Good Morning. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all

Why would anyone think there is one WLS that is the only WLS for everyone? Are surgeons lazy? Pushing normalization of the masses so they're easier to manage and manipulate? Purely profit driven? All of the above? 

When you are making your decision about which WLS to have ask yourself these questions when discussing the options with a surgeon. If the surgeon only performs 2 of the 4 or so accepted WLSs, do you think he/she is going to suggest one of the ones he doesn't do?

Think for yourselves and don't follow the hype!!  Surgeons' number one priority for offering WLS is to make a profit with the least amount of follow up required post-op. I hear about billboards in California offering all kinds of things and it makes me sad that people will fall for this stuff out of desperation. Please do your research and make an educated decision. 

The question today is, how would you guide / assist your best friend or favorite family member as they are making their decision about WLS? Do you have experience doing this? Please share,

Y'all have a great Monday!

--gina
     

Here in Florida we have Miami Dolpins football players raving about getting lapband at free standing clinics that do mostly plastic surgery like boob lifts.  Can't imagine how many people wlll choose this surgery based on that endorsement but I'm sure it's tons.

Ask questions, go to meetings, research, think again, wait, ask more questions, etc.  And if you aren't sure, don't do it no matter how well it has worked for someone else. 

I have a friend who has been on the fence for a long time and because so many of our friends have had surgery she almost apologizes for saying she's not ready.  I've let her know she doesn't need to apologize-she is making the right choice for her.  Recently she had a medical scare and we thought she would be ready for surgery. Instead she went to weigh****chers and has lost 40+ pounds.  Good for her.  Doing it her way is so much nore important than following the latest trend.
janet

Good question!

Actually, Tom and I have discussed this.  I told him that if he were to think about having WL surgery (which he isn't).  I'd recommend the VSG for him, then down the road if he needed more help, he could have it converted to the DS.  I'm not convinced he would be diligent about the multitude of vitamins the DS'ers have to take.  He does take a few multis already, so I know he will take some.  I also know that once he gets the weight off, he will be able to maintain.  He's active now and if he got the weight off??  Geesh, he'd never sit down. 

The main reason for me NOT recommending my RNY is because of my reactive hypoglycemia.  It does keep me in check regarding simple carbs, but I don't like the unreliability of when its going to hit (and I seem to be getting worse with it, even though I'm carefully watching my diet). 

Now, if I were to have WLS surgery again, I'd go with the DS.  I loved the malabsorption of my RNY and really don't like its gone.  Also the history of weight gain with RNY is there... and I'm living it.  

Jody, the only downfall to going the VSG/ then DS route is that you lose the synergy of the DS. A DS as a revision doesn't work as well as a virgin DS. The other item to think about is many insurance companies are limiting your wls surgery to one per lifetime regardless of who paid for it.

Say you have UHC right now and two years from now change to Aetna, if the policies are written so that the one per lifetime is there, then UHC will pay for the initial surgery but Aetna will deny the revision based on the "one per lifetime".

Basically consider the initial surgery as your one bite at the apple.

Just some things I've learned here.

Liz

I won't hesitate to share my experience.  So far the RNY was the right choice for me.  I would tell them the pros and cons of the band, but adamantly try to steer them away from a band.

I'm not evangelical about RNY.  I see so many people here with VSG and DS that are very successful with their weight loss.  I've had several people who have had heart-to-hearts with me about WLS. I share the facts and talk as best I can about 3 options. The truth is only they can decide what is the best surgery for themselves.   I try very hard to be encouraging send them to OH to do more research.

Happy Monday!

Kay

there certainly are options and I am glad my surgeon group did a good job with the different surgeries, other than DS.  They don't do DS and never mentioned it.  Insurance is another player here because so many folks really don't have the option of self pay.  Mine would only cover RNY and band.

Just reading the other boards, it is scarey to me how many folks enter into this deal with so little information.  I have been pretty open about my surgery, why, which Drs, which one, the benefits and risk of each and where to get more information. 

My mom and I were just talking about weight loss surgeries. She was considering the lap-band but thankfully I think I managed to steer her away from that one. I've tried to give her the pros and cons of weight loss surgery as best I can but of course ultimately it's her decision. I don't know all there is to know about every surgery available of course but I can at least present her with options and let her make an informed choice. To that end I have sent her links to sites that discuss all the surgeries. I have also tried to inform her about the pros and cons of having weight loss surgery over trying to go the diet and exercise route again. Ultimately it is her decision but I have let her know that I am available to be her research assistant so to speak on this. Any info I can give her I will be happy to. And she knows that in the end I wont gloss things over for her just because she's mom. She knows I will tell her the truth.

I'm very glad that my surgeon talked for at least 30 minutes discussing which surgery was best for me.  Everyone is different - I've had people ask me why I didn't get a sleeve - yet I have conditions that can be made worse by the sleeve or the band - so neither of these is right for me.  I have had reactive hypoglycemia for years, so I'm used to that and it wasn't a reason not to pursue the RNY (my kids used to carry around "Mommy Food",  as I didn't used to see it coming and they would).  My surgeon prefers not to do DS on lightweights who don't have diabetes. 

As you say, not everyone has the same initial health constraints, so different surgeries are appropriate for different people.

I have talked with several people about WLS after having mine.  I tell them my experience and really try to encourage them to research for theirselves and make sure they have the surgery that will work with their lifestyle and finances.  Vitamins and other supplements can be expensive. 

I love my RNY and so far it has been a great experience for me.  My surgeon actually does 3 of the surgeries.  He does not do the DS, but when I met with him and discussed the surgeries, he advised me if that was what I wanted he would refer me to another surgeon that he knew.  I actually got 2 opinions from different surgeons.  We had to have individual counseling sessions with the NUT before the surgeon would sign off to do the surgery.  I think the program that I went through is a good one, even though they don't want you doing protein shakes - maybe I can be their poster child for this!!

Gina, I like the thing that you post about our different eating habits and the various types of surgery. 

Linda

Why do surgeons act like there is only one surgery type? For the ones that do more than one, I think it comes down to them having one they feel the most comfortable with. That comfort level then colors how they see the surgeries and what advice they give.

I went to a seminar with a surgeon I call Dr. Bypass and he loved the bypass and answered every question with "oh, you should get the bypass." He did sleeve and band but 90% of his practice was bypass. When you go to a surgeon like that, you are going to get advised to get a bypass. That's why you should pick the surgery type and then the surgeon.