I would like to clear my doubts by hearing real-life experiences.

I know many can only talk about their own surgery but from the experience here, reading the posts, maybe you have some information about other types of surgery and you would be so kind to share. And I also know that the best decision should be made with my weight-loss surgeon, who knows well my medical history and issues...but during my research I would like to clear my doubts by hearing real-life experiences. 

Can you have the RNY or DS surgery if your BMI is 39 with obesity-related illnesses? What is, in your opinion, the factor that determines the type of surgery best for you? Your BMI? How your body reacts to your dieting efforts? Your obesity-related illnesses? Are the results with the Sleeve totally similar to the lap band results? So far I feel that the sleeve is the best option for me. Thank you so much in advance.

And I know for a fact that if I go forward with any type of weight-loss surgery I have to  adopt a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise and good food choices after the operation. No matter what procedure I choose, the key to surgery is getting  to use the surgery to make lifestyle change.  Surgery truly is a “tool” that will help to control hunger and portion size, but that’s it! The rest is up to us. Having said that, there are some differences between the surgeries and that is what i am trying to find out. Your advice and insight is very much appreciated.

You can have any surgery you want, the real question is will insurance approve it?  I believe most insurances will approve WLS of a BMI below 40 with weight related illnesses but you need to check with your insurance carrier.  

I've had two WL surgeries.  The first time around I was 22 and desperately wanted to lose weight and be thin.  I chose lapband because I thought it was the best surgery for me based on little to no research.  I was an idiot.  Years later, I did my research and found a surgeon that would revise me to the surgery I wanted.  I chose the sleeve.  For me, I didn't want to be physically ill like can sometimes happen with the RNY.  Not saying that is a TYPICAL result but I do know that sometimes over eating/eating sugary/fattening foods will cause a person with RNY to feel sick.  I spent years feeling sick with my lapband and I just really didn't want to deal with that.  There were other reasons I chose the sleeve but that at the top of my list.

FYI, having both surgeries - sleeve is by far 100 times better than the lapband.  The results are NOT the same because I didn't lose a damn thing with my lapband and with my sleeve I've lost 80lbs.  I started with a smaller BMI also.

I'm happy with the sleeve because I have a regular 'ol stomach - just smaller.  No guts rearranged.  HOWEVER, it does require more work on my part to really be conscious of what I'm putting IN my itty bitty stomach.  I don't have "hard stop" signs with the sleeve like other surgeries might.  You need to ask yourself, can you control your eating?  If so, sleeve could be a great option for you.  If you don't think you have the will power, then DS or RNY are the option for you.

I wish you luck on deciding! 

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion with me. It really means a lot and everything that you said made alot of sense to me.

I can relate with what you said because like you I had the band and didn’t work well for me, I only lost 20 pounds….I had it removed in 2012 after 4 years of misery and frustration. I was going to have revision to the sleeve ….my surgeon didn’t do the sleeve at that time and I went to see two other surgeons. This shows how motivated I was to get the sleeve. Then my husband and my mother started telling me that I could do it without surgery with a nutritionist and exercises…but it wasn’t truth. I gained the 20 pounds back that had lost with the band. BUT one good thing I have managed since 2012 without the band is that I have kept my weight around 220 lbs 5 less, 5 more at times. This is the reason why I think I could do good with the sleeve.

I wish you the very best in this journey. It's a life long experience and go with your intellect, and what your team of drs suggest for you.

Ever experience here is different as each person is different. Be well.

Thanks a lot. I know what you mean... I really appreciate your help.

My biggest deciding factor was the comorbidities, specifically my diabetes.  RNY usually does better to help diabetes than the sleeve.  My diabetes unfortunately hasn't been 100% resolved like so many others, but I did drop from 5 medications a day down to 1.  And my morning blood numbers are good:  usually around 105.

Your last paragraph is a really good one.  You are definitely going into this with the right attitude, and if you stick to that, you'll have great success regardless of what you choose.  The more you browse around on here, the more you see that the people struggling the most are the ones who aren't following the rules from their doctor:  not getting enough protein, not getting enough water, introducing foods like white flour, etc. that are high in carbs, etc.  Whichever you choose, follow those instructions, and you'll do it!

Thank you very much for you answer !  I'm looking forward to meeting wirh my surgeon to discuss this topic. I am also a diabetic but my blood sugar is under control.

This is off topic, but can you send me the link to your weight loss scale on your signature?  I had it, but lost it!  

Just go under MY OH at the upper right of the screen, then choose Health Tracker from the drop down menu.  Under the date there will be a link that says Tickers & Widgets.  You can create it from there.