VSG vs RNY

OK my beautiful friends...

First off, thanks for the awesome support regarding my newly expanded mobility.  It's so nice to been cheered on by others in the same boat.

Ok so here is my new dilema....

When I applied to the bariatric program in Edmonton, I was pretty clear that I wanted a sleeve.  My thinking was:  Reduced capacity, fully functional stomach, intestines etc.

The medical professionals have been encouraging me to reconsider an RNY.  My concerns are more cutting could mean risk of further complications, I worry about malabsorption issues complicating my health; needing id about no blind NG tubes in medical emergencies....


The professionals tell me that there are better long term outcomes especially related to the resolution (however temporary) of Type 2 diabetes.  Now, my NUT did say that some of it is that VSG is a "newer" surgery and that fact alone affects the "long term outcomes" because there are fewer patients to look at.

So, being that we all are starting from a larger place I am interested in YOUR opinions.  How are your surgeries working for you?  Did you have diabetes?  How long did it take for you to find relief?  Were you on insulin?  I think too that part of my major goal is to get off my medications so the thought of then requiring vitamins daily for the rest of my life to combat malabsorption makes me wonder.  Ok....give it to me....What do you think?  GO!

 Hi Kristin,

I am a VSG'er. I did not want RNY due to the repositioning of the intestines and malabsorption. My surgeon really wanted me to have the RNY but let me make the decision. With that being said, I am not at all regretful about my decision, but I wonder if RNY would have been better since my weight loss has been slower than others. 

I have not had any issues except my hair has thinned a bit. I had very thick hair pre-surgery. Now it is more normal than thick. I was not diabetic, but I had Hypertension. I have an appointment with the cardiologist to have the diagnosis reaccessed. My BP has been 90/60 with the pill and I know that is too low. I feel a bit dizzy sometimes and I think it may be from this. 

I was surprised to learn the VSG and RNY take the same amount of time to perform. I had to stay in the hospital the same amount of time as an RNY patient and I was surprised to have draining tubes like an RNY patient. I guess I was very naive going into it.

I have several friends and associates who have had RNY and have done amazing. I believe both surgeries are awesome and both would have been great for me either way. 

You may want to go on the RNY forum and ask the folks over there what they think. They will have so many personal experiences to share with you.

Good luck on either surgery and making your decision.

Blessings,

Sharon

Thanks Sharon, I really appreciate your input!

Hi Kristin

I did have RNY in January.  For me I never considered any other surgery.  In my area the sleeve was fairly new. My surgeon was doing them.   But since I had a larger amount of weight to lose. Plus sugar was a issue for me. I love junk food.  
  I felt the rny was the way to go.   I was on 5 pills aday for diabetes.  2 pills for high blood pressure.  Plus a pill for high cholesterol,  After 8 months I am off all my pills.  The only things I take is my vitamins calcium and synthroid.

So far It has been a easy journey for me.  I am lucky as I have had not side effects.  My hair did get thin but I am lucky as I had very thick hair.  I can say I feel amazing.  Good luck with your descion.   

Thanks Talula!

Your NUT is right.  The better long term argument is more to do with the newness of VSG in this country. You would do great with VSG. My reasoning was similar to yours: why cut two organs if I can have the results with cutting one organ.  Just on the difference in the number of organs alone meant a lower risk for VSG.

The bottom line is that I'm very happy with the VSG. But success or failure with either is possible. Commitment is the key to success.

So here is why as a VSG advocate I may consider the RNY. Are they not experienced with VSG? How many VSGs have the surgeon done?  Because RNY was around so much longer, my surgeon had more experience with RNY.  So that is to be expected. However, my surgeon has a long, stellar career as a surgeon with a great reputation according to my other doctors.  When I asked my allergist, pcp, and endocrinologist for names, his name came up the most.  So as expected, he had more RNY experience, but his VSG experience was solid and his surgical experience was extensive.  On top of that, he said that RNY was the gold standard, but he believed that VSG would become the gold standard eventually.  He had clear confidence in his VSG surgical abilities. So if you are confident inbyour surgeon, go with your initial instinct.

I prayed over my decision and had zero stress about it. I hope you can experience that as well no matter what your decision is. Once you decide, own it, don't look back, focus on being compliant and successful.

Thanks!  I don't have a surgeon yet, I should get a name in November at which point I will research them for results :)

 I would not have had WLS if i had to have the bypass - soo just know my opinion is pretty extreme. 


I did my research. I have several friends in real life with RNY. 80% of the people I knew - and saw a lot of complaints - are hungry....the pouch stretches, the stoma stretches - there is no natural regulation of food emptying into your intestines. You drink with RNY - its going to push food through the stoma. I drink watter with a belly full of protein with my sleeve and I'll puke. 

Malabsorption of calories with RNY only lasts 18 mo-2 years. After that, you will end up with a restrictive only procedure - except you may deal with dumping, reactive hypoglycemia, a much bigger pouch, a stretched stoma, deal with ulcers, prohibited from NSAIDS, risk for bowel obstructions/blockages....I mean for me, the benefits of a very very short period of malabsorption of calories was absolutely not worth the risks of long term complications. To top it off, your going to malabsorb vitamins for life - life time compliance with vitamins.

I knew me - id stretch my pouch, my stoma, lol. I have food issues. i believed and still do the sleeve was the best option, if not the DS. I didnt want the big guns at this poiiunt in my life, but if you want  malabsorptive procedure, id go with the DS. 

Thanks Superwoman :)  I had asked about the calorie malabsorption at my appointments and my nurse pointed out that you will always be "ahead"  because you bypass a chunk of intestines where the absorption would be occuring.  Appreciate your opinion, Alison!

I'm a VSGer - I considered lapband and RNY at various times over the past 10 years but was never comfortable with those. It's a very individual decision. I love my VSG.

Having said THAT, there is some information that the VSG has some metabolic benefits just like the RNY http://doctorsofweightloss.com/can-the-sleeve-be-a-metabolic-procedure-5645 but it is a "newer" one for WLS, but people have had partial gastrectomies for many many years.

Do your own research and come to your own decision. ((HUGS))