HELP - VSG or RNY...

If I'm reading correctly you've had the band since 2015 right? Has it developed problems? My band was in for 10+ years so I'm sure that impacted the amount of scar tissue that had encapsulated it, you very well may end up being able to have just one procedure

Yeah. Just since 2015. The only thing that's happened is that it feels very tight without having had any adjustments. Almost overnight it changed.

Ick, I know the feeling...I had barely anything in mine for quite awhile and it was super tight, even empty I still had trouble. I'm just very thankful I didn't have erosion issues and that the experience taught me a lot about WLS and my own issues with eating/emotions/etc. It's made me much more well prepared at this point in my journey!

Gee, medically necessary to get the vsg? That's kinda messed up. Well both are good surgeries but you have to choose what's best for you.

If you use the search option you can see previous answers to your question. I'm not sure if it'll end the confusion for you.

I chose the vsg & am happy with my choice. I felt that restriction alone was what was best for me, & even though it took longer to get the weight off, I'd still choose that wls for me if I had to do it all over again.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

This rule isn't Canada wide, I'm in Alberta and I'm getting the VSG as that's the better fit for me. I went back and forth over which suited me best and after a thorough discussion with my surgeon we agreed that the VSG is the one for me. I'm now just waiting for the call.

The main reasons for my choice were that I didn't have a large amount to lose, I lost without any issues but my problem was keeping it off. Also, I have issues with absorption already (though my body never met a calorie it didn't want to absorb) and adding the RNY just seemed to be asking for lifelong issues.

If it comes to it I can revise if needed, they've already said that can be an option. But I'd rather go for now with the less severe of the two choices - in my opinion anyway.

All you can do is do all your research and have an honest discussion with your surgeon, the better informed you are the more likely you are to make the correct choice for you.

Sorry, I should have clarified. It is the absolute norm in my province of Ontario. You really have to fight for yourself and advocate through the entire process.

I'm a couple days away from having an RNY and I'm still wondering if it's the right choice for me.

I'm 5'4" and 206lbs so MO on the chart, but also very small boned so definitely MO. On of my issues is that I don't LOOK MO, I know that's a GOOD thing, but it's driving a ton of push-back from well meaning friends and family.

In case it helps here is the logic I used:

1. I could "starve" myself down by restricting calories without the VSG, I've done it before, but REGAIN is my primary concern.
2. I'm currently eating less than I ever have, and while I'm about thirty pounds below my highest weight, I'm clearly dealing with a sluggish metabolism.
3. I want to "reset" my brain's set point weight wise.
4. I want "one surgery to rule them all".
5. Looking at the available data, it indicates that ON AVERAGE, the RNY has the best long term weight loss to date.
6. There is data that shows that the VSG reduces hunger better than the RNY because of the stomach tissue it removes (less stomach surface to make a hormone indicating hunger).
7. Resting metabolism data (very very limited data here so less reliable) seems to indicate that the RNY provides a better "reset".

But my surgery is RNY Wednesday and I'm still thinking -

1. NEVER have NSAIDs again?
2. ALWAYS be dependent on supplements?
3. Never be able to just "eat normal food, just less"?
4. Never have alcohol and or caffeine? (although there are some who say I can, just tiny amounts).

I'm going with the RNY because I want the most powerful tool to help me fight my fat war. Meanwhile I keep looking up injectable NSAIDs :)

Was it your surgeon's office who told you no alcohol and caffeine? I don't drink because it's empty calories and makes by stomach hurt like hell, but I drink coffee by the keg, practically. I didn't jump right into coffee after surgery. I waited until I could easily get in all my water so I wasn't just slurping down the nectar of the gods.

As to the eating normal food, but less credo, the most successful folks, with any surgery, eat protein forward meals and eschew simple white carbs. They still watch calories and their intake.

Every VSGer I know also takes vitamins and does not rely on food alone to meet nutritional needs.

I'm not discouraging you from the RNY; it's what I have. It does sound as if you may have been given a little unclear info regarding the VSG.

The Nutritionists told us (group of pre-op RNYers) the no alcohol, no caffeine ever rule. The surgeon told me I could reintroduce caffeine after my new plumbing was fully healed because otherwise caffeine would irritate the scar tissue and could cause a stricture. Basically the same with alcohol, only here the surgeon said that I would need to abstain for a year.

I intend to be fully compliant, but I am quite confident that after a year I will be having a small amount of red wine on special occasions...

A friend had the VSG in 2013 ish and he can eat anything, just in small amounts. He keeps saying "you know you won't tolerate that chocolate bon bon... you know you won't tolerate that Reese's cup... you know.." as I eat all my food funerals.

I see. Your friend is a bit off in his information. I, and a lot of us, can eat anything, as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences.

The eat-anything-but-less approach usually doesn't work well long term, as physical capacity increases.