Roux vs Sleeve

Hi NYMom222 - thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I am so truly amazed at the community here and how kind you all are in helping a stranger! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Originally when I was thinking the whole time about doing RNY that was a big part of why I wanted it. I wanted the surgery that I thought would give me the best chance of successful long term weight loss. The surgeon then told me that in the past there has never been enough data on the VSG but now there is and it's tracking to show as good as RNY with less potential complications. The potential for GERD really bothers me. I wish I had more clear cut issues with it now so I could honestly say I have heartburn issues and know the sleeve wouldn't be for me. As I've told other posters, the potential for complications from RNY concern me otherwise I wouldn't even be thinking about it. The surgery itself doesn't scare me - they are going in to cut and rearrange no matter what so it doesn't matter to me what or how they do it. Can you tell me if you've had any complications from your RNY?

PS. I had some gerd and took PPI before VSG and for a few months after. Now I take none. ds

That is great to know - thank you for that!! It's good to know not everybody has issues with GERD or reflux even with having it before!

Well I have had post WLS complications that could have happened with either surgery- incisional hernia and now in maintenance hypoglycemia. I was diagnosed with silent GERD pre-WLS but didn't really believe I had it... well because the silent part. Since surgery it is not silent. I am one of the rare exceptions on that. Usually RNY helps GERD. The only thing I have had that I think is unique to RNY is low ferritin and I needed an iron infusion. Even with all that.... no regrets. The side effects of obesity are much worse. I am no longer heading to diabetes and am off high blood pressure medicine.

That's exactly what I wanted to hear (not that you have had complications because I wish those upon nobody) but that you've had no regrets. And low ferritin I can easily wrap my head around. I have issues with iron now and take supplements.

I chose vsg nearly 10 years ago and have never regretted it. I was 58 years old and its a less invasive surgery and I was more comfortable with that. I also believe both surgeries are comparable in success rates but don't quote me. I was out of the hospital after one night and ready to rock and roll quickly. I also need to occasionally use advil which my surgeon still approved but some surgeons do not. I have regained a little but am far better off. Love my sleeve.

I LOVE that you love your sleeve!! Thanks for that!! Looking at your stats you've obviously been very successful!! I've been told that some regain is very common with both surgeries - the important part is you're still way less than you were. Thank you so much for your words of positivity!

Yep, VSg is a good thing for me. No regrets coming up on ten years. Regardless of what you choose, being compliant with doctors orders is important. Some people are told to eat cream of wheat. My surgeon says those carbs are no good. So I followed his high protein low carb rules. Worked well for me and while I regained a few, I am still at a good weight for ace 67. Go for it

Cream of wheat wouldn't be my first choice for sure but I will definitely follow doctors orders - I'd be too paranoid not to! lol All throughout the program they've been stressing eat your protein first and then fruits and veg and they focus on very low carb so sounds like our surgeons are very similar! Looking forward to getting my date so I can stop second guessing myself about the surgery type (I've never second guessed the surgery itself - I've always been committed to that). They are telling me there are 26 people ahead of me so should be somewhere between 2 and 4 months when I get in. So exciting!!

The problem that we have with on the heartburn/GERD/VSG issue is that everyone is subject to some heartburn from time to time when we eat something that doesn't agree with our system (incidental heartburn) which isn't a big deal - just as all of us experience diarrhea or constipation from time to time and that isn't an indicator of some serious malady. A chronic condition is something to be more concerned about. If it is something that was significant enough for you to have sought medical advice and/or were on medication for any time to treat, then you should talk seriously with your surgeon about it.

An endoscopy (EGD or similar) would not be a bad idea, if it can be arranged and justified to your insurance - many surgeons order one prior to bariatric surgery. This can give you a good idea of there is any chronic GERD condition (and it can be non-symptomatic and still be damaging, so is good to check) and then that can be considered in the procedure choice. Likewise, if one is found to be prone to stomach polyps, then an RNY may not be a great idea - that is a pre-cancerous condition that would need to be monitored periodical (just like colon polyps) which is difficult to do with the blind bypassed stomach. Indeed, the blind stomach is one of the downsides to the RNY which limits some avenues of medical treatment and diagnosis later on so should be considered if one has a history of things that may need such. Similarly, a family history of cancer should lead one to some genetic evaluations prior to committing to a procedure like the RNY that limits surveillance options.

Any option we choose comes with compromises and trade offs, so these should be considered carefully to get the best match for our individual cir****tances.

Good luck.....