I'm just learning about the additional options, as I've only ever heard of gastric bypass & lapband. I knew I didn't want gastric bypass surgery, so I decided on lapband. Once I made the decision, I did some preliminary research, talked with my doctor about my options & was referred by my doctor to a lapband surgeon.

I'm still educating myself about the lapband & the changes I will need to make in order to be a successful candidate; additionally, I'm hearing many pros & cons about it, as well as other WLS options. But, I've made up my mind to have the lapband surgery, so I take it all in, share my concerns with my surgeon & continue taking the steps needed to be successful.

I have a similar story to Annwaytt69. I initially was interested in the gastric sleeve, due to absorption concerns, but went with the RNY bypass instead. I had type 2 diabetes, acid reflux, and at my highest was 325. The doctor and I spoke about all three types (lap band being the third) and based on my medical history decided on RNY. I am only 5 months out, but it has been the best decision! I also follow my diet to a T, take all of my vitamins, and regularly check in with my medical team. It is a personal decision, but with a good surgical staff, you should get some guidance and help to make the decision that is best for you. Each of us here on this board chose our surgeries for a variety of reasons, and only you can decide what will be best for you in the long run.

I chose the sleeve because my insurance offered it and although its newer and there is less research out there, I felt that I preferred a less invasive method than the RNY. As I didnt like the malabsorption and life-long need to take vitamin. I'm not even a year out and I have already lapsed several times in taking my vitamins - its a problem I have always had in taking meds of any kind I forget or I get lazy and it stops being a priority, ect. . Knowing people who have been very ill from vitamin deficiencies because of their failure to keep up with their vitamins and labs after the RNY (one of whom was hospitalized for several months and nearly died) sealed my decision. More over the whole smelly poop/ devrom thing also turned me off to it and the fact that digestive probelsm and IBS runs in my family I didnt want to agrivate problems with the RNY. Statistically speaking I believe that outcome all depends on the person and what choices you make. As I have seen people less then a month out of surgery eating pizza, salad and burgers or someone who was eating 600 calories worth of candy a day rather then decent food and protein shakes - I will not be surprised to hear that they either do not succeed or if the do manage to lose weight they they regain it.

Also talk to your doctor and see what they recommend, based on what your situation is. In the end it not the just the surgery but what choices you make. Good luck!

PS I'm very happy with my choice. I have had no complications but I have had hair loss and acid reflux, both of which are common and also improving as time passes.

My story is similar to Turtle13 (5 months out as well). I met with two surgical groups and sat thru over 4 webinars (called emmi's) as well as my own research. For me, the RNY (or Gastric Bypass) was the option that statistically offered the most weight loss. I think the average is 60% of the weight you need to lose. By working with my medical team (nutritionist, surgeon, and nurse/mentor), I have surpassed the 60% mark and am at 75% of the weight I need to lose to reach a "healthy" BMI. Exercise is a big part of my program and I was counseled to make the most of my first 6 months. I write a blog about this for a local magazine. If you would like to read more of my story feel free to check it out. http://www.fredericksburgparent.net/blogs/weigh-in/

Also, I had a cousin who was unable to keep the weight off after having the sleeve procedure. Having my own experience now I saw how she did not change her eating or exercise habits, which was a big contributor.

Let me just say it is huge decision. At the time I had my lap-band done it was a big hype about it and how it works and my doctor didn't do any real consulting as far as the the choices he just basically let me decide. At the time it was the safest, least invasive, totally reversible option. Well now it is causing a lot more damage to people than originally thought. I advise anyone on their surgery journey to join www.obesityhelp.com and just browse through the different surgery forums so you can get an idea of what to expect. Well after more years of research there are many more people just like me that the lap-band has failed. I never lost weight from the band at all and had to stop getting fills because it was the reason my acid reflux became so severe and extreme vomiting. I used to be scared to eat at a restaurant because I knew it would result in me flying to the bathroom to vomit. I am now unfilled and am in the process of getting a revision.

I did my first WLS seminar in 2005, then all they had was RNY, bypass and the band. They all seemed so drastic to me and so I decided I would do it myself. So I struggled with my weight for 5 1/2 more years. I then heard about the sleeve. I did my research again on all of them and decided that if i did it, that would be where I would go. So I met with a surgeon and he decided that the sleeve was my best option. I could make healthy choices, but my quantity was not so good. I didn't have a whole slew of medical issues, so it was the best choice for me. It left me about as normal as I could be.....internally. I had heard a lot of scary things about all of them, but you know, I am 2 1/2 years out...and I feel amazing. I am about 130 pounds down, give or take, and I would do it again tomorrow if I had the choice to make again. It is a tough and scary decision to make, but be educated and be your own advocate. A good doctor will listen to your concerns and help you find what is best for you. Ask questions!! How many of each procedure he has done and his success rate. If you aren't comfortable, go with your gut! I think we all feel like our choice is a rewarding choice. Good luck to you! :happy:

research....research....research..... then decide
6 years post Op and never regretted my RNY

I had the sleeve because of long term post op issues. The long term statistics on WLS aren't really their since it keeps evolving so much. It used to be such a bigger procedure. anyways....

Im 19 so in 70 years with a plastic lapband in me or with my stomach rearrange. With rny your stomach is re attached and floats around in there. I wasn't sure if that would give me issues also. Depending how over weight you are I recommend doing the sleeve first then doing the rny. They have had great results with it.

One clinic I talked too stopped doing bands because of complications.
I had friends and family have RNY and the DS. Neither of them have had issues years after. Another one had the band but she never fills it. I don't know why she wont fill it she could stand to lose weight.


Anyone can add me. I know how anti WLS people are here.

I ended up going with RNY for a couple reasons:

1. Lapband isn't performed anymore at the surgical group I used because of its high failure rate.

2. VSG I felt was too drastic for me, being that I would lose a large portion of my stomach. I also heard stories of people having it done and stretching their sleeve out, defeating its purpose. I also felt that the procedure was too new, therefore with no longterm stats available

3. RNY was the better for me in the long run because I felt I needed consequences for eating poorly, based on past eating habits. Dumping SUCKS but I feel that if I didn't have that safeguard I wouldn't make any progress.


So far I'm two months out (surgery April 17) and I've lost 31 pounds. Nothing tremendous but it's working so far.



edited for spelling

research....research....research..... then decide
6 years post Op and never regretted my RNY

^^^^^^^THIS!!
Except I am only 6 months post op and Sleeved.
Read, ask questions, talk to others. Then decide what is best for YOU, this is YOUR journey