Question for all VSGers!

Sleeve!

 

I agree with so many who have posted about the benefits of VSG.  Sometimes its the surgeon that doesn't have the experience with this surgery.  Find a different surgeon if need be.  I also have friends that had RNY with nothing but weight regain and defeciency problems.  Research, research, research and then make the best decision for you. Good Luck... I know that VSG was the best decision I've ever made.

RnY and VSG give very similar results. I was self-pay so why I would I pay for a surgery that had a higher complication rate but didn't give better results? That makes no sense.

IMO the only reasons to pick RnY over VSG is because your insurance won't cover VSG or you are someone who feels more comfortable doing what the majority do and like the idea that RnY has been done for decades.

Otherwise you are dramatically increasing your risk of developing Reactive Hypoglycemia and vitamin deficiencies and limiting what kinds of meds you can take all so you can lose the same amount of weight and have the same chance of co-morbidity resolution. 

I went with my surgeon's recommendation. He said I would likely have a rough time with RNY surgery because I was so big.

When i started looking into my wls options I had always reaearched RNY. I knew so much about it I could write a book on it. Had family members that had band and rny and had my heart set on RNY as I was 450lbs and figured I would only lose with the malabsorption that came with the rny. My journey started back in 2003 fast forward to 2012 I had not heard or researched the VSG until my husband came home from his surgeon consult and said he was gettingthe VSG. I was shocked and confused because I knew nothing of this surgery. Fast forward 4 months I went to my surgeon consult (same surgeon) abd told him i wanted RNY. He said Im gonna be honest with you. I wont do it on you unless you get below a 60 bmi. My bmi was 84 at consult. I cried. He said reason being I was too high risk at the time for that procedure. The rerouting of organs was just risky at the time. He said lose 20lbs on the liquid diet and I will do the VSG as he felt it was a safer surgery for me at the time. I told him I couldnt lose without the malabsorption of the rny. He looked at me and told me " doesnt matter what surgery I give you it is only a tool. YOU have to do the work and if you put your mind to it you can succeed in anythig you want including losing the weight you want. The tool will help you along the way but to get "paid" you have to do the work. You will have fewer long term side effects with the VSG than the rny. He said besides in 2 yrs your RNY you want will only be restrictive and not malabsorbing of calories anymore. But you will malabsorb vitamins for rest of your life. ". Anyway i had VSG 5wks later and even though I had a few issues at first I wouldnt change my surgery for anything. I have lost 137lbs including the 20lbs preop and am gettin my life back. I was on 13 medications taking a total of 25 pills a day and now I am off all medication and my cpap pressure has went from 17 to 11. Hopefully one day that will go to. It took therapy and a permanent mind set for me to accept that i can do this but I can. And I will. My aunt who had rny 12yrs ago is reactive hypoglycemic,anemic and yo yos with her weight constantly to the point she takes weight loss pills every few months to lose weight. I dont want that kind of life. I thank my surgeon for changing my mindset and givin me other options.

My reason like many others was 1 - no rerouting, 2 - my stomach can still be scoped, 3 - dumping less likely...

I really hated the idea of having my digestive system rerouted - it did not seem right to me.  Having my stomach made smaller seemed much more appealing. 

 

Good luck making your decision.

What the others said, plus VSG is the only WLS that allows occasional use of NSAIDs. I have arthritis, and while I've been pretty much totally off pain meds since right after my surgery (was that ever a nice surprise!) I didn't want to be restricted to Tylenol and narcotic pain meds.

You guys are awesome, thank you for your responses. I was skeptical of the sleeve at first because of the lack of long term data on it. But the idea of rerouting is terrifying. Also, malabsortion for the rest of your life? I'm 25 and that's a long time, hopefully.    I don't think I like the idea of having your body punish you for eating bad things,  you should be making the right choices to begin with in my opinion. The more I think about it the more I am leaning toward the VSG. I also have chronic migraines, and the thought of not being able to take Tylenol is scary.  Thank you again guys, I will bring all of my concerns up with the surgeon on Thursday!