There are so many things that a post-op can teach a pre-op or a newer post-op, and since this is a support board, I thought that it would be a good idea if we started a thread of friendly pieces of advice.   I would like to suggest that we only offer one piece of advice at a time, to give more people a chance to participate, and to keep other ideas, for the same type of thread on another day.  Anyone want to play along?

The best piece of advice I got pre-op was...Wait as long as you can post-op, preferable until you are at goal, to start eating bread again.  The advice was given to me with the explanation of, " Bread is a simple carb that will make you crave more carbs, so that you are replacing protein with cars, thus slowing your weightloss.  I waited six months to try bread, and yes, soon after the carb monster was knocking at my door.  So ne post-ops, stya away from bread as long as you can.

Hi Bonnie,  I guess first question is insurance paying??  Some companies still aren't approving the sleeve and there is a huge price difference (most are getting there just the last few months).  I was a self pay and my RNY was over $23,000 and my hubby had the sleeve for $9,750.  If the sleeve would have been more available back when I had my surgery I would have opted for it.  I am real good about taking my vitamins and have had NO issues at all.  I have done really well.  I take my vitamins and get regular blood work and visit my surgeon every 6 months.  Statistically they are very close as far as how much weight you lose.  I think the sleeve is just a lil bit less than RNY.  My husband is 8 months out and still has trouble taking regular vitamins they get stuck and he has to really take his time.  They are both very good options.  Only you know your eating habits, do you eat a lot of sugar or fatty foods??  If so then RNY might be the better choice.  Its great to have that fear of dumping it is a deterrent.  The sleeve was a perfect choice for my hubby and hes recovery was a little easier.  My surgeon's son was overweight and he actually had the sleeve done last year, so I think that says a lot for the surgery itself.  Good luck and again only you know your true eating habits.  Hopefully I didn't confuse you more???

Bonnie, if I might suggest, go to the RNY board and the VSG board, and ask each of the boards for a list of the pros and cons of their type of surgery.  There is usually a "my surgery is better than the others" mentality if you ask people to compare the surgery that they had to one they did not have.  Let's face it, no one wants to admit that they picked the wrong surgery to have.  Then make your own list of pros and cons, and decide for yourself.  RNY may have been the best choice for me; but not knowing you, how can I say it will be better for you than VSG.  Good luck to you.

JIm, it looks like you are five years out from RNY;  is ther ea particular reason that you are looking for a bariatric surgeon?  Are you having problems, or just looking for a support group?  If it is just followup, at five years out your PCP should be able to handle everthing, right?

**edited to add**  By the way, Welcome to Florida.

Jim welcome to Sunny Florida, I have lived here for 11 months now! LOVE IT!
Kristen