Sleeve vs bypass?

[karpouzian 94]

I want to get the sleeve based on the research I've done, (removes the hunger creating chemical producer from your body), your stomach can still be scoped, less surgery time, less recovery time, etc. but I also hear good things about the bypass... My consult is on Wednesday, and I'm going to ask the nurse practitioner which she recommends for my specific case, but ultimately I think it will be my decision. Convince me that I'm making the correct one.

[sharonintx 1,275]

You are and your dr's office will tell you the same. The sleeve is just so much simpler. It isn't near as easy to re-gain weight with the sleeve and despite what you may hear, it is not likely that a sleeve will stretch

very much. Eating your way around a bypass is a whole lot easier than eating around a sleeve.

You are making a great choice and I'm pretty sure the professionals will agree. Good luck!

[T'snewstart 251]

I got the sleeve because I had 2 co-workers get the bypass and they just seem miserable. It just seems most people I have come in contact with was so unhappy after the bypass.

While I wanted a change from the constant struggle with my excess weight I did not want to be unhappy. Beside all the medical reasons ...as I am sure you have researched the differences. The bypass is so much more complicated. Many more complications can occur. One big problem is the lack of ability to absorb the Vitamins and nutrients that is needed.

The sleeve for me was the best decision ever! My weight loss results are exactly the same as the co-workers. I do not have the troubles they experience. I live a happy normal life. Socially it is easy to adjust ( after the first few months). Over all it comes down to the individual really.

The surgeons expectations goes as follows: after the first 2 years bypass patients are expected to lose on average: 60-80% of their excess weight , sleeve patients 50-70% of the excess weight. However, that too is up to the patient. At my 5 month check up I had already lost 40% of my excess weight.

I said all that to say..... If you follow the surgeons instructions and get the most out the of the sleeve you can have equal results.....

Best wishes on your decision and surgery!

[lizv123 389]

I went the sleeve because I didn't want dietary restrictions as much as Portion Control. So many with bypass have lifelong dumping. In the seminar the bypass lost my vote when the surgeon said "if you attend a wedding, just don't eat the cake." um....no....I want to be able to eat a piece of my wedding cake. I want to taste my future children's birthday cakes. There are some sleevers that dump, but the stats are much lower compared to bypass. My surgeon's office nurse had a bypass 7 (I think) years ago and her eyes and nose will start to run if anything has too much sugar in it. Like chicken with a sauce. I couldn't do that to myself.

The bypass has been done much longer and for the most part you'll lose more weight faster. Which is great for a scale, not so much for the droppy hound dog appearance. I'm not saying sleevers don't get saggy. My arms are like sails. But if I lost at a faster weight I'm pretty sure they'd be worse.

As for "cutting out the hunger hormone"......ehhh....I still get hungry. Not head hunger, real hunger. But unlike before surgery my stomach doesn't growl, I tend to get nauseas. Some sleevers don't get hungry at all. But there's a good number of us that still do.

The biggest perk of starting with a sleeve is this: you can add a DS to it which is essentially a bypass with a different shaped stomach. If you have a very large amount of weight to lose and after a period of time, the sleeve isn't cutting it, you can take another step.

My vote is for the sleeve (obviously, I chose it) but only you can really know what's best for you and your future. This site it full of ALL sorts of info. I'm sure any question you can think of is somewhere hiding on this page keep reading around and even try other sites geared more towards the RNY. Good luck! And kudos for you doing your homework!!!!