Questions Questions Questions

I have several questions and will probably post this in one other forum.
I have the opportunity to either get the sleeve or the gastric bypass.
I have done a pros and cons list for both surgeries and they are even.

So here are some questions for some of you veterans out there:
- Would the sleeve be better for me since I already have some nutrient issues?
- What is the average ammount of excessive weight loss with the sleeve?
- what is the average ammount of excessive weight loss with the RNY?
- can I still dump with the sleeve?
- can the sleeve be a good option since I am still fairly young?

*How in the world did people make these difficult decisions for themselves...I am going bonkers here.
It's kind of like buying a car, I know I need one, but I can't choose between the Honda or the Toyota.

 have you checked with your insurance to see if they would cover the sleeve? i know that was an important factor for me and my insurance only covered rny or the band which made my decision a lot easier. also does your surgeon recommend one over the ohter for you? (and have a good reason why). i really don't know too much about the sleeve, since i knew it was going to be an attainable option for me i didn't research it too much. i don't believe they dump, but i'm not positive. another thing to remember about rny though is that only about 30% of us dump, and on top of that i know for me it's spotty. i can eat the same thing in the same amount 2 days in a row and one day dump and the other not.

i'm not sure about average amounts lost, but i'm down about 74% of my excess weight at 13 1/2 months out and am still losing. i'd love to lose another 20-30 pounds but i'm not sure that much will happen. the 30 would put me around 98% excess weight lost (for my height the "ideal" is 118). but i've seen people on the rny board losing way past the year mark. 

at least with the cars you can test drive them first!

Thanks- my insurance actually covers both surgeries.

according to my surgeon: average weight loss for the sleeve is around 60% of excess weight and average for the bypass is around 70-75 % of excess weight. Bypass does have some nutrient malaborbtion but it seems like it isn't anything that can't be made up for with a daily multivitamin. Hope this helps!

From what I have seen with the RnY, you need more then just a daily multivitamin to make up for the missing nutrients! Please look into this further (:

 yup i have to take 2 multis, 3 doses of calcium, b12, and iron. i also take vitamin c and biotin but i added those in not my surgeon

I had a sleeve 14 weeks ago. I fought hard with my insurance company to get it approved because I strongly believe that it is a better choice for me (after a lot of research and questions!). RNY has paved a great path, but I think (and my surgeon believes) that Sleeves eliminate many problems with RNY and have VERY similar results. I have lost almost 50% of my excess weight already and just started working out, so I really find it hard to believe that I will only loose 60% of it. My surgeon advised me that those were old numbers (I had read the same thing - 60%)and that new stats show very comparable numbers to RNY. I have never thrown up and never dumped. I had iron problems prior to surgery and no longer do now. My surgeon said that a sleeve is better for people that have troubles with iron. My biggest reason for choosing the sleeve was because I am young and was concerned about not utilizing a valuable organ for the next 80 years. With a sleeve you still use your stomach, it is just much smaller. All of the functions are there to process your food properly. I do not mean to offend anyone who has had RNY, but I think it is important to be confident in the WLS you choose. Whatever you decide will be life changing - good luck!

Thanks- I had not heard about the part concerning iron. My iron levels are always low....
Thanks!
And wonderful stats!