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Trying to decide between bypass (RNY) and sleeve. I am leaning toward bypass but I am not sure. A little about me. I am 5'7" and my high weight was 265 (BMI of 42) current . Diabetic, HBP, Apnea and high cholesterol. The turning point was when my endo Dr was stumped at why my A1C was still high after all the drugs I was on...."duh, I eat like crap!" I went on a medically supervised weight loss diet for six months (exactly like the pre-op liquid diet) and lost 65 pounds. Transitioned off the diet and gained back 40 (CW is 240lbs). Decided the next step was WLS. My BMI is now 38 with all the same complications. According to charts my weight should be less than 165. From the research I have done I have a 50% chance of reaching: 158lbs with RNY or 170lbs with sleeve. My question is the 12 lbs worth the RNY vs sleeve. I am not sure what the extra "effort" of the bypass is??? Is day to day living different between the two procedures. I am leaning towards RNY for a couple reasons. 1) I have a better chance of getting at least a reasonable weight. There is an 80% chance of being at 190 with RNY two years out vs 208 with sleeve. I like those odds better. 2) Once you have the sleeve done you aren't going to go back and have the RNY done (if that is even possible). I am looking for input from people. What was the logic you used to decide pick the bypass. For the record my doctor has recommended RNY but it seems a lot of people in the support group has sleeves. Thanks in advance. Astro!

I had many complications after surgery and I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat. This surgery has changed my life for the better in so many ways! Good luck on your journey!

Exactly. I had some complications so my supposed to be 3 day hospital stay turned into almost a week. I was so pumped full of fluids I came home weighing probably 5lbs more than I did on the day of my surgery. At this stage don't even bother looking at calories. Protein & water goals should be your only concern. If those aren't being hit that can cause a slow down in loss. Don't get discouraged but more importantly don't overdue it exercising. Last thing you want to do is hurt yourself forcing you back into the hospital. Things will kick in soon enough. Just be patient with it.

@Journey4myhealth That is true. I'm leaning towards getting the surgery. I think it definitely would boost my confidence. I wear spanx now and when I don't wear them I look twice as large. It also gets in the way when I walk/move my legs. @Suaniya Thank you so much! I'm glad it doesn't look too weird. I was thinking if I do get it (and after the second one) I could always get a tattoo where a belly button is supposed to be! That is also true about financing options, I never really thought of that! Thanks! @Vinasu Thanks! It doesn't look so bad! @MrsJP Thank you! I'm so glad you saw this too! I also had a band in the past but had it removed due to complications. I'm so glad I got the sleeve! I'm also glad to hear the recovery isn't as bad as the sleeve!

@Berry78 Those are a lot of complications! That is a scary part of the surgery. It is something to take into consideration. Thank you! @ssflbelle You have lost an AMAZING amount of weight! I still have about 115 pounds to go. I know if I get it now I will need a second surgery. It is really hard to deal with already. I'm worried if I wait it will really limit the exercises I will be able to do. Good luck with your surgery at the end of March! I look forward to seeing your success story! @Thejeweledsleeve Yeah, I'm thinking I will get it removed. It is affecting how I walk already. The surgeon told me I will not have a belly button. He said there was really no reason to save it.

Ofcourse I don't know you and your husband personally.But, MY husband was and still is insecure about the changes. We can't go out to eat like we used to. He Hates nutrition period. He is overweight and feels like I'm forcing him to change. He has expressed that he thinks I'm going to leave him after I lose weight.etc..etc..I said all this to say that I did this for me,my children and grandchildren! I have high blood pressure, asthma, back problems, and ankle problems. I pray for Him because he has the issues! GOD brought me through this surgery with no complications! It's been one month today and I'm down 20lbs! You deserve to be healthy for yourself and your children! You just Pray for your husband! He and your kids will be so proud of you one day!

Do people realize that chronically over eating gets acid in your esophagus and long term will lead to complications? Over eating. which is waiting until your body tells you that you are full, is a long term recipe for issues. Salad is a slider, at least it is for me. I can eat endless amounts of baby spinach. So salad is a bad example. I am also fully healed and over a year and a half out from surgery. I know my limits. People still learning need to rely on measuring. Actually you should rely on weighing, which is more accurate than measuring. @janedoe92 How much we can eat varies a lot on the moisture content of the food. Like if you prepare something fresh you will be able to eat more it than something you have reheated in the microwave, because the microwave removes moisture. The density and the fat content matter too. If you surgery date is accurate, you less than 2 months post op and not fully healed, so everything varies right now. Plus I know people with the DS have a sleeve shape, but I'm not sure what the similarities are after than since long term DS people consume a lot more calories than Sleevers because of their malabsoprtion.

It sounds like you are doing better than you feel like you are. It's pretty common to be scared of all the decisions we have to make and of falling back into old habits! My program emphasized getting at LEAST 48 fluid ounces (preferably 60 fl oz) of noncafeinated liquids in each day. They repeatedly told us dehydration was the MOST common cause of complications & having to go back into the hospital. They said that not meeting protein goals at first won't cause you lasting harm, whereas not meeting fluid goals can kill you I hope having that info helps! Hang in there, you are doing great

Yes, relax! Everyone having this surgery goes through the same exact concerns you have. It is very normal, but don't let fear and doubt cloud your judgement. I had incision complications after my surgery, but it doesn't even come close to making me regret having a vsg.

I am nervous too. I'm having the sleeve done in June. I'm starting to get nervous now. I have such a strong support system within my family (they even bought me a Nutra Bullet for my Birthday) I am ready to make the changes, I'm not worried about GIVING UP foods, I think I'm more nervous about eating NEW foods. I have ALWAYS had a strictly carb diet. I guess that's how I ended up at 272lbs. I am also worried about complications

I have been changing my mind a lot about the surgery but last night I read a thread on a Facebook group. The person asked if people were happy with their surgery. The responses (hundreds of them) were overwhelmingly YES. Even some who had complications said they'd do it again. That did it for me. I'm doing this and now that I've made the decision I can hardly wait! I know I'll be nervous but my decision is made and that in itself is a relief.

I have completed all of my goals except for another 2 lbs to lose and my last supervised weight loss meeting this week. I'm getting nervous whether I'm making the right decision. I feel like if I could've lost the weight without surgery it would've happened. I know I'll feel better without the extra weight on my knees and my back. But as the time gets closer I worry about complications. I worry that maybe I should just stay the way I am. I'm just scared. It's not like this decision was made lightly either I debated for several years before making the inquiry. Any advise?

Hi! I'm so glad I saw this as I hope I can offer some insure. So, I had a lap band in 2011. I was 269 when I started the process and eventually got to 147 (2 lb from goal) when I had to have the band removed d/t complications. I had my first TT 2 months later (4 years ago). I still had redundancy, and had a 2nd TT (really a mini TT...a 360 with butt lift) 2 years later and was around 158 when I did that; I had gained 11 lb over a couple of years. All of this to say, even though I was pretty much at goal the first time, my skin was such that I still had to have a revision! I just had the sleeve as I had gained about 28 lb and couldn't get it off, so I was considered a revision. The reality is, my skin elasticity just sucks and may need another revision in a few years despite an INCREDIBLE surgeon, exercise and diet efforts. It was 100% worth it! Do it! You will lose a Belly button the first time because there will be no muscle plication the first go round (it will only be panulectomy from the sounds of your post). The second go round when you are at goal, may be when they can do the new belly button as you will have a full tummy tuck with plication, and really, you'll prob be an excellent candidate for a body lift! I'm riddled with scars and stretch marks and it just is what it is. I'm healthier. This sleeve has been way harder of a recovery than any plastic surgery, but I know to maintain my weight I had to do it, because exercise and 1200 cals a day wasn't doing it. Do what you need to do for your body, darlin. I've never regretted any plastic surgery I've done to get rid of skin (and there have been many), and I've paid every one out of pocket! I would do it again in a NY minute. I encourage you to do it!

James, what I mean is that many people think that just because they can tolerate any foods that means they can consume anything. So, they return to their old eating habits and think it is okay simply because they are not eating nearly as much as they used to. I know people who eat sugary things, consume vast amounts of carbs, and worst of all, drink soda. The empty calories will completely undo all the hard work. Soda is the worst! Many think that as long as it is diet, it is okay; it's not! Soda can literally destroy your stomach, cause leaks, and all sorts of complications. It is the number one saboteur of WLS. So, while these first few months are difficult and a struggle, use them to retrain your brain while you are retraining your body. The hardest part about this is the brain. My nutritionist always tells people to stop eating with their brain and eat to nourish and fuel the body. Many of us got fat because we turned to food for comfort (you just admitted as much yourself). We need to find new ways of relieving our stress, anxiety, and emotions. For me, I have taken up various hobbies...crocheting, raising chickens, I got a puppy. Right now, I am hatching baby chicks. Yes, I live in the country, but even city folks can find things to occupy their time rather than eating...go for a walk, feed pigeons or ducks at the park, etc. It also has helped me to start telling myself, "I really don't like ___. It will make me sick" I really don't like sugar (I was an addict before WLS) I will get sick if I eat that piece of pie. I really don't like soda (I used to drink 3 cans a day) It will corrode my stomach. If you tell yourself these things enough times, your brain will begin to believe it. Now, if I consume something with sugar, after telling myself I don't like it and telling myself it will make me sick if I eat it, I literally get sick if I eat it. I haven't had a soda in almost a year now and at times I really crave it, but I don't give in because my brain truly believes it will do more damage than the brief satisfaction.

Walter, very few places do bariatric surgery as a same-day procedure. The first 48 hours, the stomach is so swollen, it is virtually impossible to get enough to drink. You'll go right back to get fluids if they release you same day (barring other complications). Nausea and pain control are also issues that don't necessarily respond to the first medicine attempted. Personally I would never do this surgery in a clinic that planned for it to be a same day procedure. I am a risk-taker too! Going to Mexico!

Same here. My doc requires his patients have a mandatory 3 day stay. Does surgeries on Wednesdays only and people typically go home on a Friday afternoon. I was stuck for 6 days due to complications which started on day 3. I couldn't have imagined going home the same day or on day 2. I'm thankful we had to stay at the hospital.

I'm from BC and waited and recently had surgery in province paid for my provincial healthcare after a long wait. There have been recent news reports of people returning here with complications. Life is full of risk, to each their own.

I wouldn't. I live in Canada and our healthcare system pays for this treatment for obesity. Also, the news here are quick to point out the people who have come back with complications. Now, our healthcare system does pay... but I had to wait 2 years. It's a first come first serve system. Waiting can be anywhere from 6 months to 7 years + depending on where you live in our country.

What really matters is comorbidities associated with being fat. If your liver is fine, if you don't have advancing diabetes to a point where you take insulin, have some type of heart condition, etc., I don't see the urgency to get an RNY done. Even with me I had 3 surgeons (my surgeon in particular who, after speaking to many people who work with him, noted he LOVES the RNY) all convince me to go sleeve mainly because my liver fibrosis stage 3 and diabetes (which are definitely a big health risk) were very much under control and quickly improving. Post-op the VSG gives you more freedom without the RNY side-effects, plus the inherent risk to both the RNY surgery, which is greater than VSG, and the risk/complications later on if you require any major surgery in that area, should always be taken into consideration. People in the private industry who push certain surgeries may be doing so for their own benefit and not yours. If your surgeon recommends bypass get a list of why and possibly get a second opinion. If it's based on general assumptions rather than your personal conditions (if any) then it's doubtful that's much of a necessity. Bypass is supposed to be for people with more serious issues necessitating the increased risk of complications. That's why for people aged 50+ I see it's very much more often RNY. Keep in mind too that any good surgeon will offer a follow-up on a VSG so that in the case it doesn't work out as planned an RNY is still an option. This is the case with me.. am offered RNY after 1 year if I don't like the way the VSG is going.

Holy moly! That's a lot of complications! So glad you're starting to feel better!

After bariatric surgery, many people begin losing weight at a rapid pace. Whether you have the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or change your lap band to another bariatric solution, your body is going to change inside and out. I’ve outlined some of the most important improvements you are going to experience during the transition to a healthy weight and lifestyle: Food will not rule your life Once obesity sets in, life is about food, first and foremost. But after bariatric surgery, you’ll see that food isn’t really your ‘best friend’ anymore; it just keeps you alive, nothing more. Get ready to say goodbye to the constant worry about your next snack, next meal or which drive-through you’re going to visit. Going forward, you will learn that food gives your mind and body fuel to perform at its highest level possible. Food is not a crutch or a protector from the challenges of daily life. You’re going to feel so much better Preparation is the number one key to weight loss success. Before surgery, you’ll work with our Bariatric Navigator to start the process of changing what you eat. Go ahead and dump the junk food, the sugar products and empty carbs now. Your body doesn’t need artificially processed foods (nor does your family). After about a week or two of excluding these foods from your diet, you’re going to feel the difference. Read articles, blogs, magazines and books about healthy living. Prepare your body and your mind to make changes toward living a healthier lifestyle. By utilizing all of the resources from our comprehensive bariatric weight loss program, you will have many levels of support and education available to you. You are not alone in this journey Through your surgeon or hospital's bariatric program, you are going to meet people at all stages of the bariatric process. You will garner the tools to live a healthier life and learn how to meet and overcome obstacles. There is strength in numbers so seek out both live and online support groups. Sign up for a few and build relationships with people. You will be as big a help to them as they will be for yo u! Only you can change your mindset about food, exercise and weight The struggle against obesity is not just physical. It’s also mental and emotional. Having the courage and dedication to have weight loss surgery is a strong statement about your regard for your value and self-worth. The battle against obesity is complicated; if you feel you need psychological counseling services, we’ll be happy to provide you with recommendations based upon our patients’ feedback. You will be amazed that you actually like to exercise Once you are eating solid foods again, you can incorporate exercise into your routine, in most cases. Many patients enthusiastically report that weight loss surgery gave them a new chance to reap the benefits from working out. After weight loss surgery, you call the shots about what happens next. How will you reclaim your body, redeem your health, and start a journey toward a healthier quality of life? Discover or re-discover activities that you enjoy—start with walking around the neighborhood; jog/walk on a treadmill while you watch your favorite TV show or play ball with your kids (they will be elated, I assure you). Have you always wanted to hike? Take a water aerobics class? Try Yoga or Zumba? Embrace the new life you are creating for yourself. Dive in, try everything! The battle against the disease of obesity is often in the mind. When you see the physical changes happening, your mental outlook will improve as well. Seize that momentum and go after your goals with everything you’ve got. It’s well worth the effort.

Food will not rule your life Once obesity sets in, life is about food, first and foremost. But after bariatric surgery, you’ll see that food isn’t really your ‘best friend’ anymore; it just keeps you alive, nothing more. Get ready to say goodbye to the constant worry about your next snack, next meal or which drive-through you’re going to visit. Going forward, you will learn that food gives your mind and body fuel to perform at its highest level possible. Food is not a crutch or a protector from the challenges of daily life. You’re going to feel so much better Preparation is the number one key to weight loss success. Before surgery, you’ll work with our Bariatric Navigator to start the process of changing what you eat. Go ahead and dump the junk food, the sugar products and empty carbs now. Your body doesn’t need artificially processed foods (nor does your family). After about a week or two of excluding these foods from your diet, you’re going to feel the difference. Read articles, blogs, magazines and books about healthy living. Prepare your body and your mind to make changes toward living a healthier lifestyle. By utilizing all of the resources from our comprehensive bariatric weight loss program, you will have many levels of support and education available to you. You are not alone in this journey Through your surgeon or hospital's bariatric program, you are going to meet people at all stages of the bariatric process. You will garner the tools to live a healthier life and learn how to meet and overcome obstacles. There is strength in numbers so seek out both live and online support groups. Sign up for a few and build relationships with people. You will be as big a help to them as they will be for yo u! Only you can change your mindset about food, exercise and weight The struggle against obesity is not just physical. It’s also mental and emotional. Having the courage and dedication to have weight loss surgery is a strong statement about your regard for your value and self-worth. The battle against obesity is complicated; if you feel you need psychological counseling services, we’ll be happy to provide you with recommendations based upon our patients’ feedback. You will be amazed that you actually like to exercise Once you are eating solid foods again, you can incorporate exercise into your routine, in most cases. Many patients enthusiastically report that weight loss surgery gave them a new chance to reap the benefits from working out. After weight loss surgery, you call the shots about what happens next. How will you reclaim your body, redeem your health, and start a journey toward a healthier quality of life? Discover or re-discover activities that you enjoy—start with walking around the neighborhood; jog/walk on a treadmill while you watch your favorite TV show or play ball with your kids (they will be elated, I assure you). Have you always wanted to hike? Take a water aerobics class? Try Yoga or Zumba? Embrace the new life you are creating for yourself. Dive in, try everything! The battle against the disease of obesity is often in the mind. When you see the physical changes happening, your mental outlook will improve as well. Seize that momentum and go after your goals with everything you’ve got. It’s well worth the effort.

And many an alcoholic and drug addict have probably said the same things. Why should I go to AA? I'll just stop going to the bars. Or I'll avoid person X & Y who want to get high all the time. WLS is not a magical pill that fixes thing. It is a tool to help long term. It's easy to say that I'm going to stick with my diet this time. This time it's going to be different. All those other hundreds of times I tried and failed were practice, but this time will be different! Not saying this to be a smart ass. It's just easy to say this time will be different. I'm sure the idea of surgery has scared some people away, they did stick to a diet, and were successful. It's no different than those that were so sure this would finally be the fix they needed but then end up gaining all their way back. I look at WLS like I would going to an AA meeting. Ultimately it is up to me to make the right decisions in leading a healthy life, but the WLS is a tool to help me be successful. It's not an easy decision, and yes, I went through all the second guessing as well. I had complications with my surgery. Did it suck? Yep. But I don't regret my decision. I worry about things like the loose skin too, but in the end I was more concerned about having a heart attack within the next 5 years because of the extra weight I've been carrying in additional to the other health problems I was facing. I'll take some loose skin over being dead before I'm 50.

Wow... I didn't know there was a forum for us reversed peeps. I had rny in 2001, reversed due gi bleeds primary, as I was going to die, secondary was long term nutritional deficiencies that caused irreversible neurological/cognitive disabilities, but would've died in 2010 without reversal and I probably was the heaviest person to ever need one and had the labs of a person starving to death. My surgeon who is brilliant didn't give me a hard time at my heaviest when I gained almost all my weight back back due to meds, starting at almost 7 years post rny. I was a size 24 again in early 2010 when I begged him for a revision, because if I had to be that sick for so long, I didn't want to be that heavy, even though I had a technically performed perfect rny. He refused saying that I was sicker than Obesity could ever be a threat to me and 5 months later when he brought up a reversal to save my life , I was ready and was going to die by then after living with complications for 7 + years that just were getting even worse. And that were going to kill me . Reversals ARE a dangerous and risky procedure, by the nature of why they are needed. I am not anti-wls and I'm not even anti gastric bypass. But I am around for support which is crucial, when going through this. I didn't know anyone who had a reversal at the time of mine. And even while my wls peeps tried to support me, they didn't know how not knowing anyone else who had one, either..... As "L Colendrea" said there is a support group on Facebook, started by my FB bud Misty (who also blogs and vlogs "life in my in my frankenbelly) and I blog , too about my reversal, as well....

I lost like 7lbs on my pre op and 17lbs the 1st month, 2nd was 11lbs m, 3rd was 5lbs, 4th was 11lbs, 5th was 4lbs, nothing in the 5th, 7th went to 9lbs, then none again THEN I GAINED 10lbs in the 11th month. My BMI was still like 48% and since then it goes to and down. By a year and a half I put 49lbs back on then worked to drop again since. I hope it does too and just be mindful that your doc will but your insurance might not. I had Horizon then so when I agreed to AmeriHealth last year they said as long as they hadn't paid for it AmeriHealth would cover the revision. It took multiple appeals and months till my denial got overturned. I hope everything is much smoother than you and I'm the queen of complications if it's helpful lol. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App