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How is it less invasive? With bypass things are rerouted. Nothing is removed. With sleeve 80% of the stomach is removed.

i had a hard time deciding too back in 2017. I went with the sleeve but almost changed my mind to bypass right up until surgery day.

Mid 2019 I got pretty severe gerd and hiatal hernia. Had to revise to bypass. My only regret is that I did not choose the bypass and ended up having to do the surgery twice.

you are the only one that can decide what is right for you. Do your research and make the best decision for you.

Good luck!

Edited by Losingit2018

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Well depends on how much you need to lose.

But from my experience I've been a quick loser with bypass and had zero issues since surgery over 2 months ago... Hardly feel hungry..

Within a week of surgery the Dr took me off multiple medications for diabetes and blood pressure..

All I need to take is Multivitamins each day plus Calcium and B12 no issues at all with that and the money I was spending on meds now goes to vitamins...

Yes if you have any kind of reflux issues sleeve will more than likely make it worse.

I've even seen ppl end up with reflux and gerd just from the sleeve...without any history of it..

Yes it is up to you though.

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That was me. I had zero reflux before my sleeve plus I am confident that the sleeve caused my hernia.

I have seen plenty of people that are very successful with the sleeve and have had no issues. Hard decision for sure.

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6 hours ago, twins08 said:

I am in the fence between the sleeve and bypass. My doctor suggested the bypass but I am leaning towards the sleeve since it is less invasive. Any thoughts?

If done laproscopically, same amount of invasiveness (perhaps you mean a less complicated type of surgery?)

Trust the skill and advice of your Surgeon. Ask exactly why they prefer the bypass over the sleeve for you.

In the end, at least you are well informed when you make the decision you want.

Good Luck. 💚

Edited by GreenTealael

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I was leaning toward the bypass, but my other health care providers were pushing me toward a sleeve as "less invasive" which didn't make sense to me because they're cutting out half of my stomach! So I ended up choosing the sleeve.

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Well, maybe a minor lesson in the difference between the procedures.

Sleeve gastrectomy (aka gastric sleeve): inherently a restriction WLS. They remove 80% of your stomach and shape your stomach into a sort of "banana-shape" to reduce the AMOUNT you can eat. Period. You get whatever nutritional value from what you eat, good or bad.

RNY-gastric bypass: Is a combination restriction and malabsorption WLS. The surgeon divides your stomach and forms a small pouch. That pouch is then re-routed to bypass the remainder of your stomach and the first part of your intestine. The first part of your intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients and calories. Therefore, not only can't you eat as much but not all of what you eat is getting absorbed.

There are lots of other procedures: duodenal switch and mini-gastric bypass to name a few. They are all "invasive" in that a doctor has to enter your abdominal cavity and make changes to your anatomy. I'm not sure you could say that sleeve is any more or less invasive than bypass.

Definitely discuss it with your doctor. Ask his advice and don't simply rely on the fact that he does more/less of a certain procedure. Do your research. Ask Questions.

There are many factors to consider when you're deciding between the 2: past medical history, the amount of weight you need to lose, etc. For me, the deciding factor was that I absolutely did not want the malabsorptive aspect of RNY and was willing to risk the possibility of reflux. Which I did get, by the way, although it's rather minor and currently well-controlled.

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they're both pretty invasive - just in different ways. Cutting out 80% of your stomach and throwing it in the trash is pretty darn invasive...

there are sometimes medical issues that would make one surgery or the other more appropriate. I had GERD pre-surgery, so it was a no-brainer for me - bypass. Sleeve can often (but not always) make that worse. Bypass can often (but not always) improve (if not outright cure) it.

if you have no medical issues, then either is a good option. There are plenty of examples of people successful with either surgery.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.
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