the band may be the tool for you. That was the story for me. I never had much of a sweet tooth and I rarely snacked. I never (ever) missed a meal though. And my meals were big (I mean freakin’ BIG). For example… 5-6 egg omelets for Breakfast. 2 fast food combos for lunch. I would start out with a big plate for diner, and always go back for seconds. If I went to a buffet, I always had 2-3 big plates plus dessert. Now, well let’s just say I don’t eat much. I still never miss a meal, but I eat like a bird. In fact, my 7 year old daughter eats more than me. I would estimate that I used to eat 4000-6000 calories a day pre-band, now I am at 900-1500 per day. What happens when you reduce your calories that much? Well, for me it meant dropping about 95lbs in 7 months. People refer to me as thin. Shirts dropped from XXXL to M, pants down from size 44 to size 34. Oh, and did I mention people call me thin:cool:?

Best of luck, there are no easy answers and no guarantees (and don’t think it’s a cakewalk – you gotta want it, and you gotta work).

[JayTee562 1]

The band has worked well for me so far but I have to say that my PCP was suprised when he saw me last week, He hadn't seen me since before my surgery. He said most of his paitents only lose 30-40 pounds. I was at 328 when I had my first consultation in October I'm at 245 now just 46 pounds more and I'll be below my USAF max which I hadn't seen in years.

[mike_mcginn 0]

You should get the one that will work for you.

I wish it was that easy, unfortunately people just don’t know what will work (or not work) until they have it done themselves. It’s easy to get a bunch of band cheerleaders on here and I’m sure you can find an RNY friendly site that will tout all the glory of that WLS.

I agree with the Monkey though, if you are fat because you are a portion eater, then the band may be the tool for you. That was the story for me. I never had much of a sweet tooth and I rarely snacked. I never (ever) missed a meal though. And my meals were big (I mean freakin’ BIG). For example… 5-6 egg omelets for Breakfast. 2 fast food combos for lunch. I would start out with a big plate for diner, and always go back for seconds. If I went to a buffet, I always had 2-3 big plates plus dessert. Now, well let’s just say I don’t eat much. I still never miss a meal, but I eat like a bird. In fact, my 7 year old daughter eats more than me. I would estimate that I used to eat 4000-6000 calories a day pre-band, now I am at 900-1500 per day. What happens when you reduce your calories that much? Well, for me it meant dropping about 95lbs in 7 months. People refer to me as thin. Shirts dropped from XXXL to M, pants down from size 44 to size 34. Oh, and did I mention people call me thin:cool:?

Best of luck, there are no easy answers and no guarantees (and don’t think it’s a cakewalk – you gotta want it, and you gotta work).

Great post. As a big eater I can relate. I picked the band.

/mike/

[keithf 2]

My insurance will pay for RNY or Lap Band only. Which should I get? I a man about 305 pounds and 5'10.

At the time of my surgery on 30 June, I weighed the same as you (I'd already lost 40# during pre-op), and we're the same height. I'm now down to 258# as of this morning.

Both and and RNY have their own, personalized hells. Unless you have (as was mentioned earlier) diabetes, there's little weight-loss reason to choose one over the other. There are, however, reasons to try the band first: easier revision to another surgery (sleeve, for example), don't have to deal with malabsorption, problems with internal sutures, fewer immediate complications, and longer-term complications can be mitigated by your own behaviors (not always, but significantly). Progress isn't necessarily as dramatic, but who needs drama?

If you're a grazer, that'll more or less defeat any existing surgery. If you drink your food, same story. You'll need to eat solid food, nutritious food (not food whose only offering is energy you already have surplus of). You'll need to eat it in sensible portions -- enough to sate your hunger, but not so much that you vomit it back up. RNY can help you get over food content (via dumping syndrome), which band is entirely a Portion Control device. Grazing -- they're working on a type of pacemaker for that.

In the end, all progress is the result of the work you put into it. You will suffer at times, but no matter the surgery you choose, it's worth the risk.

[KartMan 58]

Grazing -- they're working on a type of pacemaker for that.

Ineresting:confused:

What is that?

[keithf 2]

Ineresting:confused:

What is that?

A device to control a nerve associated with hunger. It can modulate the urge to eat, limiting it to specific periods of time. Saw it on a recent documentary a few months ago.