How did you decide which surgery you were going to do RNY or Sleeve? I am 5’ 4” and 255 lbs. i am pre-diabetic and have acid reflux. I want the best long term results.

This is the hardest part! And of course we will all (if things are working well) generally advise you that our chosen surgical option is the best one!

To be honest they are both potentially great surgeries. But if I were you, acid reflux would make the RNY the automatic first choice. With a sleeve your stomach is smaller than before but still long and narrow. With RNY your actual stomach surface is very small indeed - so you dramatically reduce the amount of acid you make and have going into the digestive system. Have you got a surgeon that does both?

Since your weight is lower end of the scale, some surgeons would probably advise a sleeve for you as the first choice (cheaper, no need for supplements). But the acid reflux really suggests RNY and I think most surgeons that do both options would steer you that way. These days, though, way fewer surgeons do both! So you kinda have to decide and then pick your surgeon!

There are really no downsides to the RNY. The worst is you might have to take supplements. You will have to take vitamins, but some people need folic acid or b12 tablets too for example. But honestly, that isn’t hard! And there is a genuine benefit to RNY - research suggests RNY is more likely to result in long-term weight loss - lose it and keep it off. Although regardless of surgery, THAT is all about you - changing your eating style, using the post-surgery phase to deliberately make new habits and stick to them.

Good luck!

Edited June 13, 20197 yr by Biddy zz ?️?

58 minutes ago, kim2girls said:

How did you decide which surgery you were going to do RNY or Sleeve? I am 5’ 4” and 255 lbs. i am pre-diabetic and have acid reflux. I want the best long term results.

RNY

Personally if i was in your position i wouldn't roll the dice and end up with worse reflux. Discuss with your Team thoroughly

Edited June 13, 20197 yr by GreenTealael

I just want to make sure it's made clear that you have to take Vitamins after the sleeve as well. So don't let that be a factor.

I’m choosing the sleeve because I’m on a lot of medications and they mentioned something about the absorption is better with the sleeve

The risk of reflux with a sleeve is very high, if you already have reflux then you shouldn’t even consider it .

52 minutes ago, Amelia2019 said:

I’m choosing the sleeve because I’m on a lot of medications and they mentioned something about the absorption is better with the sleeve

I also chose the sleeve due to the malabsorbtion issues that arise with RNY. I am on medication for my kidneys that I will be on life long, and I can't afford to take the chance of the medication not being able to be absorbed.

https://www.sleeveacademy.com/heartburn

if you have acid reflux, I would not even consider the sleeve. I've seen a lot of people on internet forums revising from sleeve to RNY because the sleeve made their reflux worse. I had RNY for that very reason. It doesn't ALWAYS make it worse, but I wasn't willing to take that risk.

Thank you all so much!!

The decision is entirely yours but here's my story, and I hope it helps with your decision making process: I was sleeved almost 7 years ago. Since then, I have developed severe GERD — never had any issues with acid reflux before surgery... I have become severely anemic (ferritin currently at 4.5), constantly needing iron infusions, developed malabsorption (my doctor says I am "nutritionally crippled"), a thyroid and an autoimmune disorder, a high inflammation/SED rate, and most recently, have been diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy. My sleeve is not to blame for any/all of these things, nor can I pin my complete weight regain on it.

Bottomline: I honestly would not consider the sleeve if there is already an existing acid reflux problem. Both surgeries require discipline when it comes to supplementation — the RNY clearly requiring more as not only the stomach but a portion of the intestines is bypassed.

Good luck on your journey!

Edited June 17, 20197 yr by freetobeme

My RNY got rid of my type 2 diabetes and acid reflux. Sleeve has the potential to exacerbate acid reflux. My surgeon wouldn't even consider sleeve for me due to my reflux. Good luck with whatever you choose!