I am leaning towards sleeve but have been told just do bypass its a definite big weight loss but it seems like more complications that route? What are others are going through trying to make this decision because its a big one. Please help.

It's a very personal question. I was at first leaning toward the band, then gastric plication, and I ended up doing the sleeve. I found a lot of people have complications with the band, and there are so many other costs involved (fills, follow up appointments, getting the band removed etc), I decided against plication because it doesn't remove grehlin and I couldn't imagine having a tiny stomach capacity but still being hungry all the time. I felt the sleeve was best for me because it doesn't re route other organs, it has a short 'down' time, and also because it can be used as a stepping stone surgery, so in the future it is still possible to get revised fairly easily to the DS or bypass if VSG is not 100% successful. I felt that I wanted to do something that was not overly invasive or complicated, and that I wanted a surgery that I could recovery quickly from. I felt all around for me, VSG fit the bill. Here are some charts that helped me early on to compare the different weight loss surgeries available. Maybe they will help you too. Good luck on whatever you decide!

http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/types-of-bariatric-surgery.html#Comparison

Here is my thought process on it...

Bypass is exactly what it says -- they bypass the stomach and food goes from a pouch to the small intestine. Not having stomach acid in the bypass pouch is just odd to me -- stomach acid is part of the digestion process!

The bypass pouch will stretch more than the sleeve. I know 2 people who have had gastric bypass that over-eat and are still overweight. One of them ate a HUGE burrito from a Mexican restaurant the other day...

If you can just stretch it and fall back into old habits and gain your weight back, what's the point? The sleeve maintains its restriction because it is formed using the thick-walled, inner curvature of the stomach. It can be stretched, but nowhere near as much as the pouch created during bypass.

Malabsorption -- with the sleeve, you still have a stomach with acid and normal digestion, it just has a smaller capacity and is shaped like a banana. Weight loss from the sleeve is all thanks to restriction (and your food choices.)

You will lose weight from bypass, but it will be from restriction and malabsorption. It all goes back to not having stomach acid and normal digestion. But another thing to think about... When you swallow a pill, what makes it disintegrate and get absorbed by your body? STOMACH ACID! So aside from your usual Tylenol, I've heard of a lot of people having problems getting their prescription medication dosed correctly. If you don't have stomach acid to break down the pill and start the absorption process, who knows how much of that pill your body will actually absorb?

920amy thank you for sharing its almost like you took the words right out if my mouth. Sleeve just seems right. I am so nervous but so ready to be on the losers bench.. I want to me again and show my children things I could do that they doubt me on. I think gods with me on this I used to change my mind yrs or no now its sleeve or bypass...I'm so ready and I believe its the sleeve!! Thanks again.

HTC using VST

Good to know Sr910..thanks. I need to hear all this stuff

HTC using VST

Oh yeah and the band... that port they do the fills from sits on top of the muscle and underneath the skin. To me, that translates to "you can totally feel it!" So I wasn't okay with that! Lol

My surgeon said he thinks the band is "on it's way out..."

My surgeon also said bypass is good for people who have severe acid reflux issues, if that pertains to you. But I really feel like the sleeve is the only option for me!

And about plication not removing the grehlin... I asked my surgeon if bypass patients still experiences grehlin-related hunger and he said no -- since food isn't passing through the stomach, grehlin production more or less shuts down. Just a random tidbit...

Good luck with whatever you choose. =)

You.know the responses couldn't get any better than that. Wow I wish I was aware of this web site while trying to decide. I got the sleeve for all the same reasons..... and so far so good. No regrets other than waiting so long to do it. Results have been fantastic. It's like having built in portion control....Love it! Best Wishes

I chose sleeve also for the same reasons: better absorption of nutrients, quicker recovery time. Also my dr felt it would be the best choice. I can't wait!

I can't thank everyone enough for the 411. Everyone's input on this site has been so helpful. I can't wait to start my journey, I'm going to get my life back I really believe this...

HTC using VST

Hi I'm new here. I am trying to research everything before I even go to a Dr. How long is the recovery time for the sleeve? I want to get WLS done, but I don't want to be off work for a really long time. Also, I've only had one surgery in my life, tubal ligation, which was extremely painful for a couple weeks. How painful is the sleeve surgery post-op? Thank you for any help you can give.

I had my sleeve done on Monday, August 25. I am still in terrible pain. I cannot take the liquid pain medicine because it gives me horrible migraine headaches. I tolerate pain really well. I have had a double mastectomy and I am not a baby. But honestly the pain for the.VSG IS EXCRUCUATING!l