Question For Pre-Op/post: Ever Thought About Chosing A Different Surgery Like The Ds/bypass?

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

Pre-Op or Undecided: Ever thought about chosing a different surgery? I started out wanting the bypass before research, then once I started the process my mind was set on the sleeve. I recently found myself thinking about the DS. If I were to reroute my intestines, I'd do the DS not just the bypass. My hospital doesn't do it. I like the sleeve because If I'm right, lets say for whatever strange reason it didn't work for me I would be able to do the DS, although I'm pretty confident with the sleeve alone.

Post Op: Have you wished you did the bypass, or even currently think about doing the DS?

[Darla5060 68]

Hi! I never considered the bypass or DS. It seems like there are so many more complications with those two surgeries compared to the sleeve. At my pre-op classes, the RN shared that 1 in 200 die from bypass, while 1 in 1000 for the sleeve. I also didn't want to deal with all of the malabsorption issues.

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

That's my issue with the malabsorption thing that made me choose the sleeve. What I found interesting was that the intestines "heals" itself after about two years, so you stop losing that ability. I don't know if it's 100 percent, but I doubt it because from my understanding although the intestines would start absorbing fats again, its not absorbing all the nutrients still, hence the need to take your Vitamins for life. I will google the explanation on that.

[wishes 125]

Nope, never considered a procedure with a malabsorption component for that reason. Plus, rerouting the intestines would be my last resort. I thought I could definitely do a restriction only procedure.

[traceyc 89]

When I went to my surgeon for the first time I had my mind set on bypass and wasn't familiar with the sleeve at all. After she looked at my medical history and saw I had been on anit-inflammatory off and on for a year she suggested the sleeve. There is a high risk for an ulcer at the point where the intestines are reconnected to the stomach with the bypass, the same for DS, if you take certain medications. After I researched I was so glad she suggested the sleeve. I was most worried about the malabsorption with bypass and the sleeve seemed perfect for me. I personally will not be able to do the DS later, but I do like that is an option to do later when you are sleeved. From what I read, most lose enough to be happy with just the sleeve.

[Bedhead 158]

I spent 10 years researching but could never commit because all of the options (DS, Bypass, Band) all scared the living hell out of me. Then I heard about the sleeve, realized my insurance covered it- and I was full speed ahead. If this doesn't work for me, then I'm stuck being a fatty for life. I won't go further.

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

Lol.

[AmberDawn 21]

I was considering the band until I heard of how many people fail with it and the constant fills/unfills you have to do. Also my Dr said the band is more dangerous if you plan on getting pregnant, it can slip and move from the added pressure during pregnancy.

As far as bypass or DS, hell to the no. Never even considered the two. I know 1 person who died from it and another who ended up with tons of complications.

[Rootman 1,101]

I too never considered a bypass. My brother and sister both ad bypasses. She started having heart issues and stopped exercising, got depressed and gained back a lot of weight - no failure to the bypass but she also has a LOT of malabsorbtion issues and must consume a LOT of Protein a day and a LOT of Vitamins. She's been in the hospital a few times due to this too.

My bro did OK, fell to a real nice weight then gained SOME back. he too has constant malabsorbtion issues and must pop Vitamins at every meal and drink Protein Shots a lot.

With the DS your digestive tract is COMPLETELY severed ONCE, with the RNY it's severed TWICE. This scared me. I've thrived with the sleeve. I am not down to the weight I want after 14 months but am looking and feeling fine, certainly a LOT better than 14 months ago. I honestly thought that obesity was going to kill me.

Do your homework, ask a lot of questions, consult experts and then make up YOUR mind, DON'T let anyone make it for you.

We all wish you the best!

[Dooter 1,457]

Answering the post op question: NO! I would never do any more than the sleeve. (Unless medically necessary.)

[minniekitty 44]

Post-Op here, and no. I would never do anything more drastic than the sleeve. It's worked for me so far, but I also didn't need to lose as much weight as many people considering the RNY or DS.

I never considered the RNY or DS before my sleeve (but did consider the band for awhile). If I had more weight to lose, I probably would have looked into the more invasive procedures.

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

Post-Op here, and no. I would never do anything more drastic than the sleeve. It's worked for me so far, but I also didn't need to lose as much weight as many people considering the RNY or DS.

I never considered the RNY or DS before my sleeve (but did consider the band for awhile). If I had more weight to lose, I probably would have looked into the more invasive procedures.

How much did you want to lose?

[longer-life 139]

Like Bedhead, I won't go further either. Despite my sister in law being a bypass success story (maintaining 140 pounds loss for approx. 7 years) , that surgery or the band are not for me. Either this works or I will remain obese. Only you know what is best for you though. Research, research, research.

[RickM 1,753]

I never seriously considered the RNY because it doesn't really do anything performancewise that the sleeve doesn't do but has a lot more downsides. If I felt that I needed something stronger (I had about 100lb to lose and had good weight stability), then I would have gone with the DS, as unlike the RNY, its continues malabsorbing calories for the long term while the RNY only continues malabsorbing minerals, so the DS does demonstrate better regain resistance than the RNY or sleeve. My wife is almost seven years out on a DS and is doing well, down over 200lb with good weight stability (which she never had before.)

A word on the prospect of using the DS as a backup for the sleeve - by my surgeon's experience, this works best if one makes the decision to revise (or complete the DS, as some would say) early rather than waiting for most or all of ones weight to regain - the results of waiting rarely work out as well as a virgin DS. This makes for a tough decision - after all, who is going to pull the trigger to revise if they have only regained 10lb, and they probably aren't heavy enough yet to get insurance coverage? I felt that my weight was stable enough thru well established my diet/exercise habits that this was worth the risk of just doing the sleeve. Time will tell if that was the right decision.

[WhoozisAnyway 176]

Pre-Op or Undecided: Ever thought about chosing a different surgery? I started out wanting the bypass before research' date=' then once I started the process my mind was set on the sleeve. I recently found myself thinking about the DS. If I were to reroute my intestines, I'd do the DS not just the bypass. My hospital doesn't do it. I like the sleeve because If I'm right, lets say for whatever strange reason it didn't work for me I would be able to do the DS, although I'm pretty confident with the sleeve alone.

Post Op: Have you wished you did the bypass, or even currently think about doing the DS?[/quote']

No and no. My B-I-L had the DS about six years ago and I have watched him suffer from extreme stomach distress at just about every meal. He did lose the weight but has gained some back. I'd rather not have it than have the constant stomach problems. Ick.