Need to Decide - Sleeve or RNY

Reading her posts and then the responses made me crave popcorn really bad.

Well apparently I am insane as are all the people in the VSG forum according to you?

I went with the sleeve because it was an easier surgery for me. I had open heart bypass and was cut open. I didn't want to go through that again so I chose the sleeve because its done with small incisions. I had gerd but it actually went away after I got sleeved. My biggest concern is weight regain. I read two message boards and go to a support group. I have gotten so much information and hope to use it for long term weight loss success.

As for plantar facliatis or heel spurs, I went to the NY School of podiatry when I sufferd with it. The students bound my foot basically making it immobile for a week. Problem solved. Most foot doctors don't do it because its time consuming and shots are quicker for them.

This makes no sense. They use the same small incisions for RNY that they use for VSG. There is no difference between the two surgeries in that regard. None.

Is it permissible on OH to refer to idiots as idiots?

#AskingForAFriend

1. a stupid person.

   synonyms:

   fool, ass, halfwit, dunce, dolt, ignoramus, cretin, moron, imbecile, simpleton;

Ava called me an "idiotic judgmental know - nothing [person]" and the OH mods didn't see fit to delete it, so I imagine you're in the clear.

To the OP. I'm only in Month 1 of a 6 month pre-op program, but I am also having similar feelings about VSG vs. RNY. I went into my consult preferring VSG, told my surgeon that and still lean that way; but there does seem to be a lot of posts here on OH about people having to get revisions to RNY that keep me from be 100% convinced VSG is best for me.

The thing is about me is aside from my BMI, most of my numbers are good. I don't have diabetes or pre-diabetes. My BP is a little high, but not high enough to be diagnosed with high BP. My cholesterol is really good. My BMI is high (42) but not extreme due to my height. I might have sleep apnea, but it hasn't been diagnosed yet (sleep study within the next month). In fact my surgeon told me that right then, if it wasn't for my BMI, I wouldn't even qualify for my insurance because I don't have other conditions. While he doesn't wi**** on anyone, he said a sleep apnea diagnosis might help my case for WLS approval. That is why I'm leaning to VSG, which seems to be the less extreme as far as complications. My wife also works as an ICU nurse and has seen very few VSG patients that have had issues post-op. She does however see a lot of patients with issues related to RNY.

Like you I just want to make the best decision.

I initially had VSG in May 2014. I had no history of heartburn or reflux pre-surgery and my surgeon and I decided it was a great choice. Around month 8 post op, I starting having heartburn/reflux. It got to the point where it was not controlled by medication and I converted to RNY. After all that, I still believe that VSG is a great surgery and I miss my sleeve every day. I got to goal with my sleeve, and stayed there until my acid got so bad and I reverted to eating Ritz crackers, a lot of them, to try and absorb the acid. However, knowing what I know now, I 100% believe that if you have heartburn pre-surgery, RNY is the better surgery. Although many people will say that their heartburn went away after VSG, I don't believe that you can rely on the surgery to cure it.

After talking with my surgeon and asking lots of questions, I'm confident that the sleeve is the right one for me. And I'll have it in 10 weeks! And he said 90% of my stomach will be GONE.

Back in November, it felt like it was soooo far away. Now I'm getting those excitement butterflies!

I also asked him about the pre-op and post-op diet.

• 2 weeks pre-op: 2 protein shakes, 1 meal (protein and vegetable) PER DAY
• 2 weeks post-op: first 3 days, clear liquids; then full liquids
• 2 weeks soft foods

I chose the sleeve 8 years ago at age 58 and am glad I did. I do need advil occasionally and my surgeon is ok with it. I was able to get hiatal hernia repaired during vsg and that plus weight loss cured my gerd.

Read my blog about my decision and what I did. Also on the lapsf web page there is an article about why the sleeve is a better option for older patients. It was good for me but keep thinking and you will find your answer. Good luck. I was the same as you gaining and losing the same 30 pounds over and over. Diane S