Hello everyone. I am in the process of getting my bariatric appointments done at the moment. I only have a couple more appointments til I get my surgery date, but first I have to choose what WLS I would like to have done. The lapband is completely out for me because I dont want anything foreign in my body for the rest of my life. So my choices are left between the sleeve and the gastric bypass. I am more leaning towards the sleeve but my doctors are saying that the gastric bypass is much more popular and told me to think through it again. Why did you choose to get the sleeve over the bypass? Or vice versus?

They are correct in that the bypass is more popular, that is because they have been doing it for many years in the US and have only started doing and advertising the sleeve here. Personally, I never liked the idea of the bypass, I didn't want to have a little 'pouch' and bypass my natural stomach. I also didn't want dumping syndrome (not that it can't happen with the sleeve, just that is much less likely). I wanted to be able to eat sweets, without having issues with the dumping. I also was concerned about having problems with absorbing vitamins/minerals, etc. Although, that wasn't the ultimate thing because I did consider the DS which is even more problematic in that area, but when I found they could do the sleeve without the DS, I knew it was for me. You will find many people who have had the bypass who are very happy with their decision and who have lost a lot of weight.

I have waited for years for a weight loss surgery that didnt involve rerouting the intestines. I worked for general surgeons for several years who reversed many, many RNY's. There are a lot of long term complications from malabsorbtion and structures. I had no desire to live like that. I believe that the VSG will become the "gold standard" of WLS because of the low complication rate.

I never considered wls when bypass was the only option. I did not like the idea of having my guts re-routed and malabsobortion issues, not to mention dumping syndrome.

I was so glad to see this surgery that could give me the same (if not better) results without those side effects.

The sleeve is so much safer all the way around. I would never have done anything else!

Kelly

My daughter and I are both going through the process, and we have both chosen to have the sleeve over gastric bypass. Here are some of our reasons:

1. the sleeve is closest to our "natural" anatomy and physiology...our digestive system will work exactly the same way, just with a much smaller stomach

2. the gastric bypass involves more staples, more cutting and more incisions....more places for things to go wrong

3. we actually enjoy eating very healthy foods, we just eat too much and too frequently. so we felt the malabsorptive issues are moot for us, since we don't eat a lot of fried foods or sugary foods to begin with.

4. we're not very good at taking pills on a regular basis, and with the bypass you have to take multiple supplements on a regular basis. with the sleeve, you can eat a more regular diet and your body absorbs nutrients naturally.

Plus the first, and only, seminar we went to was by a surgeon that doesn't even do the bypass anymore because of the success of the LapBand and the Sleeve. we elected not to band for the same reasons you did.

Please remember that these are OUR reasons that I am sharing with you....I support whatever decision you feel is right for you 100%. Good luck on your journey!!

xoxoxoxox

Melissa

Hi there!

My sister, her husband, and her daughter have all had bypass. My husband has had the sleeve. Of these four, the three with bypass have all had some form of complication or other (iron deficiency anemia, bleeding ulcers, and Vitamin deficiency)--and my husband has had no problems at all. I know the bypass has been the surgery of choice for years, but I really didn't even consider surgery prior to learning about the sleeve.... I wanted to keep the top and bottom of the stomach intact--less chance of acid issues, ulcers, etc.--and all I really needed is volume restriction.

As others have said, the decision of whether or not to have surgery and which type is a very personal one. Do what's best for you.. Best wishes!

Meg

I got the sleeve for the same reasons as others -- I didn't want all the issues with the bypass (malabsorption, deficiencies, etc.) and I wanted to be able to eat a fairly normal diet afterwards -- and that's what I got!