Choosing a WLS

Very eloquently put!

I did not want a surgery with malabsorption. When you look at the people who after WLS are sick and, in some ways, worse off than before, they almost always had a malabsorptive surgery. I didn't think I needed malabsorption to lose my weight so I wasn't willing to take on its risks.

I didn't want a band because of the long-term resurgery rates. I didn't want to have a second surgery due to erosion or slippage, let alone port flipping, band or port leaking, etc. But most importantly, not everyone who had a band gets satiety. You have to have proper restriction to get that and many people find their bands are finicky and they can only get too tight or too loose.

But the big sell of the VSG for me is that it removes the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin. Pre-op I was hungry *all the time*. I would get hungry sometimes a half-hour after eating! It was horrible and I spent a lot of energy fighting my hunger. Since my surgery, all of that is gone and it's very freeing.

For me, it was many of the reasons as others have listed, and also I am young (27) with an active preschooler, and plans to have more children. My main concern is getting healthy for my daughter and for future kids....and the healthiest way to do that, IMO, is the sleeve.

I currently have the band and I am revising to a sleeve on Nov 11th. I didn't research the sleeve because, it wasn't covered under my insurance. I didn't choose RNY because I didn't want the dumping, diarrehea, and other issues. Although, I have a sister who has been very sucessful with the RNY. She got it 10 years ago, open(due to prior surgeries). She has maintained all her weight loss except for 10 pounds. Her goal is 135, but she sticks around 145. I think it maybe her set "weight". The weight that you can maintain without a lot of stress and drama. And she looks and feels great! The first year was very hard for her with the side effects though. I got banded over a year ago. It went well, up until fill time. They could never find my "sweet" spot. If it was too tight, I would vomit and not be able to eat enough of good food. Like veggies. If it is loose, you can eat anything! So after my ups and downs with it. I regained my weight back. I had only lost about 40 pounds in 6 months, with working out twice a day. After much thought, prayer and research I decided to revise to the sleeve. I am very happy with my choice. And I look forward to getting the hospital stay over with. And most of all, getting back on track with my weightloss journey. this is a good site to come to. People will be honest with you. Not everyone loves the band, sleeve or RNY and not everyone hates it. Do your research and decide which one you can live with for the rest of your life.
Good luck and God bless U!
Sally J.

I chose the VSG because it is permanent...and generally as in my case only one surgery is required.  I do not need the second stage. ...I think pretty much people are reaching their goals with just the VSG.  Of course my insurance would only pay for an RNY....ah, no thanks...or the band, possibly, yeah...and have another surgery later to revise??  NO!  For me the VSG was the answer.  It did not take much time to get the weight off.  All but 25 lbs was off in 13 months.  I eat pretty healthy diet, just smaller portions.   I am off all of my meds with the exception of Prevacid 1x daily.  I take one multivitamin a day, without additional supplements.  My blood work just came in last week, and ALL levels were in the normal range.  Talk with your surgeon, he can best advise you of the correct procedure for you.  Bottom line, any WLS is better than staying obese.

Good luck,

Kent

373 Highest weight
357 Surgery weight
180 Current  weight

I chose the VSG over the RNY since I needed to be able to take NSAIDS for my rheumatoid arthritis.  I rejected the band for several reasons 1) there is a black box warning from the FDA to NOT put one in someone with an autoimmune disorder (like RA) and 2) bands have a pretty high complication rate necessitating more surgery down the road.

I love my sleeve.  I had to self pay due to insurance issues.  It is the best money I have ever spent in my life!

It's the gold standard and it's so much easier.  Just ask Michelle, Beth, and Babs and oh yeah the other millions that have changed their life..

I have been banded for over 2 years, I have many problems. I want a revision to a sleeve. Go to all the boards everyday and you will see the differences between the poting topics. The band topics "Im suck", "I am sliming" "I pb'd" The list of bad is soooo long. You can see it with your own eyes. Here most of it is positive. There are not really any issues after surgery! Best of luck with your decision. If I had to do it again it would be simple. The Sleeve