RNY or VSG?

If he feels VSG is safer for you then you should go with it. You can go back in a few years and convert to full duadenal switch if necessary.

DS is MORE effective than RNY anyway, so by having the VSG you're setting yourself up for the DS if you need it.

I think that if you dig you will find that the weight loss from Rny and Vsg are comparable now.  i know when I had my surgery that if you looked at the stats then for most people who were had the amount of weight to lose that I did that the vsg may result in not losing that 10 or 15 pounds.  For me, it was worth risking that to not reroute myself, not risk the malnourishment, and not have the meds restriction.  Now as a disclaimer I am a cancer patient so I have some serious medicinal needs and thus cannot afford to give up any options.  You may not be there, but consider that one day you may need them.  My surgeon also gently suggested Rny because I was diabetic, but I was firm with my choice.  Essentially he said that indeed if the vsg turned out not to work I could always revise to Rny.  That actually made me feel better about the choice, although many will tell you to "think twice and cut once".    Also remember that the body will adjust to absorbing all of your calories again eventually- but will your eating habits be ready for that?  With the vsg is more straightforward- if you eat the calories you absorb the calories.  This way you the focus is truly on improving eating habits.

My brother in law had the Rny, he made it to goal no problem, and has maintained now for quite a while.  Of course he developed a drinking problem, but that is not peculiar to the Rny surgery alone.  I truly think both surgeries are good, but that the vsg is the better of the two.  Knowing what I know now though, if my only choice was Rny I would still do it.  Given the choice, I would choose vsg again  Edit:  I was diabetic too, and it was completely resolved post surgery. 

So if your doc. suggested RNY over VSG for diabetes I take it that you had/have diabetes.  Can I ask what has happened with it since surgery?  were you on meds for a long time?  are you still on diabetes meds? 

I do not take meds at all now, and did metformin for I no longer remember how long.  Blood sugar levels were terrific right out of the gate.  I do have issues at times with going low now, but it is easily managed by a proper diet.  I just make sure i eat a little something before bed, and when I first get up.  This was more of an issue in the first few months when I was going the low carb approach.  Once I stopped that then I rarely have a problem with it now.   There are many, many folks here who were diabetic, insulin dependent, and such who no longer need meds.  My husband went on a diet with me a few days after surgery to help support me (I was struggling with wanting to eat things that would hurt me) and he ended up losing over 90 pounds.  He was able to drop his blood pressure meds and metformin too, but interestingly it too longer for him to drop the meds even though he actually lost at a faster rate over the first few months.  In my humble opinion, Rny is recommended more only because the dumping forces you to avoid sugar... not because it does a better job of resolving diabeties than the vsg.  Lose the weight and you will likely lose the diabetes with either surgery.  

my surgery is on Monday. I also have about 250lbs to lose.  I chose the VSG over the RNY because of the fear of malabsoption from RNY. In addition, my surgeon suggested the DS for me... but said that I can go do the sleeve now since its the first part to the DS and if for whatever reason I need that extra step, I can come back and do it. That is always a plus.

Those were really the deciding factors in my decision. Hope this helps!

Lots of studies are coming out now about the metabolic effects of the VSG and its impact on the resolution or remission of diabetes. Mine was a young diabetes and I only took metformin for a year with it and it is completely gone/in remission as of three days post op. I have a post on my blog (go to my profile and look at previous months blog entries) that discusses my reasons for the VSG over the RNY.

I did research for a full year before I made a decision about what type of surgery to have.  Initially I thought of RNY but after my research and the issues caused by malabsorption and knowing my compliance or possible lack therof (just being honest) in having to take multiple pills every day for the rest of my life and worrying about some of the long term consequences of the RNY I decided sleeve was the way to go for me.  While I don't have diabetes I had several other risk factors like apnea and primary bilateral lymphadema.  I was probably on my way to type 2 diabetes.  I would like to lose about 200 pounds, maybe closer to 220.  I have lost 47 in the past month since surgery.(12/6)  I have had few side effects with the exception of some acid reflux which is pretty normal post surgery. I have no feelings of hunger and am grateful for the restriction.  In talking to people who have had the malabsorptive surgeries one of the issues is after some time they CAN return to eating too much rather easily. For me, while I am making substantial life style changes, the restriction aspect provides me with one more line of defense, one more tool to help me make good choices.  It is however still a life style change.  My doctor said there is less evidence of the effectiveness of the sleeve vs. RNY simply because of the number of years each has been available.  In terms of diabetes, my friend who had been diabetic for years, and needed to lose about 150 lbs., has lost 50 lbs since November and no longer takes any diabetes meds.  She was two prior to surgery and noticed a big change within one week of surgery.  Now that is anecdotal but certainly something to consider.  Good luck!

Everyone, Thanks so much for responding to this post. I really appreciate it!

Let us know what you decide!

I absolutely will. I am 95% leaning toward the sleeve. That was strengthened by a few statements made in this forum inquiry. Thanks.