Update

Hi Everyone

I had an appointment today and so far so good. I have lost 9.9% of my initial weight and everyone seems pretty happy with my progress.

When I saw Corey last he said that he felt good sending me to meet the internist but needed my Nutritionist to agree. So I met with my nut today and it was a good appointment, but I did have to steer the conversation towards surgery. Once I did steer the conversation, she was very informative but a lot of the information she gave me was opposite to what I had found in my research- which puts me in the position of feeling less informed about the procedures and I think may have made me seem unsure because at one point she told me I could walk away from surgery and come back when there was more data on the sleeve.  (Not going to happen! I didn't wait for a super long time to get in the clinic to not go through with surgery based on lack of evidence for the procedure |I have chosen!)

Did anyone else have an experience like this? I am sure that I want the sleeve. it makes sense to me- I don't want the issues that others have had with the band, I don't want fills, I don't want erosion, slippage, I DON'T WANT THE BAND! and I don't think that I need the malabsorbtion that you get with RNY. I am sure that these are both great procedures for some people, I just don't think I am one of them. I am a light weight and don't think I would get approved for the RNY any way!

Anyway- I am seeing Dr. Robbins on Monday and I want to be prepared! I have read all the literature I can get my hands on, I am comfortable talking about the procedures and can articulate why the sleeve is the one for me... I just hope I am able to do so on Monday and that the internist is willing to listen to me and not try to colour my decision with things like "lack of data beyond 5 years for medical research, lack of data beyond 2 years for nutritional research, if you get preganant we have seen successful pregnancies with such and such, etc."

It is all good to know, but I don't know that my decision should be made based on maybe having children some day, when I don't know that I will ever want them!

My brain is back and forth ever since I saw the nut. So, the question is this... what procedure did you chose (or are leaning toward) and why? 

hey chance... the sleeve hands down.... don't be deterred by confusing information.... can't wait to hear when you are scheduled.... tammy

You know what you want and know all you have to do is go after it.
 
Once they know you are knowledgeable about the type of surgery you want it help them know that you have done your research. But with that said I know that they also go by weight and bmi, i know if i had lost a little more weight before surgery I wouldn't have been able to get the sleeve and would have been having lap-band instead. Like you I am also considered a light weight.

As for data well here in Edmonton it doesn't go beyond 5 years but they have been doing this procedure as a part of the DS since the 70's and it's worked for them. I am glad that I am having the sleeve and mostly cause of all the travel and maintain of the lap-band. I didn't have to consider the by-pass cause I knew early in I wasn't a candidate for it.

Good Luck on Monday. I'm off to shower and get my butt moving, I have a twisted tummy this morning so I think the nerves are finally kicking in. See you tomorrow hopefully, I'll be sure to wear my pretty pj's for you girl  :)

Ignore your nut and go with your gut. Because I am the way I am, I decided to go with the RYN. You may have the same nut as me and I personally don't like her as much as my old nut (she went on mat leave) When I met with Dr. Birch for the first time, he asked me what surgery I wanted and I told him. Then he proceeded to go through all the proceedures and explain each one to me. But finally at the end he agreed with my decision with the RYN.
So go with your research that you have done and your decision. You know your body best!

Hi Chance
Who is your nut?  I have had the same experience with mine.  I go in sure of my decision and sometimes leave very unsure.  Cory has told me they have had good success with the sleeve and the results he has seen balance out with the RNY in the end.  My understanding is the sleeve is a little slower with the loss but slow loss is better.
The internest didn't give me alot of info just checked my blood work and weight loss and told me I was doing well even though I had ended up with my one and only weight gain but she looked at the whole journey.  (summer time I gain alot of fluid).
Dr Birch when I met him the first time I was very unsure afterwards.  He explains eveything and also made a point of the lack of data with the sleeve.  I was elgible for all three.
He put it as you get what you pay for the lapband being the economy model the RNY being the gold and the sleeve in between.
He also put alot of emphasis on the negatives of doing this but they also have to.
When I saw him again two weeks later he went through it all again and when I said I was sure I wanted the sleeve he was okay let sign the papers.
During this process I have learned go with what your gut tells you you know what is best for you.  There are risks with any surgery.
I chose the sleeve because I liked the idea of not so much mal absorbation and the less restrictions on food and the fact the hunger hormone may be reduced also because nothing is rerouted.
Good luck on Monday and as Dr Birch told me only I can make the right decision for me.
As for having children I think if you are planning any the recommend the lapband beca;use they will release it while pregnant.  With the other surgeries it is hard to get in the adqueate nutrition for both Mum and babe.  and I think the waiting time is two years after surgery.

Chance

 You know me.. when this process started i didnt' want surgery. I have been blessed to have a great team and  I would never let someone tell me I cant or it wont happen.. You have to do what is best for you.. We all have gone through yrs of struggle and for you.. Im sure you have researched your information.. I am very ADHD and very Black and White, My Weight I needed to keep off was over 150 lbs and I did not want to have any more surgeries.. SO when I did decide that I  wanted to go the surgery route. I chose the last one.. that way I  knew I was going in the right direction.. Based on your weight loss goal, your BMI and your need .. You will pick the right one.. I also tried the put the 3 in  a hat and you know I pulled out the RNY.. So for me that was the one.. If you feel that your not being heard.. Make it Known.. Sometimes they get side tracked... Im looking forward to hearing how your meeting goes with Dr Robbins,, I really like her...

Thanks everyone for all the positive reinforcement; I can't begin to tell you how much it means to have you all in my corner and to be accompanying you on your journey as you do on mine. Its unimaginable to me to be going through all these changes without you! I don't have the worlds best support system beyond this site and my limited circle of people I have told about the clinic; You literally give the strength!
 
I spent a lot of time this week pulling different studies and really looking at the feeback I received from my nut about the surgeries.

I read everything I could get my hands on and my research only further strengthened my commitment to getting the sleeve. I decided that I needed to put my thoughts down on paper so I couldn't be blindslided and pushed when I go into the clnic on Monday.

I systematically broke down my concerns about the other surgeries and why I was certain they were not for me, I think wrote down my thoughts on the sleeve and how I came to my determination that the sleeve is what I wanted. I also looked at the reasons I had been told to consider other surgeries and put down my thoughts on why I still felt the sleeve was more appropriate.

One of the big reasons I was told to consider the band was due to stage of life and the fact that I don't have kids- but may end up wanting them. The band has the ability to be drained of fluid to facilitate you to eat more during pregnancy which is touted as a benefit, but I found studies that showed a lot of concerning facts about pregnancy following the band, although still far better results than pregnancy while obese. Women with the band put on more weight while pregnant than other wls patients, their babies had lower birth rates and they had more incidence of premature labour, and need for emergency c-sections.

I have ADHD as well and I can sometimes struggle to find exactly the right words or have difficultly realigning my thoughts when someone changes the subject or someone asks a question when I am still trying to articulate a thought. Even though I know the facts and comfortable discussing the subject, it can be hard to find the words to sound informed. I'm hoping that by having all my thoughts laid out in advance and the studies I found to reference if needed- when I walk out of the clinic on Monday I will not feel as ****ty as I did last monday! 

Wish me luck!