Well I will give you some info about me. I weigh 360lb and I would like to lose 120lb. I have a bad back I have been living with for years (over 15). I have a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease and the cartilage is very thin to gone between a couple disc. My doctor suggested to go until I can't stand the pain any longer then look into surgery. I know even with weight loss im going to have pain but my nsaids really help me. My weight loss doctor is wanting me to get RNY to lose more weight faster. He suggested for the back pain take tylenol and water therapy. I know tylenol and water therapy won't help me so im considering the sleeve. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I'm trying to decide between the two surgeries and its only two weeks away from surgery time

I sound almost exactly like you!!! Just add fibromyalgia to the list. I'm paranoid about the back pain and what to take after surgery. But honestly I think the weight loss will positively affect our pain. I know my disc won't pop back in place and I know the degeneration is already missing. But not lugging around 360lbs has to help!!! I am doing RNY. If I am going this far I want all the way!!! I have to much to loose now.

Stay strong. Good luck.

From what I understand you lose more weight with RNY surgery than the sleeve and even less with the band. If you choose WLS I would go with the surgery that you will loose the most weight with.

I originally wanted the sleeve but my surgeon recommended rny because of Gerd he felt the weightloss would make a significant difference with my knee pain he also said he doesn't want NSAIDs with either surgery.

If your gonna do it go with gastric bypass. You lose more weight & have more restrictions on your body. Plus you don't have to revise it like many other ppl.

I would prefer to have the rny or sleeve myself but I know in the future I will be needing back surgery so im kinda leaning towards the sleeve as of now. I have tried water therapy and tylenol and it didn't help any at all. My thought is if I get the sleeve I could still take nsaids and be able to exercise alot more than without nsaids on the rny. But its a tossup

Wow. Our stories are almost identicle. Ive had a herniated disc since 1995. Back pain was horrible. They cant operate on me. I had RNY in 2009... best decison ive ever made. I started at 350... im at 178-80 now and have been there for the last 2.5 years. Its like night and day.