Help needed from those 200 lbs. overweight!

Hello everyone!  I have a second consultation tomorrow morning with my surgeon.  When I met with her on 8/31, I thought about getting the bypass.  After doing a lot of research, I feel the sleeve is more appropriate for my own personal reasons (biggest one being that I'm not too sure about the malabsorption component).  When I conveyed my wanting the sleeve instead, they asked me to come in again to meet with her.  Given my size (I need to lose 200 lbs), I know I might be able to lose more weight with the bypass, but I also need to feel comfortable with my choice.  I suspect she will try to get me to reconsider the bypass, so if anyone has any fodder or other advice I can through out there, I would be eternally grateful if you can pass it on.  Questions:

Has anyone regretted getting sleeved instead of bypassed?

Is it possible to get to a good weight with the sleeve when I have so much to loose? 

Anyone have a hard time getting started?  (I have been on a last binge and can't seem to stop.) 

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Judy

I started at 375 in May 2011. I had surgery at 355 in June 2011.

This morning, I was 177.9

My thinking was that they are finding the malabsorption could go away after the first couple of years and since my biggest problem has always been volume, the sleeve was more appropriate. If for some reason the sleeve "failed', the DS was always available as a revision.

Having said THAT, this isn't a magic bullet. You're going to have to work harder than you ever have in your life. You gotta want this and you gotta want this BAD. Bad enough to completely change your life, your head, your thoughts and your lifestyle. I'm in therapy, I log everything I put in my mouth. I exercise. I work on me every day.

... and I'm almost 200 pounds lighter.

You have to research both and come to your own conclusions, obviously.

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a very significant amount of weight to lose and had decided on RNY (am in the midst of getting insurance approval). But, I am now second-guessing myself and leaning toward the sleeve. My doctor called me back in to meet with her on Monday to make sure I feel comfortable with my choice. I am leaning toward the sleeve because I'm only 33 and I don't know what (hopefully) 50 years of possibly not properly absorbing vitamins will do to me. My doctor has said that those who do RNY do lose slightly more, so that is a consideration, too. I found that focusing on changing other habits is helping me get started, ie: trying different protein drinks and using them as meal replacements, not drinking while eating, etc. Good luck whatever you decide!

I weighed in at 5'8 and 390 pounds pre-surgery giving me roughly 236 pounds of excess weight.  Today at 9.5 months out I weigh 189.0 pounds so I have thus far lost 201 pounds of my 236 pounds of excess weight - I am still losing.  I think that people with higher BMI's can be successful with the VSG but it takes a lot of hardwork and focus and sticking to a plan that is designed to shed the pounds.  I hope to be at a healthy BMI and weighing 164 pounds by my one year follow-up appointment on January 28th. 

In order to get to a "normal" BMI, I'd have to lose 225. I've lost 140something in the first 11 months. Some people lose a lot more and some people lose less. I wanted the bypass before I heard of the sleeve but there were too many drawbacks with the bypass and I saw too many cases where the people gained all of their weight back. I didn't want my intestines moved anywhere or have the majority of my stomach just sitting there, unable to be explored, and possibly end up having stomach cancer or something without them knowing. I also wanted my stomach to function as normally as possible. There were definitely times where I cursed my sleeve and wished I would have had the bypass so I could lose faster but I don't feel that way 99.99% of the time. Technically I still have 80+ pounds to lose but I'll be happy after another 50 and I think it can be done.

Hi,  I haven't lost the weight I need to but I too at 351 would be more than 200 pounds overweight.  My goal is 160 and that would put me at a loss of 191 pounds.  It is possible to lose the weight and keep it off with a sleeve.  Also it's the first stage of the DS.  Do your research on all three procedures DS, RNY, and Sleeve.  When you do I think it will make your decision easier.  Sleeve was a clear choice for me.  I was about to have RNY as a second choice because my insurance wouldn't approve my Sleeve.  Instead I waited and fought to get my sleeve.  I don't regreat it at all, for me it was the right choice.  One of my concerns was osteoporosis and the malabsorption of calcium.  I am only 33...I just didn't want to mess with that.  Do an OH search for RNY vs. Sleeve...you'll get lots of information that way.

I was 452 when I decided to go for the sleeve and on the day of surgery I was 426 and that was in July. I decided on the sleeve because I saw too many RNY people having massive problems and I needed to be able to take NSAIDs down the line. So I did my research and decided on the sleeve. I also like the option that if it didn't work it could be converted to the DS which if the RNY fails you have no other options. Since June I've lost 105lbs. 80 of that since surgery.  I still have another 168 to lose but I feel this is really the best way I could have gone. But you have to want it and be willing to work within the guidelines and follow the rules. You can't sit and eat cake and cookies and ice cream or you will still end up being fat.  So if you can be really dedicated to eating healthy then the sleeve is a good choice. If you want to be able to eat whatever you want then perhaps the DS is the way to go. Honestly I wouldn't touch RNY with a 10 meter cattle prod.

I started this journey at 365 on November 7 of last year. One year later, I have lost 150 lbs. I still would like to lose another 45 lbs. The weight loss has slowed down, but there's a good reason for that.... I'm starting to eat things I shouldn't. If you stick to the plan (calories, carbs, protein & water), there should be no reason to not be able to get to my goal. None of the surgeries are a magic pill, that's for sure. You have to work at it. It's easy at first, but then it does get harder and you have to be accountable for what goes past your lips. Good luck to you! You can do it!!

I didn't have exactly 200 lbs to lose, but it was close LOL I have lost around 170 lbs total (about 180 if you go from my highest and not my surgery weight). I do not regret the sleeve at all. I have been at goal for 8 months (149 lbs at 5'7", a solid size six and normal BMI). I had several food funerals before my surgery, it was all part of the process for me, but I was 100% committed once surgery happened.

I had about 200 lbs to take off. In 7 months (6.5 post op) I have lost 137 lbs. I still drop 2-4 lbs a week. I have no tricks... I eat 600 calories, +64 oz fluids, +60 prot, -40 carbs (usually under 20). I log and track all my food on mfp and walk 2-5 miles a week. I will make goal within a year of surgery. I guess what I am saying is that it is possible to lose big with vsg. The food funerals are hard... The more weight you take off pre op the less you have to after and the quicker you get to goal. Good luck with your decision.