Dr. Keith or Dr. Broussard? Bypass or Sleeve?

I have just recently decided to get WLS. I initially decided to attend the seminar that  Dr.Keith is offering but have heard such great things about Dr. B that I am now undecided. I am sure that my insurance will factor into that decision as well but I wondered, for those of you that had the choice, which did you choose and why?

Also, how did you decide between the traditional gastric bypass and the sleeve?

I am 292, 5'5". I have high blood pressure, severe sleep apnea, high cholesterol, asthma, joint pain, and a spinal stenosis between my shoulder blades. All caused by or complicated by weight loss. Hopefully due to these issues I will be able to get approval by my insurance.

Any advice would be helpful!  

Kristen

I can only give you my experience and my opinion, with that said I do not know about Dr. Keith. I can only tell you about DR. B. I would recommend going to both of their seminars, it wont hurt. THen you make the decision.

I went to his seminar,  found it very educational on all 3 possible surgeries. He let patients make their own decisions and really answered our questions to the fullest. He is a no BSer. My parents went with me and asked several questions and he even stayed after until they were all answered. That day I realized how he cared for his patients and their families. I like their philosophy of only eating your protein instead of drinking it with shakes. It makes sense not to drink all those extra calories. When your hunger does come back  you will be used to eating your food and it will stay in your pouch longer than drinking a shake.

As far as deciding between the 2 surgeries for me it was the right decision to do the sleeve. With the sleeve there were no malabsorption issues, mostly no dumping but it can happen, since your stomach is pretty much cut out it wont stretch like a bypass or at least as much. It made more sense to me to just make my stomach smaller...that's it. No bypassing and such.  Also with ghrenlin being cut out you are not hungry until that hormone grows back after the honeymoon stage.

This is such a tough decision and personal for us all. You have to make the right one for you. For  you the bypass might be ideal, who knows...but you.

Its such a personal decision and I'm sure in the end you can't go too wrong with either doctor or either WLS.  I chose Dr. B because I love that all his surgeries are done with Dr. Walton and the whole team at Weight Wise is there to provide support before, during, and after surgery.  My sister had complications with hers and I was so glad she was in Dr. B's hands.  I think the true test of a Dr. is seeing how the handle the tough situations.  He was great.

I picked the sleeve because I wasn't sure I wanted to deal with the malsorption issues that come with RNY.  Because I had so much to lose they wanted me to consider it.  I did but in the end opted for the sleeve.  I have been very happy.  I do have to work it though.  I have to eat right and exercise.  And being this far out...can certainly eat around my surgery if I want to.

 I would advise to go to as many seminars and different doctors as possible. Even if you don't choose  a certain doctor you will get many different perspectives on WLS. I never met Dr. B, but I like Dr Keith a lot. Take the time to educate yourself to the extreme. You won't regret it. Personally, I know weight gain is a possibilty for all the surgeries after a few years. I  wanted the most "drastic' (for lack of a better word) and  at first chose DS but my insurance wouldn't approve unless I had a larger BMI. So, my next choice was RNY. I do like sweets and wanted the fear of dumping to help me resist and I wanted more restriction and malabsorption. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks to all of you for your considerate responses! It is nice to get a different perspective from different people who have been through it. My biggest concern is regain after the honeymoon period. My mother had the Lap Band and lost about 100 pounds, but regained much of it. I don't want that to be me! DS is the surgery that intrigued me the most but with no one in OK perforrming the surgery, I worry about aftercare and such with an out of state doctor.

I think that I will attend both seminars as suggested. Thanks again for all of your help and advice!   Feel free to "friend" me.

I had heard good things and constant bragging on Broussard. I called his office to see if they took my insurance and they flat said no.  Therefor I am checking into DR Keith because there is no way on earth I can afford outta pocket. I am a yr out due to insurance hurdles...so I have time to research..but that would be the first step I suggest..if you have to have ins cover it...there is no reason to invest time and money into a Dr that is not covered by ins. IMO..I have heard that the sleeve is easier to stretch out and regain..just what i heard. Plus..they remove part of your stomach..the rny is considered non reversable ...but in an emergency they can..nice to have that option IMO.

Thanks Jodi. You are right, I called the Weightwise clinic and my insurance does not cover them, but does cover Dr. Keith. I attended his seminar a couple of weeks ago and am waiting to hear about my first appointment. I am still very up in the air about which surgery to get, but the nurse at the seminar recommended going to a support group meeting and talking to the people there about their surgeries and see if that helps.

Thanks for all of the responses!

It IS a very personal decision, indeed!

I was almost 5'7" and 303 lbs (possibly higher, but 303 is the highest number I ever saw on the scale).  I had a pletheora of health problems ranging from asthma to diabetes and I was only 26.  My weight only complicated things, as you mentioned.  However, back then, my insurance only covered the RNY, so that is what I got. . . .

That was almost 6 1/2 years ago and I'm still very pleased with my results.  Diabetes is gone, high blood pressure is gone, GERD is gone... It doesn't hurt to walk up the stairs now.  PCOS cleared itself up tremendously and I'm now blessed with 2 kids.  I still have the asthma and a bad case of anemia, but you win some, you lose some lol.  I am 15 lbs below initial doctor's goal and I've been lower than this.  I like to stay around 135-140 lbs.  I'm happy where I am.  All in all, RNY has worked for me.  It is not for everyone, it is a personal choice, but it was the right choice for me.

I hope my story helped a little.  Good luck in your decision ~ I used Dr Warnock in Wichita Falls, TX, but I've heard great things about the doctors you mentioned as well!

~ Renae

Thanks for telling your story! Can I ask, what made you go out of state to do your surgery? How did that work with the follow ups and initial visits?

At the time, I was in Lawton and now I'm in Altus, he is in Wichita Falls. I'm not far from him at all so it works well with follow-ups, and even hospital stays a couple of times.  I went to him as he was who my insurance referred me to, and on further review, he's highly rated among bariatric surgeons in the US, so I"m pleased with the decision.

~ Renae