Great Room! Curious about your thought process?

Pick a Doctor/Surgeon you like and trust and find out what he is best at.  I did RNY because I was familiar with quite a few people that had good results, and my surgeon is a master at it.  I love the idea of having no scars. 

Maybe your surgeon is more comfortable with one surgery over the other.  It is a personal decision, but the Doc works for you so don't take his advice lightly.

Robert, you have really kept it off, as many of you have......that is my biggest fear, is doing all of this and not maintaining.......

is it difficult to maintain?  Can you still be a guy and have some bbq etc.....just small amounts?

I live a normal skinny guy life.  I have a few beers with the guys at the archery club and eat everything that they eat.  If we have a steak on the grill they eat the whole thing, I eat 1/3 of it at that time and have 2 more meals that day with the rest of it.  I eat as much as anyone in a day, I just have to eat it in 6 meals instead of 3.

Your first 1 1/2 years post opp are difficult because you can't eat everything, but that is what we sign on for, give up a year and a half for a new life - a better life - a more active lifestyle.

When you are a couple of years post opp your life will have changed so much for the better that you will have a hard time remembering the old you.  The energy you will have will be tremendous, and you will need to watch the clock so you know when it's time to eat, no****ch the clock hoping dinertime comes sooner.

The fear of not maintaining is enough for me to make sure I stay at the weight that I am.  I do worry about gaining the weight back - often.

I did a lot of research about bariatric surgeons prior to my surgery. I was willing to go anywhere in the world to find a surgeon who had experience and a great track record. Dr Kothari came up on my top doc list. I chose Dr. Krause here in Michigan, because he was up at the top of the list as well and much closer for me. Your post on finding a doctor who is experienced is right on. The more experienced he is, the better. I also recommend looking for a surgeon with a good follow up program.

My research was based on my age, eating habits, activity, exercise routine.  The RNY was my first choice and when I had my initial consultaion with the surgern he asked me what I preferred. His response was the same RNY
Good luck

One question i have, is how much followup do you do with the surgeon vs say your primary care doc?

my thought is that you would want a local surgeon for close follow up, just in case issues arise....

but with some of the procedures like the DS there are say no docs in the state you live in....so some people go out of state, and others out of country

thanks

Travis 

In my case I choose lap band , one because RNY seemed a bit too extream for my likings . So the band fit the bill. I am one of the lucky ones my ins. payed for the band , some ins will not.

  The band was right for me because I was a bulk eater.
I think somebody already said this but. ( I live a skinny guy life too)
But I am quite a few years out and have kept it off. The only way I have been able to keep the weight off, I LOVE TO RIDE . I live for it now. I ride my bike to and from my place of employment almost every day. 
I work second shift so I ride home in the dark but that doesnt bother me . I have a reallllly bright light. 

  My point is , after the weight is gone and you have been able to keep it off!!! Life goes back to some what normal . I still have a beer or two with the guys on a sat night. Throw a game or two of darts You know .
I give myself one night a week to eat and drink just about anything I want ( within reason ) 
But then its back on the bike mon. morning  

Best wishes and good health
Nick

I had my surgery through an medical hospital that has a complete bariatric follow-up team. My personal physician was always involved in the process and all of my doctors share info with each other. I had this all lined up prior to surgery. In fact my doctors share tests and results so as to not only be informed but to not have to replicate tests. This includes my surgeon, my internist, my urologist, cardiologist, my back doctor, and even my dentist. I see my surgeon twice a year, my bariatric internist every 3 months, my personal physician twice a year and my cardiologist one a year. The others as need be.

My decision for RNY was the benefits for Diabetics.  I was a rip-roaring diabetic on 2 meds and still couldn't keep the blood sugars under 225 or so.  Now, mine stays in the 90-120 range, 18 months out. 

I'm one of the lucky ones (or unlucky) as almost anything I eat is tolerated well.  Bread, is my worst and it's not bad.  :)

Good luck to you

Jason

320-196

then-now

 I chose the sleeve because I was an over eater. I wanted something that would control my intake.  If sweets are your guilty pleasure then the RNY is for you.  

If I can get it by through my window or on the phone I dont eat it. If it cost a dollar not eating it either.

I didn't want my insides rearranged so this was also the benefit for me of the sleeve. 

you're beating a dead horse when it comes to talking to the women about surgery... They are cut throat when it comes to the DS and VSG battles...