Hi there! I’m 38 years old in Central California. Married to my absolute best friend with the most awesome little dudes (ages 4 and 2). I’ve battled with my weight my entire life. No joke, my mom put me on my first diet in the 3rd grade, which likely set off the years of self hatred and body shaming. About 6 years ago I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia (via endoscopy), and as of late it’s really gotten significantly worse. I just had another endoscopy on Tuesday and I am awaiting results. Anyhow, since my gastroenterologist suggested I might consider bariatric surgery, as that’s the only way they will repair the hiatal hernia at my current weight (304.6)...it’s all I can think about and am doing as much research as I can. I also signed up for an online seminar at the bariatric office at my local hospital. They do three surgeries at the hospital, lap band, sleeve, and gastric bypass. I’m leaning toward the sleeve, but honestly I just don’t know which is the best option (I don’t want to do lap band, just because I’ve read that it’s not as effective at losing weight). Anyhow, can you tell me a little about your experiences with sleeve or bypass. I only know two people that have had bariatric surgery, and they both have glowing reviews... But I know it’s not all sunshine and lollipops for everyone.

Thanks in advance!

I'm surprised they're doing lapbands at all in this day and age. So many people have had problems with them that most surgeons refuse to do them any more.

If you have issues with GERD, then go with the bypass. Otherwise, it's pretty much up to you. They're both good surgeries and there are people who've had great success with both. I had GERD, so it was a no-brainer for me. If I didn't have the GERD - well, at the time I had surgery, the sleeve was still kind of new, so I didn't want to chance it in case it became "lapband 2". But that was a few years ago, and the sleeve has proven itself since then - so I'm not sure which I would choose if I was looking at surgery NOW and didn't have the GERD issue.

I've been super happy with my bypass. No complications (and they're rare with both surgeries), and I ended up losing all of my excess weight. Should have done it years ago!

Welcome Mil, while I am waiting for my surgery I can’t give you much advice yet. I can tell you that you came to the right place. This forum is a wealth of information!
People are so kind. I am so happy you are taking this journey too.

7 hours ago, mil_unloaded said:

Hi there! I’m 38 years old in Central California. Married to my absolute best friend with the most awesome little dudes (ages 4 and 2). I’ve battled with my weight my entire life. No joke, my mom put me on my first diet in the 3rd grade, which likely set off the years of self hatred and body shaming. About 6 years ago I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia (via endoscopy), and as of late it’s really gotten significantly worse. I just had another endoscopy on Tuesday and I am awaiting results. Anyhow, since my gastroenterologist suggested I might consider bariatric surgery, as that’s the only way they will repair the hiatal hernia at my current weight (304.6)...it’s all I can think about and am doing as much research as I can. I also signed up for an online seminar at the bariatric office at my local hospital. They do three surgeries at the hospital, lap band, sleeve, and gastric bypass. I’m leaning toward the sleeve, but honestly I just don’t know which is the best option (I don’t want to do lap band, just because I’ve read that it’s not as effective at losing weight). Anyhow, can you tell me a little about your experiences with sleeve or bypass. I only know two people that have had bariatric surgery, and they both have glowing reviews... But I know it’s not all sunshine and lollipops for everyone.

Thanks in advance!

There's a few factors to think of when choosing surgery.

First of all how much you need to lose?

If you have any issues with reflux?

I may be biased I had the RNY bypass and it was very successful for me lost over 150lbs already and maintaining well... had zero complications.. personally I feel the bypass offers higher percentage of weight loss in the first year but it has also changed my metabolism...

4 hours ago, MIKEYY84 said:

There's a few factors to think of when choosing surgery.

First of all how much you need to lose?

If you have any issues with reflux?

I may be biased I had the RNY bypass and it was very successful for me lost over 150lbs already and maintaining well... had zero complications.. personally I feel the bypass offers higher percentage of weight loss in the first year but it has also changed my metabolism...

Hi there Mikey!

I need to lose 125-150 pounds. I haven’t decided what my ultimate goal is yet, but I figured somewhere between 150 and 175. I’m 5’7”. When I look up a healthy BMI it ranges from 121-158. So I guess I should be aiming somewhere in the 150s. Either way, I have over 100 pounds to lose.

I have minor heartburn issues that started to get worse as I put on weight. I’m likely to put the blame on the hiatal hernia, as when I lose weight at any given time and put it back on the heartburn gets better with the loss and then gets worse with the gain. I’ve never formally been diagnosed with GERD. I don’t have constant burning in my throat. Most of what happens is that the gas from my stomach gets trapped in the hernia and seems to be bringing up stomach acid with it. So when I burp it’s pretty awful, but it truly depends on what I eat. I’ve been avoiding all of my trigger foods since the hernia got worse (no tomatoes for example).

9 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

I'm surprised they're doing lapbands at all in this day and age. So many people have had problems with them that most surgeons refuse to do them any more.

If you have issues with GERD, then go with the bypass. Otherwise, it's pretty much up to you. They're both good surgeries and there are people who've had great success with both. I had GERD, so it was a no-brainer for me. If I didn't have the GERD - well, at the time I had surgery, the sleeve was still kind of new, so I didn't want to chance it in case it became "lapband 2". But that was a few years ago, and the sleeve has proven itself since then - so I'm not sure which I would choose if I was looking at surgery NOW and didn't have the GERD issue.

I've been super happy with my bypass. No complications (and they're rare with both surgeries), and I ended up losing all of my excess weight. Should have done it years ago!

Yeah I watched the online seminar video and he said that he does lap band, too. I know that when I started researching surgery options it was the one that turned me off absolutely. The sleeve and RNY sound so much better in reality. When he was listing the complications of all 3, the lap band said stuff like strangulated stomach...and I’m like...Say what now? No thanks!

Thanks! Yeah I’m reading that this day and age there are significantly less complications with any bariatric surgery (specifically the sleeve and RNY). When I was a kid, one of my friends mom had “stomach stapling” done, and ultimately it ended up killing her somehow. I don’t remember the details, I was 8 or 9. All I remember is she got super thin and had complications the entire time. But keep in mind this was the late 80s or very early 90s. I am aware that with anything, as time passes we learn more about everything, and the procedures become easier to do and easier to recover from.

I’ve had two C-sections, so I’m imaging recovery might be similar in ways, and not in others. My first C-section was pretty miserable after they tried inducing labor for 2.5 days. The second one, I went straight into surgery, no inducing. So recovery was quick with my second. By the 3rd day I was ready to go!

10 hours ago, KarmaNina said:

Welcome Mil, while I am waiting for my surgery I can’t give you much advice yet. I can tell you that you came to the right place. This forum is a wealth of information!
People are so kind. I am so happy you are taking this journey too.

I’ve been lurking for a couple of days, then I made an account and lurked for a few more. I like how nice and encouraging everyone is here. Very friendly place!

7 minutes ago, mil_unloaded said:

Thanks! Yeah I’m reading that this day and age there are significantly less complications with any bariatric surgery (specifically the sleeve and RNY). When I was a kid, one of my friends mom had “stomach stapling” done, and ultimately it ended up killing her somehow. I don’t remember the details, I was 8 or 9. All I remember is she got super thin and had complications the entire time. But keep in mind this was the late 80s or very early 90s. I am aware that with anything, as time passes we learn more about everything, and the procedures become easier to do and easier to recover from.

I’ve had two C-sections, so I’m imaging recovery might be similar in ways, and not in others. My first C-section was pretty miserable after they tried inducing labor for 2.5 days. The second one, I went straight into surgery, no inducing. So recovery was quick with my second. By the 3rd day I was ready to go!

oh yea - those early WLS procedures were risky. They don't do any of those anymore because of the risks. A lot of people nowadays who aren't aware of this freak out when you tell them you're having WLS, because they're remembering the days when those surgeries were really dangerous. They just aren't anymore. They do them completely differently now, and they're supposedly extremely safe - much safer than say, hip replacement surgeries, which they do pretty much all the time.

I had almost zero pain with my surgery, and the majority of us don't (some do, but they're in the minority). This is likely to be much easier for you than the C-sections were.

2 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

oh yea - those early WLS procedures were risky. They don't do any of those anymore because of the risks. A lot of people nowadays who aren't aware of this freak out when you tell them you're having WLS, because they're remembering the days when those surgeries were really dangerous. They just aren't anymore. They do them completely differently now, and they're supposedly extremely safe - much safer than say, hip replacement surgeries, which they do pretty much all the time.

I had almost zero pain with my surgery, and the majority of us don't (some do, but they're in the minority). This is likely to be much easier for you than the C-sections were.

That’s great! I did my online seminar yesterday and they called me in the afternoon to ask me if I had issues getting the seminar going... I said no, I completed it? But I’m wondering if it’s in their system as two different people because my iPad defaulted to my full name when I entered my info the first time, then the seminar I typed it in manually and didn’t put my middle name. I might have to call them back and let them know? They said they were going to talk to their IT department. Hopefully I don’t have to do it again, but I will if I have to!

That’s a relief to hear that it will likely be much easier than my C-sections! Thanks!

I just got off of the phone with my gastroenterologist. She told me that my hiatal hernia is still there with significant inflammation. She also told me because of my history of reflux (even though it’s not really that bad), she does not recommend getting the sleeve. She said it WILL get significantly worse and I’d likely have to have another surgery to convert to RNY because of it. She is sending a referral to the leading bariatric surgery group in my area, so now I am waiting to hear from them! I hope I get going on this sooner than later.

Update: my gastroenterologist referred me to the top bariatric center in my city. I have a consultation with one of their bariatric surgeons on 6/29. Hoping to get the ball rolling!