Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Why Did You Choose Your Specific Type of Weight Loss Surgery?



Why Did You Choose Your Specific Type of Weight Loss Surgery?  

107 members have voted

  1. 1. How did you decide which surgery to get? If you haven’t had surgery yet, how are you making your decision?

    • My insurance only covers one type – read my answer below to find out which kind.
      2
    • I was too “small” to qualify for bypass or sleeve, so the lap-band was my best option.
      1
    • I chose the lap-band because it is adjustable; maybe I’ll become pregnant or get sick and need to eat extra food sometime in the future.
      6
    • I got the gastric sleeve because I’m a heavier patient and this was a lower-risk choice.
      20
    • I got the gastric bypass because of the restrictions on sugary foods.
      7
    • I chose my surgery based on the complication rates and expected weight loss. See which one I chose in the discussion below!
      35
    • I have revisional weight loss surgery. Read what happened and why I got it converted in the discussion below!
      3
    • Other. See my choice and reasons in the discussion below!
      33


Recommended Posts

I chose the gastric sleeve after I researched all of the options. After talking to my surgeon, I made my mind up.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I chose Gastric Bypass for one reason only- I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes on Valentine's Day, 2013 (nice, huh?). After tons of research, it appeared to me that the bypass had the highest rate of managing/reversing diabetes, since exercise, changing my diet & diabetes meds were helping, but not enough. Don't get me wrong- the weight loss has been a fantastic "side effect" but I'm ecstatic to say that my blood sugars haven't gone above 100 since my surgery. I'm off all of my diabetes meds. Every. Single. One.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

  • I choose RnY because I knew that the AGB would not be a good fit for me and it was still in trials in 2001 so no long term data to support outcomes.
My ins would only cover 1 procedure per my lifetime so I choose the one with most proven long term outcomeDumping & malabsorption did not concern meI continue 13 yrs later to have no regrets. No negative side effects and minimal weight regain = SUCCESS

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I got the sleeve because I liked the idea of grehlin hormone level being drastically reduced. I wanted something permanent. I started with a lower BMI than most and based on my research, the sleeve seemed the best fit for me..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon, Dr. David Miles, chose the Sleeve for me because I have debilitating and painful arthritis in my knees and back ( undoubtedly due to 24 years of morbid obesity) and have to take an NSAID for it--Naproxen, 1,000 mg. a day---and the RNY doesn't allow NSAIDS. I totally chose to listen to his wisdom on this. Also, I was nervous about malabsorption, continual nausea possibility, and dumping syndrome with the RNY. He said the Sleeve allows for 10% less weight loss overall than the RNY but I don't care. He doesn't do Lap-Bands any more either and said that procedure wouldn't help me lose enough weight anyway.

So far I've lost 64 pounds since my Sleeve on September 9th, 2014, my surgeon's staff say my rate of weight loss is "excellent", and I'm very happy with the Sleeve and my surgeon's choice for me! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I chose the gastric sleeve procedure because I had a heart to heart with my surgeon and was very honest with him related to how I was currently eating and my fears for after my surgery. Based on the fact that I have 4 children and spend a lot of the time "grazing" instead of eating, he said that I could graze right through a lap band and it would do my no good. So we eliminated that surgery. I voiced my concerns about being malabsorptive related to the other two surgeries because I'm also a IBD patient and when I have a flair, I am malabsorptive naturally and he said he would rather me go sleeve than bypass because it's less likely to alter how I react to certain foods that can aggravate my IBD, like dairy and gravy, etc. Also, he said that most sleevers have less throwing up than bipassers do, which sold me because I hate to throw up. lol.

On a serious note, my sleeve was the best decision of my life!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I ended up choosing gastric bypass after learning the the sleeve can cause acid reflux. I already had uncontrollable acid reflux. I did have fears about malabsorption however learned from speaking with professors that as long as you take your Vitamins and get regular check ups malabsorption should not be a problem. After that it was a very easy decision for me.

The lap band was never even a consideration for me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was just told that I'm prediabetic, and that sealed the deal for me. RNY commonly reverses diabetes even before weight loss occurs. With my family history of deaths from diabetic complications, I'm not taking any chances.

Besides, I truly need my body to tell me "no carbs" in a drastic way. I feel great when I'm carb-reduced, but I have a real tendency to head back for them in moments of weakness.

My initial insurance would only cover RNY, so the decision was made easy. My current insurance will cover any bariatric surgery, but I think that RNY is the choice for me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I voted for "only covers 1 type" but actually, in California, Medicare will cover 2 - RNY or Lapband. I chose RNY because of how restrictive it can be. I wanted "fear of dumping" but it has not happened!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I chose VSG because I knew going in I did not want RNY. I refused to bypass part of my normal functioning body. The risks of malabsoprtion were to great. I originally went in thinking I would get the LapBand as I had never heard of VSG, but once my Dr told me about it I was in. It is the best decision I could have ever made for myself.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I chose the sleeve because I didn't want my organs "re-routed" as they are with the bypass. My surgeon felt the sleeve was the best option for me. I love my sleeve!

Edited by missbrown30

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I chose to do the sleeve because the idea of re-routing my insides didn't sound right. I figure God put them that way for a reason, probably not my place to change them around. I also watched my friend get the sleeve and how it helped her lose weight. I have heard too many stories about the bypass and I knew it wasn't for me.

Edited by Spicy06

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I chose the gastric sleeve because I did not want the dumping that can come with RNY. I also wanted to eventually be able to eat all of my favorite foods, just in much smaller portions. I did not go with the band due to having to get fills and unfills and the "stuck episodes".

I am very happy with my decision :D

Summer

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I picked the gastric sleeve because I have severe Ulcerative Colitis and my Gastro and Surgeon thought it was the best option.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm getting the sleeve in late April this year. I had assumed because of my type 2 diabetes that I would be getting the bypass, but after consulting with my surgeon in December, he strongly encouraged me to get the sleeve instead. We know from experience that my diabetes all but resolves itself with a 10% mass reduction, so I don't necessarily need the more drastic measure of the bypass at this time. He suggested I "keep it in my back pocket" as a fail safe if my genetics come back to haunt me in my senior years and the diabetes returns, regardless of my weight at the time. (My surgeon postulated that in 30 years that maybe the procedure will be performed via a pill or something...)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

    • Sandra Austin Tx

      I’m 6 days post op as of today. I had the gastric bypass 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×