First post in this forum. Your views please

hello,

This is my first post in the RNY forum but have posted a few in the VSG forum. I had consulted with a baritric doctor some 4 months ago and he suggested RNY (BMI then was slightly above 35 with a number of co-morbidities). Following the visit I did my own research and it appeared to me that VSG was less.invasive and with potentially less of the side effects like dumping.

Fast forward to today. I learned that I was approved by my insurance for RNY (my BMI is now about 33). But I have not discussed my preference to the doctor after the first visit (yes, I know, this is stupid).

So now I would either proceed with scheduling an RNY or go back to the doctor and revisit his recommendation to see whether he would approve me for a sleeve and then reapply to the insurance company with the possibility of a few more weeks of further delay.

I know it is my own decision to make but I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give me on your computer experience with the RNY procedure, how bad are the side effects, hospitalization, any regrets etc. I am desperate! Thanks in advance.

I was in the same place as you, and really torn. But I ended up going with the RNY because the long term data was still stronger for the RNY than the VSG. I have had a very good experience. I'm only a couple of month out but zero regrets!

My BMI was 35 on the day of surgery, I'm in the overweight range now and feeling great!

Good luck, either is a good choice but I think I'll have best long term with the RNY

You may not qualify if you have to reapply for insurance approval. Most insurers will only go as low as 35 BMI with co-morbidities.

Hello- thought I would give my two cents for what it's worth. I could have either RNY or VSG and after alot of researching I decided the best decision for me was RNY. My BMI was alot higher than yours when I started out. I have seen quite a few people on this site that have had VSG and then had a revision to RNY. If you have any acid reflux at all I would seriously consider going with RNY.

I had RNY in March and I don't have a single regret.

I wish you good luck with whatever decision you make.

I had kind of the opposite thing going on. I had researched and new my insurance would not pay for vsg, so I was going to do the RNY. Then at the last minute my insurance dropped coverage for weight loss surgery and I had to pay cash. :( I had never even looked at the sleeve so I just stuck with the path to RNY. Almost a year out, no regrets whatsoever.

They changed your insurance policy without notifying their constituents first? In the middle of the contract year or was it the end of the year for your insurance and the renewal contract didn't cover the bypass surgery? now i'm worried that if my doc doesn't hurry and schedule mine my insurance company will alter their policy to save money.

Thanks all for the encouraging words. May I ask you how bad and how frequently did you get dumping syndrome? I read that it can be an extremely tough experience, and this was one of the reasons I was keen on the VSG.

Would the choice depend on the BMI? since mine is now down to 33, would the RNY still be a good approach?

I know these are questions to the doctor, but I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks again in advance.

Are you a diabetic? Yes..RnY

Had reflux? Yes RnY

Both require lifetime changes in how you eat. The recovery time is small beans in the long game. They are permanent changes to anatomy. I would encourage research. Read posts.

If you commit to staying away from simple carbs such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, cereal, oatmeal and don't eat foods high in added sugar- ( and in my case, most fruit ) your chances of dumping are GREATLY reduced, and not all RNYers experience dumping syndrome even if they do eat those foods.

The foods I mentioned above aren't needed or a good idea for us anyway-dumping or no dumping. They'll slow or halt weight loss and can cause regain to happen.

I think that I may have had it one time - but generally my issues come from eating (or drinking) too fast. The great news is that my "issues" are always self inflicted so I can learn (I swear I can) to stop killing myself by continuing the same behavior.