you are more likely to get the diabets under control with the gbs. im six months out and still on pills but 1 a day instead of 6! and i have faith i will be off everything.good luck.

I am surprised about what your PCP said. RNY is by far a better way to go than lap if you have diabetes. See my clinic (MGH, Boston) bar far recommends GBS over the lap band as there is less chance in the long run of having to go back under. There is not a long history with how long the band will last, 20-25 years??? I thought I wanted the band at first but after hearing the facts RNY was the way to go. After 12 weeks I am diabetes free, high blood pressure free and no meds. There are still some doctors out there that just don't understand the benefits and think it doesn't work. There are also some that are thinking to save the insurance company's money as the lap is cheaper. As long as you are a a good program with the support you need and have done your homework you have made the right choice. All I can say is I did and having lost 80lbs in 18 weeks I couldn't be happier.

I was planning on having the lap band but because diabetes and hypertension (and also considering my cousin had a lap band that slipped twice and then had a gastric bypass). I am so glad I decided to have the bypass - next day my diabetes was gone, was off all meds for diabetes and hypertension. I've lost 45 pounds since April 5! GO FOR IT!

When I started out I told my primary care physician that I wanted the band but then after I had done everything needed for surgery I changed to RNY. When I told my pcp, he said he was glad I decided to go with RNY instead of the band because of the fast weight loss (the sooner the weight was off the better my health issues would become). I have not seen my pcp since surgery (10/19/09) but have an appt on July 9th. I am 90 pounds lighter.....I'm sure he will be pleased and I'm sure I will be taken off of my high blood pressure meds and maybe my cholestrol meds too. In the end, it truly is your decision and your life, if your pcp can't accept that, maybe it's time to look for a new pcp.
Good luck.

I had diabetes & high blood pressure and went from being on all those pills to not taking anything but my vitamins after my gbs surgery. i suggest the gbs surgery as well. Trust your gbs surgeon - he knows what is best.

This is not advice I just want to thank all of you that responded in such an expedient way. I did not sleep well last night. I feel better after having read your responses. You have helped me soooo much. I am going to pre-op this morning so I feel less apprehensive. I know the questions to ask. I will keep you guys posted. The surgery "is" scheduled for Monday the 14th. Thanks again so much.

I started interested in the Lap-Band, but after a lot of research and talking to a highly recomended surgion, I realised that this method is almost not used in Europe anymore. Here in the US the marketing is big, but the success rate is already showing that GBS is the most effective long term. It's a fact. Good luck with your surgery. Hope hearing from you soon!

More specifically RNY.

The only person who knows which surgery is right for you is yourself, and maybe the surgeon.
Choose what fits you and your lifestyle.
I had the sleeve, walked out of the hospital off diabetes meds, blood pressure med, and cholesterol med.

Primary Care Physicians in this country as a whole are so busy that they have very little time to read medical journals/do online research.
Your PCP may have read one journal article advocating the lapband, and based his entire opinion on that.

I would base my decision more on what is right for you, whichever surgery will give you the best benefit. Research online, and I think you'll get a lot of feedback here.

Teri

I went the Lap band route first, and it worked for about 2 1/2 years, then everything went haywire. I went for a revision, which didn't work. On May 27th 2009 I had gbs. On June 5th 2009 I became septic and was dying. I had two abcess removed from my abdoman. I was a little over a hundred pound over weight when I had all this done. My advice is; Really make sure what you want to do. Really, really try to lose it yourself. I know this sounds crazy, but wish now I would not have had either surgery and did it the old fashion way. Change my lifestyle and hard work. I wish you all the luck in the work. By the way I am 20 lbs from goal weight, but I excerise 3 times a week for 2 hours and walk the other 2 day.

I discovered with my PCP that nothing succeeds like success. They spend hours and hours with people whose medical issues could be resolved with weight loss instead of maintained with piles of meds. The first time you come in for a check-up and he/she sees the scale has moved and your labs are great, that will be the end of the discussion. Nothing like massive weight loss to put a smile on the face of even the most crotchety nurse. I never had so much fun going to the doctor in my life!

I have to agree with the others GBP will be more beneficial for you than the band, besides you PCP is not the expert, Do not back out, you went too far, and you will see the binefits.

Not advice: it's my update. Thank you guys so much for being there for me with your kind words and thoughts. I saw the surgeon on thursday and he made me feel really really confident in my decision to go ahead with the gbs. He also showed me research on the benefits of gbs vs. lap band. I spoke with him about my apprehension and the conversation I had with my pcp. He was very reassuring but also called and spoke with my pcp in great length. My pcp called me and told me that he was comfortable with it. He called me again tonight at home at 8pm to reassure me he had spoken with several other doctors with extensive knowledge in this field and let me know he was truly on board ad would check on me after my surgery on Monday. Thanks guys... Cheers to a better life...

GBS has gotten me almost off of my insulin. I was using 4 vials a month now I am down to a vial every other month. I feel great, I have been diabetic for 29 years, insulin requiring for 22 years. I am happy with my decisions. Down almost 70lbs since March 1, 2010. Will be sending prayers your way on Monday!
Altheia