New to Lightweights borad - Having trouble deciding on surgery type.

Hello:

I have been posting on this website for a few weeks now but didn't realize there was such a thing as a "lightweight". I am so glad to have found this board. I am 5'4" 216lbs bmi 37.1. I have plenty comorbidities. Anyway, I have done a lot of research on surgery and feel that because of my many unsuccessful attempts at maintaining weight loss and my many health concerns surgery is the best option for me.

I am having difficulty deciding between gastric and sleeve. I met with my surgeon and he feels that gastric will be the best for me because of my reflux. He says that both surgeries would be ok, but he feels I would probablly do better with the gastric bypass. Any ideas, experiences you can share? I have been leaning toward the sleeve all along and now....i'm confused. I want to make sure I make the best choice based on my history.

I have PCOS, reflux, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholestrol and the list goes on and on. I have a few more appts. to finish up then on to insurance for approval. I need to decide soon.

What to do ... What to do?? That is the question!!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Stephanie

Welcome Stephanie! Like you I was so happy to find the lightweight board. Everyone here is so nice and have been a big help to me....making the surgery and post op process not so scary!

You might want to check with your insurance - if you haven't already- before you decide on one surgery over the other. I wanted the sleeve, but I have BCBS and they wouldn't pay for the sleeve so RNY was my option (especially since I wasn't going to pay out of pocket!!)

Congrats on making this first big step!!

Amy

Excellent suggestion.... also....

I would think you would want to select your surgery based on the type of eater you are-- grazer, binger, etc.  

I am a sleever, but only becuz I had a tumor and the doc had to take out the part that would have been my RNY pouch, along with the rest of my stomach.  Initially I had gone in for a RNY consult!  That tumor was God voting for me to have a VSG, I guess.

whatever you and your surgeon decide, glad you made it here, and hope you stick around
tracey

Welcome to the LW board, Stephanie.

Regarding your choice of surgery, please check out all the surgeries, not just the ones your current surgeon may offer. Some of us travel for the surgery we need.

Tracey's idea of basing it on the type of eater you are will help but also check this link: http://www.ewljourney.gblcreations.com/?p=334

I chose the Duodenal Switch because it had the best of all for me. It has the highest rate of remission on all co-morbid conditions, especially diabetes. It also has the best rate for getting to goal and keeping it off. For more info on it and a list of DS surgeons, go to http://www.dsfacts.com

With that said, all weight loss surgeries are just a tool. We have to make the best use of that and fix our heads in the process. Not an easy task.

Liz

Hi, Stephanie. Welcome. As RaggetyAnn and Southernlady have said, figure what kind of eating demons you have to help determine the best surgery for you. Your surgeon is excellent and does all the surgeries but his practice won't let him do the DS on LWs. There are several DS surgeons that will with no problem and if you decide on that one, you'd have to travel a *****eck out Southernlady's links and see if they help.

Good luck!
--gina

Here's the eating demon to surgery explanation;
Eating demons: bloater (eats 1 or 2 big meals and doesn't graze), sweeter (addicted to sugar and sweets) and grazer (nibbles all the time).

Surgeries that my surgeon thinks best addresses each one in the long term: band and VSG for bloaters, RNY for sweeters and DS for grazers.

You got some great advice here Stephanie, so I'll just say Welcome to the LW board!  Cindy

Thank you for all of your wonderful information. I think my biggest problem is sweets. Sugar, sugar, sugar. It's terrible. I know that the RNY would make me stop eating sugar and that is what I am most afraid of. My willpower or lack thereof. I know I am having normal concerns and will have to deal after surgery, but I want a good quality of life with no regrets. I am extremely excited about surgery but just want to make sure I am making the best decision for my health and my future.

Thanks again. I am so glad to have found this board.

Stephanie

P.S. I also have BCBS and my surgeon said they just started covering sleeve as stand alone about two weeks ago. He has three patients that recently got approved. Just thought I would let you all know. Good news!!! I called my insurance to check and they said yes they would cover as stand alone if all requirements are met.

Welcome to the lightweights! You have gotten good advice already but I wanted to mention that not all RNY's dump on sugar or anything else. Don't automatically assume that that surgery will keep you from eating sugar;it may not happen that way.

I chose the sleeve cause I was concerned about a lot of other things that can happen with rny,reactive hypooglycemia to name one.

Most of the people on this forum have had great results with their RNY's ,but I chose the sleeve.

I had reflux preop and was already taking Nexium for it so it was not a problem for me to continue taking it post op. I did have to increase the dosage to get good coverage but that was a non issue for me.

I can eat and drink anything without difficulty,as in tolerating,but I choose to stay low carb as I am very carb sensitive and lose best when I have more protein than anything else.

Good luck on making your decision and can't wait to welcome you to the losers bench!
Holly

Hello and WELCOME!  I was approved for RNY and the sleeve.  I ended up choosing the gastric by pass because of my sugar and carb addictions.  It has been a life-saver for me. I LOVE the restriction I get and it keeps me honest about my sugar/carb habits.   I don't really "dump" (chills, shakes, vomiting) BUT, I feel REALLY bad if I eat more than a bite or two of sugar.  Most of the time I don't even take a bite and I really don't miss it at all!

My brother and sister are both surgeons.  They both recommended the RNY to me basically due to longevity and proven results.  I also had a huge hiatial hernia that needed to be fixed and RNY was the best choice to conquer all my reflux and acid issues.

All that being said,  I think you will see on this board--we have examples of all surgeries and they can ALL be highly successful!!  I think they all have lots of PROS (and a few CONS each).

Continue your research.....in time I think you'll know exactly which one is right for you!
BEST WISHES...stick around so we can get to know you!

I like Amy wanted the sleeve, however my insurance would not cover it as a stand-alone procedure (highmark BC/BS) so you are fortunate to have the option now.

I am a grazer and I like my sweets. I did not want to be sick from food choices, I did not feel I could be diciplined enough to not enjoy the foods I love. I had a DS and now if I want a bite of ice cream I have it, I have restriction and malabsorption (and some gas if I eat a candy bar).

However, I am working on losing some regain and getting to goal due to some really bad choices I made of food and drink. In hindsight I am thankful that my insurance would not have just covered the sleeve, I feel that I need the malabsorption as well.

It is a very personal decision on which surgery to have but be sure to explore them all. They are all tools to a better life and I commnend your for taking control of your life and body and opting for WLS. Good luck with your decision.