Hey all, I'm scheduled for RNY on the 16th of this month. and I'm still not sure if I want RNY or if I should go for the Sleeve instead. I did read that sleeve for some can give same results as bypass with fewer complications but long term success is unknown. I'm just sooo confused. I'm really scared of the complications that come with the bypass. but at the same time I'm willing to risk it cause I want something that has higher success rate and most likely to work without having revision. Anyone else going through this? I need help making my decision... I have about 170lbs to lose can the Sleeve help me lose that much? or should I lean towards the bypass? which is more appropriate? I'm 20 yrs old, 5'8, weighing about 318-320lbs I also have bad skin conditions from being obese so I want to have surety that Sleeve can help me lose enough weight as I need to so I can be relieved from the painful things I'm going through.

^{Hello Vicki,}

^{Unfortunatley, there is no right or wrong answer and it is an individual decision. I also was undecided between the sleeve and RNY. I was leaning toward the sleeve but one factor made my decision for me. It was that my Doctor has performed over 4,000 RNY's and only about 100 sleeves. I went with the surgery where he had the most experience. Sometimes I wish I would have had the sleeve because it does seem that there you are less likely to dump, but fortunately, I don't have dumping. Sleeves can have more staple line leakage which was a concern for me too in addition to the lack of long term data that you sited. Either way, I don't think there is a bad decision. You will be so happy that you started this journey and at your young age too. I found an old weight I had recorded in 1990 when I was about 30 and I weighed 300 lbs. I wish I would have had the surgery then. As Cher says, "If I could turn back time"
Good luck with your decision.}

^Carol

Hey all, I'm scheduled for RNY on the 16th of this month. and I'm still not sure if I want RNY or if I should go for the Sleeve instead. I did read that sleeve for some can give same results as bypass with fewer complications but long term success is unknown. I'm just sooo confused. I'm really scared of the complications that come with the bypass. but at the same time I'm willing to risk it cause I want something that has higher success rate and most likely to work without having revision. Anyone else going through this? I need help making my decision... I have about 170lbs to lose can the Sleeve help me lose that much? or should I lean towards the bypass? which is more appropriate? I'm 20 yrs old, 5'8, weighing about 318-320lbs I also have bad skin conditions from being obese so I want to have surety that Sleeve can help me lose enough weight as I need to so I can be relieved from the painful things I'm going through.

Hi Vicki,

You should also consider Vitamin and Protein maintenance for life with each procedure. Also, they are both tools and will only be as successful as you are. Both require constant work and planning and both have plenty of people who gained their weight back. I just saw Carnie Wilson (had RNY online in the 1990s where all could watch) on the Talk yesterday as a guest host and she's clearly not at goal weight. So, I would advise you to choose based on what you can manage, not on success rates.

Look at the amount of maintenance required for each and decide which works best with you. Hang out on the post-op forums for both and read through. Good luck!

I researched all 4 (band, plication, RnY and sleeve). Do your research and as other have said it is only a decision you can make. Ask lots of questions about life, recovery, results for each procedure but know that no matter what anyone tells you, your results may vary.

I was sleeved 15 months ago and have lost over 100 lbs so I do think you could lose 170. I was lucky and my recovery was a breeze compared to some. To live this lifestyle and maintain my weight, I track my food and Water intake using My Fitness Pal. I take a multi Vitamin and Calcium supplement daily as well as one or two Protein supplement a day (shake or bar). In addition, I exercise 4 days a week. I still deal with head hunger and clean plate syndrome. Obesity is not a war that is won by getting surgery but now at least I am armed in the fight! Good luck in your journey.

You absolutely could lose the weight with a sleeve. The trick with the sleeve it is it an ART. It needs to be done right for sure. As the other person had said, some doctors have much better experience with RNY. I searched for experience. I really didn't want to have things moved around, I just wanted a sleeve to help with portion control. The RNY means you will forever have to be having blood work and getting levels checked etc etc. I didn't want to deal with all of that! And you being 20, thats a very long time to deal with that sort of maintenance.

Check out YouTube... LessofSarah had over 400 to lose and has done so with a sleeve from Dr Aceves in Mexico - he has done about 2000 sleeves, not including RNY, revisions, etc. If you are choosing just some random surgeon, which in the US, thats what we tend to do... you may some day find that your sleeve has stretched and need a revision - if you ever do, I suggest heading down to see Dr Aceves. But you may end up with a perfectly fine sleeve.

In the end it is ALL about restriction. With RNY people may get to cheat more because it doesn't absorb as many calories eaten, however, that means it also doesn't absorb nutrients. My Aunt had it over 10 years ago and shes lost quite a bit, but she has gained back a bunch as well, so its certainly not impossible. With both surgeries it comes down to using the tool of restriction to be able to eat and stay within your calories. My surgeon talked for an hour with us before surgery. He said in the end, the palm of your hand can hold 100 calories of food, or 2000 calories of food. Which you choose, will be your success. I think that was very impact full. You will lose with either. But looking forward in 2 years, do you want to deal with the blood work and nutrition aspects of a RNY?

I am having surgery on the 16th as well and we decided the RNY because I have acid reflux issues a lot. Apparently if you have GERD or problems like that the sleeve can possibly make you still suffer from that alot. I was told both surgeries give the same result at the 3 yr mark but the sleeve is more gradual which will help with less loose skin issues.

I have a few friends that have had surgery and also told me to make sure I have Gas X strips and antacid chews on hand before surgery already. Good luck!!

I'm going with the bypass. My decision was based on a couple of factors. I have pretty severe reflux and the sleeve is prone to cause reflux or cause it to worsen. I can't deal with that risk. I also only want to do this surgery once and therefore, want to go with what has the best success record and the numbers show the bypass has the better weight loss record. From what I see doing research on sites like WebMD and the Mayo Clinic websites, the complications from both are pretty similar. With either the bypass or the sleeve, you have to take Vitamins and supplements.

It really is a personal decision that is best made considering your medical history and your surgeon's advice.

Yes the reflux issue! I did forget that - if you have bad reflux that is certainly the benefit of RNY over sleever. I've had heartburn about twice ever, so that wasn't a problem for me. But certainly if you do have bad reflux RNY might be your best bet.

Thank you all so much for replying to my post! helps a lot

I agree with the above statements research everything and consider your health issues as well as speak with your surgeon. Acid reflex as well as my other heath issues involving diabetics 2 , high blood pressure factured in my choice. I am now off all diabetic medications after only being 15 days post opt. Good luck with your choice and congrats on your choice t be healthy.

I had to also make this decision .. I had lapband and was successful with it until it failed. I had to choose between sleeve and bypass and I am self pay. So I asked my doc flat out. I said I never want to have another wls what should I do he said RNY!! Reason being is the sleeve sometimes is a step one of getting the rny. Check out the statistics especially in people with higher bmi. They are having to be revised from sleeve to bypass. For me it was easy. I was never going to do this again so I chose rny. Which has been the easiest surgery I have ever had and I had my band removed at the same time. I had issues with anemia and b12 with the band so I have been getting infusions since 2008 so the nutrient issue really wasn't a thought for me.. Hope that helps!!!

Hey all, I'm scheduled for RNY on the 16th of this month. and I'm still not sure if I want RNY or if I should go for the Sleeve instead. I did read that sleeve for some can give same results as bypass with fewer complications but long term success is unknown. I'm just sooo confused. I'm really scared of the complications that come with the bypass. but at the same time I'm willing to risk it cause I want something that has higher success rate and most likely to work without having revision. Anyone else going through this? I need help making my decision... I have about 170lbs to lose can the Sleeve help me lose that much? or should I lean towards the bypass? which is more appropriate? I'm 20 yrs old, 5'8, weighing about 318-320lbs I also have bad skin conditions from being obese so I want to have surety that Sleeve can help me lose enough weight as I need to so I can be relieved from the painful things I'm going through.

best of luck to you on whatever WLS you and your doctor thinks is best for you.

Thanks all