I've just been approved for RNY but I'm wondering why you chose the sleeve.  I had originally wanted the sleeve because of the no rerouting, but I took what I considered the less invasive route before with the band and it was HELL.  I know it's not comparing apples to apples, but I just don't want to go through the pain of another surgery (I've had 4 in my lifetime) and not lose all the weight.  I'm 5'2 and weigh 233lbs.  Some say I'm a lightweight....ha, I've never been called that before in my life lol.  Any replies will be greatly appreciated!!

Shannon

I chose VSG because I have Bipolar Disorder and did not want to risk my meds not being absored correctly.

I chose the sleeve (getting it on 9/4) over the RNY not just because of the rerouting, but also because of the malabsorption. Plus there is only one incission with the sleeve and if I can remember like 4 with the RNY. Ea*****ission is a worry of leaking.

Because of my GERD the RNY was a way to go, but I felt more comfortable with the sleeve and the positive outcomes I see with the sleeve.

Good Luck.

 Who told you there is only 1 incision with the sleeve?? There is 5 to 6 incisions if having it done lapriscopicly. I just had the sleeve done on the 14th and I have 6 small incisions.

There are surgeons now doing it with one incision. Not many, though.

 Oh wow!! Thats great! I had no idea...

I think she means one INTERNAL staple/suture line(the one staple line on the stomach to make it a sleeve) because she mentioned leaks-not the external lap sites.

Most surgeons are doing it with 5 incisions, some are doing it with one.. there is some talk of not being totally able to fully and properly dissect the stomach with the one incision route- less space/retraction to work with- but.. that's where the surgeon's skill set comes in.. the risk of leaks?? Ea*****ision is a potential infection site- but the leak issue you sometimes hear- that's along the staple line of the stomach, not the incisions on the abdomen, so single hole or many, your leak risk is still there, and may be a touch higher with single incision operations due to lack of mobility/visualizing.

I was worried about malabsorbtion as well. Plus some of my family members have digestive issues, did not want to mess with my intestines.

fay

 I chose VSG because I have a condition called viceral situs inversus, which means my insides are backwards. This is the safest route for my condition. Also, the chances of my intestines twisitng on themselves are much higher with RNY. THATS SCARY! Good luck with your decisions.

~Cheers

I chose the sleeve over RNY for several reasons:

- I am overall very healthy. No high blood pressure, no diabetes, no high cholestoral. I felt like the RNY was kind of drastic for someone with my medical history (or lack thereof).
- I definitely did not want to deal with the malabsorption issues with the RNY. I'm a bad pill-taker and that just seemed like too much for me on top of all the other stuff.
- I wanted a digestive system that worked the same as normal - just substantially smaller. I didn't want to re-route anything inside.

My surgeon also thought the sleeve would be ideal for me, and indeed it has been.

I'm 5' 3" and started at 262 a week pre-op. I'm now 220, two months out.

I am still pre-op, my surgery is scheduled for Sept. 12th.  With that said, I chose the sleeve for many reasons, but the primary reason being no food was off limits post-op.  Obviously I don't want to eat the way i did which got me to where I am. But, I also want to live a normal and healthy life.  I want to have a few bites of birthday cake on special occasions or a cookie or a bite of pie during the holidays.  Everything in moderation.  With RNY, that really isn't an option because of the "dumping" issues.  I have a good friend that had an RNY and literally she has to carry around extra undies for "accidents" that she has.  I believe that is because of the malabsorption factor.

And also I have horrid lower back pain and joint pain that I rely heavily on my Nsaids for.  I don't like the idea that with an RNY my medicine might not properly absorb.  What happens if years down the road I become ill and am not able to absorb the proper medication that would make me better? I just don't want to chance it.  I like the idea of restriction without malabsorption.  My ppc tried to steer me towards the RNY but I held my ground and did the research and opted for the sleeve.  It's like permanent portion control hopefully:)  Good luck with whatever you decide.  You have to do what is best for you!

I chose the sleeve because I didn't like the idea of rerouting and malabsorption. I know some friends with RNY and they are having many complications. If you follow the plan, the sleeve will do you good!! Its all about lifestyle change really. The sleeve just helps you to a great start because you have to eat small portions. I am very happy with my choice to have the sleeve.

Actually some doctors are using the newer technology with only one incision.

I am also 5'2" and was 248 at my highest.  I chose the sleeve because I knew the band would not be good for me, and I didn't like the statistics.  I did not want RNY because I did not want the most invasive surgery.  And I knew people who had already had the sleeve with much success, so it seemed the best option.  I do not regret my decision at all.  And BTW, this was my 7th surgery!  Good luck to you!

I responded to a lady who is considering the band (just like I did oh so many years ago).  I thought it was SO good it was worth posting on my profile, lol.  I think so highly of myself =)

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While I never got the band I will tell you about my story.  I was always fat upwards to 345 in my 20's, 325 when I started researching WLS in 2006 when my mom died.  I actually saw a LapBand commercial (the greatest ad campaign I have EVER seen).  I was never ever going to get the RnY because of the fact they have a hole at the bottom of your stomach (stoma) that basically just dumps the food you eat into your intestine (where the term dumping comes from).  I have seen COUNTLESS people in my personal life and read who CAN have complication etc.  Please note that I say CAN because it's not guaranteed that anyone WILL have complication x, y or z, but they can.  Ok so I'm researching the all mighty LapBand (and that's how I felt) I needed a surgery that would HELP me the most, and I believe that I needed a surgery that would keep my stomach as a normal stomach.  Where the stomach acid helps digest and mix up my food, where my pyloric valve once the stomach was done doing it's job would open and let my food continue on the digestion road.  I wanted a surgery that would REDUCE the amount of food I could at at any one given time.

So research I did.  Now I saw the website where there is a (and I think back then in 2006 there was like a 50-60%) complication rate and you MIGHT not lose ALL your we ight but I also believe that given the right mental aspect of this surgery coupled with the restriction you can do almost anything so I kept on researching.  I came to OH thanks to a friend and well what I saw here made me nervous.  Instead of some arbitrary number on a website about complications I was seeing ACTUAL living breathing people with the LapBand who WERE having complications, some minor others not.  So I in total research mode started a pros/cons list.  I had page after page of "possible" complications with the Band and of course RIGHT next to it I had the "words/advice" of those who loved the band saying oh if you do this or do that you will NEVER suffer from these complications.  In my research I am ALREADY forcasting that I WAS going to be the PERFECT bandster.  Like someone already said I was aiming to be ONE of the LUCKY ones.  The more I researched the MORE I found people who were banded in like 05/06 with these complications and they were CLAIMING to have been "perfect" bandsters.  But STILL I did not want the RnY because of the false stomach, nor the DS because I just do not consume that much fat and I had NO medical issues.  THEN boom bam thank you Jesus a young lady on the LapBand forum asked Dr. Curry about the VSG and that her insurance (just happened to be MY insurance) suggested she get that instead of the Band.

WHAT you say girl.  There is a surgery out there called the Sleeve...what is this...tell me more.  Well you guessed it I started researching the Sleeve and OMG it "appeared" to have EVERYTHING that I wanted....normal stomach, food restriction and to boot there was a CHANCE that I would wake up from surgery and NOT be hungry because it removed over 1/2 your stomach and the hormone called Ghrelin.  Well tell me more all mighty Sleeve.  I then simultaneously was researching the Sleeve but not taking my foot all the way out the band camp.  I wanted to know EVERYTHING I could about the sleeve.  After all I was willing to say GOODBYE ADIOS to over 1/2 my stomach (NOT that my stomach ever did anything for me, I still am VERY fond of ALL my body parts).  I took my research AWAY from the WLS forums and researched Full/Partial Gastrectomies as done on people who have stomach cancers and ulcers which has been done for over 30 years or more.  I read about peoples LIVES after having a partial gastrectomy, What LONG term vitamins "may" be needed.  How they just eat way smaller portions then before.  How yes they would lose weight.  How yes they weren't really hungry.  How yes you could even live a full and productive LIFE even without ANY stomach.  How a family who had a history of stomach cancer voluntarily had their stomachs REMOVED as a preventative measure.  How people were LIVING life YEARS after their gastrectomies with virtually the same restriction and the "bonus" of weight loss.

Now the whole time I still had my pro/con list.  The Band one was LONG and extensive on the "possible" complications, slips, erosions, esophagal dialation, adhesions for IF the band had to be removed all the risks involved in removal.  The VSG after researching had a few questions/comments.  What size bougie would the surgeon be using?  How does the surgeon check for leaks?  After surgery I did research to KNOW if I did have a leak what SHOULD I be looking for in those weeks after surgery?  How long does it take the stomach to fully heal over the sutures/staples?  That was IT.

I was fortunate that my insurance DID cover the sleeve back in 2007.  Blessed if you will because back then Insurance companies weren't.  I don't know what I would have done in 2007 once I KNEW about the VSG, if my insurance would only cover the RnY or the Band.  To be honest I don't like the GAMBLE of either of those surgeries to NOT be one of the "lucky" ones.  For the VSG I took a gamble that I might still be hungry.  I did take a gamble that hey you could have a leak but as of yet I have not seen a VSGer die purely from a leak.

My reality after my VSG.  I woke up from surgery with INSTANT restriction.  I have been blessed with NO physical hunger.  I am almost 3 years out, still not hungry and still with restriction.  I have lost over 100lbs.  I COULD have gone lower then my current 192 and I'm working out it, but at 1 1/2 years out, I decided a little carbs here and there won't hurt, well they do and depending on YOUR body...well **** I'll say CARBS are the DEVIL.  I am referring to PROCESSED carbs, not fruit but yes fruit for some can be "danger Will Robinson danger."

I wish you well on your decision.

Ms Shell

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Regarding RNY

After decades of knowing people and researching I just don't like the remnanat stomach which can still get cancer especially if it runs in your family.  I don't like that you now have a stoma which can stretch.  I don't like that you will FOREVER not absorb vitamins and nutrients, but soon your intestines adapt and you will absorb calories.

I had a host of other things but since we don't have bookmarks anymore =(

 I wanted help with portion control from feeling full more quickly, and a reduced hunger sensation.

VSG offers both of these with the smallest overall impact to your body.

Like someone else said. I want to be able to have a bite or 2 of cake on occasion. I don't want to be 100% restricted from some foods. Also, I don't want to risk the malabsorptive complications.

For me VSG was the perfect combination of low risk, low maintenace, low complication.

 The malabsorption factor terrified me.  I was also pretty concerned about complications from lap band.  I don't know one person who has been completely successful and several have had to have the band removed.  My insurance will pay for this surgery only once per lifetime, so this was my only shot.  I couldn't afford to take the chance of going with the band, not be successful and have this contraption inside of me.  

Mine was simple: everyone I know who had lap-band is still fat. Everyone I know who had RNY is either bald or in the midst of an eating disorder.

I simply did not like the idea of having my anatomy changed. With a sleeve my surgeon says it just looks like you born with an abnormally small stomach