DS or Lap band?

[Guest guest]

I am cross posting this to the DS and bandster lists in the hopes that

somebody can give me some insight.

I finally saw my surgeon for a consult just last week. We talked a long

long time about the DS. We discussed the RNY very briefly and both

dismissed it. She brought up the lap band. She made it very clear that I

can have the DS if I want it. She also wanted me to consider the lap band,

and after thinking it over, I am going to go with that. Her stated reasons

were that I am not that large (288) and am about 140 lbs overweight, that DS

would lose about 85% of my excess weight and the band about 65% but that in

practical terms that means 120 lbs versus about 100 lbs (my math, not hers,

which is a heck of a lot better). I could have the DS. It is a major

operation, there can be complications, like leaks, which can be very

dangerous. I would be under general for 3-4 hours during surgery, spend 3-4

days in the hospital and have it lap and have an excellent chance at a good

surgery without problems. I could do the lap band, be off the table in 1

hour, out of the hopsital the next day, also do it lap. Procedure wise the

difference is considerable and if the band does not have the desired effect

I can get a DS in the future.

I know there are considerable differences in terms of what you eat

afterward. A good friend who had a DS tells me that the DS is better suited

to how I like to eat. I am concerned about cormorbs (sleep apnea,

hypertension etc) more than losing extra weight for looks and this is a time

when I could handle the band and those restrictions easier than I could

handle a major abdominal surgery.

Anybody have any advice? I'd appreciate any thoughts.