Hello Everyone,

I haven't had surgery yet but I am in my third month of weigh ins (180 days required for my insurance). I started off at 418 in 2015 and I was diagnosed with diabetes so I decided i needed to get my lifestyle together. I lost 138 lbs on my own ( down to 280 lbs) but after that I gained 50 lbs back this year. It was at that moment that i hopped on the scale that I realized that I needed help to continue to try to be healthy and live a better life. I didnt start having knee pain until after losing weight (crazy right?) My doctor thinks i must have went to the gym too much and because i became so active my knees started to feel the weight on them more. My knees have been hurting so bad since then. I haven't got back down to 280 I keep fluctuating been 323-316. My hopes are that in March or April I'll be approved to have surgery. I know this is big lifestyle change and i did okay on my own but scared to gain all that weight back and I can't do this on my own anymore, I have so much more weight I need to lose. Ive done so much research on what an impact this surgery does especially when following a healthy lifestyle. Ive been struggling all my life with my weight and this is the best decision for me to keep motivated to become a healthier and happier me. My doctor is okay with me having the sleeve or the bypass. My mind has been weighing the pros and cons of both. Im leaning towards the bypass but some days i change my mind. What was the biggest factor in making this decision between the two? If you already had the surgery how's it going for you and what type did you have?

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You've done awesome! I turned 50 and realized I had to have a more permanent tool. I was so great at the yo-yo, my entire life since I was probably 6. It always came back and more.
I chose the sleeve because I didn't want anything rearranged [emoji4] Maybe dumb, but it just sounded better to me. I suffered from GERD during pregnancy and after the birth of my daughter. I'm taking meds and it's been okay. I don't know how it will be long term but I'm pretty fine with it 4 weeks out.
As for knees, have you tried water fitness? I love it. I have a waterproof ipod and I just get there and run in the deep water with a belt. I've done classes for probably 20 years, too. Something to think about if you have a pool available.
Keep on keepin' on!

I was doing water aerobics but I think j might have been doing something wrong because I was still feeling alot of after pain. I will try it again though. Thanks for your advice and encouragement

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Bypass is not a malabsorbative procedure. Duodenal switch is, but not bypass. Sleeve u can also end up eating more than u were initially (aka stretching) if ur not careful.
I think the main difference is the rearranging of internal plumbing. [emoji6]
As others have stated, some differences (good, bad, or indifferent) in the two are: With sleeve they remove the cut away stomach, with bypass they do not. With sleeve u can get GERD worse than prior to the procedure, with bypass u won't. With bypass u will have to take supplements forever (and not because of malabsorbtion, but because ur pouch is so small, u can't get as many nutrients thru food bcos u can't eat as much); with sleeve, I'm not sure. There is over 30+ yrs study and research on bypass, sleeve is newer.
It probably sounds like i am talking up the bypass procedure but im honestly not trying to. I had the bypass and so far, im happy with my decision. That said, I think the sleeve is very successful procedure, as well, and is actually the procedure people are going with more now these days. Each procedure has its pros and cons (and horror stories), but it will end up being a personal choice for u after hearing and reading all the differences.
Good luck!

Thanks for the advice [emoji4]

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The bypass IS malabsorptive because lots of nutrients are absorbed in the first part of the intestine that gets bypassed. Over time, the intestines adapt and absorb more, (part of the reason regain happens).
Bypass is better for Gerd and moderate diabetes. Dumping can be helpful against addiction to sweets, but not everyone with a bypass dumps.
I have the sleeve and so far, so good. Still have to take daily vitamins. Lifestyle change is required for both bypass and sleeve. Exercise requirements are the same.

I'm really worried about having a severe case of dumping syndrome. Sounds scary, that's why I started having doubts about what type of surgery

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I chose to have the RNY. I figured at my age that I better go BIG or go home!! I really liked the thought of having the restriction and Malabsorption. The 1st Dr. I went to wanted to do the Lap-Band because my hubby had one and lost a little over 100#'s but could never get it filled right had to go back to surgery Later on because they couldn't get fluid in or out. I knew I wanted nothing to do with that. Don't get me wrong about my next comment, I hear people say that they picked the sleeve because it was less invasive than the RNY. HHHMMM how about removing 70 to 89% of your stomach. That is just my thoughts. My PCP told me to go to another Surgeon because he knew me well enough that I needed both aspects of the RNY. He was right!! I got below my goal weight in 6 months due to having problems with Strictures ( kind of like scar tissue) I feel that was part of the reason I lost so fast. I have maintained my weight loss all except I did gain 8#'s back after awhile all were happy because they got worried about me losing too much. So for me the GO BIG or go home worked for me. Since my surgery, I have seen many of the support groups that have lost great with the Sleeve. The bottom line is WLS is a tool, not a fix all. Good Luck on whichever one you decide on!!

I initially thought the same way, go all the way with it. The dumping syndrome is what I'm scared of, like I still just want birthday cake on my birthday but maybe just give up the cake

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I have not have it yet .. end of next month, I chose Bypass more rate of weight loss, my dislocated knee needs a break ASAP lol . And plus I get lots of heartburn from time to time and sleeve won’t be the best one for that.
Like someone else said Sleeve is pretty new , even in the seminar the doctor mention they don’t have as much information.

But if I were you .. ask your Surgeon .. he can give you more accurate info .. than us. I see people debating on malabsorption.


“There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits.” —Michael Phelps

I recently quoted the same quote by Michael Phelps! My surgeon is fine with either of the two, I was hoping he'd have an actual recommendation.

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The bypass IS malabsorptive because lots of nutrients are absorbed in the first part of the intestine that gets bypassed. Over time, the intestines adapt and absorb more, (part of the reason regain happens).
Bypass is better for Gerd and moderate diabetes. Dumping can be helpful against addiction to sweets, but not everyone with a bypass dumps.
I have the sleeve and so far, so good. Still have to take daily vitamins. Lifestyle change is required for both bypass and sleeve. Exercise requirements are the same.

Hey Berry, thanks for that correction; yes, RnY bypass IS restrictive AND malabsorptive. Not sure what i was thinking about when i said it wasn't?! Anyway, thx again. I don't want to be the source for misinformation!

For what it's worth . . . I have diabetes and GERD and still had the sleeve. I was on meds for the GERD beforehand and I'm still on meds, so don't notice any difference. I'm on half as much diabetes medication as I was before. My rate of weight loss hasn't been super-speedy, but I'm older and I'm not exercising (knee issues). Still pretty happy with the results so far and expect more weight loss in the months to come . . .