Is this the *only* surgery to have?

[Dave_NW 92]

Have you noticed that each type of weight loss surgery, according to the fans of that surgery, seems to be the *only* possible choice anyone could make? It's kind of amusing.

1. Here at the VSG forums, everyone is all about VSG, and talks about all the problems with the band or with bypass surgeries. VSG is the *only* way to go.

2. Last evening I stepped into the Lap Band Chat Room just to check it out. Everyone there was nice, but went on and on about all the problems of VSG or RNY. They raved about how the band was the *only* surgery anyone should have.

3. A month or so ago I attended a live support group for RNY bypass folks. Everyone there was great to talk to, but every single one of them also had nothing positive to say about the other choices. Everybody said the RNY was the *only* surgery to have.

I'm sure each surgery has its place for all the right reasons, but the devout loyalty of each group is pretty amusing. :laugh0:

Dave

[mp8btpc 33]

LOL it is like we are a bunch of sports fans and each surgery is a different team that we are all fanatics about.

Well here in our park there are a ton of band to sleeve revisions so for those people it was not the right choice. Each surgery has it's pro's and con's so depending on each person and the things they find important to maintain their lifestyles you will get fanatics on each side of the surgery road.

I personally think the ongoing risk of complications with the band (slippage, errosion, esophogeal issues and fills then needing unfills etc) it was just too many "what if'" I wouldn't want any surgery that reroutes my intestines because I personally know of two people that died of complications after those types of surgeries and I would rather leave that part of my body intact. The sleeve for me was shown as effective as the other two if not even more so. I felt like once I healed it was a one and done procedure and the risk of complications after the initial healing period was done was minimal. So this was the right surgery for me.

I am now a diehard TEAM VSG fan!

[Tiffykins 673]

I'm pretty open with my hatred for the band, and it's because I lived with that evil thing. Plus, I have friends, and my own mother that have the band.

I wouldn't have a malabsorptive procedure if someone paid me, but if RNY and DS were the only 2 WLS options, and I had major co-morbidities, I'd only consider DS.

You'll also find that everyone loves their surgery choice the first 6-12 months. After that little honeymoon phase, things change, and reality sits in.

I'm open to others having whichever surgery they think is best, but I know which surgery was BEST for me. I've also been able to educate several friends (in real life) about the sleeve, and now they are singing sleeve praises, and so grateful that I educated them rather than just bashing their initial choice.

For me, the "proof is in the pudding" (pun intended) for VSG. I'm a walking billboard that it can successful, and that we can live extremely normal, healthy, active lives with zero complications.

[circa 333]

I have to say that this is the *ONLY* surgery for me now :biggrin0: I was content with the band and then a band to sleeve conversion when my husband gets to his duty station, however, I do know that this surgery wouldn't have worked for my mother in law - she NEEDS the dumping syndrome to tell her what not to eat. She would live on ice cream if she could. She's already losing her teeth because of malnurishment - she doesn't take the Vitamins she is supposed to with her RNY and she smokes again too. I know I have a huge overproduction of ghrelin - the doctor told me that. I've never felt "FULL" in my life. I just know when to stop eating - well that was until the steroids lol. A mal-absorption procedure would scare the crap outta me. There are certain things a body needs that you just have to be conscious of, especially when you have non-related medical issues like I do. Now that the steroids are done, and the surgeon that's doing my sleeve is involved in my other issues, he's going to remove the steroid secreting tumors while he's lopping of a chunk of my stomach too 2 birds. one stone. good deal.

Edited September 15, 2010 by circa

[educationrulz 18]

I have to say that this is the *ONLY* surgery for me now :thumbup: I was content with the band and then a band to sleeve conversion when my husband gets to his duty station, however, I do know that this surgery wouldn't have worked for my mother in law - she NEEDS the dumping syndrome to tell her what not to eat. She would live on ice cream if she could. She's already losing her teeth because of malnurishment - she doesn't take the Vitamins she is supposed to with her RNY and she smokes again too. I know I have a huge overproduction of ghrelin - the doctor told me that. I've never felt "FULL" in my life. I just know when to stop eating - well that was until the steroids lol. A mal-absorption procedure would scare the crap outta me. There are certain things a body needs that you just have to be conscious of, especially when you have non-related medical issues like I do. Now that the steroids are done, and the surgeon that's doing my sleeve is involved in my other issues, he's going to remove the steroid secreting tumors while he's lopping of a chunk of my stomach too :lol0: 2 birds. one stone. good deal.

I personally don't think malabsorption procedures are appropriate for people who are not going to be compliant with supplements - even if they might "need" the dumping to keep them straight. Someone who won't take their supplements, despite the obvious signs of malnutrition, probably won't be deterred by dumping. They'll find a way to work around it - like only eating ice cream in a comfortable setting so they can run straight to the bathroom. I think your mother-in-law and others like her would be better candidates for the VSG, plication, or (yikes!) even the band. Better for her to stall out with weight loss from overeating than to be totally malnurished.