Decision making and moving forward

New to OH!

I was approved for gastric bypass many years ago and it was cancelled due to my mood. So now I am in a totally different space mentally and emotionally. I started researching a couple of months ago, attended a seminar a couple of weeks ago and have my psych eval tomorrow! I then have the initial surgical consultation on 8/29. So far things are moving right along.

But now I have to decide between vsg and rny. I am leaning toward the bypass but am wondering something. Is it my decision with the input of the team, or is it the surgeon's decision?

I am excited, scared and hopeful all at the same time. Any words of wisdom for a newcomer?

Hi and welcome!

the decision should be yours- but your surgeon may give medical reasons, when they have factored in your medical history, for one vs the other.

In my case it was totally up to me, I could have gone either way, only thing he would not do was the DS, cause he felt I didn't meet the weight standard for it.

Onow you can be just as successful with either, have essentially the same risk of complications, same risk of regain if you don't work things properly post op.

Also know many doctors seem to push VSG cause the procedure itself is faster to do than RNY.

Read past posts here- and participate, you'll learn lots

I think the decision should be made with your Dr. considering your make up and health issues; however, each procedure works differently and ultimately you have to live with that. If I had things to do over I probably would have went with the bypass to begin with. Yes, there is a risk of stricture with bypass but because the bypass has been around longer it seems things like that are caught and therefore treated earlier. If you do decide to have the bypass you will need to take things like the risk of ulcers, etc. seriously. Because that is always a risk no matter how compliant you are. You will NEED those vitamins with bypass but there is no guarantee you won't with the sleeve. The sleeve is less time in the OR but you have more of a risk of a leak because there is a longer staple line to heal, (and sleeves also can stricture or twist or bend and a % of gastric sleeve end up developing GERD and revising to bypass. Could you deal with having to have a revisional bariatric surgery? Some things like hernias, gallbladder, stricture, blockages etc. happen but you have to take it all in context of how likely it might be to happen and sometimes you just don't know). Definitely read read read about the experiences of others. Those newly post op and those years out. They all offer a different lens through which to view this entire bariatric journey. I don't know if there is a best surgery. Heck, some people are still going with the lapband even with the recalls and stories of revisions and other issues, yk? But that is their journey and they have their reasons they went that route so how can I judge? At the end of the day we are the ones who have to decide, hopefully with the support of a good bariatric program and other bariatric patients.

Thank you for responding! I have really explored the options and stories. Hearing more about possibilities that can happen is good information. I know my behavior patterns and I am really leaning toward a rny bypass. I think for me it would be even more a tool to reinforce what I need to be successful. Time will tell. From what I read from others patience and understanding with oneself is key.

i take to heart the knowledge that I will be on supplements/vitamins for the rest of mylife, that there are risks and complications to consider and that things may happen after the surgery.

I will be giving up so much, but i have so much more to benefit by. My health will hopefully benefit greatly. Right now I am more scared about my health issues than the procedure. I will continue to do my research, keep up with therapy, and prepare the best I can for what is to come!

Good welcome and welcome! My center allowed me to make the final decision based on my needs. I chose the RNY and I also had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time. I was not concerned about having to commit to taking vitamins/supplements. This site is a great resource, hope you can pop in often.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I believe it should be based on your body. If you have reflux at all then sleeve is probably not the way to go. I wanted sleeve but I did have reflux and the endoscopy proved there was no hiatal hernia causing it so RNY it was.

But as everyone else has said this is a decision you should make with your surgeon.

I'm new too! I was given options for surgery. But following a discussion I opted for the gastric bypass. I'm not sure of the full terminology. I had a chronic problem with reflux, my surgeon recommended that the op would solve that issue which it has. No reflux in 5 years post surgery. My consultant did explain the different options he did emphasise that I would lose the most weight with a bypass. I was 20 stone when I saw him for the first time. I had my op on the nhs approx 9 months after that appointment. I read lots and asked for opinions. I made my own choice but my surgeon did specialise in the gastric bypass and that alongside the evidence of weight loss post op and potential reflux relief were factors. I was insulin dependent as well ( 3 years diagnoses before op) with diabetes and the evidence of remission of diabetic symptoms from a bypass was also a huge factor. I stopped injecting post bypass op and haven't injected or medicated for diabetes since. I hope you make the right choice for you. It's a individual decision that you must own and I found advice and counsel helpful. But ultimately I was taking responsibility for my op and what the surgeons would do to my body. I made the right choice.

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions! I take all this to heart and plan to make a decision soon! I will keep you posted ...

Actually, strictures are minor issues and can easily be fixed. They just do an upper endoscopy and stretch it out. No pain, and you feel better right away. About 5% of rny patients get them. They almost always occur within the first three months post- surgery. I had two of them - one at wks and one at 8 wks. Haven't had any since.