New to this site
1. Which would give me the best results based on my lifestyle?
2. Am I willing to accept life long malabsorption of vitamins and minerals, requiring larger amounts of supplements? (the sleeve has some malaborption but not nearly as much as RNY)
3. What level of experience does my surgeon have with the two surgeries?
4. In speaking with other folks who had had both surgeries, what were thier experiences?
5. Dumping syndrome... would I find it a tool or a hinderance?
6. How much weight could I expect to lose with each surgery?
7. Would I prefer to re-route part of my anatomy or have part removed?
8. Can I be successful with both?
In the end, I chose the sleeve, and am VERY happy with my choice so far. However, with that being said, I told my wife and surgeon before I went in for surgery, if there were any complications once he got in and a decision had to be made as to whether to cancel the surgery or go with the RNY, I would be very happy with a RNY. That being said, I love my sleeve but would never speak ill of the RNY... Either one is a very powerful tool if you use it like you are supposed to.
I think you will find that most people on here are very strong in thier opinions of thier chosen surgery. There are forums for each type, and I would suggest visiting them and asking questions. That way you get the best, most candid, information possible. In the end, I would never tell you which I think you should choose because there are alot of factors that only you can decide on.
Some things to keep in mind with the sleeve...
If you are a sweet lover, and don't feel like you will have the self control for staying away from them, the dumping syndrome will be a help to you. The sleeve will certainly allow you to eat sweets and help you fail.
If you like cokes and such, and can't break that habit, the sleeve is not for you.
If you like carbs and can't stay away from those, the sleeve is not for you.
So... Again, I think if you visit the forums for each surgery you are thinking of having, get the answers from there. They will give you tips and drawbacks and help you decide. Just make sure you choose something that your surgeon has alot of experience with. The sleeve is not nearly as popular as the RNY so some surgeons don't have alot of experience with it. I would never want to be sleeved by someone that wasn't an expert at it.
Best of luck, and welcome!!!
HW: 429 SW: 380 Height: 5'08"
I am 52 and had the RNY bypass so I can't help you out on the sleeve info except for the fact that my insurance would not cover that proceedure. There are a few guys on this forum that can give you more info on that.
I can tell you that the RNY eradicated my type 2 diabetes in relatively short time and cholesterol, blood pressure and snoring are becoming things of the past. I have absolutely no regrets about my decision and as for your choice that's what it is- your choice. What was your doc's opinion about one or the other? Either way, hang on for the ride of your life!
Tim T.
I think you should go with the RNY if those are your 2 choices. Here is my reasoning. If you were 20 years younger I would say go with the VSG (sleeve). But since you are 54 the RNY makes more sense. With the RNY you should lose more weight (in general RNYers tend to lose more...Yeah, there are exceptions, but in general). There is more malabsorption with the RNY. If you were 35 years old and had between 80-100 pounds I would say the VSG is your best option. However, you need to lose the weight quickly. You have done damage to your heart and kidneys by being overweight for so many years...It can take it's toll. The VSG can be converted to the RNY or the DS later on. But It would be better to cut only once if possible. The DS could be a possiblility, but many doctors don't do it and it is hard to jump through the hoops getting insurance to approve it. One good thing about the VSG is there is less malabsorption, so there is less chance of coming up short with vitimins and minerals. It also gives you more options if a new procedure comes down the road (with the RNY they throw away some of your intestine...But you have kept your stomach...it's off to the side). But you need a major impact now...So the RNY would be my choice. Brian
Hi there, my name is Brian. This may take awhile but I want to share my reasons why I chose the RNY. I do not want to put down other surgeries. I would just like to explain why I chose the RNY. I was self pay. I could have gone with any surgery available...done anywhere in the world. About 6 months before my surgery my cardiologist came to me during my appointment and stated to me I "had" congestive heart failure. It seemed he was announcing to me a death sentence. My heart had a ejection rate of 35% (meaning the heart was pumping out the blood in my heart at that percent). Normal is about 50%. I asked if there was anything that could be done. He said weight loss may help, but once you have it, you have it for life. After much research and prayer, I decided to have the RNY. I wanted to have my surgery at a local hospital. I felt I needed to have it at a hospital that had a good cardiology department. I had a heart attack and a double heart bypass 6 years prior.
Looking at the LapBand, I felt it was too much work. Also the weight regain was a concern. I looked into the DS, also. The thought of having much of my stomach removed scared me. DS had been proven effective at the time, yet to get my surgery locally was important to me. I felt most doctors know the RNY and the complications associated with it. If I ended up in an emergency room, they would understand my situation better than trying to explain the DS. (By the way, many doctors are clueless about both.) I had to get a staph infection cleared up prior to surgery. The DS is really 2 surgeries at the same time. Right or wrong, that scared me. I also “had" Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The RNY surgery originally was designed to help IBS...They later found out it was effective in weight loss, too. With RNY they have found the sweet spot. They now know how much small intestine to remove to be effective…yet still allowing for enough absorption. I had to get cleared for my surgery by my surgeon, PCP, and cardiologist. I hurried through my psych evaluation and pre-op classes. I then scheduled my surgery. It all got done within 3-4 months (again, I was racing the clock concerning my heart). I had the surgery and have not looked back I got to my and my doctor’s goal in 6 months and 10 days (190#). My ejection rate rose to 45-50 percent (normal). The IBS is totally gone!! I regained about 25 pounds (by eating carbs and sugar). I then had a second heart attack. It was a wake up call. I worked and dropped 20 pounds using my tool (yes it is hard work…but well worth it). Every day from here to my death is gravy (well, maybe gravy is a bad analogy…more like bonus). No major complications and I am enjoying life. I can eat anything and not get sick. Yet, some things I must only eat in moderation (like pork or chinese food). WLS is a tool…it is work. But I myself would do it again in a heartbeat. Just me.
1) Co Morbidities - RNY has a higher rate of doing away with issues such as Diabetes and High Blood pressure. If you have weight related medical issues you would want to research what surgeries have a higher success rate for them.
2) Time. The malabsorbtion aspect of the RNY means that on average you will lose more faster than you would with the sleeve (This is based on averages)
3) Lifestyle which surgery will be the best fit for your lifestyle. Surgeries with malabsorbtion means you need to be more stric in your vitamins and supplements.
There are so many things you need to take into account and what may be good reasons for me may not be for you.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
“Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more.? Louis L'Amour quote
I may be the only one around here that had a band, so let me throw in my two cents worth.
I know that the RNY and sleeve cause faster weight loss, but statistically they sort of even out in a few years. The band is the easiest to cheat on, is more likely the choice of those needing less than a hundred pounds of loss, and is what many un-committed people get so the stats can be skewed towards less weight loss, but there are many people that loose 150 to 200 pounds with one. My weight loss may come a little slower that these other race horses, but I'm OK with that.
Notice that I said that the band is the easiest to cheat on. All weight loss surgery can be cheated on and demands a lifetime of discipline for lasting results.
The mal-absorption component of RNY lasts typically about 18 months. After that you are left with restriction - so similar to a lap band, but unable to be adjusted. As I pondered that fact, I was spending time in counseling and decided that in my past, I have been able to follow diets about 90% of the time. Its those 10% moments that can lead to a backslide and then falling off the wagon. The restrictive component smacks my hand, and keeps me accountable for that 10% where I am weak. Maybe if someone falls into the 30% of the folks that get dumping syndrome, it would provide another layer of accountabity that I don't have.
Additionally, the potential complications for the band (and all have potential complications), tend to be milder, and not requiring hospitalization or open revision surgery. Many of the studies that you see showing poor outcomes with the band were done a decade ago with a different type of band and procedure. Now that the pars flacida technique is widely used, a person following their doctor's diet rules will have a much lower likelihood of slippage, which has been the most common serious complication in the past.
As a family doctor, I see patients that had surgeries many years or even decades ago that are now suffering with pain from adhesions or the build-up of scar tissue internally. Every little cut internally sets one up for scar tissue, so to me the band seemed the least invasive on that issue.
Add to that the people that suffer with delayed hypoglycemia (which can be very disabling and hard to fix), and I got scared of the RNY.
I went into this whole thing thinking that I wanted a RNY, and the guys around here can tell you that I had last minute jitters going into surgery (thankfully they told me to put on my big-boy pants and dive in). As I sat with surgery friends and did my own research, I finally came to the conclusion that no matter what I did, it would all be up to me to eat right and exercise for the REST OF MY LIFE. So I took the surgery that seemed to have the less serious side effects and little to no malnutrition issues.
I absolutely agree with the others though that everyone comes to this on their own. I'm not saying their surgery choice was wrong. I'm saying mine was right for me. Only you know you and what lies in your heart. Only you know what level of confidence you have in yourself to eat right and exercise forever.
And only you have to live with your complications that may arise out of your decision.
Good luck on your journey and we're here for you.
highest weight : 428 Banded 11/3/2011 surgery weight : 386
