Need to make a decision....surgery date made

 I am so confused about this surgery.  My dr "recommends" the Rny but says the Sleeve would be an option too if that is what I chose.  I am scared of the bypass with all the malnutriention and dumping syndrome etc....but I am told I have a better weight loss with it.  I could really use some pro's and cons advice if anyone feels like helping.  Right now I am 80% for the sleeve but I want to be sure.

I have till Dec to decide but I don't want to wait till the last minute, I want to know what I am doing,I don't want to doubt it.  Is it normal to be unsure?  or am I just making myself crazy?

My surgery is on Tuesday and I sometimes have anxiety and wonder if I should just do the RNY but I know I made the right choice because I am scared of the bypass too. Try reading this, whe you get down to the bottom it gives you the next page which is like pros and cons and stuff like that so give this a shot...
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/about_vertical_sleeve_gastrectomy.html

I chose the sleeve because I did not want anything else 'remodeled'.  Because this is such a big decision, there are a lot of previous posts where people want to know whether they should have RNY or the sleeve.  Scroll back and look in the titles for these threads and you will see lots and lots of responses which may help you to decide.  Good luck in your decision.  

Unfortunately, there are about 10 new pages every day on this forum so you may need to scroll back lots and lots of pages.   I know this question comes up about every 2 days or so.  

This is my standard reply when this question pops up every couple of days. I won't try to sway anyone one way or another, but I'll give you my reasons for choosing VSG over RNY for my revision from the band. You can also check out the revision, failure, and food issue forums on here to get an idea of some long term RNY patients. For me, it was never an option. The cons outweighed the pros.

The VSG was my 2nd, and final WLS. I could have easily had RNY, but I fought to have VSG as my revision from the band. Some factors I considered in deciding on VSG. The pouch that RNY offers is similar to the pouch with the band. Least to say, a pouch sucks, I love having a normal tummy, just less capacity and still fully functioning.

1) No blind stomach left behind that can be difficult to scope yet can still get ulcers and cancer.

2) 2 years max on calorie/carb/sugar malabsorption, but a lifetime of vitamin/nutrient malabsorption. This process is called adaptation, and it happens with intestinal bypass surgeries.

3) I had a pouch with the band, and it sucked. I'm pretty fond of my pyloric valve and the sleeve let me keep it. I love having a normal functioning stomach, just smaller in capacity.

4) Regain stats and #of RNY patients seeking revision truly scared the poop out of me, check out the revision forum on here. . . Go back several pages and see just how many RNY patients are looking to revise due to weight regain. ERNY and Band over Bypass to get back some malabsorption and/or restriction

5) I have too many friends in real life that struggle with vitamin deficiencies post-RNY, and most of them either never got to goal, or have gained back a significant amount of their weight.

6) The long term complications with RNY were too numerous for my comfort level. Pouch or stoma dilation, strictures, vitamin/nutrient deficiencies, ulcers,

7) I researched gastrectomies that had been performed for stomach cancer and ulcer patients, and found comfort in the long term results and minimal complications of patients that had lost most or all of their stomachs had dealt with over several years.

8) I was a volume eater, and knew a restrictive only procedure would work for me. That was my thought process when I got the band, and I thought I could beat the odds on complications. Sadly, the band only lasted 8 months before I had to revise.

9) I did not want to have food or medication restrictions. I chose WLS to have a "normal" life, and I think it's normal to eat a couple of cookies. With RNY, I wasn't willing to go through the possibility of dumping if I wanted to have a couple of cookies, or a slice of cake on occasion. The big scare for me is medication restrictions for life. NSAIDS and steroids are a NO GO for life with a RNY pouch. I realize that I may never be diagnosed with a condition or disease that requires steroid use, but it is possible. I want the best long term results with the least amount of complications. Malabsorption is not anything to play with in my mind, and I was not willing to take that risk.

I lost all my weight in my ticker with the exception of 7lbs with the sleeve, and I did it in 10.5 months. The 115lbs fell off the first 6.5 months, and then the rest I lost as I was getting into maintenance over another 4 months.. It's been a fabulous journey, and I'm easily maintaining with zero issues for nearly a year at this point. I want to add that every WLS regardless of your choice will require discipline. Only a percentage of RNY patients dump on sugar/fat, pouches and stomas stretch, then you have the medication restrictions. I'm not trying to convince you, but these were my concerns when I knew I had to revise from the band. I started at 263 the day of my revision and today I weigh 127lbs. I bounce on the scale 125-130lbs any given week, and I couldn't be more ecstatic!

Best wishes in your research!


P.S. I wrote this before pregnancy. And, just as an update, I'm 27 weeks pregnant and thriving. The baby is weighing a couple ounces heavier and is measuring right on target for length. I have zero issues consuming enough calories/protein/carbs to support my body and another developing human. My labs have remained stellar throughout the pregnancy, and life is pretty good. I am over 2 years out at this point, and couldn't be happier with my decision to have VSG over RNY for my revision. It's been an amazing journey.

 Thank you so much, this was very helpful and I will be checking out those sites.  This doesn't sway me, just helps me get the information I need to make the right decision for me and exactly what I wanted.  

Also, check out the revision forum and see just how many RNY patient are looking to revise due to 1) complications 2) major regain. . .

Also, choose a surgery that you can live with FOR LIFE. This isn't about just losing your weight the faster. It's about keeping it off long term with the least amount of complications/issues post-op.

If you can be diligent with labs, double the amount of vitamins/supplements, and you're willing to deal with a lifetime of medication restrictions, then RNY might be your choice.

Personally, it wasn't for me, and my lifestyle.

Check out this link as well:

http://vsgfaq.wordpress.com/

It is a VERY personal choice so please educate yourself and don't just take a a majority vote.  When i considered everything, I decided on sleeve because I felt that for me even a less than perfect result would be a huge improvement over my then 300 pound body.  I am still losing (slowly) and happy to be in wonderland. I am hoping to get down to 175pounds but at this point i already consider my surgery a success.  Good luck with your choice and rediscovering your body.