Hi my name is Jen! I am just beginning my pre-op testing and had my initial consult with my surgeon this past Friday. I’ve done a lot of research about the sleeve and the bypass but I am struggling with choosing which would be the best for me. I’m curious how did you choose the best option for you? What was the deciding factor for the surgery you chose?

My dr picked the sleeve for me. 4-8-19 is my date. I’m 64 and have 70 to lose.

My surgeon talked about both but even with the bmi only of 40 recomended the rny cause it's a gold standart.

On 3/1/2019 at 8:01 AM, tequillarny said:

My surgeon talked about both but even with the bmi only of 40 recomended the rny cause it's a gold standart.

Yeah I've done tons of research and my BMI is 43 with co morbidities so I feel RNY is best I can only afford 1 surgery and only want 1 so I hope my surgeon listens to my decision wisely

I initially chose sleeve but after my endoscopy they found I had Barrett’s esophagus and sleeve was no longer an option. I had bypass on 4/27/18. My results have been good but not without problems. I am just now out of the hospital from getting my gallbladder removed last Thursday. I also spent 7 days in the hospital with severe sepsis blood infection early in February because of my gallbladder. My weight loss has been great. 228 lbs on day of surgery to 162 lbs now. No sleep apnea, no diabetes; no high blood pressure, and no kidney disease. I had all-of those before the bypass! Bypass for me has been a blessing. I have relatives who had the sleeve and have regained most of their pre surgery weight back. I know I am not a full year out but my opinion is bypass is the best option. I also considered DS but my surgeon didn’t think I should go that route.

I chose the sleeve because of long term issues I found in researching and asking my doctor about the bypass. I did not choose the sleeve because I would lose faster or slower, this is a long term losing process and I think we set ourselves up for failure if we expect to lost it all quickly. We have to make life changes as well for either surgery to be a long term success.

On 2/16/2019 at 11:17 PM, losingtolivewithjen said:

What was the deciding factor for the surgery you chose?

i was scheduled for by-pass and surgeon was not comfortable with my choice due to issues i have with circulation below the knees. He suggested i switch to sleeve because it doesn't have the absorption issues, should i have to use blood thinners.

The sleeve worked very well for me so it turned out to be a great move on his part and i am very thankful.

Yeah I've done tons of research and my BMI is 43 with co morbidities so I feel RNY is best I can only afford 1 surgery and only want 1 so I hope my surgeon listens to my decision wisely [emoji4]

I would go for rny aswell. Too many people going for revision and and having problems with acid reflux. [emoji6][emoji6]

On 2/25/2019 at 12:40 PM, Greenstar said:

i had servere gerd, and the sleeve could make it worse. so i had no choice i had to get the bypass. honestly, if you do what you are supposed to the bypass isnt that bad. ive nevr had a problem with dumping and all my medical conditions are gone. sleep apnea, gerd, high blood pressure, pre diabetic, everything is gone day 1.

Thanks for that info.... I wanted sleeve and doc advised strongly, for me bypass since I had previous lap band problems and had to have removed. I must trust my surgeon I know, yet I am still scared of bypass, but your comments help me stay the course.

I am so happy i got bypass not Sleeve. success is better & I lost 85lbs 6 mths & not hard or never uncomfortable.

Let’s respect each other’s choices. I’m sure we all did a lot of research, got recommendations, and made the choice we thought was best for ourselves.

JessLess you are correct. I just pray for a better life for all. Comfortable and complication free.

Where I'm going, the bypass is more expensive than the sleeve, which I dont mind, I said I'd be fine with either and had my concerns about sleeve revision but also dont want to need to visit my doctor every few months for b12 injections. Ive settled on the sleeve . My BMI is 36, i have no weight related illnesses other than earlty arthritis so my surgeon is confident that I'm a more suitable sleeve candidate. Especially as i quite enjoy exericise classes and am happy to be active when ive been at a lower weights, he's confident that I can do what is needed to maintain any losses and after speaking with him, I'm happy too

When I first attended the free seminar and heard the options, I thought bypass was my choice because it wasn't as "permanent" as the sleeve cutting out part of your stomach. But when I talked with my primary doctor and my therapist, they both said the bypass was too severe/radical and to go with the sleeve. I mulled that over and decided they knew best, so I did the sleeve 3 months ago. I at first wanted the bypass also because it promises more weight loss.

Bypass vs the sleeve

https://www.obesitycoverage.com/gastric-bypass-vs-gastric-sleeve-surgery/

LAP BAND SUCCESS RATE

47%

GASTRIC SLEEVE SUCCESS RATE

80%

GASTRIC BYPASS SUCCESS RATE

85%

DUODENAL SWITCH SUCCESS RATE

95%

Data Sources: PubMed: Quick fix or long-term cure? Pros and cons of bariatric surgery and International Journal of Surgery: Long term predictors of success after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

The line graphs above show patients who have lost more than 50% of their excess weight and managed to keep it off for more than 5 years. The popularity of the Lap Band has dropped significantly due to the long-term complication rate and low success rate.

Sleeve and diabetes: no dumping with the sleeve. Just because you can eat real sugar without dumping syndrome does not mean you have to eat it. – Diabetes resolved.

Weight loss out comes – All surgeries give you the percentage of normal weight lost. Many exceed the norm. While other don’t meet it. Statistics are the base line of what to expect. We are all more than the statistics.

Expected Weight loss calculators – Note the percentages of people that lost more- or didn’t meet the norm

Sleeve

https://www.obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-sleeve/gastric-sleeves-how-much-weight-will-i-lose

Bypass

https://www.obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-bypass/how-much-can-i-expect-to-lose

I am having RNY since I have GERD issues. However, even without that issue, I would have pushed for the RNY for myself. I just felt it was the best option for me in resolving my severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure and avoiding the diabetes that runs in my immediate family.

It really comes down to a personal choice between yourself and your surgeon.

There are LOTS of very successful, inspiring people on this board who have done well with either surgery!