I am currently in the qualifying stage of my wls. Still have my sleep study and psychiatrist to see then hopefully cigna will approve me. The trouble i am having is trying to decide which procedure to get. How did you all decide and what is the pros and cons of sleeve vs bypass. I am totally confused as they both on my scale are 50/50.
Hello, I've not had WLS myself but I am surrounded by friends and family who did. So take my words knowing that.
Anyway, my friend who had RY lost weight for a year then gained. She also lost 2 or 3 pregnancies in the second year, which her doc attributed to a side effect of the surgery. Not sure on the details though. My friend who had the sleeve lost weight for a year then stalled and then started slowly losing again and still is. My Aunt who had the old style GB lost a lot, gained a little and has stayed somewhere in the middle...not as thin as she wants, but far below being obese like she was. ETA: I should mention that the Aunt had the band first, which failed badly.
Watching and helping them through their individual surgeries I have to say that if I were in a position to get WLS I would opt for the sleeve. Seems to have the desired effect with more tolerable consequences from my observations. She had less dumping, really quite a fast snap back from surgery and overall seems the happiest of them all. So based on that, I'd put the sleeve on the top of my short list if it were my decision.
This is such a personal decision, it takes a lot of research on your part and discussion with your surgeon... its really a decision that only you two can make. What is your doctor leaning towards?
I made this decision with my surgeon. They did give me a lot of information. Unfortunately my insurance does not cover the sleeve. That was my first choice. I could have waited to see if they would have covered it in the future, but chose not to do that. My choices were bypass or duodenal switch. I chose the switch. I have had a lot of complications and side effects. The side affects are getting better. It has been very effective. I lost 200 pounds the first year! I think it is a very personal decision and you have to ask yourself a lot of risk reward ?s. My surgeon described my surgery as high risk, high reward. He was right on both accounts.
Well my doc said gave pros and cons of both but did say that he thinks the sleeve would be a good option for me but ultimately it is my decision. I have talked to a few friends who have at least rny. I think that i have heard the sleeve stretching back out and worse acid reflux, although, i think i will take worse reflux over uncontrollable stinky gas. I already have some form of dumping syndrome since having my gallbladder removed in 2010 so not really worried about that. I think sooner or later the right decision will come to me. If i can be approved.
Please do not underestimate the danger of GERD. Untreated acid reflux can lead to one of the worst cancers, in terms of survival rates, out there: esophageal cancer.
You should make this decision with the help of your surgeon and your own research. If you have a history of GERD, your surgeon should perform an endoscopy, to rule out esophageal damage, prior to deciding on the VSG.
If you have any medical issues that require the use of NSAIDS, you should think twice about the RNY, as they are off limits for RNY patients, due to the increase of ulcers in the blind stomach. (Actually, they are not good for anyone.)
Don't forget about the Duodenal Switch, another WLS, but one that not every surgeon performs, as it's more complicated and requires more patient dedication to supplementation.
I'm not sure what you are referring to regarding your comment about excessive gas. Eating too many simple carbs can cause gas in RNY patients, which isn't the way WLS patients should eat anyway. It isn't a given side effect of the surgery. Nor is dumping, a side effect of eating too much sugar too fast.
In my opinion, based on what you have written, more research on your part is needed. You seem misinformed on a variety of ideas, and going into surgery really requires a well informed patient, as you often have to be your own health advocate.
You need to discuss all of this with your surgeon. As Zeitgeist said, there are pros and cons to every surgery and you need to do tons of research.
Personally, I decided on the sleeve because I was more comfortable with the rates of complication, the side effects, my ability to carry children afterward (although many, many RNY patients have successfully carried babies), and the weight loss goals. It really is about what you can fully commit to and the changes you can make for the rest of your life.
As for the reflux, the sleeve can make it worse especially if you have a hiatal hernia that isn't repaired. My surgeon repairs hernias at the time of WLS procedure, so as to avoid opening up a person twice and to relieve the reflux. Not all surgeons do that, so I'd talk to yours and definitely get an endoscopy to see how things look.
Good advice ladies and yes, GERD is serious. I too had it but then got an unfill and that seemed to help get rid of it. I'm flying solo right now but in another 6 months I may go for my fills...slowly.
WLS Decision
