My head is spinning. There is so much information!!
My initial thoughts were to go with a lapband. Studies seem to show that it's safer and it's reversible (just in case). Seemed like an easier surgery in general. I have 3 small kids and didn't want to be out of commission with a long recovery.
But then I was talking to my aunt (who is an RN) and she has 2 friends that recently had a band put on. She said they were both very disappointed and haven't lost any weight past the initial clear liquid phase. Has anyone had something similar to this happen?
Also, with my first appt with a surgeon, he seemed to favor gastric bypass.
SOooo...I was just wondering. How did you decide which to have??
Hello,
I have not had my initial information session yet. It was scheduled for this Thursday at 9:30am but was just rescheduled for the 23rd. I have done some research on my own and initially was thinking the lapband also but..... am also considering the bypass. I have read about the vertical sleeve also which sounds like a good option but not sure if it available where I am scheduled for info session. There is a great website: obesityhelp.com that has info and forums from people that have had surgery.
I am leaning towards going for the gusto!!
Lisa
You know I was really on given two options by my insurance. If I was young, I think that I might have considered the lap band, because there seems to be a lot less problems with nutrient deficients, but I'm old geeser and opted for the RNY because of my lousy diet history and really was unhealthy physically. I'm doing well with it. I don't know much about the vertical sleeve or DS. Man, there is a lot of stuff to read and ponder. Good Luck~
I had Gastric bypass because I was pre-diabetic and had more then 100lbs to lose. Studies showed that GB was the most effective surgery when addressing the diabetes issue (I was Diabetes free and off all the meds 2 days after surgery) and it has a higher % rate of average weightloss (80%+ of total weightloss needed). I agree that your insurance has a lot to do with how many choices you have.
I have heard of several people that have had lap bands that didn't do well with their weight loss and many people that did fine...all surgery has it's ups and downs, benefits and complications...I know it's hard to keep with things, weighing all the options and asking all the questions when there is so much information out there but keep at it! Your doing great!
Angela
Last edited by missangelaks; 08-05-2008 at 11:23 PM.
I decided to have the Lapband because the weight loss is slower, which gives the skin the time to adapt and (hopefully) I wont need any plastic surgery. Also because there is no cutting or rearranging of the organs and if necessary, can be removed. Also there is no malabsorbtion...you will still get all the nutrients, and there no chance of getting sick from that.
Do all your research...you can only make the right choice for you. Good Luck!!
Thats something you and your surgeon will have to discuss. I had to go to a seminar my surgeon presented where he spoke about GBP and LB. Thats when I knew LB was for me.
there are good things and negative things about both the lapband and the gastric bypass [and gastrectomy and duodenal switch].
the key thing to keep in mind as you talk to your doc and explore the possibilities is how are you willing to live [and NOT willing to live!] after the surgery? what do you KNOW you can handle vs what do you think would be hard? and why? and other factors, like your current health, age, insurance, etc, all factor in there as well.
and the answers may surprise you! i originally wanted lapband, but because i was sooo sick going in, and needed to lose a lot of weight FAST, the bypass was the right choice for me.
keep thinking and asking questions! one size DEFINITELY does not fit everyone here!!!!!
I decided on the duodenal switch (DS) because studies show (and people I've talked to both online and IRL confirm) it has the best chances of reversing type 2 diabetes (which I have, so this is important for me) and other comorbidities, it has the highest statistics for percentage of excess weight loss (80%+), and it has the highest statistics for KEEPING the weight off longer term (long term maintenance of 75%+ excess weight, compared to long term maintenance of 50-65% excess weight with the GB, depending on which study you read). Many people who do not lose as much as they'd hoped or who end up regaining a significant amount of weight after GB seek a surgical revision to the DS.
That's NOT to say the GB is not right for anyone--statistics are generally based on averages or medians, which means there are some who do better with it than others.
Also, there is the added risk of having a greater malabsorption piece with the DS. Greater malabsorption means DSers can eat almost unlimited amounts of fat since only about 20% of fat eaten is absorbed, but it also means taking LOTS of vitamin supplements for the rest of your life to make sure you get all the nutrients you need (you have to take supplements with the GB, too, but more with the DS).
A lot of people never know about the DS simply because not a lot of surgeons perform it (it is a more complex sugery, and not as many surgeons take the time to learn it nor want to take the time to perform it since it is a longer operation).
I know someone alredy mentioned obesityhelp.com--I agree. Check it out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jiffypop
keep thinking and asking questions! one size DEFINITELY does not fit everyone here!!!!!
Best advice, hands down! Read, read, read, and ask, ask, ask! Check obesityhelp, look up studies on PubMed, maybe even attend a WLS support group near you to hear others' experiences.
Quote:
Originally Posted by missangelaks
Studies showed that GB was the most effective surgery when addressing the diabetes issue (I was Diabetes free and off all the meds 2 days after surgery) and it has a higher % rate of average weightloss (80%+ of total weightloss needed).
Actually, the DS has the highest success rate at reversing/sending into remission/curing (pick your manguage of choice) type 2 diabetes. Not that the 75% sucess rate in this matter of the GB is anything to turn a nose up at. The DS has a greater than 90% success rate at reversing diabetes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leenie
Thats something you and your surgeon will have to discuss. I had to go to a seminar my surgeon presented where he spoke about GBP and LB. Thats when I knew LB was for me.
Just a word of caution: please do your research BEFORE speaking to a surgeon. Unfortunately, most surgeons do not offer ALL the types of WLS, and most times, those who do not offer a particular procedure will not recommend it since that means they wouldn't get your business.
Actually, the DS has the highest success rate at reversing/sending into remission/curing (pick your manguage of choice) type 2 diabetes. Not that the 75% sucess rate in this matter of the GB is anything to turn a nose up at. The DS has a greater than 90% success rate at reversing diabetes.
Just one thing to say to that....your mama!
Joking aside, read read read about all the surgeries. My Diabetes being gone is a great side effect to having GB and the malabsorbtion thing in GB and the DS is a serious complication for a lot of people. The 2 people I know here in town that had the DS, who have been hospitalized several times, were one of the deciding factors to me choosing to have GB. Oh and the only doctor here that does the DS and takes my insurance does it as an open surgery...GB he did Lap. It was less risky to me.
Angela
Last edited by missangelaks; 08-09-2008 at 12:25 PM.
Thank you for all the information! I went to my hospitals WLS Seminar yesterday and it was very informative! She explained how the surgeries worked, which I didn't really know. Before yesterday I was leaning towards lapband, but now I think I am going RNY. It's still so crazy for me to think this might actually be happening soon.
breathe monkey - take your time - you need to figure out the best plan FOR YOU, and don't let anyone rush you into it! this is completely life-changing, and you have to have the right mind-set going in, or you'll have problems coping, and that'll get you onto the WRONG path!
so, keep asking questions and looking for answers. when the time is right, you'll know what's best for YOU.
I was also leaning toward lap band but am sold on RNY after the orientation meeting. I'm not diabetic, but both my parents are insulin dependent and so was my paternal grandmother, so that's a big factor. Also, I was 505 lbs at the time (435 now, a year later , with a severe back injury thats inoperable at my current weight. I need this to work to get off of pain meds.
And I don't want to be morbid, but part of what I tell myself is that I need a "gun to my head" in order to succeed with weight loss. With LB, the idea that the surgery is reversible would eventually insinuate itself into my mind and give me an excuse not to do the hard work.
I'm still learning about DS so I have no basis to say one way or the other. My clinic doesn't do it. I could change clinics if I decided against RNY but I really like these people, and particularly the surgeon.
How did you decide which surgery to have?
