Hi guys

If both the sleeve and gastric bypass had been the same price when you decided on having surgery which would you have chosen? Would you still have gone with the sleeve?

My hosptial charges the same for both, (US$1450 - I know.... bargain!). I'm on the waiting list, and just need to tell them which one I want when I'm called for surgery. For many reasons I've 99% decided on the sleeve, the main one being that it seems less risky, but out of interest, if the cost wasn't an issue would you have preferred to have the Gastric Bypass?

Your opinions would be appreciated!

Without a doubt, I would get the sleeve! I know about 6 people who have had the bypass. One of these friends has had copious problems with absorbing Vitamins and now has severe kidney failure issues. If my only choices were bypass and the lapband, I would not have had surgery at all. The sleeve surgery was easy for me. I had it as an outpatient procedure, never got sick, and was back to work quickly. Oh, not to mention that my energy level has trippled. While the weight loss is slow for me, I am in much better health that a few short months ago.

I wish you the best as you decide what is good for you.

Thanks for your reply, Veda! I agree, it does seem a lot less risky. One of the things I've been worried about with the gastric bypass is the malabsorption - I thought, it might be ok now while I'm still young(ish), but this is for life, and what happens when I'm 70 and a bit senile and forget to take Vitamin tablets..... On the other hand though, I'm worried that I will go through all the trauma of getting sleeved, and in 5 years time put all the weight back on again....

I'm very pleased to hear your surgery went so well. I'm assuming your picture was taken after surgery - you look great!

I'd get the sleeve done! Gastric bypass was too drastic for me personally. I'm 23 and I started out at 225 lbs. The sleeve was better suited for my situation.

I'm less than 5 lbs away from goal and I do worry about gaining back the weight. But, there are a lot of people who gain back weight after the gastric bypass too. Maintenance is going to be difficult no matter how you lost the weight.

Thanks Kala

And well done you for taking control of your life at such a young age. I wish I'd done this 10-15 years ago - things could have worked out a lot different!

Initially, I was going to have the bypass..BUT after research I decided on the sleeve. Im young, single w/no children and I was very afraid of the malabsorption issues w/the bypass. If my insurance would not have approved me after I fought for this and said all I could have was the bypass, or band I wouldnt have surgery at all.

Sleeve. I did not want my entire digestive tract severed TWICE and rearranged. You can get a bypass after a sleeve, it is highly unlikely that you can get a sleeve after a bypass.

I chose the sleeve because I didnt want malabsorption and dumping issues like my sister in law has had. She had a GB at 17 years old, then has had two revisions and she still weighs in the upper 200's. She's not compliant with her diet, either and has tons of dumping issues. I didn't want that.

I love that my sleeve will allow me to eat whatever I want to eat and that I still have a functioning pyloric valve. I also think it's much easier to follow my plan than it would be to play the Vitamin roullette game my sister in law has to play. Some days the Vitamins go down easy for her and other days they re-visit her very quickly. Vomiting is one of the side effects that I really wanted to avoid.

If my only choices had been band or GB, I might not have had surgery. And I was warned that it was either lose weight or die.

For years I thought about getting WLS. The band seemed to be risky and had uncertain results. The bypass seemed to be drastic and I couldn't get over losing the pyloric valve in favor of a stoma. So I likely wouldn't have had surgery without the sleeve coming about. It seemed the best of both worlds and if I need the malabsorbtion later I can revise to DS - but that would be a real last resort. I'm happy with the sleeve so far.

Thanks for all your great replies guys!

No doubt I would do the sleeve. My mom had the bypass years ago and her recovery wa horrible. I had my sleeve Nov 18 and I am down from 247 to 189. My recovery was quick and easy and my food list was an easier options than hers. He ha gained some of her weight back and she always had that dumping sensation. She stayed miserable for a while.

Gastric bypass? NEVER!! Go with the sleeve...Kathe