Gastric bypass vs vertical sleeve gastrectomy?

Posts: 297
3/1/13 11:23 A

i had the sleeve in on 11/8/12 and it was the best thing i did.. i know a couple people who had the bypass and it scared me.. so i waited and waited trying to do it on my own.. lost 70 pounds and gained back 30.. thats when i heard about the sleeve.. i figured i couldnt lose.. what i was doing to myself was much worse than any complications.. so i went through the motions.. best thing ever.. i feel full quickly.. im never hungry.. no complications at all.. except that nasty side effect you know the one where you lose weight from not eating so much..lol ive lost a total of 83 pounds.. it feels great.. again.. the bypass scares me.. i know too many people who cant keep food down or water.. who need to go on dialysis for kidney failure.. they are happy cause they lost the weight.. yes.. but if i lose to be at least 150 ill be happy.. im happy now.. cant wait to get lower.. but slower is fine.. for me.. you need to weigh your options and what you want then decide.. only you can make that decision with help and advise from people who had both surgeries.. good luck... again the best thing i ever did... i vote sleeve.. :)

current weight: 236.2

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Posts: 319
12/27/12 3:37 P

i would like to have the sleeve done but i dont have any insurance so that is out --which i hate. But if you have success God bless you.

current weight: 230.6

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Posts: 1
12/27/12 10:04 A

I chose the sleeve over the bypass for many of the reasons other state. The sleeve has less risk of malabsorbtion issues. The sleeve will require a bit more self control than roux en y. You have to be honest with yourself. If sugar is a major issue for you, roux en y may be better at discouraging you to eat sugars (you will get dumping syndrome, very miserable experience). If volume is your issue with food, then the sleeve may be sufficient.

Any of the surgeries can be beaten with liquid calories and not getting your head in the right place. No matter how you lose weight, it has to be a life long change if you want to keep it off. This IS NOT an easy way out, if anything, this has been harder for me than any "diet" I have ever done, but it is irreversible, so I know that I have to come to terms with my new tummy and make it work.

I had a bit less than you to lose, and was a volume eater more than a sugar eater, so I chose VSG, but my doctor told me it was my choice. He preferred VSG if I thought I could do it, but if I did the sleeve and it didnt' work out, worst case scenario, it can be converted to a roux en y later, RNY cannot be reversed to a sleeve.

Posts: 29
7/18/12 8:42 P

I just had the Sleeve Surgery 3 weeks ago. So far, I love it. Recovery has been great, restriction great, lost 28lbs... and things are good w/ me.

I chose the Sleeve b/c I did NOT want things in my body re-routed. I wanted to keep the same processes going. It is a learning process. Learning to not eat until I am full, don't stuff myself, etc. It is totally possible to have the surgery, be satisfied, eat good foods, and NOT throw up or dump. I'm on pureed/soft foods- but I am eating delicious, healthy food in small portions. I get about 600 calories a day, 70-80g of Protein, 20g of Fat, less than 50 carbs.

After weight loss surgery, your mail concern is protein and taking your vitamins. Sleeve only requires a multi-vitamin and B12. Any others will depend on your current vit levels.
Gastric Bypass will require you to take many more vitamins as there is absorption issues.

You have to be disciplined to do this. Surgery is not the easy way out. Yes, you lose fast, but having good habits while you are losing will ensure that you have good habits while maintaining.

Example of my timeframe- in Oct 2011, my insurance pre-approved me, but it wasn't a final approval. Both my insurance and my surgeon required me to do a 6mo nutrition class and diet. I will admit, my life had many ups and downs in this 6 months, that I did not lose more than 4lbs- I finished that in April. Between April and my surgery, June 26th, I gained 15 more lbs. I was sad.... My insurance put me through h* about approving me b/c 2yrs ago I wasn't heavy enough to have the surgery, huh,? But it ended up being that they had my height wrong and that threw my BMI off. Then during surgery, I had a liver biopsy and was found to have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.... so that was a glitch.
So you see- it is NOT a quick process. There are so many things that need done before surgery, labs, EKG, Chest Xray- and after surgery a GI test.

All in all, I'm not even that far out and it's been awesome. I'm glad I did it, and I'm ready for my future.

It is not for everyone... there are a lot of rules... it just depends on how bad you want it!

Good Luck!

current weight: 157.2

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Posts: 1,020
7/14/12 3:32 P

Neither. For me, the problem is mental, not physical; so my Roux En Y didn't lead to permanent weight loss, just losing 150 pounds in a year, much too fast! Now I've regained it all and am mal-nourished and morbidly obese.... not to mention very, very discouraged and angry at myself for what is essentially a mental problem... eating disorders.

I don't recommend either. Get help for your disordered thinking and lose it the safe way!

And please let me know what you decide and what happens! I'm interested!

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7/8/12 4:45 P

Being a nurse I have seen far less postop complications with the sleeve...espeically absorption issues. I have considered the sleeve...would never personally do the bypass...but, everone is different. I would HIGHLY suggest doing research on the surgeons you have to choose from. Look at their postop infections/complications... Whatever you decide, good luck!!! A life changing event for sure!

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7/5/12 3:24 P

If you search the SparkTeams for gastric bypass, you will find several teams that you may find helpful/interesting.

Coach Denise

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Posts: 44
7/5/12 12:51 P

I have been approved for weightloss surgery and am seeing a new doctor because my previous doctor accepted a job in another state and is leaving. The new doctor said that I should have the gastric bypass and not the sleeve but my previous doctor said the sleeve is what is good for me. I am confused and am not sure what I should do stick with my first choice or change to the bypass? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am so excited about the surgery but scared too as it should be happening at the end of August or begining of September as I have been approved by my insurance company which I thought would be the biggest hurddle but it has not it's the doctor after doctor appointment the picking and poking that has me on edge because I thought once you are approved by insurance you just go in and schedule it but this doctor is not doing that which I guess is a good thing but I am just wanting this done so badly I want it now. I am trying to calm down and do all that I need to do and as quickly as I can do it.

If there is a support group on here I'd love to join it if anyone knows about one.

current weight: 198.0

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