tattooedmum72

I'm a sleeve but if I'd been told bypass was my only surgical option, I'd have gone for it. I was a relative "light weight" for a WLS patient as well, starting with a BMI of 37 with uncontrolled comorbidities, (cholesterol, BP, asthma, and getting close on sugars). After a 95ish pound loss, I have none of those issues and take no meds for them now. Good health never felt so good!

I had the sleeve in December, 2014 and I can tell you, without a doubt, that it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Every single day, I am thankful for this gift, Every. Single. Day.

I went to a seminar that gave information on all 3 options; band, bypass, sleeve. When I met with my doctor she determined based on my weight, previous struggles, and goals/expectations, the bypass would be the best choice for me. She cited more complications and slower progress overtime with the band, but some people still want them because they're not comfortable with rerouting or removing internal organs/parts. She does not perform VSG; if a patient is adamant about VSG she refers them to a colleague of hers that does many of them. The reason she doesn't do the sleeve is because she doesn't believe there is enough long-term data to measure how successful they are. It's only been done within the last 10 years or so, vs the bypass which has been performed for over 40 years and has been considered the Gold Standard procedure throughout the industry.
I know people who have the sleeve and LOVE it. So much so that it made me rethink what I wanted. But I've also met people who have the sleeve and have chronic leak, GERD, reflux etc that they did not have before the sleeve. I've met some bypass patients that are doing just beautifully...until they dump and then they're completely miserable. There are risks and complications associated with each choice, and every BODY is different. You may not have the risks and complications that the person next to you who had the same surgery has. You might be able to eat basically everything you ate pre-op with little to no problems. Or you might have a miserable first year of learning what you can and can't tolerate. You're on the right track as far as asking questions and doing research before making a decision, and I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide! Ask a billion questions! That's what you're paying your doctor so much for! <3

I love how you're thinking this out and doing your resesrch well. Good for you !! WLS is a big change but oh so worth it for me !!! All my medical problems disappeared and im happier and healthier than ive been in a loooooonnnnggggggg time ! Its not just getting the weight off, its being able to DO things and not feel like im dying ! Slipping on cute clothes, tying my shoes, climbing a ladder, and ohhhh ! the utter pure joy of running (Slowly) a 2 mile trail and. not. gasping.for. breath..................yeah, THAT was a red letter day !!!! So stop using the scale as a measure of success , use the fact that you're getting healthier at the gym as a measure of your success . Good luck !!

Disclaimer: I’m not a bypass patient and didn’t consider the bypass – I love my band! But I am answering this because I don’t think that will bias my opinion.



Is it (gastric bypass) worth it? That is completely up to you to determine. You’ve gotten some really good advice on this thread. First, are you ready to make the necessary changes – for life?! That’s necessary before any type of wls – band, bypass, sleeve, etc.



If you’re sure you’re ready to make the changes to your diet and lifestyle, then the question is which type of WLS. Talk to your surgeon about complications and long-term weight loss. Think about what you want to get from the surgery – is it important to you to be able to eat – or be forced to avoid – sweets, for example? Does either surgery interfere with any medications you may be taking? Only you can decide – but it’s great that you’re doing your research and getting insights from others.

I can only answer for me, but YES, bypass was totally worth it!
Best of luck,
Carol

Yeh...been working out hard too.. I do a full workout on equipment, yoga most days and in the pool with weights.. Two weeks and still not a pound.. And cut out crappy food. Frustrating... I do feel a bit better and proud of myself for going to the gym.. It had been 3 years since I last went ..only missed 3 days out of that. I feel guilty when I don't go but very proud that I go

Thank you very much. It means so much to have all you guys sharing UR journeys with me. It's making me more at ease with the discussion of wls

I really appreciate everyone's input. I met with my dietitian and shrink today.. One step closer to meeting surgeons. I may not have a choice between the sleeve or not. I've had 3 abdominal surgeries last year and one in 2008. I may have to much scar tissue and only left with the sleeve as an option. I know it's not a "diet" or quick fix. For me it's not just weight. My bmi wasn't high enough. But other health issues helped me qualify. I need my life from this moment on to be changed. I suffered being overweight, having an eating disorder. So for my life to improve.. I need it. As well as almost two weeks I've been back at the gym. First time since 2012. Feeling great about it

Thank you very much. It means so much to have all you guys sharing UR journeys with me. It's making me more at ease with the discussion of wls

Yes I believe it will be the sleeve only because of all the scar tissue from
Past surgeries, but anything is possible. I have diabetes too and sugars R as high as 28. I've notice things are happening to my body from
High sugars, I also have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease and sleep apnea, along with chronic pain. And really im not that old to have all these health issues. I wish I had more support.
Most of my friends tell me I don't need it and to just diet, I've tried diets.. Gain back. Another friend told me everyone she knows after two years they gain in back. I believe this is my only option. I have starts back to the gym, Almost two weeks. Haven't lost a lb. I've given up weighting myself because I set myself up for the failure of not loosing and being hard on myself.

Congratulations on choosing yourself and your healthy future -- weight loss surgery (whatever kind) is so empowering! It's an amazing thing to get the appetite monster off of your back once and for all. We all get it about the years of failed diets, beating ourselves up, etc. No more of that. I think not looking at the scale is a great plan. For me it was much better to pay attention to how my pants were fitting (or not fitting!). Keep that in mind as you go forward and way to go on the exercising. I stepped my working out up prior to surgery and I know it made me heal faster and kicked my body into a new mode. Good luck with all the great things ahead of you!

@@tattooedmum72, you definately need to talk with your surgeon. Here's the thing, the sleeve can make reflux even worse. Most patients that suffer from reflux or Gerd are moved over to RNY for that very reason.
RNY gastric bypass can resolve all of those things you listed.
I was dead set on going with the sleeve and after I was told by the bariatric team that the best surgery for me was bypass because of this issue I was initially devastated. I met with my gastroenterologist and he confirmed that I would be making a mistake and would possibly be looking at a revision to bypass down the road.
I had my RNY completed on sept. 29. I left the hospital with no medication for diabetes. Within 30 days I was removed from nexium, cholesterol drugs and high blood pressure drugs. I have never regretted making the decision to bypass. I only wish I would have done it a lot sooner.
There is a reason RNY is the gold standard.
Please do all your research so you only have to go through this once. There is a ton of it on this site and of course leverage your bariatric center, if in the end the only option is sleeve because of your scar tissue issue, then make sure your surgeon has a solid plan to address the reflux issue before moving forward.
Good luck to you, I hope all goes well. Regardless of what you choose it is absolutely positively worth it!

Don't diet or not diet or have WLS or not have WLS for anyone but yourself. This will change your entire life permanently and dramatically. It's extremely difficult. The rewards are enormous, but if you're not 100percent wanting it for yourself going in, IMO, you're not ready. Because once you are ready, nothing and nobody can stop you. Good luck!

Well thats nice and complicated!! Lol! I see why you are struggling. Go old school and make a list of pros and cons and see which is better

I really appreciate everyone's input. I met with my dietitian and shrink today.. One step closer to meeting surgeons. I may not have a choice between the sleeve or not. I've had 3 abdominal surgeries last year and one in 2008. I may have to much scar tissue and only left with the sleeve as an option. I know it's not a "diet" or quick fix. For me it's not just weight. My bmi wasn't high enough. But other health issues helped me qualify. I need my life from this moment on to be changed. I suffered being overweight, having an eating disorder. So for my life to improve.. I need it. As well as almost two weeks I've been back at the gym. First time since 2012. Feeling great about it

I really appreciate everyone's input. I met with my dietitian and shrink today.. One step closer to meeting surgeons. I may not have a choice between the sleeve or not. I've had 3 abdominal surgeries last year and one in 2008. I may have to much scar tissue and only left with the sleeve as an option. I know it's not a "diet" or quick fix. For me it's not just weight. My bmi wasn't high enough. But other health issues helped me qualify. I need my life from this moment on to be changed. I suffered being overweight, having an eating disorder. So for my life to improve.. I need it. As well as almost two weeks I've been back at the gym. First time since 2012. Feeling great about it