Vsg Versus Roux-En-Y ?

[ISleevedIt 380]

Well, I've been so sure that I want the VSG until I attended a WLS support group meeting. There was 1 VSG person and 3 roux-en-y people. It got me wondering if I'm making the right decision with VSG. How did you all come to the decision that the sleeve is the best choice for you?

[COsleeveDude 273]

My decision came down to benefit-risk. Sleeve is an easier procedure for the surgeon, and doesn't involve rerouting the anatomy. The sleeve is not reversible like RNY, but RNY would not be easily reversible either, even though it's technically possible.

The long-term studies show similar weight loss between the procedures after several years, and most people aren't as restricted in what they can eat or which medicines they can take, just how much they can eat.

Also, removing the portion of the stomach removes a large chunk of the hunger hormone production is most individuals, which in my mind is one of the benefits that should be touted more as one of the major upsides of the procedure.

The reason you find more people with RNY is because more people still get RNY. My guess is you will see that tide turning in the next 5-10 years.

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

Both my dads wife & my wife's dads wife have had RNY. They both had miserable recoveries.

Also they both have to take supplements the rest of their lives, & have limited diets.

These were the things I saw that convinced me that RNY was not for me.

Also through research I've found that VSG is the only procedure that eliminates/reduces ghrelin. Also VSG is much less invasive. Not to mention the sleeve is nearly impossible to stretch, whereas RNY pouches more often than not do get stretched

Of course I am bias.

[5DoxieMom 87]

The reason you find more people with RNY is because more people still get RNY. My guess is you will see that tide turning in the next 5-10 years.

I agree with this statement. I believe that insurance companies are more likely to pay for RNY, but I see that changing too. I know medicare pays for RNY, but last I heard, didn't cover VSG.

[COsleeveDude 273]

The reason you find more people with RNY is because more people still get RNY. My guess is you will see that tide turning in the next 5-10 years.

I agree with this statement. I believe that insurance companies are more likely to pay for RNY, but I see that changing too. I know medicare pays for RNY, but last I heard, didn't cover VSG.

Seems like more insurance companies are now willing to pay for sleeve if they pay for RNY. Both of the HMOs I've had in the last few years cover the sleeve. The big insurance companies will usually be all over cheaper options that cost them less in follow-up care and complications.

The federal government is always a little behind the curve with updating their policies. Hopefully that will change soon.

[LindaS 316]

The malnutrition with the Roux-en-Y is what made me not want to have it. I didn't like the idea of having difficulty absorbing certain nutrients.

I also have arthritis in my ankle and sometimes have to take an NSAID. At my one year check up last week, I brought up two concerns I had and both weren't a problem because I had the sleeve and not the Roux-en-Y. I had more flexibility with the sleeve.

My two concerns were that I was taking NSAIDs for my ankle and that I don't take my Calcium Vitamins. Despite not taking Calcium Vitamins, my blood work showed my calcium was in the normal range because I don't have malnutrition issues with my sleeve.

I also liked the idea that the only thing the sleeve does is make my stomach smaller. I didn't have my body parts rearranged.

[norozco 18]

Re routing of the intestines scared me! And several ppl I know with the bypass had malabsorption and some gained it back!

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

I know many people have had their lives saved by the RNY, so I don't mean to talk it down at all. I just couldn't do it... and here is my partial list:

- I was a revision from the band, and the complications revising to the rny were much riskier

- I had a pouch when i was banded and it SUCKED. I have no idea if the pouch for the RNY behaves the same way, but I suspect it does. I don't want to vomit up food for unpredictable reasons. I spent 10 years in that hell and decided I just couldn't do it.

- Mentally, I could get used to the idea that my stomach was too big and just needed to be reduced but i could never get comfortable with the RNY procedure - gave me the heebie geebies. Irrational, yes, but it was a key factor.

-20 years ago the woman who was our daycare provider had the RNY. In those days they were done open, so recovery was a big huge deal. I know it isn't the same now, but i can't quite shake the memories of how ill she was and how long it took her to recover (she looked awesome though, lost all of her excess weight!)

- I was convinced by the studies available that my chances of success are nearly as good with the sleeve compared to the RNY, but my risks were considerably lower. That just made sense to me.

One piece of advice is to consider a surgeon who has a thriving "sleeve" practice. I did that and feel that their after care and all that was spot on for a sleever.

[ISleevedIt 380]

Thanks for all the input! It helps me to bring my decision back to a solid sleeve. I still have 3 more months to go before I get final approval to see the surgeon. No more wishy washy me....sleeve it is!