ObesityHelp

Hopefully you got my PM with the link to Jessy's page on DSfacts and some other info.

Jessy was 17 when she got her DS and is on this site.

HTH

Exactly what risks are you worried about?

At your height and weight, your bmi is 55.8, putting you in the SMO category already at just 19. While you are hopefully still in good health and with good mobility now, things won't stay that way if you don't get the weight off and keep it off. The DS offers you the best chance for this. In other words, you need to consider both the risks of the surgery, and also the risks of NOT having the surgery.
     You also need to consider the likely outcomes of the different surgical choices. Both VSG and DS are major surgery requiring general anesthesia - no getting around that. While VSG is less surgery (not less invasive!) and lower risk than the DS, you need to take into account that weight loss and resolution of comorbidities are also less with the VSG, and also that the longterm results are unknown. This is not true for the DS, which has the well documented longterm results for the best percentage excess weight loss, best maintainence of that weight loss, and best resolution of almost all comorbidities of any wls.  Also, even surgeons who promote the sleeve acknowledge that results are not as good for people with higher bmi's, higher meaning over 45. 
      You're very young, and of course I don't know you. I can't know if you are mature enough and serious enough about your health to take the necessary vitamins and calcium to maintain your health with the DS, and that you will consistently eat enough protein, and that you are ready to do this for the rest of your life. Different people mature at different ages, and some young people have the maturity to do great with the DS. Other people never seem to mature at any age. So you will need to take a good, honest look at yourself and determine whether or not you're ready for the DS. But if you are emotionally ready, it really would be your best choice for your health, and to get you to a normal weight and keep you there.

Larra

I couldn't possibily tell you what you should do, but I can tell you my experience...

I am 2 years out was a revision from a failed Lap, or should I say "Crap" Band".  I am 5' 2" and I was 241 lbs.  I was really scared as well (and we should be because it is a major operation.)  The recovery really sucked and was long, I didn't expect it to be so rough.  It took a good 5 weeks before I felt like I turned the corner.  You will really need to have a support system for when you get home.  My hospital stay was 5 days: 3 in the ICU, 2 in a reg room. 

I luckily have had no major complications except for an incisional hernia that I got fixed last year.

I lost over 90 lbs. in less than a year and have maintained going up 3 or 5 lbs the losing them again.  I do have issues with some food.  I can not eat bread, pasta, wheat or oats, so I eat mostly Gluten-free and that helps.  But I do eat what I shouldn't and have some issues with gas, but I take a probiotic and that really helps!  I can control it with what I eat.  In the beginning everything can bother you while your system is adjusting, but now that I am 2 years out, its better and I basically know what will bother me.  I do have bathroom "issues" but they are also less.

OK all that being said, I couldn't be happier and I wish I had done this at 19!  My life is pretty damn good now.  I can walk all day, go on bike rides with my kids, life is good!  :)