Miscommunication leads to unneccesary panic

So the surgeon just called me and said in reviewing my chart that if I had ANY acid reflux before the surgery, he would suggest doing a RNY. I am terrified of the RNY and the side effects. My acid reflux isn't that bad, mostly because I ate like a pig (greasy, spicy, etc.), at all hours, and I didn't have an issue until I gained all the weight. Did anyone have acid reflux before the VSG and it went away on its own? Or does taking a daily PPI forever work? I don't know if I would rather take a PPI daily forever and have the VSG or deal with the malabsorption from RNY.

I didnt have any really. Sometimes I would burp up some acid, and maybe twice a year MAYBE I would wake up at night having done that and my throat would be burning

It was never bad enough for medication. 7 weeks out and Ive had no issues with reflux, and Ive even eaten tomato sauce stuff. 

My only issue now since being post op is spicy. Spicy stuff does not do well with me, toward the end of its journey, if you're scoopin what I'm poopin.

This is a hard decision to make. I know I wanted to have RNY for a long time. I am glad I did. You have to really weigh the good and the bad. Sorry I am not that much help. 

What side effects in particular are you worried about with RNY?

Malabsorption is generally considered a good thing, as far as loss goes. Though I believe it only lasts for a year or two, tops.

Mostly malabsorption, regain (because of hunger pains/cravings), dumping, and I have an autoimmune disease that on very rare occasions I have to take an NSAID or steroid. The surgeon and my Rheumatologist have agreed I can only do that with the sleeve.

Plus I had a coworker pass away right here at work from sepsis from the RNY. I know that's very rare but it still has always been in the back of my mind.

sepsis wouldn't be specifically from RNY, but from surgery in general.

I think of all of the things that you list here, the only one that I, as a RNY patient, would be concerned with is the NSAIDS.  not many people dump, and I don't think I have any specaial cravings or pains that I wouldn't have had if I had the sleeve.  

check with Stacyrg who just had to revise to RNY from the sleeve because of uncontrolled GERD after her sleeve.  GERD is not something to **** around with, and if I was in your shoes I'd go with RNY.  But I'm saying this after 11+ months since my RNY and I have to say that I've not had any of the complications that you are so worried about.

Deanna is 100% correct.  If I had had a history of GERD prior to surgery I never would have gone with the sleeve. For the past year I have suffered every day with unrelenting heartburn caused by the sleeve. I revised on 7/1 and have had zero heartburn or reflux since. I'd forgotten what it was like to actually sleep since I've had to sleep sitting up for the past year. I had no desire to be on PPIs for life (they didn't provide any relief) and personally I don't believe any of the concerns you listed would sway me.  Good luck with whatever you choose

Yay Stacy!  I am so glad to hear tat your revision did work on your GERD.  Happy dance!

"Hunger pains" occur with both surgeries. Even though the VSG results in a reduction in grehlin, it does not eliminate it permanently, and it often returns. Regain can and does happen with both surgeries.

Not all RNY folks dump-- I believe the statistic is somewhere around half.

Sepsis is a risk with ANY surgery, whether bariatric, knee replacement, whatever. The specific work done during the surgery (as far as I know) is not a major risk factor.

Many Doctors no longer recommend NSAIDS for the sleeve either. Malabsorption of food isn't forever, and everyone needs to take vitamins. Honestly I would be more afraid of the GERD. And as someone else said sepsis isn't directly related to RNY, you could get it from any surgery...