Time4Kindness

I thankfully don't have GI problems. No heartburn or reflux history. From what I am finding out, Im leaning towards the sleeve. Thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it

Initially I wanted sleeve myself and the first few visits my surgeon and I decided on that. Later I did my own research and again had conversations with my surgeon and what he has seen in his experience. He is well known surgeon in NYC and all around the world and I trusted his opinion and he said with my weight which was 210 before surgery with high bp, dm2, cholesterol, pcos, gerd, sleep apnea that I should go for bypass. He did say there has been a lot of success with sleeve but whatever I want he will do. I wanted to get the max benefit out of my insurance and wanted to do this one time only so I moved forward with bypass. After almost 5 weeks I am down to 184 and have no more health issues. I still take protonix which we have to for 6 months to avoid ulcers. Do I regret it? I did the first few weeks but I am now very happy with my decision now. Also I felt sleeve is a new thing vs bypass. But everyone makes a decision on what works best for them. I am sure it will be the right decision for you and your body. Good luck!

For me the bypass was my best option. At 52 yrs old, I started at 217 with High Cholesterol, High blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes. Immediately following surgery I was taken off the high cholesterol and diabetes meds. I'm hoping that at my 3 month follow up with my pcp I'll be able to eliminate the high blood pressure med also. I've suffered from gerd in the past, also had to have hiatel hernia repair during by RNY. I never really considered the sleeve because during my own research I was seeing all the revisions people have had done from sleeve to RNY. I only wanted to have to do this once. I made the right choice for me with the assistance of my PCP and surgeon. Only they have the medical history to help you make the best choice for you. As many have pointed out, each of us has a preference to our own choice. Good Luck, I hope you pick the best option for you based on your health.

I recommend a Pro's and Con's list. No one's opinion should make you lean one way or another, of course everyone will tout their choice as the best. But you need to consider any prior health problems you have pre surgery to make a good decision for yourself. Such us, do you have reflux problems? Then the Sleeve is a very poor choice for you. Do you have problems with Vitamins and anemia? Then Bypass may not be your best choice.
Good luck.

The sleeve was developed as the first surgery for very large people, then to be followed with a bypass. As time went on, statistics showed that the sleeve was almost as effective as the bypass. Now the sleeve is the popular surgery. That being said a bypass does have advantages for some. As another poster said, you can always get a bypass after a sleeve. That would be the more conservitive move.

You've been given some very sound advice in this thread. I'd totally suggest writing a PROS and CONS list and be very honest with yourself.
Good luck in whatever surgery you choose.

A few things I think you need to have your doctor explain: the Vitamin deficiency for the rest of your life if you go with bypass. Also, the dumping syndrome was a concern for me. I was sleeved and am 28 years old and needed to lose 125 lbs. it's not even been 5 months and I'm down 75lbs. From what I have heard and knowing several people who have gone through bypass, this tends to be the option people go with when they have 200+ pounds to lose because you have a better chance of getting the weight off faster and maintaining that. With that being said, I met a girl at my pre op meeting who was much larger than myself and we had surgery at the same time- I had sleeve and she did bypass bc that's what her mom had done a few years prior. I am still losing at a faster rate than her even though she was 100+ larger than me. Everybody is different, there is no right or wrong answer, but with only needing to lose 100 lbs, you could easily have that off in the first 10 months with the sleeve if you put your mind to it! Just my opinion, but I feel like a lot of people choose bypass because they hear they can lose weight faster than the sleeve, but that is not always the case and honestly, I would not want to be losing any faster than I already am! Keep us posted!

My surgeon recommended the sleeve for me. I had 100 pounds to lose and I told him I was horrible at taking daily supplements. The bypass required supplementation for life due to malabsorption. So, I knew the sleeve was definitely a better option for me. Talk to your doctor and talk about what he thinks is best for you and your situation.

i was in the same boat and had initially explored the sleeve. my initial appt with my surgeon didn't really discuss any of the options, just mostly ALL of the testing involved...
then my family doctor gave me a formal lesson in sleeve/reflux. i already have GERD and take a PPI drug twice a day. so i set my decision to bypass.
saw my surgeon last week for the final follow up and he actually says that he believes the sleeve is better for me because with my GI history, i don't want a blind stomach sitting there sealed shut that can't ever be scoped (I have EGD twice a year due to Barrett's disease).
everybody is very different and the opinion that counts most is your surgeon. have a candid discussion and get his/her true feelings about which fits you the best. also, some insurances will only pay for certain surgeries if you have certain diagnoses...

bypass is better for people with type 2 diabetes, or have 100+ lbs to lose. The sleeve also doesn't have the same complications with absorption (iron/ vitamins) that you see with RNY/ bypass. I think its a huge personal choice, along with your doctor's guidance and education.

I was all set to get the sleeve until my surgeon told me that the sleeve could make my reflux worse . I think they are both great options. Good Luck

I had the sleeve, and recommend the sleeve. You are also not super morbidly obese, so I would think that the sleeve is a better option. It's restrictive enough, and you don't get the dumping syndrome.