Sleeve or RNY?

Aloha Again! So I'm still on the fence between the sleeve or RNY. Doc wants me to do RNY because I am pre-diabetic but I hear lots of funky things about the RNY life after surgey with dumping and such. So, why did you choose the sleeve? and if you could do it over again, would you do the sleeve again or an RNY? Thanks!

You couldn't pay me to do an RNY.....unless I was a full blown diabetic MAYBE.  I have heard that RNY might be very good at resolving diabetes.....of course....a DS would be as well.


If you are truly PRE-diabetic.....then just losing your excess weight should be enough to stop it in its tracks.


There are numerous benefits to having an "intact" digestive system.....the pylorus valve is very very important. 

Ditto what Doggz109 said. Plus, you can always convert a sleeve to just about any other surgery if you decide to do so later. In my mind, it would be a shame to have any more surgery done than necessary.

But, to each his own...

I WAS a pre diabetic, but I chose the VSG for numerous reasons (pyloric valve, didn't want malabsorption, didn't like the idea of a blind stomach floating in there, etc...) and my doc said it was up to me because pre-diabetes isn't diabetes and that the sleeve would most likely resolve my pre diabetes. I was on a high protein, low fat, moderate carb diet for pre op and lost 20 + pounds pre op. By the time I went in for  my pre op lab tests my pre - diabetes had resolved and my random glucose was 86.
I am not a medical doctor and do not offer medicial advice, but my experience is that eating correctly and exercising took care of my pre diabetes even before being sleeved. My bias is, of course, for the sleeve!

I love my vsg because it is a normal working stomach just smaller.  I can take NSAIDS like Excedrin migraine with no problem and can tolerate any food I want.  I just eat much smaller portions and feel satisfied.

There are lots of studies about the impact of this or that surgery on diabetes and pre-diabetes. RnY seems to have good stats. DS has better stats for the resolution of diabetes. VSG and DS seem to have a discrepancy of about 10% in terms of impact on diabetes. I am in the same boat. I have read studies about both and I am getting the VSG because of everything everyone else has said above. Especially the pyloric valve. It is super important. If you just google that with diabetes and weight loss surgery you will see some articles. Also google or search on here the article by Dr Roslin which also talks about the same thing. The dumping with the RnY and the reactive hypoglycemia scared the living daylights out of me. also the fact that the blind stomach cannot be scoped and yet you can still get ulcer or cancer there and then what? you will not discover it until it is too late.. there is also a chance of ulcers forming where they have sewen the intestines back into different places. And while there are of course lots who have had good success with the RnY, the malabsorption of calories tends to last a couple of years only and then regain happens if you are not very very vigilant. However the vitamin and mineral malabsorption is for life. It just seems like a much more dramatic procedure. So is the DS I suppose but at least in the DS you keep your pyloric valve and the bypass is not the same as in the RnY.

Lots more reasons... there are tons of threads on this you should search here and on the other boards. Others will also chime in. There are tons of revisions also from the RnY so that also influenced my decisions.

My two cents...

Keep your pyloric valve - get a sleeve or DS.  It's a great thing!   Without it, you'll potentially be subjected to reactive hypoglycemia due to rapid emptying into the intestine.  No fun.

Good luck!

 My sister and father had RNY. While my dad was ok and it solved his major health problems (diabetes, high blood pressure), my sister is still having trouble with health problems. She had surgery in 2003, my dad in 2001, and while she did lose all health problems (pre-diabetes, PCOS, Thyroid) She's gained them back. For myself I have to ask  Am i willing to take vitamins every day for the rest of my life to maintain normal levels? Just by seeing her suffer, I'm planning on getting VSG because I feel it will treat all my health issues and I will be able to maintain it after surgery. Hope you do whats best for you. It really helps to do more research before your 100% sure which one you want. best of luck!

 You realize with VSG you still need vitamins, right??

 yes I'm aware of that thank you. EVERYONE should take vitamins and I do take them daily, however not to the extent of a person who is suffering from malnutrition. VSG does not cause malnutrition.

http://surgery.about.com/od/proceduresaz/a/VSGWLSSurgery.htm