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My surgery date is set.. (June.7) and I am about to start my 3 week liquid diet. Only problem is, I can't decide which surgery I want. My surgeon has said I am a great candidate for both (he said he would lean on the side of bypass but would be happy with either choice). I initially thought I was going to chose the bypass but after more research the possible side effects scare me. Maybe I am just thinking too much now. I would love to hear your stories and opinions!! How did you choose and are you happy with your choice?

If it makes a difference my CW is 266 and I am 5"4.

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Biggest thing I have seen in my research is that if you have problems with acid reflux, go with bypass, otherwise sleeve.

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I have some family medical history that makes the sleeve a better choice for me. Otherwise, complications with the bypass are minimal and I would have likely chosen the bypass.

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If you have pre-existing health issues, such as acid reflux or diabetes or anythign that would require you to lose the weight extremely quickly, then RNY might be the best option. Otherwise, I would go with sleeve. Since I didn't have any comorbidities and my starting BMI was just over 40, I felt like I didn't need as "extreme" a solution as RNY. Here were my main concerns about RNY for myself:

  • low starting BMI, no real need for the malabsorption
  • hated the idea of my intestines being rerouted
  • hated the idea of my unused stomach staying inside my body where it could get ulcers or cancer and not be accessible with a normal endoscopy
  • more joins meant more potential for leaks
  • didn't want to lose the use of my pyloric valve
  • saw no need to commit to a lifetime of malabsorption, when restriction would be sufficient
  • didn't like the idea of dumping syndrome
  • the idea of my pyloric valve still being over there attached to my old stomach and opening and closing based on signals from my pouch really weirded me out
  • higher risk of late onset complications years down the road

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what Jamie said ^ and in MY mind it was most logical - smaller stomach, eat less.

jane

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....

  • hated the idea of my unused stomach staying inside my body where it could get ulcers or cancer and not be accessible with a normal endoscopy....

I used similar rationale based upon my medical history and gave the same thoughts (along with reviewing studies and clinical data from reputable sources)

I never thought of that one though. Interesting concept.

To the OP:

You still have time. Either decision is good, each has its pros and cons. Research, research, research (oh yeah, did I forget to mention research) and discuss it further with your surgeon so the correct decision is made for your specific needs and medical history.

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I want the sleeve but i do suffer from acid reflux at times.I know sleevers who said the reflux Got better after and some who say it Got worse.You have to decide whats best for you I got scared with all the side effects of bypass myself but its suppose to be the best one.

P

Edited by Kendell Thatsme

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@@slvarltx I'm planning on the sleeve. After discussion with my surgeon, nutritionist and psychiatrist (all part of the Bariatric Program) - we felt this was good for me. I don't have reflux so that wasn't an issue. I'm not diabetic, not a big sweet eater, don't graze and only need the restriction (not the mal-absorption of deterrent of dumping syndrome). Hopefully all will go as planned - I'm really don't want Bypass.

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If you have pre-existing health issues, such as acid reflux or diabetes or anythign that would require you to lose the weight extremely quickly, then RNY might be the best option. Otherwise, I would go with sleeve. Since I didn't have any comorbidities and my starting BMI was just over 40, I felt like I didn't need as "extreme" a solution as RNY. Here were my main concerns about RNY for myself:

  • low starting BMI, no real need for the malabsorption
  • hated the idea of my intestines being rerouted
  • hated the idea of my unused stomach staying inside my body where it could get ulcers or cancer and not be accessible with a normal endoscopy
  • more joins meant more potential for leaks
  • didn't want to lose the use of my pyloric valve
  • saw no need to commit to a lifetime of malabsorption, when restriction would be sufficient
  • didn't like the idea of dumping syndrome
  • the idea of my pyloric valve still being over there attached to my old stomach and opening and closing based on signals from my pouch really weirded me out
  • higher risk of late onset complications years down the road

this covers a lot

for me the sleeve made more sense. I didn't think that I wanted to reroute my insides when just a smaller stomach works. I am super happy with my sleeve. I have lost 175 lbs with my sleeve and am 8 months post op

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@@slvarltx I'm planning on the sleeve. After discussion with my surgeon, nutritionist and psychiatrist (all part of the Bariatric Program) - we felt this was good for me. I don't have reflux so that wasn't an issue. I'm not diabetic, not a big sweet eater, don't graze and only need the restriction (not the mal-absorption of deterrent of dumping syndrome). Hopefully all will go as planned - I'm really don't want Bypass.

even if you were diabetic, the sleeve would still be a good choice

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If you have pre-existing health issues, such as acid reflux or diabetes or anythign that would require you to lose the weight extremely quickly, then RNY might be the best option. Otherwise, I would go with sleeve. Since I didn't have any comorbidities and my starting BMI was just over 40, I felt like I didn't need as "extreme" a solution as RNY. Here were my main concerns about RNY for myself:

  • low starting BMI, no real need for the malabsorption
  • hated the idea of my intestines being rerouted
  • hated the idea of my unused stomach staying inside my body where it could get ulcers or cancer and not be accessible with a normal endoscopy
  • more joins meant more potential for leaks
  • didn't want to lose the use of my pyloric valve
  • saw no need to commit to a lifetime of malabsorption, when restriction would be sufficient
  • didn't like the idea of dumping syndrome
  • the idea of my pyloric valve still being over there attached to my old stomach and opening and closing based on signals from my pouch really weirded me out
  • higher risk of late onset complications years down the road
I have been really struggling with the sleeve vs rny decision as well. The way you laid it out has put things into perspective for me. Thanks!

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I had GERD, so I went with bypass. GERD is completely gone. I've had no "side effects" other than two strictures early out (which are an easy fix). I don't dump, either.

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If you have pre-existing health issues, such as acid reflux or diabetes or anythign that would require you to lose the weight extremely quickly, then RNY might be the best option. Otherwise, I would go with sleeve. Since I didn't have any comorbidities and my starting BMI was just over 40, I felt like I didn't need as "extreme" a solution as RNY. Here were my main concerns about RNY for myself:

  • low starting BMI, no real need for the malabsorption
  • hated the idea of my intestines being rerouted
  • hated the idea of my unused stomach staying inside my body where it could get ulcers or cancer and not be accessible with a normal endoscopy
  • more joins meant more potential for leaks
  • didn't want to lose the use of my pyloric valve
  • saw no need to commit to a lifetime of malabsorption, when restriction would be sufficient
  • didn't like the idea of dumping syndrome
  • the idea of my pyloric valve still being over there attached to my old stomach and opening and closing based on signals from my pouch really weirded me out
  • higher risk of late onset complications years down the road

Thanks you!!! This was very informative.

I do have mild reflux. This was really the only reason my surgeon brought up bypass. But it is controlled well enough with a proper diet that he said I may be okay with the sleeve.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had GERD, so I went with bypass. GERD is completely gone. I've had no "side effects" other than two strictures early out (which are an easy fix). I don't dump, either.

I think I am worried that I am going to be the person that dumps all the time :(

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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....

  • hated the idea of my unused stomach staying inside my body where it could get ulcers or cancer and not be accessible with a normal endoscopy....

I used similar rationale based upon my medical history and gave the same thoughts (along with reviewing studies and clinical data from reputable sources)

I never thought of that one though. Interesting concept.

To the OP:

You still have time. Either decision is good, each has its pros and cons. Research, research, research (oh yeah, did I forget to mention research) and discuss it further with your surgeon so the correct decision is made for your specific needs and medical history.

I think I am driving myself crazy with all the research lol. I don't really have any medical history other than mild reflux. That's what's making the decision so hard. No medical history = my choice. He said I would do well with both.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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