Decisions, Decisions... RNY or DS?

[patrice1 81]

The sleeve is the first "half" of the DS. Would you consider the sleeve, with future revision to DS if necessary? There are heaps of Sleevers who have lost more than you need to lose. Anecdotally I am a sleever who left the hospital with a sleeve and without diabetes. I have also lost over 70 pounds in just under 7 months so far. I got the sleeve with the plan that if I needed a revision because I couldn't get to a healthy weight, I'd go with DS. <br><br> Another thing to consider is your pattern of eating. If your weakness is fatty foods, the DS is known to be more "ok" with that, because it inhibits absorption of fats. But if your weakness is sweets, you are much more likely to have dumping with DS than even RNY. And we are talking uncontrollable diarrhea and nausea if you eat a lot of sugar or carbs in a sitting. Some people would consider dumping a good thing because it can keep you on the straight and narrow, but others would consider it a quality of life issue they are not willing to risk. True dumping is very rare with the sleeve or band because the pyloric valve is left intact and the intestines are not shortened by rerouting. <br><br> Evaluate your food demons, your goals, and what potential side effects you feel able to handle, research, and talk frankly with your surgeon or even several surgeons. That's my best advice.

This is extremely helpful. I am a sugar eater. I had never considered the VSG, but started reading about it today after reading this post. I get scared that I will fail but I know I have to get that out of my mind. Your results are great and I am reading about others. Did the Portion Control mechanism of the VSG end up being enough? Tell me more. And I will be open with my doctor about it, too. Is there some malabsorption with the sleeve? Can you have NSAIDs? Thank you for your help!

[mistysj 1,939]

There is theoretically some malabsorption with the sleeve because food transits through your system faster since the stomach capacity is so much smaller. The primary mechanism of the sleeve is reduced capacity, and yes it is adequate. You physically can't hold more than a cup at a meal (most women can only hold 2/3 to 3/4 of a cup).

There is also theoretically some malabsorption of B12 because your stomach produces an enzyme that helps you absorb it, and you have less stomach to produce the enzyme. It just means you need to supplement B12. Sleevers should take a Multivitamin every day as well as Calcium, but malabsorption is not at the same level as with RNY.

Since the digestive system is exactly the same, you can take any medications you would have been able to take pre-surgery.

As I said, if the sleeve is not "enough", you can always continue with the second part of the DS, which is the intestinal rerouting. If you have any questions about the sleeve, you can ask in the Sleeve section of this website, or ask here and we will get you the info you need. There is also the Big Book of the Gastric Sleeve, which is published by the owner of BariatricPal. He has also written the Big Book of the Gastric Bypass and maybe others. Maybe you should read all of those books to get the info to decide which surgery is right for you, along with your surgeon's advice.

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

my hospital is a "center of excellence" and does not offer DS. i dont know if that is significant or not, but something to consider.

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

This is extremely helpful. I am a sugar eater. I had never considered the VSG, but started reading about it today after reading this post. I get scared that I will fail but I know I have to get that out of my mind. Your results are great and I am reading about others. Did the Portion Control mechanism of the VSG end up being enough? Tell me more. And I will be open with my doctor about it, too. Is there some malabsorption with the sleeve? Can you have NSAIDs? Thank you for your help!

you should not take NSAIDs with the sleeve, but losing weight seems to go a long way in taking away a lot of reasons for taking them in the first place. portion control is doing it for me, and sugar still makes me feel icky. i have lost almost 70 pounds in almost 6 months. i am very happy with the sleeve.