Question:
Pros and cons on each?

Hello my wonderful and supportive family, I have been approved, and the doctor that approved me does only VGB and RNY I was leaning towards DS but when I was approved I am going with it and running Ya know, I am on state funded insurance(medical) and if I turn him down there is no telling when I would get another chance. So now I want the low down dirty truth on both, I searched the questions area but didnt come up with much. i thank you in advance    — Christina B. (posted on June 26, 2002)

June 26, 2002
Read Karen Fisher's profile. People that have the VGB don't have as good of an outcome that people who get the open RNY, which there are two procedures, Distal (more of the intestines bypassed)and Proximal (shoter length of the intestines bypassed). You'd have to ask your surgeon which procedure he would do on you. Studies have shown the people who have the distal procedure have greater sucess at losing large amounts of weight and keeping it off.
   — Emily L.

June 26, 2002
I picked the RNY because many VBG patients end up eating easy to get down high calorie foods like milkshakes and junk food. I know a few of these folks personally and its sad they have trouble eating good wholesome foods. I would go with the RNY again in a heartbeat, 313 became 185 or so today, At goal.
   — bob-haller

June 26, 2002
Generalizations don't work when it comes to the surgery. All procedures can succeed and all can fail. I'm a successful VBGer who can and does eat "good wholesome food." I've lost more and faster than some of my RNY friends. None of the procedures is without its drawbacks. You have to go with what sounds right for you.
   — BethVBG

June 26, 2002
I would advise anyone who's torn between the VBG and the RNY to check out the OSSG-Revision Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-revision). It's true that the VBG has worked for many people. It's also true that most people seeking revisions of their weight-loss surgeries are those who've had the vertically-banded gastroplasty or other purely restrictive surgeries.
   — Kay B.

June 26, 2002
First of all -- I know NOTHING about the DS procedure, but I know LOTS about VBG and RNY. The way I understand it, from my surgeon, the nurses at the hospital and people on this web site, the VBG can be very successful for binge eaters. It prevents you from eating a lot at once. The "window of opportunity" for this one is typically estimated to be six months. RNY prevents you from eating a lot at once AND makes some of your caloric intake unable to be absorbed. This by-pass part of the surgery then puts you at higher risk for nutritional deficiencies -- a lifetime of vigilance and supplements can be expected. For some, a high sugar/fat food also causes the negative reinforcement of the "dumping syndrome". The window of opportunity for RNY is considered to be 18 - 24 months. If you are a snacker and/or like sweets or high-fat foods (like me), the VBG is considered inappropriate in your circumstance. I was never a binge eater. But I am (was) a champion snacker. Thus, after a few months, the VBG didn't really restrict what I was eating, other than prohibiting me from eating meat and indulging me in a daily vomit-fest. But Pringles and Oreos would be sooo soothing to my tummy. All day. Eeks -- I just gained 50 of that 90 pound loss! Someone posted that they never snack but eat huge meals. VBG would be great for that person. Finally, choose carefully. Revision patients lose MUCH more slowly than those first-timers. Good luck! 5 weeks post-op -- down 24 1/2!!!
   — Karen F.

June 26, 2002
Hello :) My surgeon only performs one surgery -- laproscopic RNY (unless open is neccessary). His reasons for this are as follows: with the DS, the malabsorpative problems are HUGE, so you do end up with a thinner patient, but one very likely to have huge complications down the road, with the VBG you are less likely to have success, less weight loss, greater chance of weight regain, with the RNY you combine the restrictive (inability to eat large portions) with SLIGHT malabsorption, which helps prevent weight gain. His theory is, he'd rather have a healthy patient long term then a "model-thin" one. I am driving almost 300 miles to go to this surgeon, because he is the best at lap RNY, but his logic only reinforced my idea that RNY was the best and safest procedure for MOST people (not all, but vast majority).
   — Heather K.

June 26, 2002
I should say the best on my health plan at lap RNY. Sorry, didn't mean to insult any other surgeons.
   — Heather K.