HeLLLP meee

I'll try to make this short..  (xpost in rny)

I am 23 y/o and i've been trying to get bariatric surgery for 3 years now.  I'm finally on the right road and will be getting surgery in December (yay!)
Problem:  My plan was to get VSG.  From the nutritional classes i've taken and from reading the boards on this site, I felt that it was the safest and best option for me.  Well.. my surgeon does not agree.  When I met with him on Wednesday, he told me that because of my age, it is not a good idea to take out 90% of my stomach.  He also said there was not enough research for him to believe it is a safe alternative for me.  This all makes sense and I can see his point.  BUT (there is always a but)  I am scared of RNY.  I haven't done much research on RNY because it wasn't on my personal options list.  The thought of taking vitamins for the rest of my life is a little frightening.  so here comes the questions...

1.   What have your doctors told you about your options?

2.  Do you feel confident in the decision you made? (What decision was it)

3. What was the deciding factor for you?

4.  ANY WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT WILL REALLLLY HELP ME

Hi!

I got RNY surgery 4 1/2 months ago on May 24 and I am VERY happy with my decision. I am only required to take 2 multi vitamins a day and 4 calcium pills that's all. I choose take some other vitaimins and supplements like B12, extra D and E but really taking vitamins is not that bad!

I was the poster child for being scared of this surgery but I am so happy that I decided to get it. I am happy and healthy. I also did a ton of research and overwhelmingly the people who get RNY remain healthy years after their surgery. I looked into the sleeve but  chose RNY because 1) It was a safe procedure that my dr knew how to perform well 2) I liked that the malabsorbtive aspect would help me lose weight and keep it off (even though it scared me at first) and 3) Staying away from sugar has been a godsend and I just wouldn't do it if I didn't think I had to (you don't need to stay away from sugar with the sleeve).

Anyway good luck with your decision whatever it may be!

By the way... I am 27 and have lost 85 pounds in 4 1/2 months going from 275 to 190.

 No matter what surgery you would end up with . . . you are most likely going to have to take some vitamins if you want your levels to keep normal.  Any surgery is going to cut way down on your intake of almost everything and just because your stomach will be smaller doesn't mean your body won't need just as much.

I chose the DS because it has the best long term results and I hope to have a hell of a long time post op.  So far I'm down 140lbs and its effortless . . . some days it feels like I'm eating way more then I should!  But if I stick to fats/proteins then there will be no weight gain.  [The DS works in that we don't absorb much fat and only half our protein.]

This surgery is malabsorptive, though, so I do take vitamins 4x a day.  Its not really something that bothered me.  I'm trading 140lbs for a small handful of pills a day?  PSH!  I'd do it again in a heartbeat :)  Even if my college roomy thinks its funny.  [She also steals all my low carb high fat cheesecake T_T but thats a different story!]

 Another thing to note is that if the surgeon you've been talking to does primarily RNY he will try to steer you in that direction rather then lose your business to someone who does primarily the surgery choice that you would want.  This is a problem a lot of DSers face . . . why would a doctor who just does the band and RNY tell them that another option was "right" for them.  Its bad business on his part . . . 

Have you thought about having another Doctor give you his/her input?  This is a HUGE decision and shouldn't be based on the opinion of one man unless he is one of the foremost experts at what he does and at what hes trying to dissuade you from.

Hey!

Well first off let me say congrats on getting surgery! I myself resorted to self pay because I tired for like 5 years. I have done tons of research on the options.  I chose to have VSG. I LOVE my sleeve.  I have only be post op for roughly a 1 1/2 months. Ive lost close to 60lbs.!  I chose the VSG because I am young and it scares me to have a malabsortion and re-routeing everything at my age. Also, because i found that some RYN patients gain back some weight a few years later.  I will always have my sleeve which is my tool that wont allow me to eat the way I did! I still take a multi vit & b12 & calcium daily just takes like 5 seconds! I feel that me finding out about the VSG was a god send bc I never knew of it before here.. & if i didnt i proably would have not had surgery! In the end do your research and which ever one works best for you do it! This is only the beginning of a hopefully long and healthy life! I am here if you need any info on the VSG and my experiance ( i didnt have many my age with my surgery to talk to). Good Luck let us know what you pick!

 

I agreed with what the others said about the surgeon... he's steering you towards the surgery he prefers to perform. Also, if he does do both procedures it could be because RNY is double the price of a VSG. I had a VSG almost a year and a half ago and its been great for me. But having said that, different surgeries are best for different people. Also, as to your comment about vitamins... you still have to take them with a VSG as well. The routine is slightly different because of the malabsorption with a RNY but those who had a VSG need to be taking vitamins post-op also. If you feel like VSG is the best fit for you go talk to another surgeon. If he says the same thing that the first surgeon said then maybe they're right, maybe a RNY is the best option for you and you should listen to what they say and RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH about the RNY. With any surgery your having the most important thing you can do is research that particular procedure and know as much as you can about what to expect and try to make the decision that makes the most sense to you.

I am one year out of the fobi pouch procedure. It is a variation of the RNY, whi*****ludes gastric banding and RNY in one surgery. It has much better success than RNY.

1) Unfortunately I did not do too much research on the other wls options preop. Please do yourself a favor and do not let a surgeon tell you what is best for you. A surgeon is a buisinessman/buisinesswoman, and they will sell you what they can do and what makes them the most cash. Most surgeons do not do more than lapband and bypass.

If I could go back in time I would choose the DS switch (or VSG) over the bypass. It's not just about loosing the weight and maintaining. The bypass nutrition can really suck in the long run. If you think VSG is best for you, then I don't believe being 23 should stop you from having it done. I had bypass at 21 years old, and I'm sure doctors could make the same arguement that it's not safe for a 21 year old to have 2 feet of his small bowel removed.

2) I think I covered this in 1)

3) I had wls because my systolic blood pressure was pushing 200, and I feared I would have a stroke before I was 22 years old if I didn't lose the weight. I also had diabetes, GERD, sleep apnea, and my life sucked being over 400 pounds. I am glad I chose the fobi pouch over RNY, but I still wish I had the DS switch done. 

4)  If you want wls, take the time to really know what surgery will be best for you and don't have another surgery just to get it "over with," or because a surgeon convinces you on another surgery. Talk with more patients who have been out longer than a few months, so you can understand the long term pros and cons of the various procedures. whatever surgery you choose (or if you decide no surgery), I wish you all the best and great success.

Very good answers to your questions have already been given but I did just want to say that regardless of what surgery you get, weight gain can happen if we slack off...so no one sugery is guarenteed lasting weight loss without effort on your part. 

Vitamins are really no biggie either, it's just one pill I take and then I'm done! 

~Emily~

thank you all for the help!  I found a new surgeon and now i'm getting the surgery that I want for the reasons I believe in so I'm happy and comfortable now with what is going to happen.  thanks again!