How come you chose RNY?

Good morning and Happy Valentine's Day as well. 

I revised to RNY from lapband due to Type 2 diabetes. My A1C was 5.1 from a high of 10 almost a year ago. I also have GERD so RNY was the best option. 

Good luck!

Wow, I have never had an a1c that low, even on insulin.  Thank you and congrats on your success!

I had no comorbidities, so my decision to have  Rny really came down to the data available, and the fact that in Canada, Rny is the go to surgery. It was also my surgeon's recommendation that it would ensure the best chance at long term success. 

Hi Kristen,

I originally went in thinking I wanted the sleeve, because in my mind it was less invasive.  While talking to my PCP about WLS before I even went to the consult, he encouraged me to read about RNY because of it's success with diabetes.  He felt that I would be a good canditate to have a remission of diabetes with the surgery.

So, when I went to the consult with the surgeon, we discussed it and he also agreed that the RNY would be better for me, though he would do the sleeve if I wanted it.  I decided that I wanted to do the very best for my situation, and went with RNY.  

I stopped taking all diabetes meds in the week before surgery when I was on my pre-op liquid diet.  And in November of 2015, at my 3 months post surgery follow up my blood work came back with amazing results.  So, in December of 2014 I had blood work done and my A1C was 10.7.  I was using both 2 types of insulin over 5 injections throughout the day.  In November of 2015, 3 months after surgery and with zero medication for diabetes, my A1C was 4.7.

I'm 18 months out from RNY and my A1C is around 5.1 or so.  

It doesn't work that way for everyone, I think it depends on how long you've been diebetic, etc.  But it CAN put it into remission.  I feel like RNY saved my life.

Hi Deanna,

Thanks so much for sharing this.  I am also using 2 types of insulin as well as taking Metformin & Glimiperide.  I would be sooo excited to stop taking all these!  Congrats on your amazing a1c and your success overall - it's amazing.  I hope to have a success story to tell one day.

I'm not sure if it's helpful, but I chose the sleeve, not because there is anything wrong with RNY, but because I'm not diabetic or pre-diabetic, don't currently have GERD and I don't have a huge desire for sugary foods, so the potential for dumping seemed like overkill. So with my main issue being eating large quantities at a go, I figured the sleeve would give me the help I needed without being more than I needed, if that makes sense? I don't think RNY would have been a bad choice for me, I was just going for the least amount of alteration with the most personal benefit and the fewest not needed bells and whistles for my situation. A Camry instead of a Lexus, so to speak...

Your choice sounds like a good one. Don't let the current popularity of the sleeve make you question your thoughtful decision!

Thank you, I appreciate it!

I went into this thinking "I am going to have sleeve and nothing will change that!" 

but... I walked out thinking, okay my surgeon thinks bypass would be better for me, and who am I to question a doctor?! Then I spent the next months of my preop doing research over the bypass v. the sleeve, complications, etc. 

I have acid reflux. It isn't severe but I didn't want to risk making it worse by getting the sleeve. Also, the bypass would give me a better shot of getting to my "goal weight" even though, with tons of work, I could get there regardless. 

All in all, this is a personal journey and my reasoning, to some, may not seem like it is a very good one. But to me, It is a step of getting my life back. 

Thank you for sharing - I would like to get my life back too!

My mom told me once my motto is "anything g worth doing is worth overdoing" :) I chose RNY because I figured if I was going to do this, I might as well go all in and do the surgery with the best chance of success. I have over 200 pounds to lose, and I'm not interested in getting halfway to goal. RNY statistically has a higher percentage of weight loss.