Hey, everyone!

I went to the PI seminar on, June 15th, had my Psych test and met with the Dietician on, July 15th, then had my first appointment with the Dr. on, July 29th. I have been looking into the Sleeve. I have always been kind of afraid, if you will, of the Bypass because of Nutrient Deficiencies, rerouting the intestines....etc. When I met with Dr. Nguyen, he said, given that I have irregular periods, PCOS, and infertility he believes I also probably have a Metabolic issue. Which would be why I can eat clean, and kill it in the gym with minimal results. He recommended that I consider the Bypass, instead of the Sleeve. He said he doesn't want me to sell myself short, by getting something that may not give me maximum weight loss results. Has anyone else had their Doctor tell them this? If so, which surgery did you go with? How did you do with it?

Thanks,

Becca

My doctor told me the same thing. He said due to my bmi, the bypass would be the only thing that would help me get the most results. My fear was the side effects of the dumping syndrome with the by pass. And while I understand that side effects are minimized if you follow directions, I also recognize that I am human and may eat something that just disturbs me. Either way I started at 410, by surgery I was 365. This was may 2013, I am now 220 and have maintained this weight for over a year. Honestly, my dr. Would like for me to be 150 but I am happy where I am. I may go for 190 -- but going from a size 32 to a size 14 made me happy enough . Make the best decision for you!

I have never had a natural period. Ever. At 15 I started on birth control pills to regulate a period. I am 25 now. Throughout the years, I have stopped taking the pills for a few months (doctor's orders) to see if my period would come on its own. It never did and never has. I'm really hoping and do believe that this surgery will help me start a natural period, because I fear not being able to get pregnant naturally.

My doctor highly suggested the sleeve for me rather than the bypass.

Edited August 5, 201511 yr by ASUgrad

My regular doctor recommend it bypass but my surgeon the sleeve it was a few weeks of confusion and decision decisions but what sold me was that the bypass gives u hernias so I've heard maybe not everyone and more complications at the end.. that with my chronic back pains I didn't want to risk it so I'm happy with my sleeve. best of luck with ur decision

I went in thinking sleeve, but my surgeon was more in favor of bypass. One reason was due to the number of long term retrospective studies on the bypass. She,and others, have told me that there just isn't enough long term data to know how the sleeve will effect us years down the road.

I also have to be really honest. One of the reasons I wanted the sleeve is so I wouldn't be limited in food choices or have the consequence of dumping. I literally wanted to have my cake and eat it too. What I realized I was doing (not saying this is true of anyone else) was wanting just enough surgery to help me lose weight but not my eating fun. I'm a food addict - food needs to stop being about pleasure for me. That's what got me here.

Yes I worry about having to take Vitamins forever, malabsorption, ulcers, leaks but my doc assures me that if I eat like I should that those chances are minimal. Wishing you the best of luck in making the decision that's right for you. You are the one who has to feel good about it!!

Ong it's like you read my mind!!! I felt the same way!! I just read an amazing book that truly helped me beyond words!!! I high suggest it- especially if your a good addict!!! "Practical Advice for Long Term Maintenance of Bariatric Surgery " by Pamela Harrison. It's 5$ and an eBook!! Quick read and super helpful !!!

I did a search for that book and can't find it. Where did you get it? Thanks.

Bn.com or Amazon

Hope this helps

I will check this out as well.

Thanks - I found it!

I had the sleeve in Feb 2014. Like one of the posters above, I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. I wanted help with losing weight, but didn't want to lose all my eating fun, or risk nutritional deficiencies. Well, I have gained back around 15 pounds, and it is due to the fact that I have returned to old eating habits of sugar and carbs. I still can't eat much in one sitting, but seem to be grazing a lot throughout the day. If I had chosen the bypass, I think it would have helped me avoid going back to sugar and carbs by giving me consequences for doing so (dumping perhaps?). As it is, I can eat anything, just not in large quantities.

Yes, I think I should have had the bypass instead of the sleeve. But in any case, I need to go back to using the tool that I now have and force myself back to a better way of eating. It is all on ME now!!

This was my saving grace!!

How exactly would the bypass have been better?

In my case the sleeve has had minimal impact on WHAT I can eat. I can eat anything I used to eat, only in much smaller quantities. If I had the bypass, I believe I would have developed more of an intolerance for sugary foods and possibly high carb foods.

Hope this helps.

Why is it that you lose more with a RNY vs Sleeve?

You can eat anything on both of you chose to. The book I referred to explains how to eat good foods you want yet balance out to not gain etc. it's really helped me grasp the whole big picture. There's no solid evidence to show why one works better than the other. Many surgeons have varied opinions on this. I just suggest read, look in medical journals and books. I've been researching 5 years to truly understand the surgeries and eating patterns