Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Trying to Decide - Sleeve or RNY?



Recommended Posts

Hi all!

I've decided to definitely have my band removed. I had it placed in 2009 (self pay. Stupid bigoted "obesity clause" with my insurance at the time). I've been vomiting on a pretty regular basis for the past 8 years and have port pain if I move/bend the wrong way. I did lose 100 pounds, gained 45 back due to a couple of injuries, but I'm almost back down to my lowest again (5 pounds away! I can taste it!!).

Anyway, I met with a doctor at a weight loss clinic for my first consultation last Wednesday. The meeting went really well, she agreed that I should probably have it removed and she had someone remove half of my fill (I haven't thrown up since!! But I DO feel hungrier and can eat more now, which is a little scary for me...). I asked her which surgery she thought I should get and she didn't really have an answer for me. She gave me the pros and cons of each and said it's really up to me.

Can anyone make any recommendations to me? If you had the sleeve, are you happy with it? Do you wish you had the bypass? If you're reading this and had the bypass, same questions to you. Any input is appreciated! Thank you!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

More information is needed. How much do you weigh and how much would you like to lose? Do you have any metabolic diseases such as diabetes or PCOS? Do you have GERD?

Although I am pleased with my sleeve, lost 100+ pounds and have been maintaining my goal weight, the gastric bypass is the gold standard for those with metabolic issues that hinder weight loss such as PCOS and diabetes.

Also, if you are a female with more than 250+ pounds to lose, the odds of reaching your goal weight with a sleeve are stacked against you, but some women have defied the odds.

People with severe acid reflux (a.k.a. gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD) are advised by most bariatric surgeons to opt for the bypass because a sleeve can worsen it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

More information is needed. How much do you weigh and how much would you like to lose? Do you have any metabolic diseases such as diabetes or PCOS? Do you have GERD?
Although I am pleased with my sleeve, lost 100+ pounds and have been maintaining my goal weight, the gastric bypass is the gold standard for those with metabolic issues that hinder weight loss such as PCOS and diabetes.
Also, if you are a female with more than 250+ pounds to lose, the odds of reaching your goal weight with a sleeve are stacked against you, but some women have defied the odds.
People with severe acid reflux (a.k.a. gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD) are advised by most bariatric surgeons to opt for the bypass because a sleeve can worsen it.



Hi! I'm 5'7" and currently 240 pounds. I'm not sure what my goal weight is because I've never been under 200 pounds since around the age of 10. I'm thinking 160-170ish? I'd honestly be thrilled if I can get to onederland! I have PCOS. I had diabetes before my lap band, but that's resolved from weight loss. I was told recently that I also have hashimotos, but it must be incredibly minor because I'm not on any medication for it. I have occasional acid reflux, but not as bad as GERD. So... I'm kind of torn. I honestly should have had the RNY back in 2009 when I was 335 pounds, but I couldn't afford it. It was all I could do to pay for lap band (I didn't know much about Medical Tourism and it kinda scared me if I had any complications). Anyway, what do y'all think?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, lillian.b.white said:

I have PCOS.

You can succeed with either a bypass or sleeve with PCOS...

The weight loss will likely be speedier with a bypass. Sleeved women with PCOS tend to lose at a painfully slow rate, especially if revising from some other procedure to a sleeve.

You can reach your goal weight with a sleeve. Other sleeved women with PCOS have gotten to goal. Just be warned that the rate of weight loss may be slower than average.

Also, revision patients tend to lose more slowly than first-time bariatric surgery patients overall. This is because a revision patient's body has already dealt with the metabolic shock of a previous bariatric surgical procedure.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×