bypass or sleeve?

[Feb252013 16]

I have had my mind set on having the bypass surgery for months. I met with the surgeon last week, and he suggested the sleeve. Ultimately it is my decision to make. But he said the results are pretty much the same, but with the sleeve you don't have as many complications. My biggest concern is that I don't want to be at this weight again. I am 25, height is 5'2 and I weigh 312#. I guess my question is, how did you know what surgery was best for you? And do you feel the results are comparable?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[PdxMan 4,292]

I had the sleeve 07/08/2011. I have lost 100% of my excess body fat.

I have a cousin who had the sleeve and he deals with bowel obstructions from having his intestines re-routed. I don't have to.

He also has the issues with malnoutrition and foods he can't eat. I can eat anything I want and I have no malnoutrition issues.

I lost 100% of my excess bodyfat and he has lost about 75%.

My sleeve cannot stretch back to the size of my old stomach. His pouch can, which can allow him to re-gain all of his weight back if he doesn't be careful. Yes, I can eat around my sleeve, but I am going to have to make a conscience effort to sabotage myself.

If you are committed to make a change, either surgery will get your weight down, for sure. I just didn't want the complications bypass brings to the table. Yes, there are risks with the sleeve as there are with all surgeries. But for me, the sleeve was the right choice.

[Groovinchikin 49]

Hi! I'm 23. 5'6 and my starting weight was 400 pounds. I had the same concerns in choosing the sleeve over bypass, but this is why I chose the sleeve. My mother had Gastric Bypass when I was in the 7th grade along with her cousin and her close friend. They all had the surgery and all initially lost all of their weight. Over the course of the past 10 years each of them has gained at least a third of their weight back. Unfortunately, they all also suffer from malabsorption issues. All three of them go to an oncologist 4-6 times a year to get Iron infused into their blood. My mom had the site where they rerouted her intestines ulcerate and she had to undergo emergency surgery that almost killed her to fix it. Am I saying this happens to everyone, no. But I am saying that I chose sleeve because I've seen the long term effects the Bypass has had on some of my family members. My Dr. said that because I am so young it was best to do a surgery that doesn't include a malabsorption procedure because I have a lot longer to live with the effects of iron and Vitamin deficiencies. I

In the end the decision is %100 yours, and I encourage you to do as much research on both procedures as possible! I am a week away from being 2 months out and I have lost a total of 70 pounds and I wouldn't hesitate to do the surgery again if I had to. It has been the best decision I have ever made for myself. I wish you the best of luck in your journey, regardless of which surgery you choose!