Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdie01
On both accounts i have issues that i am worried about, the reflux on the sleeve side and the malnutrition on the bypass side - although having said that, I am certain if i skip one day's worth of vitamins it wouldn't actually kill me.. there is a lot to consider.
Birdie01, I am a little confused about this statement. Without proper monitoring and supplementation, you could be become malnourished, but that can happen even without rearranged guts (if you only ate spaghetti, you'd eventually become malnourished). Taking vitamins just becomes a part of your day; no big deal. Plus, as others have pointed out, most VSGers have to supplement as well. I wouldn't place malnutrition on the list of reasons to avoid RNY.
The big considerations are those already mentioned: VSG can really aggravate reflux. If you decide to go the VSG route, make sure you have an EGD done prior, so that your doctor knows the extent of damage already done by GERD. It just might rule out the VSG (as it did in my case. I have Barrett's Esophagus, which would never have been diagnosed without an EGD.)
There are some RNY patients that take NSAIDs occasionally under the care of their doctor, but most folks need to stay away from them. The problem is that ulcers can develop in the remnant pouch, which is pretty difficult to treat. I would seriously consider if you can give up NSAIDs, if you have a medical condition that requires their use. Let's be honest: Tylenol rarely helps with inflammation (and has its own set of worries, such as liver damage), which means that some RNY folks need to depend on prescription pain meds for relief.
Someone (can't recall who) in this thread stated that VSG could be converted to an RNY. This is not accurate. It can be done, but only by a few skilled surgeons, in extreme cases. The VSG is the first step for the DS, though. The DS reroutes past a greater portion of the intestines than the RNY and does require a lot more supplementation. So, there is another procedure out there (the DS), but fewer surgeons perform this WLS, as it requires more diligence from the patient, and is a more challenging surgery.
Just some feedback for you to consider. Good luck on whatever decision you make.