I'm afraid!

[magicalwoman 190]

What support and caring, from total strangers. I said it before, I will say it again...I just love this site.

I am afraid, nervous, yet excited. All my friends here have helped me so much.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[dancingqueene 182]

I have been researching both for 5 years...every MD's opinion is different. It depends sometimes on what they find in your upper GI scope. Some MD's prefer to not do the sleeve b/c you often needs more meds for reflux etc. Both surgeries are equal in evasiveness and come w/ own risks. I too, am/was planning the sleeve for this Oct and really didn't want to do the RNY, but when I looked at long term data, success rates,etc there just isn't enough on the sleeve for longer term life maintenance just yet. Yes, I will say it's my preference, but I am going the RNY route. I have read so much and see other benefits I think I would have longer term w/ the RNY as well. If the sleeve is what you really want, then maybe getting another opinion would be best?

[VDB 800]

RNY will save your life, it has mine. At 4 months post RNY, I have no high blood pressure problems, no edema (it was terrible), no urge incontinence, diabetes is 90% better, blood work is great, all the co-morbidities gone or much better. In 4 months, half of the 170# I have to lose is gone. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being high levels of complications, mine have been a "2". Very easy overall.

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them.

Ok I felt the same way back in 2004 when I saw Sharon Osbourne and a few other stars opt for the "newest"surgery in WLS at the time the lapband.I was approved for both but decided that the less invasive.Lapband was the way to go.Had the best surgeon who performed bypasses on Al Roker,Star Jones etc...,she and Dr.Roslyn are pioneers of WLS in NY.She offered me the Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them.Back in 2004 I had the option between bypass and the lapband.I immediately opted for the lapband ....not taking into account the fills/u fills and slippage.The procedure was new and long term data was not available such as RNY.

Big mistake!!!!I lost about 40 pounds initially and the fills and unfills were not wonderful and I never achieved the right fill.I started to not be able to handle several types of foods so I developed involuntary bulimia.One day I could eat a salad the next day I would violently throw up.Going to restaurants were a nightmare...a secret nightmare ...I would have dinner and have to go to the ladies room because I would need to throw up.Years of acid reflux and just fighting with my weight was a losing battle.....I developed PCOS,insulin resistance...pre diabetic...gall bladder attacks,had it removed,high cholesterol returned,developed breast cancer in 2012 And the chemo had steroids and oh boy ...gained all the weight back.Indigestion and chronic acid reflux plus port pain and stomach aches and bloating.I am miserable.

My friend who is extremely obese just had sleeve surgery as well as her daughter.It is there first WLS.It seems to be working for them.(2 months)She has lost a good amount of weight but has a long way to go.She feels great so I was all in...I spoke to her last week and she told me that one day she wasn't able to eat one of her small scheduled meals because she was very busy at work....she got home famished and had egg salad she ate a bit to quickly and felt like throwing up but said that slime and bile came up.AHHHHHH....by the way she doesn't know I have the band....she experienced what I go through almost every day.

My stomach is lap band abused I have all kind of gastro tests because my esophagus and stomach is a mess...The reflux rules out the sleeve for me.I would hate to make that mistake.It is not reversible,long term data is not available and on a lot of other sites I am seeing people who have had the sleeve complain of increased acid reflux...its .worse with revisions,ulcerative sleeves,leakage which can cause infections and inadequate weight loss.Some are seeking yet another revision to RNY.I am not going to put myself through this with my lapband abused stomach.Cutting out 85% of my stomach which can't be reversed is not appealing to me.I will opt for the Good Standard once and for all the bypass....the data is there and it is the Gold Standard.No more fad procedures for me.

[marypups 111]

^{I told no one. Actually, I told my husband, but no one else, including my kids. I had plans to tell other people but decided that I did not want them watching me to see what I was eating or whether I appeared to be losing weight. So, I decided I would tell people later when I started to feel really successful. But on my own terms and in my own way. Or not, when and if I decided.}

^{I had a good recovery, and it was easy to just tell folks that I was not feeling well for a few days.}

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

Nobody's business...tell people and they appoint themselves the food police......minding your business.Judgements and opinions....no way...

[India928 81]

E

Hello everyone,

I am new to this site, and hoping for support. I have not had surgery yet- scheduled for 9/24/15, but I need to reach out to others who have gone through this. My surgeon's office has a support group but they are not meeting again until 9/13, and I would like some advice before then.

Last week, after my EGD, my surgeon told me I could not have the Sleeve like planned because of acid reflux, so I would have to have the RouenY. This change strikes fear in me! I have been going through this process for close to a year, and now I am second guessing myself! I wanted the Sleeve because I felt like it was less invasive ( and truth be told, that I would be able to process foods more 'normally'). The Rouen Y scares me.

Now I'm not sure if I should go ahead or cancel. I don't want to have surgery just to have it, especially if I don't feel right about it. At the same time, do I want to pass up this opportunity? I am ready for an extreme change in my life. People at work ( who I told because I need to have time off), and family, have been saying ' you dont need to do that (surgery), try this or that.' "I've lost weight by..." They make it sound easy. I am psyching myself out.

Any thoughts? Did anyone experience anxiety before surgery and second guess themselves?

Erica.....If you look at my recent posts you will see that you are not alone.

I am about to embark on my final WLS - the RNY. Had the Band, then the Sleeve, now back to what I should have done initially the Bypass. I have lost weight with the sleeve, but of the 110 pounds lost I have gained about 40+. Still down from original weight but also still DISCOURAGED and self loathing. My reasons for the sleeve were similar to yours plus some potential medical complications due to a chronic illness - YET, here I am, back where I started 10 years ago.

Do your research, but more so, be honest with yourself. Really find your motivating factors for WLS and do what is necessary so that this obesity problem is in the past. You deserve to be happy, feel and look healthy, and live a quality of life in a body that is fit and strong. No one needs to tell you how short life is, imagine how much longer, and enjoyable, it will be when your at a healthy weight. Please don't let fear stop you. You have come so far in the process and you are right there.....don't set yourself back or become complacent.

Trust me, we all know how you feel in one way or another......I KNOW how you feel! My surgery is 9/14/15 and every day I try to back out of it, or say to myself "maybe I will just tell the surgeon to re-sleeve me, or I make poor eating choices because of the stress I am putting myself under. I need to just jump in the Water already being my biggest obstacle. Oh what tricks our brain will do.

Good luck, God Bless, keep us posted

XOXO

[India928 81]

P.S. The acid reflux from the sleeve is NO joke! I was sleeved in 2008 and have Nexium. The burping is so annoying too.

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

Gotta get this revision from band to bypass...how are you doing with the bypass?

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

India ...you are so right!!!!You are going to be fine....the sleeve is an extension to RNY anyway...most sleevers will be coming down the pike to RNY....the "Sleeve"won't be the flavor of the month....and a lot of sleevers will have failed ...not all but some...and they will realize that RNY is inevitable.I just sat down and researched and really decided to be honest with myself.....This lapband is no longer the hot new "Thang" in weight loss.

[esskay77 785]

Fear is normal. Just know that the RNY is not a bad option. I had it and other than the weight loss, my life is the same. Doesn't feel any different. Except I can move, I can do things thanks to the weigh loss! It is a personal decision and you have to do what is best for you based on the conversation with your surgeon.

The one thing I noticed is that once the weight comes off, we all wish we had done this sooner! lol

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

[SleevedstylistCO 8]

I totally feel you on this one. I have had GERD for 7 years now and I want the sleeve. I also have PCOS and my nutritionist said they will push me to the rny. I can't wait to talk to my surgeon! I'm also scared of rny and I worry about the taking pills, as I have 5 prescriptions I take daily...so I worry about absorbing those....and no Advil:( The way I look at it is....I take 40mg of prilosec daily.....without surgery I will still take prilosec daily and if I have GERD after the sleeve......I will take prilosec daily.... so I guess there is no escaping it:) Are you taking meds for GERD? I also did not get GERD until I gained my weight during pregnancy and I have had it ever since. So hopefully it goes away after I loose weight!