Considering Options with BMI 57.7

I used to have horrible GERD - I would wake up choking on acid almost every night. Since my DS in August, I have not had one episode of acid reflux or heartburn. (My surgeon repaired a hiatal hernia during my surgery, so that may have been the cause of my GERD). 

I highly recommend the DS (I'm biased!). Good luck with your decision!

Thank you for sharing your experience, it's good to know that the DS might help GERD :) My grandmother had a hiatal hernia once and it did help her GERD once she got it repaired. I'm wondering if it can be genetic? hmmm something to ask my doc I guess. Thank you. 

You have multiple things that the DS would address far better than any other surgery (and unlike the poster above said, the SADI is NOT the same as the DS, and does not have a track record (DS done since 1988) so I wouldn't look into that unless you really are OK with having something considered experimental.

As far as PCOS and all the annoying stuff that comes with it, the DS has some metabolic effect that best address it. All my associated PCOS stuff (chin hairs, dark skin patches, skin tags, insulin resistance) are gone, and remaining gone.

Yo-yo dieting also does a number on our metabolism, which I knew I needed the DS for.

Some of the thing you have going on will almost certainly require NSAIDs for pain, if not now, as you age. You cannot take them with RNY, ever, so DS of sleeve are really the only options if you may have pain at some point in life.

As far as being alone after surgery, you will need some help in the days post op, but you will likely still be in the hospital. Not much difference between the surgeries regarding that. You'll probably be fine at home, but won't feel like going out to do any shopping or anything like that right away.

As far as healing, following the surgeons advice is best. If you have a tendency to have low iron or be anemic, try to get that boosted before surgery. If you smoke, quit. Smoking inhibits healing and many surgeons won't do surgery on smokers until they quit. Having a few things on hand for post op can help, like easy foods like yogurt or cottage cheese. Some people need help with things like wiping after using the toilet (sorry if TMI) and if that is the case, there are long handles you can buy to use with tp, or I've read of people who just make their own out of a handled thing like a wooden spoon to help them reach. You will be sore, and if reaching is an issue now, it will be moreso for a few days post op.

The only other things to help in recovery is to drink, and get up and move every hour or so to keep circulation and gasses moving, drink more, nap, and drink some more. Dehydration is an issue for many, especially since we have such dinky stomachs post op. 

Sorry didn't respond as quickly just saw this reply. Thank you for your detailed response :) The surgeon I'm looking into does DS but not SADI. I have all those with PCOS as well. I hate yo yo dieting but unfortunately it's what I've done all my life. Good to know about NSAIDs.  Wiping is a problem now so I'm afraid of what it will be after surgery :( (sorry ppl reading if TMI but it's something I, and probably some other people, need to know). All very good advice. Thank you for your response! 

Hi there -- I just wanted to welcome you.  I'm not going to give advice on which surgery you should have because I am not a surgeon and don't presume to know your medical history.  I will tell you that my starting weight and BMI was pretty close to yours.  

I had a gastric bypass RNY on New Year's Eve.  I was pretty scared -- I am not alone but I am both the primary wage earner and caregiver in my family.  I had to do a two week pre-op diet (over Xmas, no less!) which consisted only of liquids.  During that time I prepared a lot of extra meals and froze them for my husband and son.  I also got things ready for when I came home.  I cannot express how much the last year of prep that included binge eating classes, group support and personal counseling helped.  The two weeks pre-op really helped me to see how sick my relationship with food had become.  

The surgery went very well.  They also fixed an umbilical hernia that I had no idea about while I was in there.  I stayed in the hospital for 4 days -- largely because of a huge snowstorm and living 2 hours away.  I was up and around the first day.  I was sore but the pain meds made it tolerable.  It got better exponentially every 24 hours.

Once I was home, I rested a lot the first week.  I was most comfortable in a recliner.  I was cooking and doing basic household chores within the first few days home.  I went back to work (teaching and on my feet) within two weeks.  I am almost at three weeks and I am pretty much able to do everything other than heavy lifting.  I definitely feel fatigued more quickly, but I would suspect that is to be expected.  

Since Dec 15th (pre-op diet****il today (18 days post opp) I am down 41 pounds.  I am off all diabetes and high blood pressure medications.  One bad thing about starting so fat is that no one has really noticed my loss, but I think it's pretty significant.  Best of all, I feel like my relationship with food is truly being challenged.  It's truly been a gift for me.  I hope that you find the surgery that is best for you and find all the support you need to improve your health, too.