I had my surgeon consultation last week and he recommended gastric bypass over the sleeve. :sad0:This was confusing to me because he performs both but feels the sleeve is actually more risky because of the large area that is stapled and the possibility of leaks. I thought it was less risky since the intestines are not involved. He likes the long term results of the bypass and the sleeve is too new to have a long track record. He is entitled to his opinion but I really want the sleeve and I know I have a choice.

So to the sleeve community, can I get some feedback on why you have chosen the sleeve vs. gastic bypass? I would appreciate your thoughts!:biggrin0:

Also, is there a comparable site for gastric bypass patients? It's a big decision and I want to read as much as possible.

All I'm going to say is, as a nurse who has taken care of plenty of bypass patients, I'd rather die of morbid obesity than have a bypass. That's what I think of the surgery and it's track record of complications.

I have personal knowledge of this to be true as well. The first surgeon I saw tried to do the same thing to me and I walked out of his office so scared that it took me a year to even think about considering surgery again. I had a sweet doctor at work approach me and had a very frank talk with me about the sleeve. I am confident I am making the right decision and am very excited to be nearing the end of the process necessary to be approved by my insurance carrier. The thought of bringing this nearly life long misery to and end has me excited beyond words! Don't let anyone talk you into something that you are not 100% ready or willing to do. I am so glad I didn't.

Hi- I was planning on having the sleeve all along until I met w/ my surgeon. My surgeon said that b/c my GERD (acid reflux) is so severe, I would have to undergo further testing before he would feel comfortable doing the sleeve. The problem is that one of those tests requires me to be off my acid reflux meds for 10 days (during which time they measure my acid production). As i told the surgeon, I truly feel i cannot do this. In light of this, the surgeon suggested i have a Roux-en-Y, which would not only serve as weight loss surgery, but would cure my GERD (some have said this is true & yet others have said the bypass can cause / worsen GERD to add to my confusion). Wondering if anyone else has been presented w/ this problem, and further, if anyone has chosen bypass over the sleeve specifically b/c of their GERD severity. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

LillianneMcBeth

I had the same issues but also had hiatal hernia and an ulcer..my doc had me clear up the refux better by taking medication.thn I had to retest..the second time was better and she thn felt comfortable to do it. She did worn me that my reflux could get worse with this surgery because of the way stomach is cut.but I chose sleeve still because I had the ulcer and if it became bleeding ulcer will be difficult to get to if I had bypass..but she also stated if my reflux got bad as it was she would have to change my sleeve to a bypass to cure the reflux