"My acid reflux isn't that bad, mostly because I ate ...greasy, spicy, etc..., at all hours,"

-First,you do realize that reflux is NOT NORMAL? Not having it "that bad", is still having it. 

Second, you realize most normal people can eat greasy spicy foods at all hours with NO PROBLEM.

What I am saying is...YOU GOT REFLUX.

If the sleeve is contraindicated for people with reflux, then you SHOULDNT have it.

You realize that your stomach acid can destroy your esphogial [sic] tissue?  It can ruin your teeth.  People with reflux also have increased incidence in esphogeal cancer (from all the tissue damage from teh acid).

If I were in your shoes, I would pick RNY. But before you do, talk to your doc about HOW you are going to get your immuno therapy INTO you and research it (you said you have an immune disease). Can the meds be taken patch, sublingual, vaginally or rectally.

These are some very real administration routes that you need to have clear BEFORE you go under the knife.

Best wishes,

Skinny Scientist (who loves her RNY...but REALLY wanted the DS)

My autoimmune disease has already been dealt with by all the doctors involved and is under control for the now with an injectable Biologic medication. With autoimmune disease there is no way to know when you will have a flare and there is no cure so it will never go away. All doctors are in agreement that in a really bad flare I can take an occasional NSAID or steroid if need be with the sleeve only but definitely not with the RNY. I have had no reflux in over 6 months now thanks to a better diet, a light exercise, and no tomatoes. They also made sure the endoscopy results came back great which they did (only issue was a hiatal hernia probably caused by my morbid obesity). That is why the DOCTORS (all 3 of them - Rheumatalogist, Primary, and GI Surgeon) decided the VSG was best for me. It's just all of a sudden the surgeon was having second thoughts (or so I thought), the week before my surgery. That worried me, since he was the one that brought up VSG in the first place and suggested it to my other doctors who agreed that was the best course of action. Even my Rheumatologist questioned why the last minute change and said she would call him yesterday. Well got a call from the surgeon this morning and had a nice long talk with him and he informed me that he legally has to "suggest" the RNY, because of the contraindication and the few months I had of mild reflux way back when, to cover his butt but that he still agrees the VSG is best for me under my cir****tances. Just wish he would have said that and we could have had the long conversation yesterday before panicking me.

No way I would risk Gerd, Barretts and prolonged PPI use.  The dangers are just too many vs an RNY.  

Hi ExcitedButScared,

I had VGS 9/15/14 and I had GERD & am on a PPI. Although my GERD did NOT go away it is improved post sleeve. I also had a Hiatal Hernia repair I also have Multiple Sclerosis, Migraines, and Osteoarthritis so I did not consider RNY an option. My arthritis symptoms and migraines are gone, I have not had a relapse in my MS since 2002 but I rarely need any NSAIDs except I do take a daily Celebrex for my knees. My GERD is not worse with the sleeve if anything it is better because of the hernia repair. You do not have to get RNY. The bariatric program I work for as the behavioral health counselor only does sleeves and plenty of our patients have GERD many of their GERD symptoms go away just not mine. Maybe get a 2nd opinion?

Take care,

BeautifulBethany

Starting Weight 272, Current Weight 172, Goal Weight: ?

That's nice to hear that everything eased or went away (symptoms). That is my biggest concern with the surgery. That my autoimmune diseases ease up a little at least. That is the reason all the doctors weighed the pros and cons and decided on the sleeve for me was mainly the autoimmune issues. I did get another opinion last Friday and the surgeon said definitely NO RNY for me. That the sleeve is the only way to go with WLS under my cir****tances. So I feel confident with the sleeve now. Thank you for the info!