Why choose RNY instead of DS? I have to make my decision, please help.

Before I make my final decision on having a DS instead of RNY, I am curious as to why others chose teh RNY. I want to have the most information I can before my final commitment. Anything you can tell me on why you preferred the bypass would be appreciated. PS: I'm not trying to start an argument, fight, or debate. I just truly want to know the reasons for your choice and if you're happy with your choice and if you would recommend it to others. Thanks!!

Choosing a surgery is a highly personal decision, but all I can do is relay to you how I chose RNY over Lap-Band & DS.   When I went for my initial consult, I wasn't even considering RNY, but our surgeon makes you learn about all of the options. 

Here's why I went RNY: 

1) The long-term results for RNY are much, much stronger than Lap-Band

2) I had over 100 pounds to lose but not enough to lose to justify the risks associated with a DS

3) I knew I needed help with impulse control, carb intake, fat intake and sugar intake and that RNY, with the possibility of dumping and being both restrictive and malabsorptive in nature could give me more assistance

4) I had seen no fewer than about 15 people in my family or work be highly successful with it with little to no complications, versus the 1 out of 2 that I knew who had success with Lap-Band (and now, due to regain, 0 out of 2) and the 3/5 DS'ers in my family who have had serious malnutrition issues

5) It could be performed laproscopically, speeding my recovery time

6) It would force me to change my eating habits for life, so that I could be a better example for my children and teach them another way

7) I didn't hear as much about on-going gas and bowel movement issues as with DS

8) Those I knew who had RNY seemed more active and looked healthier

9) After learning about the post-op diet and requirements, there was nothing I couldn't live with

10) Psychologically, I felt I needed a "permanent" WLS solution versus one that I might fool myself into thinking was "temporary" (like Lap-Band)

11) RNY is considered by most of the medical world to be the "gold standard" in WLS

12) When discussing all the options with my internal medicine doctor/PCP, he highly recommened RNY over the other options based on the results and outcomes he's seen with his other patients. 

 

Those are just MY reasons.  Your reasons for choosing a surgery will most likely be very different.  My recommendation is to read, read, READ on these forums and research the heck out of the pros and cons of all of the surgeries. 

As for me, I wouldn't change a thing about my decision -- only that I didn't do it sooner.  I've had a fabulous recovery and from about week 2 felt better than I have in a long, LONG time! So obviously, I would highly recommend RNY to anyone who was in a similar situation to mine. 

Best of luck with your decision!

Thank you so much for taking the time to really tell me your thought process. I can certainly understand your reasons for your choice. I appreciate your advice and agree-read, read, and read. I add talk, talk, talk, and ask, ask, ask to that! lol   Again, thank you. Your response is very helpful. And congratulations on your success.

i am not sure how much weight you have to lose or if you are the person that has been overweight since childhood or the person who gained in later life.   All of those factors need to be considered prior to making a decision.  And then weigh in what the Dr. reccommends. What i can say is that the DS surgery has an 20% long term weight regain as opposed to the RNY which has 50% long term regain.  Gastric bypass is a massive surgery and can lead to problems but if your the type that can take your vitamins everyday without fail, and drink / eat your protein requirements as well as make a dedicated effort to consume your liquids either surgery might work well for you. My story is the promixal RNY, I have lost almost 100lbs since nov 06, unfortunately i still am type 2 diabetic.  I personnaly believe that if my surgeon would have done the distal RNY or the DS my diabetes would be controlled and i would no longer have to take the medications for it.  I do have to say that i am taking less medications now. but still contend with the highs/lows.  So in a nutshell if my ins would have allowed i would have had the DS since I have been overweight and dieting since 5 years of age.

With that being said I hope you are able to make a decision that is comfortable for you and your surgeon.

 

Thank you for having the courage to tell me your story. I have just become type 2 and am not currently on meds (but may be after appointment with dr tomorrow). That is one issue I'm considering.  The weight regain is also a consideration for me. I don't want to regain-I've been doing that forever, lose and then gain more, yo-yoing. Thanks, and I wish you good health and good life!

My greatest concern, and what held me back from having ANY WLS for years was the concern for malabsorption issues effecting my health long-term. I was planning on having the lap band at first...but my insurance didn't cover it. And then, after speaking with my surgeon (who does not offer the option of DS, let me make that clear), and asking all of my questions about avoiding health issues if I did everything as I should (eat right, exercise, take my supplements), and being reassured that I could in fact avoid health issues, I decided to go ahead with the RNY. The DS was not something I was interested in because it had a greater degree of malabsorption and it terrified me.

Looks like your RNY is successful for you! Congratulations. Thank you for your insight. I can understand your concern over malabsorption. I have gone from wanting the lap, to the RNY, and now to the DS. I just get one shot at this (self-pay and my age) and I want to make the most informed choice I can. Thank you for your help.

I had GB b/c that is what my insurance paid for ... If I had been able, I would have had DS b/c it has much better long-term results. Annette

I would have done the same thing if I had insurance that covered it. Do you regret having the GB? Thank you and your puppy is adorable!

No, I don't regret having GB at all.  I've had no problems and can eat anything (which can be a good or a bad thing) ... Still, I've been around to see enough people regaining, and it scares me.  You don't hear about people with DS regaining very often (I personally never have ...).  You can fight your insurance to cover it if this is the wls you really want.  Go to the DS messageboard. Hugs, Annette