Newbie here

Hi guys,

I am very new to this. I have been wanting help with my weight for some time, but my Employer has always had a clause in the insurance that won't cover any type of weight loss surgery or any help for that matter. Well, we are merging with another company and I checked again this year and sure enough we have coverage now.

My question is how did you guys decide which surgery was right for you? I have my first appointment on the 22nd, but was just wondering.

Thanks

Researching, reading and asking questions: Search for valid material on the internet (such as asmbs.org), search here on OH, ask lots of questions at your appointment and talk to your surgeon about what they recommend and why.

Do you suffer from reflux? Roux-en-y is the only one that completely gets rid of that. Sleeve might help and may cure some but RNY nips it in the bud. I THINK it's best for GERD too.

Welcome! I'm still trying to decide which surgery will work for me. My surgeon is driving that bus, and I'm doing due-dilligence on my own. My health status/co-morbidities are helping me refine my portion of the decision! Congrats on this next step!

Welcome!

I chose VSG initially because I liked that it would just mess with my stomach, not my intestines like a gastric bypass. As I got more educated about it all, I don't see the intestine thing as the big deal I was scared of, so don't let that deter you.

One simple way to look at it is if you are diabetic, RNY or gastric bypass does a super job at helping get rid of that, many times before the person leaves the hospital. And if you have GERD/acid reflux, stay far away from a VSG. 40-50% of VSGers end up with GERD and those who have it to begin with often get worse. I didn't have it before but do now and take a PPI. Some people end up being so bad off with acid, they revise to a bypass.

Pretty much exactly how I feel/felt :D

Probably because I learned from you!

Hahaaha. I'm suddenly reminded of that old "drugs are bad" ad. "I learned it from watching you!!"

Ha!

I chose VSG because the thought of RNY didn't appeal to me. I know better now, I'd be happy with the RNY if that was the route I needed to go.

If I were making the decision now, I'd ask two main questions - Do I have, or have I ever had, issues with acid? Do I have diabetes? If the answer to either was yes, I'd run to RNY with zero hesitation. If the answer was no for both (which is was for me), I'd go with VSG.