Trying to decide--Bypass or Sleeve?

[SugarFreeMe 293]

For me the bypass was my best option. At 52 yrs old, I started at 217 with High Cholesterol, High blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes. Immediately following surgery I was taken off the high cholesterol and diabetes meds. I'm hoping that at my 3 month follow up with my pcp I'll be able to eliminate the high blood pressure med also. I've suffered from gerd in the past, also had to have hiatel hernia repair during by RNY. I never really considered the sleeve because during my own research I was seeing all the revisions people have had done from sleeve to RNY. I only wanted to have to do this once. I made the right choice for me with the assistance of my PCP and surgeon. Only they have the medical history to help you make the best choice for you. As many have pointed out, each of us has a preference to our own choice. Good Luck, I hope you pick the best option for you based on your health.

[BBdoodle 483]

I had to lose 70 lbs but chose the bypass because you will lose more weight with the bypass than the sleeve. If I was going to go under the knife I wanted the best bang for my buck even though my ins. paid 100%. But that was "MY" choice. I never had one issue, I followed the plan exactly as my surgeon said and I am 2 yrs post op doing fine !!! I take all my Vitamins and get complete blood work done yearly and no issues. I think you should make this decision with your surgeon and educate yourself as much as possible. We are all individuals and if something works for some it may not work for others - so my advise is talk with your surgeon and don't be afraid to ask tons of questions...that is what you are paying him for !! Good luck in making the right decision for you !!!

[Sharpie 3,306]

My Primary Care PHysician and Bariatric Surgeon recommended the Lapband.. Thank God they did. I have several people in my support group who were sleeved, they are having reflux and/or dumping . The leader of our group had bypass years ago and has lost 250 lbs but lives on Protein Shakes and vitamins.. not sure about your history or how much you want to lose or how fast you want to lose it.. al WLS have good and bad points. For me I did not want my stomach stapled off or re-arranged. My lapband is something that can be emptied should I need nutrition (in case of illness).. All options at your age are to be seriously considered.

[marysminute 20]

My doctor won't even touch lapband anymore. Too much failure rate:(

[Sharpie 3,306]

There are statistics that disprove your statement regarding lapband. There are failures in all weight loss surgeries. Some Doctors would rather do sleeve , more money for them, less trouble. The sleeve is relatively new and the long term results are not in yet.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

any WLS will and does have complications

and any WLS will have good and bad

and any WLS will have results that vary for whatever reason (dr issues, patient issues, WLS issues or a combo of both)

but to lose weight, with any WLS, one must eat less calories than they take in (exercise/burn off)....and no WLS is better than the other..shame on people who continue to spout statements due to what they read/heard or googled

i support any person who has any WLS surgery

i wish them total success and am supportive no matter what

oh yeah, i got that horrid lap band BTW

and it does NOT work......tisk tisk

PS to the OP-----get the surgery your doctor and yourself feels that works for you and your lifestyle....but remember, unless you change from diet thinking/mentality, no WLS will work....best of luck to you....and you will read on this forum, and others, it is not an easy fix and when its not coming off (as fast as they thought), its a failure and off to the races of spouting anti WLS comments.

[almitch 1]

I attended the information session and found that all they wanted to do was discuss the bypass leaving me with the impression that people serious about loosing weight get the bypass and less committed folks go with the sleeve.

After researching both surgeries I feel the sleeve is best for me as the idea of being chemically depended on tablets to meet my nutritional needs for the rest of my life just doesn't sit well with me.

[Beckyyb93 225]

I had the sleeve and a hiatal hernia repaired and I have severe acid reflux to the point that we are revising to a bypass. One thing that concerns me that I've read on this thread is that people with the sleeve don't have to take Vitamins for the rest of their lives which is false. For both the bypass and the sleeve you need Vitamin supplements for the rest of your life. The choice is of course yours to make but neither is a bad option and IMO bypass isn't only for people with more weight to lose. If you are worried about the reflux you may go with the bypass but the sleeve is much less restrictive which also has pros and cons. With the sleeve, you have the option of eating ice cream, drinking soda, etc. which if those choices are made you won't lose weight. The bypass is more restrictive and will hold you accountable physiologically. Dumping syndrome doesn't usually happen unless you are eating sugar and carbs again holding you accountable because you will feel crappy if you cheat.

There are pros and cons to every single surgery ever and complications and risks. You have to figure out what you are most comfortable with good luck!

[rhfactor272 50]

Okay how many gastric bypass procedures are there anyway?

[pinkbarbie 101]

Okay how many gastric bypass procedures are there anyway?

There is one gastric bypass aka RNY

There is one sleeve aka VSG

There is one lap band ( however different suppliers of the band)

[onajournee 20]

The group of weight loss Dr's at the office i go to won't do lap band anymore either. It's not because they want to do a more expensive surgery on people either. They want what's best for their patients and the problems they've had with lapbands and the long term results made them decide that wasn't a good option for their patients.

[cutiepieinchi 158]

The group of weight loss Dr's at the office i go to won't do lap band anymore either. It's not because they want to do a more expensive surgery on people either. They want what's best for their patients and the problems they've had with lapbands and the long term results made them decide that wasn't a good option for their patients.

My surgeons office still does them , but he was telling me that in the last year he has done very few lapbands...my doctor is one of the best surgeons in the u.s. and that is def saying a lot. I also knew that with my work schedule,I did not have time to go in for fills.

[cutiepieinchi 158]

I attended the information session and found that all they wanted to do was discuss the bypass leaving me with the impression that people serious about loosing weight get the bypass and less committed folks go with the sleeve.

After researching both surgeries I feel the sleeve is best for me as the idea of being chemically depended on tablets to meet my nutritional needs for the rest of my life just doesn't sit well with me.

With the sleeve you will still need Vitamins the rest of your life.

[Beckyyb93 225]

I attended the information session and found that all they wanted to do was discuss the bypass leaving me with the impression that people serious about loosing weight get the bypass and less committed folks go with the sleeve.

After researching both surgeries I feel the sleeve is best for me as the idea of being chemically depended on tablets to meet my nutritional needs for the rest of my life just doesn't sit well with me.

With the sleeve you will still need Vitamins the rest of your life.

YES! With either surgery you need Vitamins for the rest of your life otherwise you will feel crappy and get sick!!

[dawalsh 919]

At age 66 I'm glad I went for the lapband but would not rule out the sleeve