Been thinking

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about all the different surgeries. I have researched the RNY and lapband, but since so many of you have had the sleeve I thought I would look into it as well. I checked with my insurance and found out that the sleeve isn't covered. Medicare only covers the RNY, lapband and DS. There website says that there is insufficient evidence that the sleeve produces longterm results. When I read that I thought of all you sleeve losers. You all have done a great job. Have you read anything about long term results? Guess I will stick with my decision to have the RNY.
Emily

Hi, Emily.
It is unfortunate that so few insurance companies cover the Sleeve. Study results are beginning to come out, and the results (so far) are positive. Weight loss (on average) is not as good as RNY but better (on average) than Lap Band. There appear to be few complications (on average) than RNY. I guess it's all in how you look at it. Every WLS type will work for you, if you work it. You just go for the RNY, determined to make it work, and it will.
Blessings,
Mary

I researched the heck out of the sleeve and found weight loss comparable to the RNY...however I do believe they loose a bit more on average than the sleeve does.  The 5 year studies showed no significant weight gain so that was promising however as we say all the time on here you can eat around any surgery there is so it is up to us to work it.

Ultimately I picked the sleeve because of the fewer complications (on average...kmcrary can attest to sleevers have complications too) and because I did not want to have any malsorbtion issues.  I don't know what kinds of meds I will need later on in life and didn't want to be tied to supplements forever and not be able to take nsaids, etc because of the malsorbtion.

Research it all and make the best decision for you, and you alone.  All of the WLS are great and there are people on this board representing each one that are doing great.  One thing I did in my "research" was to lurk on each surgery board to see what people were unhappy with. 

Like Amy said you just need to do your own research, ask lots of questions and make your decision with your surgeon and pick the best one for you.  We are all different and what works for one may not be the right choice for another.  Most insurance DOES NOT pay for the lap band procedures because they are new.  It doesn't mean that it isn't a great procedure by any means.  Most of my friends are VSG patients and have done extremely well,  WE're merely getting a tool and still have to make wise choices concerning the foods we eat, the vitamins we take and the water we have to drink along with exercise.  Good luck with whatever decision you make.  I was a cash patient since my insurance excluded all WLS.  I could have had the sleeve for about $5,000 cheaper but my surgeon and I decided the RNY would be a better choice for me personally.;

Emily, if you read my Freak Out post a few days ago, you saw that I also was considering VSG. I like the idea of them NOT re-routing my stuff!  I was hoping that my insurance would pay for it I have BCBS.  I read on the VSG form and other forums that BCBS (some of them) pay for VSG.  But mine doesn't.  It kind of made me want to wait another year of so until they will pay for it.  But then I thought....Kim...You keep putting this off and you will NEVER get it done.  I've been thinking about this for 10 years! 
I feel pretty confident in my decision.  I still have my Freak Out moments.  I will always have those, its just  how I'm made.  But I come back here and my okie friends set me straight!  LOL!  I get all the support I need and I feel confident in my RNY decision!
You keep doing your research and figure out what's best for you and go with it.  I'm sure whatever you decide will be best for YOU!
You always have us! Keep in touch!
Kim

I did read your freak out post. I have been set on the RNY all along, but then when I found out about the sleeve I thought that might be an option, but alas it is not. I will have the RNY. I won't wait for my insurance to cover the VSG. Thanks for your input.
emily

There are so many variables depending on who is funding the study, it's hard to know what to believe.  I was self pay, but I believe that any of the surgeries will work, and if I had had one that was funded, that's the one I would have picked for sure!

Here's my take on success rates: You get a higher success rate the more follow up care you have (support groups, etc) and the more motivated the individual is to succeed.  It would be very hard to get a group of identically motivated, identically followed up with and identical amount of weight loss to begin with people together to study, and the variables are too many to tack on success rates to surgery type alone.

So, my advice, pick a surgery type and then add in all the other variables (motivation, follow up) that you possibly can and you too will be a success.  And don't fall into the mind crap "I failed because I picked the wrong surgery....." because in most cases that's just another excuse.  To me, a surgical failure is a failure of the mechanics and the rest is likely behavioral.

Another way to put it-you are guaranteed success to the degree you guarantee your compliance with the after program.  YOU are the unknown variable (and you have control over that). 

My point of view is simple...DO your research. make informative decisions. Know which ever surgery you decide that it meets your goals, and your current budget.
Medicare does not pay for fills
Nor do most insurance companies thats an out of pocket expense.
RNY is the goal standard for WLS
If I could have the DS I would have picked it But Dr. Keith does not do it...that i know of