Why is my doctor pushing for bypass?

[CrissyRing77 232]

My doctor pushed for the sleeve for me, not that I wanted bypass, but he said when it comes down to it, the losses are not hugely different and he typically recommends bypass to folks with comorbidiities which I had none, other than slightly low levels of the good cholesterol. Do you have boarderline or have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or even painful joints? I'm sure there are a zillion other comorbidiities they are concerned with but these are the big ones.

[green*eyed*girl 170]

My doctor pushed for the sleeve for me, not that I wanted bypass, but he said when it comes down to it, the losses are not hugely different and he typically recommends bypass to folks with comorbidiities which I had none, other than slightly low levels of the good cholesterol. Do you have boarderline or have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or even painful joints? I'm sure there are a zillion other comorbidiities they are concerned with but these are the big ones.

My knees are not exactly happy about carrying around my 250pound body. They are painful some days, and fine the next day, so I'm pretty sure with weight loss I will be fine. Other than that I am perfectly healthy, I should say no comorbidities, as I can not say I am healthy coz I am morbidly obese. And I agree, doctors should offer the sleeve before bypass as sleeve is less invasive and god forbid it doesn't work it can always be converted to bypass...go figure

[green*eyed*girl 170]

Why have all of you picked the sleeve and not the BP?

Hi Amy!

I can only speak for myself as why I prefer the sleeve. With bypass I hate the idea of malabsorption, and I do not think I want to deal with taking Vitamins and injections till the end of my life or at least for a long time. And going in for bloodwork often...

But I never knew the complication rate is higher with the sleeve??? Is that true???

The heartburn is true...unfortunately, it can happen as far as I know, but sleeve can be converted to bypass if GERD occur. (not that I'd love that but if I had to deal with GERD probably it would come down to that...)

[one_more_time 145]

Speaking from personal experience... I had the Gastric Bypass procedure done... in 2005. I lost quite a bit of weight, but never got down to my goal of 145 pounds. I followed instructions.. was very active the whole nine yards. Didn't have any issues with deficiencies ( Vitamins, low blood, etc. ) was relatively healthy. Just could never lose the last 30 lbs. I started out ( back then) at about 260-268 got down to about 176-180 ( roughly). Size wise.. .I went from a 24/26W to a 10/12 depending on the make, cut..etc. Didn't have any hair loss issues due to the absorption issue and definitely have not had to use injections since then. Unfortunately... I did not research my surgeon as thoroughly as I should or could have. Was not as "internet/youtube" savvy as I am now.. (just kidding). But at the time I was SO elated about being approved( after a year and half of fighting with insurance companies) I just ran with the first doctor I found.

Now fast forward about 9 years later. After my endoscopy with my current surgeon found that not only was my original pouch made too big to begin with...she got my bowels all twisted up ( don't think she really knew what she was doing) and had some serious issues going on that I didn't even know about. Bowel obstruction can kill you.. I had a friend who had the RNY ( not to scare you) just giving you the facts. We had the same doctor and her bowel obstruction got REAL about 5 years ago... she almost died! I was VERY blessed that Dr. Alexander caught mine before it got too bad and I had to be hospitalized. So not only did he revise my Gastric Bypass to a Sleeve he had to go in and undo what the previous doctor screwed up. My surgery was roughly 5 hours long when usually its about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

My suggestion.. and I think this is the consensus on this thread... GET A SECOND OPINION and quick. Not to second guess him or his practice...but this is your health and your LIFE and you want to make sure you are making a VERY educated decision before you lay down on that operating table. I had to endure the pains of bariactric surgery twice because I did not take the time to REALLY and truly learn about all of my options.

She lied and told me that I could not ever have anything laproscopically done due to previous hernia surgery/scar tissue... so she opened me up. Dr. Alexander ( my new doctor) quickly informed me that I was a VERY good canidate for lap surgery and since he converted to the lap procedure in the last 11 years he had NEVER had to "open" any one up. And even his patients with severe complications still have been able to have it done via lap. Also... I had major gas, acid reflux and digestion issues since having the Bypass and as of right now... I haven't had any of my old symptoms.. its just been 11 days so might be too early to tell but so far so good.

I said all of that to simply say... Gastric Bypass does not necessarily guarantee you extreme weight loss. I never made it to goal and gained all of my weight back except for about 20 lbs. Was I perfect...no.......but I followed instructions I would say 80% of the time...worked out..watched what I ate and still did not have the success I wanted. I am VERY confident that this time around things will be different. My doctor made sure that he gave me as much restriction as humanly possible.. .lol... WOW can I tell the difference. And I love the fact that with the Sleeve they remove the part of the stomach that produces Gherlin... so you are not hungry. I have to remind myself to eat most days..Looking forward to utilizing my tool... I know all of the do's and don'ts of weight loss surgery and I am sure this time I will reach my goal of 145 lbs. within the next 12 months.

Edited February 21, 2014 by one_more_time

[green*eyed*girl 170]

Oh wow one_more_time, thank you for your input, such story...lot to "digest" no pun intended

I wish you much deserved success on your journey!

[missdeleon 6]

First of all I totally disagree with your doctor. The truth is you can regain weight after any weight loss surgery it's all about the program that you're following. My friend just recently had a gastric sleeve and she's lost 80 pounds

[sassypants 674]

i'm in the uk alot of people here are there isn;t only 1 person to go to at all.

granted i wasn't self pay so i have no idea if there is just 1 single person who does it for pay.

others in the uk have paid so ask them.

[lynn2win 142]

Maybe this doctor hasn't done a lot of sleeves....I had a friend about 8 years ago have the bypass and she didn't want it done she wanted the band I told her maybe her doctor wasn't doing the band but now when I look at this years later it was prob because she was a diabetic and she only weighed about 202lbs and was 5'3...she looked gauty looking I felt bad for her and she had complications

[green*eyed*girl 170]

i'm in the uk alot of people here are there isn;t only 1 person to go to at all.

granted i wasn't self pay so i have no idea if there is just 1 single person who does it for pay.

others in the uk have paid so ask them.

Yes I know there are plenty of doctors in the UK, but as I said in an earlier post on the first page I am going to have this surgery in the country of my origin, and there is only one doctor who do these surgeries, even he is travelling there from Austria to do these surgeries. But it cost half as much as in the UK - I could not afford to do it in the UK.

[elfnow 277]

Second opinion. Sounds like the doc is pushing for HIS comfort level, not YOURS. Find another doc that is more willing to do sleeves, or at least willing to sit down with you and HONESTLY explain your options and WHY a bypass would be better (without pinning it on YOU like saying "you'll just be back in 2 years.")

[Aunt GG 43]

Well, here is my two cents for what it is worth. I agree with everyone that you need a second opinion. I actually went to a surgeon about 3 years ago thinking that I wanted the band. He told me that I should absolutely have the bypass and wouldn't even discuss the sleeve with me (maybe it was too new?). So I started on all the pre-op stuff, and then one day I just decided that I didn't want him deciding for me. I wanted to find someone who I could work WITH, not a dictator. So I left, never looked back, and eventually found the surgeon who will make me a new person tomorrow. So so so glad I waited! Check out your options. Please do that for yourself. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide!