Good consult, but which to pick?
So my surgical consult went really well. My surgeon said that I am healthy, and it is really my decision on whether to opt for the sleeve or RNY. He has ordered an upper GI scope to ensure there is no signs of GERD, and I will be contacted with the dietician appointment on Monday.
But nowI don't know which to pick! I like the fewer side effects of the sleeve, but I also like the dumping that can come with the RNY (would be a good deterrent against eating the wrong foods). My BMI is 51, so I qualify for either.
How did you decide?
HW: 340 SW: 310 CW: 196.6 GW: 170
Only 30% of RNY'ers dump I believe is the latest stat for that. So I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor. I'm 14 months out and can eat bites of donut and yes, I tried it. Yes, i felt like crap afterward but didn't dump.
I chose RNY over sleeve because it seemed to have a better track record and has been around longer. I also had PCOS which had caused me to not be able to lose very well due to the insulin resistance and so for that reason alone it was a better choice for me.
the last reason was that I'm seeing more people that have had sleeve come back with excessive gerd and ulcers and ended up getting a second surgery.
These were my reasons.
^^^^^^^^^^^^This
6'3" tall, male.
Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.
M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.
The GERD possibility is a big one for me. I would hate to go through the surgery only to develop an acid reflux issue when I didn't have one beforehand.
I appreciate the input, and am all ears for any opinions!
this then should lead you to RNy instead of the sleeve.
GERD is a huge side effect of the sleeve that surgeons tend to underplay.
I had RNY due to the GERD issue (I had severe GERD prior to surgery) but I think I would have chosen RNY either way. I like the idea of the initial malabsorption. I believe if you look at efficacy rates and long term success RNY has the best track record, though I would certainly acknowledge that there are many who have had success with VSG.
I choose RNY for a few reasons.
1.I had diabetes but funny enough i had my A1c under control and non-diabetic status before surgery.
2. I had other issues like high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I know sleeve could have corrected it as well but i still went with RnY.
3. I like you like the idea of having a "bumper guard" so to speak. Imagine it like a bowling lanes. We always have our bumpers on. lol I am not going to risk eating ice cream cause im scared to death of the side effects. I know when i have more than a certain amount of sugar i hurt.
4. VSG was initially a phase 1 of the RnY actually. It has proven its success in many people but it wasn't enough for me knowing that it was actually a phase 1. they don't treat VSG as phase 1 when you get it. its supposed to be it.No more after, but there have been revisions to RnY. I didn't want to go through another surgery.
5. I had a LOT of weight to lose. I started out at 538 and was 444 on the operating table. I knew that VSG would only help get me so far. RNY was promising a lot more. But remember the surgery is just a tool. If we don't work our tools we wont see benefit. Yeah, you will lose tons of weight at the beginning but it will stop if you aren't proactive in your choices.
I wanted the surgery that would give me the fastest and greatest results. RNY has malabsorption, so the tiny amounts of food that I was eating after surgery did not get completely absorbed.
You lose more weight more quickly with RNY.
The quicker you get to goal and then under goal, the better prepared you are for when your body adjusts to the surgery and you have to work to maintain.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends