Ok another Questions for the RNYers

Ok...I'm trying to figure out which surgery I want...I started off wanting the Lap Band and only the Lap Band. After going to a group session the 5th it made me start thinking.  I'm trying to figure out all I can about the RNY and the Sleeve. Tom Sonnanstine according to his doctor record thingy bob on here lol...sorry for the "thingy Bob" didn't know exactly what its called....but anyhoo according to it he's not done very many Sleeves at all. So therefore its got me to second think that surgery. I guess what I'm really wanting to know is...With the RNY...how bad was the pain after you got out of surgery and how long did you hurt after wards. My DH is very worried about the pain and stuff after. He's like me...he doesn't think the Lap Band is gonna work for me ...and for sure as much as I would like to lose. So for all your RNYers....help a girl out here...and please be truthful...don't sugar coat it as my Mother would say lol.

Wow Sebrena, you are really really on the fence about these surgeries.
I can completely understand your wanting info on all of them.
So here is my take on all of them.

WLS is absolutely not a cure for obesity it is only a tool and you can gain everything back that you lose if you get lazy and don't use the surgery as a tool. And that is with all of the different surgeries.

Dr. Sonnanstine did the band on myself(I have lost close to 80lbs.) and I had a total of about 120 to lose, my husband(he has only lost 30 because he does not work at it dillegently) he has a total of about 60 to lose, and my mother in law(she has lost 71lbs) she had about 140 to lose.
He also did my cousin's band(in 2005) and she lost almost 150lbs she has been so successful that she actually has no fluid in her band right now and hasn't for almost a year. He is now following  my other cousin( he didn't do her surgery) and she has been maintaining her loss for close to 8 years.
Now here is the horror story in 2003 my other cousin had RNY and lost close to 250lbs(he also did not do her surgery but will begin following her this fall). She got lazy stopped exercising eating right and has gained 325lbs.

So I will say it again this is not a cure it is only a tool and the only person who can make it work is you.
If you are really dedicated to having this surgery the last thing on my mind would be the pain. Pain is temporary you get over it. But the benefits of this surgery if used right can last a lifetime.


Oh and that surgery record thing has had the same numbers on it since we looked into this surgery almost 3 years ago so you really can't go by that .

My honest and caring advice to you is to take a step back and very very carefully weigh all of your options, because right now unfortunately it sounds like you are very unsure of what type, pain seems like a huge issue and some of your statements on recent posts have almost sounded like you are looking for the magic cure and will be more than let down if this fails for you.

None of this is meant ot be hurtful in anyway I am only putting it out there out of caring and experience.

Good luck and god bless

Hey Sebrena...sorry I have been away to much lately.  I work at the breast center @Bethesda North hospital and just this past week finally moved in to the new facility...I was just reading your post and I would like to help you out if I can.
Please understand how personal each surgery is to the patient...I had RNY, hubby had band.  I have never regretted the RNY and he loves his band...As for the sleeve I believe we see fewer only because of insurance, which did not pay for them at one time.  I am contacting Dr. Sonnanstine today if he has some time I know he will give me more information.  The person *****ally has to answer these questions is Dr. Sonnanstine.  It's more than just outcome because you can certainly tell on here every surgery has been successful for many patients and again, many who have failed their surgery. not the surgery failing them...Also, if you go by patients who has this surgery years ago, things have changed so much in the industry within the last few years...Dr. Sonnanstine being one of the surgeons on the cutting edge, as he proctors (teaches) other surgeons around the world how to do bariatric procedures. 
What you need to know is more on the technical side...whether Dr. Sonnanstine has done a few or thousands isn't where the answer lies. As he is a very talented and accomplished surgeon...but asks, why he has only done a "few"...insurance? Outcomes? industry?...complications?  Want and need...where does the answer lay...also...knowing more about you. Do some of your own investigations and some deep dark digging and find the truth about your eating patterns and why?  I am totally addicted to food. Therefore, I would have never done well with the band. I would have found my way around it...I know that!!!
sit down with Dr. Sonnanstine again, tell him how torn you are and that you need help finding answers...with those questions about yourself answered and Dr. Sonnanstine's technical answers you can certainly make a more informed decision about what is best for you!!!
Please email me direct and I will try to answer or get the answers you are searching for...
I have been his patient advocate for 5 yrs..I know him pretty well and can tell you, he leaves the decisions up to his patients...I know that sucks for me, I like someone else making some decisions for me..lol
[email protected]
please email and connect with me.
Brenda
I hope this all makes sense, I am running out the door for church and trying to hurry...I will talk to you later.

Hello again Sebrena!

Good for you for researching. I definitely applaud you for that. First things first, does your insurance cover all three of those surgeries?
Next - I will answer your questions about RNY.  The pain right after surgery was very minimal. When I woke up, the bottoms of my feet were hurting, I assume it was due to how I was positioned, which is probably not typical. Days after RNY my pain was a bit more noticeable. I didn't have a lot of shoulder pain, which is common after surgery.

As I said in my previous reply to you, the Sleeve is the first part of Duodenal Switch surgery. It is similar to the band, as both are only restrictive surgeries. The good thing about the Sleeve is that you don't have to fool w/ fills or finding a "sweet spot".

Katrina

Hi
   I had the RNY and had pain after surgery, but I felt good pretty quickly.  I was back to work in two weeks and  aside from being a tad tired I was fine. I felt that what I needed was malabsorption so that I would be accountable that way. I love ice cream and bready foods both of which I could sabotage with the band...thus I had RNY. 
   I have lost 90 pounds in 4.5 months and all is going smoothly.  it is a decision that has given me back my health and considerable joy in reducing my weight. 
** My choice was very limited,due to what my insurance would cover- I had only two choices that would be covered...band or RNY.
good luck with all your choices
teach
 

dunno about the RNY but I love my sleeve! 

I had my rny done by Dr.Sonnanstine in feb 08.
My pain was minimal and i did fine with the surgery,it is the best decision i ever made for myself.
As of today i have lost 251 pounds.
I went to a seminar a few weeks ago with a friend and she to wanted the lapband  but this doctor suggested the sleeve.
She knows she doesnt want an rny.
But i told her to go here and look on all the boards and figure out which works best forher.
Talk to your doctor and get his opinon on what he thinks would work best for you.

Thanks so much for all the replys. I'm not looking for a magic cure as you said. Just simply something to help me get my life back on track. Its just that not only myself I have to think about...but my Baby boy and My husband. I'm very terrified of the thoughts of Gastric bypass because of the stories I have heard. Just never did find out why it happen to the ones that didn't go so well. I'm just trying to find out every information I can from a personal point of view because I have a Mom that is freaking out. She started freaking out over the Lap Band but is really going nuts now that I'm thinking of the RNY. I understand sometimes the truth hurts but some times its best  to hear about it then to find out about it later. I guess you understand what I'm saying lol. Oh and I haven't a clue if I can have the sleeve on my insurance or not. Thats something to check into also. Best of Luck to everyone.

More than likely, a sleeve isn't covered by insurance.  As far as the RNY goes, he does a very good job. He does with the band and sleeve too.  Sleeves aren't done too much, esp in this area.  It is still considered kinda new and there isn't a lot of long term data for efficiency. There are risks, it is surgery, after all.  That is with ANY surgery. I know, I work in surgery...with Dr. Sonnanstine (not for him, he doesn't pay me).  I am having a bypass by him in 1-2 months. I started out with wanting a band. I now know that is not the best procedure for me.  As far as post-op pain, you have a device called an On-Q placed. It is two very thin catheters in the abdominal wall (it doesn't hurt when removed) and it passively injects (no pain) local anesthetic medicine (kinda like novacaine at the dentist).  He is very active in the post-op care, esp. the first days after surgery.  The best thing I did was keep a food diary and saw how I ate. That helped me make my mind up about which surgery to have.  I talked with the Bariatric Center staff and Dr. Sonnanstine.  They are there to help. They helped me. I wouldn't even bother with this message board if I didn't believe in this stuff.

Sweetie
when did anyone say it was a magic cure?
It doesnt matter which surgery you choose it is a tool to help you.
I have not been to Georgetown to see Dr.Sonnastine yet ,but i cant wait.
I went to a seminar with a friend here in Indiana he was nice and knew his stuff but he is not someone i would personally feel comfortable with.
Dr.Sonnnastine can help you with your decision and thats who opinon i would ask.
good luck in whatever you choose.