RNY vs Sleeve

Hi. I am scheduled for the sleeve on May 13. I realize it it late to post this but I need help deciding, and I have to contact Dr office tomorrow with an answer.

My BMI is 38, I have triglyceride and arthritic issues (my two comorbidities) and am 57yo.

I am having my doubts again if I have chosen the right wls. Because I am a carb/sugar addict, I think I should go with the RNY, instead of the sleeve. (I realize that my old habits will have to change, and I will have to develop healthy ways of eating BUT I am thinking I might need a check measure on myself; if I have even a taste of bad stuff, I could easily see myself trying to do something irrational!!). The sleeve is less invasive.

Hubby thinks RNY (he had sleeve in July); Dr said there are less complications w/sleeve, and because my BMI is not too high, I might be better off with sleeve. But he said it had to be my decision.

My question is how did you post-ops decide which surgery to have, and did you ever regret not having the other surgery? I ultimately will make my own decision but I would appreciate any input.

Welcome to the LW board. If arthritis is a major factor in your life, AVOID the RNY...NSAIDS are contraindicated for that particular surgery...too easy to develop an ulcer in the blind stomach and the only way to find that and fix it is surgery.

So if you need NSAIDS, go with the sleeve. (OR the DS which is what I had for basically the same reason...I needed to be able to take NSAIDS)

Liz

I wanted a sleeve but insurance would only pay for RNY and band and I knew I didn't want a band, so RNY it was.  I love my RNY and in the long run, I think for me it was better.  However, with arthritis, you need to think about the fact that you won't be allowed NSAIDS with a RNY.  I do have arthritis and thought most of my issues would be gone when I lost weight.  I still ended up with a knee replacement.  But now the arthritis is so demenished I really don't miss the NSAIDS.  I use Trameel when I am really sore.  I do weights and Zumba and keep moving and that helps.  I'm 64, was 61 when I had surgery.  I don't know if I would have had the same success with a sleeve that I have had with my RNY.

I assume you want RnY for the dumping? If so, ask yourself this: what will you do if you get a bypass and don't have dumping as so many don't? You'll have to use self-control anyway, right? Plus you won't be able to take NSAIDs. I don't know about you, but that would kind of tick me off! 

I think people really under-estimate the power of hunger and how much it influences our decisions. It's really hard to make good decisions about what to put in our mouths if we're hungry. With WLS -- any WLS -- you get significant hunger control. Suddenly it's a lot easier to make good decisions. It's just so different than it was pre-op IME.

Carbs and sugar don't have nearly the hold on me that they used to now that I"m not starving all the time. I don't need dumping to force myself to make good decisions because food doesn't have the same hold on me any more.

I have arthritis in my foot.  I finally had surgery for it which has helped immensely, but up to that point, no NSAIDs for me.. I dealt with the pain.  I thought WLS would help my arthritis, but it didn't.

Ulcers are a big concern for RNY'ers.  Does your insurance cover the DS?  You asked if we wished we had a different surgery (I had RNY and it has been very successful for me).  I also developed Reactive Hypoglycemia (which some RNY'ers tend to do).  Because of the long-term success statistics of the DS, and diminished chance of RH, along with keeping their pyloric valve and can take NSAID's, I wish I could have looked into that one... but the Dr's office I went through didn't offer it.  

Good luck on your decision.  Asking questions is the way to go!!

If you're still in the research and deciding phase, you might want to read up on the DS as Jody suggested. www.dsfacts.com. Not all surgeon's can do the DS, you might have to switch surgeons. 

--gina

Well I am counting down 10 days to my surgery date OMG!!

Anyhow after an intense week of research, posting on several WLS message forums, speaking to two bari-friends on the phone  and talking last night at a support meeting, I have finally made up my mind, and have decided to go with RNY. There were more things that RNY would do for me than the sleeve. Thank you all for your support.
 

im going with sleeve, we have same surgery date!!!!