Just Starting My Kaiser WLS Journey

[mstarrv 1]

So I have my intro seminar scheduled for Aug 4th, and I am just wondering if anyone has insight to how long the process will take before I can get my surgery date? I have decided to do my surgery at the Fremont Kaiser Hospital if all goes well with intro seminar. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[Bits 22]

I'm going to my orientation tomorrow morning at kaiser in Fremont. Will let you know when I figure it out myself. What surgery are you deciding on?

[mstarrv 1]

I haven't decided yet, I've been reading on all procedures and they all have there pros and cons. Would love any insights you may have

[Bits 22]

I haven't decided yet, I've been reading on all procedures and they all have there pros and cons. Would love any insights you may have [emoji4]

I have decided on the gastric bypass. I previously had a lap band which did not work for me due to complications. I got my band removed at the beginning of this year after 7 years. When I was in the process of removal, my surgeon recommended that I get the bypass. After a ton of research and a couple months to heal, I have decided that I would like to go forth with the bypass. Honestly, it all depends on what you think is best for you. Bariatric surgery gives you a tool and you have to work with it. The orientation and intro seminar are very informational so listen to everything they say about each surgery. Each surgery is different and has its own pros and cons and outcomes (but you have to make the tool work!). After your orientation, you will have to schedule a consult and you can have your surgeon give you a suggestion of what to go with, but ultimately it is up to you. So do as much research as you can!

[KateBruin 344]

Bypass is the gold standard as it's been around for longer but now sleeves are almost always done over bypass.

Bypass creates an artificial valve in your stomach that can be prone to ulcers and strictures so you can never take NSAIDS ever again. Bypass is also guaranteed to cause malnutrition for life and many people lose a lot of hair. Plus dumping syndrome so you can really never have processed sugar again. (Not that you should but it's something to consider since no one is perfect)

Sleeve has no real downsides besides possibly causing GERD. If I'm remembering correctly, sleeve has slower weight loss but people with sleeve and RNY generally lose the same % of excess weight.

[KateBruin 344]

Bypass is the gold standard as it's been around for longer but now sleeves are almost always done over bypass.

Bypass creates an artificial valve in your stomach that can be prone to ulcers and strictures so you can never take NSAIDS ever again. Bypass is also guaranteed to cause malnutrition for life and many people lose a lot of hair. Plus dumping syndrome so you can really never have processed sugar again. (Not that you should but it's something to consider since no one is perfect)

Sleeve has no real downsides besides possibly causing GERD. If I'm remembering correctly, sleeve has slower weight loss but people with sleeve and RNY generally lose the same % of excess weight.

[Berry78 4,259]

Sleeves are lower maintenance than bypasses, but they can have complications (leaks are more common with sleeves than bypasses, GERD is also more common, and strictures and "kinks" can happen). Long term malnurishment is probably more of a concern with the bypass, but we don't have solid numbers on that. (Strictures, issues with the intestines, etc. are also potential complications of bypasses).

In general, bypasses are great for people with preexisting GERD, true food addictions, resistant to weight loss (those that diet, but don't lose much weight), type 2 diabetes, PCOS, etc.

Sleeves are good for the generally healthy people that just tend to "eat too much" without severe food addictions. (of course the food addict also needs therapy.. the surgery won't cure an addiction.. but the bypass can give that little extra ooomphh for if/when they are struggling).

[Little Green 582]

8 hours ago, KateBruin said:

Bypass is the gold standard as it's been around for longer but now sleeves are almost always done over bypass.

Bypass creates an artificial valve in your stomach that can be prone to ulcers and strictures so you can never take NSAIDS ever again. Bypass is also guaranteed to cause malnutrition for life and many people lose a lot of hair. Plus dumping syndrome so you can really never have processed sugar again. (Not that you should but it's something to consider since no one is perfect)

Sleeve has no real downsides besides possibly causing GERD. If I'm remembering correctly, sleeve has slower weight loss but people with sleeve and RNY generally lose the same % of excess weight.

Wow. Almost nothing in this post is true.

Sleeves are a lot more popular now, yes, but they are not "almost always" done over bypass, not even close. The data I found from the ASMBS indicates that the rate of bypass has remained relatively stable, while surgeons are performing far more VSG procedures instead of bands since 2011.

Nothing I have read attributes the development of marginal ulcers in RNY patients to the bypass of the pyloric valve.

According to Dr. Matthew Weiner, RNY patients rarely have a serious, life-altering malnutrition of any kind. When they do, it's usually Iron.

Any massive weight loss, surgical or otherwise, can induce Hair loss. It's almost always temporary and usually returns by the 1-year mark. Plenty of VSG patients also experience hair loss.

According to my surgeon, only 25% of RNY patients get dumping and sugar is not always the trigger. Additionally, over time the intestines usually adapt and incidence of dumping is greatly reduced.

RNY has averages of 70-77% excess weight loss at 2 years with VSG at 68-70%. Big difference? No. Difference? Yes.

The sleeve has plenty of downsides including greater risk of leaking (much longer staple line), complications like kinks, 33% chance to develop acid reflux or GERD, higher rate of revision, slower weight loss, lower AVERAGE percent of excess weight lost, as well as all the regular issues like hair loss, dehydration, etc.

[JohnnyCakes 593]

11 hours ago, KateBruin said:

Bypass is the gold standard as it's been around for longer but now sleeves are almost always done over bypass.

Bypass creates an artificial valve in your stomach that can be prone to ulcers and strictures so you can never take NSAIDS ever again. Bypass is also guaranteed to cause malnutrition for life and many people lose a lot of hair. Plus dumping syndrome so you can really never have processed sugar again. (Not that you should but it's something to consider since no one is perfect)

Sleeve has no real downsides besides possibly causing GERD. If I'm remembering correctly, sleeve has slower weight loss but people with sleeve and RNY generally lose the same % of excess weight.

this post is so chock-full of misinformation and falsehoods i wouldn't know where to begin. just.... wow.

thankfully Little Green corrected most of this drivel.

seriously people, if you don't take the time to do real research, stop peddling myths off as truth. it does a serious disservice to those coming here trying to make an informed decision.

[stephrpatt 10]

So I have my intro seminar scheduled for Aug 4th, and I am just wondering if anyone has insight to how long the process will take before I can get my surgery date? I have decided to do my surgery at the Fremont Kaiser Hospital if all goes well with intro seminar. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

I went through Kaiser in Colorado for my sleeve surgery. I had to take 6 weeks of nutrition classes which focused on how to eat pre-op and post-op. After my classes ended I got a call to schedule my surgery. It was scheduled roughly 6 weeks after my classes ended. During my classes I had a visit with the psychologist. For me, the whole process from getting my referral to surgery was only about 4 months.

[KateBruin 344]

Ya, too bad not only I have done hours and hours upon research but I got most if not all of the information from the 5th best hospital in the country.

My hospital has never had a single leak ever in its history. Ever. It's a risk, but with a good hospital, negligible.

I feel too crappy to argue with you people today. My surgery team will be stoked to know you call their top 5 in the nation information drivel. Cheers mate.

[sunmeadow 82]

Sleeves are lower maintenance than bypasses, but they can have complications (leaks are more common with sleeves than bypasses, GERD is also more common, and strictures and "kinks" can happen). Long term malnurishment is probably more of a concern with the bypass, but we don't have solid numbers on that. (Strictures, issues with the intestines, etc. are also potential complications of bypasses).
In general, bypasses are great for people with preexisting GERD, true food addictions, resistant to weight loss (those that diet, but don't lose much weight), type 2 diabetes, PCOS, etc.
Sleeves are good for the generally healthy people that just tend to "eat too much" without severe food addictions. (of course the food addict also needs therapy.. the surgery won't cure an addiction.. but the bypass can give that little extra ooomphh for if/when they are struggling).

I was sleeved Monday and had pre-existing GERD, PCOS, compulsive eating issues, and difficulty losing weight (and a starting BMI of 55, so not a borderline case).

At this point, VSG has been so successful that my surgeon pretty much does only VSG now as it has pretty much the same benefits and fewer of the potential complications of other procedures.

I don't have any stats to share as I wasn't interested in RNY or any of the other procedures. I only even considered bariatric surgery after seeing the success of my cousin with VSG (and my endocrinologist mentioned it). So far, I'm very happy with my decision.

[Little Green 582]

2 hours ago, KateBruin said:

Ya, too bad not only I have done hours and hours upon research but I got most if not all of the information from the 5th best hospital in the country.

My hospital has never had a single leak ever in its history. Ever. It's a risk, but with a good hospital, negligible.

I feel too crappy to argue with you people today. My surgery team will be stoked to know you call their top 5 in the nation information drivel. Cheers mate.

I'm confused... which is it? Did you get the information from research, or was all of it from your surgeon's office? Regardless, your statements were not factual.

I'm thrilled you're going for the VSG, and it's a great surgery. RNY is also a great surgery. It's very safe and is performed without complications every single day.

[KateBruin 344]

Both. You or someone else told me to do research. I've done a ton a research AND got facts from one of the USA's best hospitals.

I never once said RNY is a bad surgery. It's called pros and cons. I'm also pretty sure I called RNY the gold standard, implying that it has a long safety record.

[Little Green 582]

4 hours ago, KateBruin said:

Both. You or someone else told me to do research. I've done a ton a research AND got facts from one of the USA's best hospitals.

I never once said RNY is a bad surgery. It's called pros and cons. I'm also pretty sure I called RNY the gold standard, implying that it has a long safety record.

Okay, I'm glad we're on the same page. From your original post you seemed to be implying RNY had lots of cons with no pros, and VSG had lots of pros with no cons. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Good luck with your surgery and I'm very glad you are in good hands! My therapist called my hospital "the Johns Hopkins of Virginia" so I know how you feel. It feels great to have a lot of confidence in the person who's cutting me open!