Trying to decide RnY or Sleeve

Surgery Wars...they are truly a waste of time.  Denise, the surgery you pick should be a choice between what you have researched and discussions with your surgeon.  You have already picked your surgeon, so to change surgeons now to get yet another type of surgery would stall your surgery for an unknown amount of time.

As for which surgery you choose.  It doesn't really matter.  They all work great when you first have it.  For 2 years, you will lose weight no matter what with any type of surgery. You may lose more in that time period with a DS over an RNY or RNY over a sleeve, but you will lose weight with any of them.  Plus, they will all help resolve your diabetes and BP.  It is after the 2 years that problems set in with ANY WLS.  Why you may ask.  Well, because after the "honeymoon" period ends, if you have not changed your eating habits and learned to exercise you will regain some, a bit or all of your weight.  None of the WLS procedures are a cure for obesity.  They are all a tool in combating the problem.  They will all work and they will all fail if you don't change your relationship with food and exercise.  So in a nutshell, discuss with your chosen surgeon why he feels the RNY is better for you then the sleeve.    He probably doesn't perform the DS so he wouldn't suggest it obviously.  Then after those discussions decide what is best for you.  What proceedure will you be able to live with for the long term.  Not for the couple of years following surgery, but for the many many years thereafter.

Good luck.
Stephanie

Sorry Stephanie, but I don't understand why you are calling this "surgery wars" Could you explain?

I was commenting on what other's above had said with regard to the surgery wars that always erupt over who's surgery choice is best.  I really hate when that starts because as we all know the choice of surgery is a personal decision and should be based on ones research and discussions with their doctor as to what is best for themselves. Not on what someone here on a message board believes is the best surgery.  They are all good choices and it is what one does with that surgery after the honeymoon period is over anyway.  They will all fail if we don't come to terms with why we compulsively overate ourselves into morbid obesity in the first place.  Long term success is not based on our surgery choice.

Glad to see you are doing so well Gail.  You went through a long long voyage to finally be able to have your surgery.

Stephanie

I don't think that giving the OP information on all her choices was war-like. I never said anything negative about other surgery choices. The sad thing is that in all my years on the CA board, which I loved dearly, I never learned or heard a thing about the DS. It has been a wonderful choice for me and I just would like others to know that it is a choice that they should research. Thanks for your well wishes.  It was a long hard road for me until this miracle happened for me.

Gail,
I wasn't referring to your post.  I was commenting on what Elizabeth said with regard to the arguments that always seem to arise over who's surgery choice is best.  She made her comment before you even posted so please don't get so offended.  I think it's very important for everyone considering surgery to know about all the choices available to them and then they can make an informed decision on what is best for themselves.

No offense taken at all.You have always been one of the most supportive people on this board. I agree that people need to be aware of all their choices but the CA message board isn't necessarily the place to get that information, (as I found out). I still like to drop by, though, to see how old friends are doing. Don't see many of them anymore so it was nice to see your face!

The surgery wars make me mad and sad at the same time. I think we are all WLS patients and we should be encouraging and lifting each other up. That is what Obesity Help is all about. Doing the research for each surgery is excellent advice.

Thank you all for your info.  I know it is a personal decision and really have to factor in our lives and what we plan with them.   I do think I want to stick with Dr. Zane.  I have come this far with the 20 weeks of classes and all so it does leave me with a choice of the Rny or sleeve.
We have been changing our lives and our food.  We have been turing our backyard into a backyard homestead growing as much organic foods as we can. Our goal is 60% of our food come from our yard.  We cannot do dairy and meats so that is the other 40%.  We really are enjoying this as a family and as a life so I have to factor in that.  Some of what I have been reading with the RnY is the limits people have on food.  I understand the sweets but also things like fresh produce and this is not what I want for my life long.  I have yet to read anyone having these issues with the sleeve.  So I guess that is going to be a big factor in my decision.   I do plan to keep reading and I guess until the last moment I will not have made my final decision.  Thank you all for your input and I would love to hear from more.

Hi Denise,

Just wanted to let you know that the restrictions you are talking about only refer to the beginning of your journey with RNY.  There are no fruits or vegetables that I cannot eat and I ate my first salad within a few months after my surgery.  With any surgery, however, protein is what is stressed, especially in the beginning.  Basically eat your protein and then if there is room left, eat your veggies and fruit.  The sugar issue affects some people and not others.  In the beginning I did have dumping from sugar, but that unfortunately has long been gone.  I wish I did dump, it would make life easier.  LOL  Again, RNY or Sleeve will work for you and do talk to Dr. Zane about what and why he recommends one over the other for you.  Then make your decision.

I think it is wonderful that you have started your outside garden.  That will benefit you so much no matter which surgery you go with.  But again, remember it is all about protein in the beginning.

Stephanie

Also I forgot to say Thank you all for the DS info.   What I was reading is it also can be done at a later time with the sleeve if it turns out I do need more help.  So if it turns out I did make a mistake by choosing the sleeve I will still have 2 options for revisions to look at.