Rambling and Thinking Out Loud

Hey all -- Ive been kicking around the idea of WLS for a couple months now.  I was very gung ho about the whole thing and started doing some research.

Prior to research, I wanted to get WLS in this order:
1. Band
2. Nothing
3. VSG/RNY/DS

After doing a bunch of research, I settled on this order (for reasons that are mine):
1. VSG
2. DS
3. RNY
4. Band

I went to an informational seminar and that surgical group does RNY and Band.  I didn't follow up with them as I am really not excited about either of those surgeries.  (Mind you, I don't have a Doctor's opinion yet on which surgery might be best for me).

I am attending another informational seminar with a different surgical group today -- they do VSG (but not DS).

At any rate, I have been thinking a lot about WLS and what it means for me.  For quite some time, until last week actually, I have been very focused on what it means in the way of restriction or life style change.  With RNY, the amount of vitamins needed after surgery give me pause.  With DS, the length of the surgery bothers me.  With Band, the potential for complication bothers me.  With VSG, the irreversability bothers me.

I know, personally, at least 7 people who have gotten some form of WLS (1 VSG, 2 Bands, 4 RNYs) and they've all had varying degrees of success.

What I've come to, with WLS and how it pertains to me.  Will I question the surgery right after I get it.  Depending on my recovery and any comps, I might.  What's more important -- in 18 months, will I regret having done it?  Probably not.  In 10 years will I be sad that I no longer eat a sack full of taco bell in one sitting? Doubtful.

I occasionally get into the mindset that surgery is the #1 choice for me.  I go so far as to say if I go to the doctor and ask for VSG and he says that RNY is a much better choice and strongly suggests RNY as the right option for me, maybe I should listen to the guy with the medical degree.  I told my wife last night -- so the meeting is from 5:30 to 6:30 -- I figure I'll be out of surgery by 8:30, you'll probably just need to pick me up tuesday.  For some reason, she doesn't think they'll take me into surgery tonight :)

I wonder -- for some people that I know that have done this -- how some people can approach this with such a cavalier attitude.  While I am aware of the benefits of a successful surgery, I am very aware of the down side of an unsuccessful surgery.  I am also very aware of the downside for not getting surgery, and continuing to live my life the way I do today.

How did you cope with that pre-surgery?

I think I'll quit rambling for now.

Hi Joshua,

I had RNY 12-14-06. I thought I would get the band when I first started thinking about WLS. After the first seminar I went to and then after reading about peoples progress with the band I wondered of the band was the right choice. I didn't know if I would have the patients to be successful with the the band. Some guys I had talked with had taken 18 to 24 months to lose that amount I wanted to lose. I started at 375 and wanted to get to 200 or less. I still had not grasped the permanent life style changes that I would need to make. After talking with the surgeon I chose to have RNY. It was the right choice for me. I got down to 156 with in the a year. That was a little low for me and I have maintained 165, more or less for the last 2 years. I will go up and down a few pounds.

It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into it, You have to make the right decision for you, because you are the one that will have to live with it. I would do it again in a heart beat. My quality of life is nothing short of amazing. I didn't realize what I couldn't do or what I was missing.

I am currently training for an marathon, a week ago this past Sunday I ran 23 miles in just over 4 hours. This past Sunday I ran 16 miles. Three years ago I would not have tried to run across the street unless I was about to get run over and then I had the attitude that they will stop because they wouldn't want to damage their car.

Once I had made my decision I wanted it done now. then I found out I had to do a 6 month pre cert for my insurance company. Ended up being a good thing. The 6 months helped me get my mind right, as I like to say.

Good luck in your journey.

pan head

Dittos to what Panhead says!

I will add that if you still have your gall bladder - let your surgeon get while he/she is in there.  I'm having to learn that lesson the hard way tomorrow when I get mine taken out 18 months after my RNY.

Glad you have thought about it and done the reseach.  At some point you may try to over think this and drive yourself nuts.  The VSG is a good surgery and effective.  It can also be converted to other surgeries later down the road if it is not effective.  Start the process...jump through the hoops and see what comes up as you head toward surgery.

Thanks for the replies.

In addition to WLS, I have at least 1 hernia that they will probably wanna repair (if they can) while they are in there.

I do really need to just get the ball rolling -- left to my own devices, I wander.

On the other hand, if the doctor shows up to my office door and asks if I"m ready for surgery right now -- I'd go with them.

Thanks again.

Well honestly you'd be silly not to find a DS surgeon for a consult if it's on your top 2. The best list of surgeons for the DS can be found on www.dsfacts.com

Maybe the VSG would be enough for you....maybe it wouldn't be. But it's good to get a doctor's opinion on it. BTW most DS surgeons do the VSG as a stand alone operation because the first part of the DS is the sleeve.

Scott

On my insurance, the closest DS doctor is 2 hours away (at USC Medical).  I've considered it, but to me (and my wife) that is a frightening distance to be away from the doctor should problems arise.

The doctors I am going to see tonight are 10 minutes away. 20 minutes with traffic.

Honestly any hospital can take you in the event of an emergency, but you'll be living with this surgery for the rest of your life. How do you know the practice you're going to have surgery at won't close in a year? Believe it or not, bariatric surgeons tend to move (or so it seems) a lot more then PCPs.

I was 2 hours away from my surgeon when I had my DS, a lot of people travel much further, we have several people on the DS forum who left the country to have the DS (and self pay for it) rather then settle for the RNY for the rest of their life.

There is a saying on the revision forum, think twice...cut once. It's a good saying even for those going for their first WLS.

Scott

I agree with Panhead ... the six  month insurance time was the best six months I could have spent.  I grumbled about it at first, but by the time surgery came about, I felt I was well educated ... I knew what was going to happen and what to expect ... and I was prepared for whatever might come my way.  Fortunately, except for those dreaded plateaus, I've been a poster child for RNY success. 

My suggestion is that you be aware of the downsides, but don't dwell on them - other than to make sure that you know what you need to do in order to give yourself the best chance of avoiding the downsides.  There are far, FAR more upsides to the surgery than the relatively small number of complications.  Learn the program ... follow the program ... and join us on the Loser's Bench!

In my opinion the type of surgery you have isn't as important as lifestyle change.  it's ALL about lifestyle change.  you will find some people have more or less success with surgery type, but that is mostly based around how fast they can drop the lbs... when that happens, if you don't maintain and change the way you approach living/eating/exercising etc.  you will fail regardless of the surgery type.  hopefully i don't sound gloom and doom here, but but the reality is the surgery is only a catalyst for change, it will be up to you to make it work and maintain it.