I am still trying to decide between sleeve and bypass. I want to know what you wish you had know prior to surgery that you know now?

Well, I researched the heck outta both surgeries. I am TOTALLY happy with the VSG. Have three friends who have had bypass... all three have gained all their weight back. ALL THREE OF THEM. So, I went into this thinking that bypass probably wasn't for me. Also, after speaking with my surgeon for the first time, I was convinced that VSG was what I should have. I need for medications that I HAVE TO STAY ON to digest properly. With bypass, there was no telling how they would have digested. There is a correct surgery for you. You'll just have to look closely and discuss each with your doc. Happy shopping and good luck!!
Jeni

 I am just having suuuuch a hard time deciding which. And with the RNY I can have it done sooner. For the vsg I will have to wait until october. OMG I refuuuuuuse to get the weight off and gain it back. This is my last resort and effort.

Have you looked at a different surgeon? Maybe someone else could do a VSG sooner? Have you talked with the surgeon about which surgery would be best for you? I know what you mean about last resort... that's where I was, too!! Have never been happier in my life!! Good luck!

don't ru**** wait and do the sleeve rny was not a option not rearranging my inside hell no

I was faced with the same decision, though I had already decided on vsg when my surgeon posed to me to look at rny as an option too.  Waiting longer is hard, I agree.  But....once you make your decision and have the surgery, it is for the long-term.  So, whatever decision you make should be based on what you feel comfortable living with for the rest of your life.  I chose vsg for a number of reasons that made sense for my life, such as:

-no re-routing
-no malabsorption
-dumping is typically not an issue with vsg
-if I need to take NSAIDS or steroids, I can do so safely with the sleeve, but can't
 with rny
-I liked the idea of a smaller, but basically normally functioning stomach (see
 Frisco's post on the pyloric valve)

I have not regretted my decision one bit, but it was my decision - your decision needs to be what's right for you.  Good luck in whatever you decide!

I know people who had bypass and have either had problems or gained some weight back. Rearranging body parts was not for me. So glad I had the sleeve. I have had no problems and I have lost 104lbs since my surgery in July. Just do what YOU feel is right.

I am a nurse and I researched all options, hospitals, surgeons, and procedures. I also have friends and co-workers who've had RNY and LapBand. If you ask just about any bariatric patient, they will tell you their procedure is the best for whatever their reason was for choosing that procedure. I chose VSG due to not having the issues with malabsorption and the thoughts of organs hanging out in my body not being used just kind of grossed me out. God gave us stomachs for a reason. I'm only 9 days out but back to work full time, feeling fabulous, and 19 pounds lost. If you are spiritual, I recommend you pray about it and also read everything you can, attend bariaric support groups and be informed. Whichever procedure you decide on, it is definitely worth the wait!

Please read this transcript- skim past the band stuff, but read up on the RNY and the downsides caused by bypassing the pylorus. Frankly, the issue with reactive hypoglycemia (and associated weight regain issues) scared the poop out of me, and I DO NOT want a stoma, thanks.. if that ever stretched - which is does for some, it really isn't repairable.. The only two surgeries I'd ever consider- the VSG, and if malabsorption is needed or wanted- the DS.

Yes, it's on someones blog- but it's all there:

http://livingthedslife.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/revisions-%E 2%80%93-does-the-patient-fail-the-procedure-or-does-the-proc edure-fail-the-patient/

I'm schedule for my vsg June 8th and researched the heck out of all of the options. I decided on the vsg because I didn't want to deal with malabsorption, dumping and rearranging of parts in my body that weren't meant to be rearranged (just my opinion). I also like the fact that the part of the stomach that is removed is where the hunger hormone is produced and it will be gone or greatly reduced. Good luck! Only YOU and your Dr can make the best choice for YOU.

I was once so very much against surgery for weight loss. I felt that unless you were physically unable to exercise, you should take responsibility and do it on your own. I developed this mentality because I saw one, two, three, four friends undergo the RNY procedure and fail it. At first, they dropped a lot of weight and their health improved. After about 8 months to a year, not so much anymore. They were usually sickly, or had some health issue related to the surgery. Then they began gaining their weight back. It was quite sad to watch.

Granted, anyone can succeed at the WLS available out there if they are willing to do that work. If you follow the proper nutritional program, you can't fail. However, when you are faced with health problems/stresses it can emotionally set you back and you begin to eat the way you did before. I feel this is what happened to my friends.

I do not regret my decision for VSG vs. RNY. This surgery has been a cakewalk for me, and I've had no complications, I'm not dumping, I'm not malabsorbing the intake, but I also am mindful of what the intake consists of. I wanted to try something new and something that made sense to me.

There's a post right under yours from someone who had their surgery 5 years ago!! Read her post - it's another great way to see what will be in 5 years if you decide to do it!!

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4529734/5-yrs-post-op-today-loooonnnngggg/

For me - it was all about the differences. I didn't want the bad malabsorption, I wanted to be able to absorb the right nutrients from my food!! That is HUGE and why bypass patients HAVE to be on vitamins forever just to survive! Also - I think that's why they have weight regain! They have to battle their absorption issues. Also - my dr. told me that it will boost my metabolism for life! He doesn't know why but a positive side affect is the higher metabolism, which has always been my enemy!! But with bypass you don't have that. You have a faster metabolism in their honeymoon phase from surgery, but that's it. 

Hope that helps!! Good luck in your decision. Just cause one is sooner than the other is not a good reason for doing this. It's a LONG lifestyle choice!! Take your time and make the right one for you!!

I am a rny revision to a sleeve b/cI was one of the cases that got SEVERE reactive hypoglycemia after eating- my blood sugar would drop ridiculously low to the point of delirium, blurred vision, etc. Fought it and my original surgeon for 4 years- eating constantly to keep my blood sugar up- gained back ~25 lbs.-finally started getting other opinions of my situation and the overwhelming consensus was to revise to a sleeve to get my pyloric valve back in the game. I had mine 3/28 and so far so good!! Also, with my rny i didn't absorb squat- ended up on IV iron every 3 months and felt like CRAP for years. Just my story, but one surgeon i consulted with said he thought they should quit doing rny all together because of all the complications. When I had mine it was my only option- really wish I'd waited!!

 Besides the obvious of what the doctor does on your inside, my doctor gave a statement to help people decide. He said if you are a huge sweets lover and dont feel like you will be able to control your intake of them after surgery, he recommend the bypass where you get dumping if you eat too much sugar. It is much easier to "cheat" the sleeve with sweets. 

Of the two surgeries the VSG was the only choice. I just didn't like the idea of what the doctor does to your insides for the bypass. 

Good luck to you in your decision. 

I never understood this reasoning though, not a slam on your Dr at all.. but only about 30% of RNYers dump, and most start to quickly understand and test tolerances as sensitivities to sugar vary.. plus those that dump early out- sometimes don't later. Aversion therapy has never been shown to work, that includes dumping with the bypass. Weird.