Did you pick or did you follow Dr.'s recommendation.. How did you decide?

[gobeit 17]

I'm wondering about folks that had one surgery in mind and then were recommended to switch by the physician. I'm absolutely sure this is what I want to do but I'm a little conflicted about the type of surgery. I want to make the right choice.

Medically, I think the sleeve is probably the answer. I'm very concerned about the time out of work and being down and unable to take care of my kids. I'm not due for surgery until Feb/March next year so I have some time but I need to feel better about my decision. Right now I'm committed to the Gastric Bypass vs. my original choice of Lap-Band. I really don't have a strong support system post-surgery though.

I just need to be sure I'm doing the right thing and I'm not sure how to get there. I thought hearing about what others went through may help.

[This-is-my-journey 124]

I just talked to my surgeon and he recommended sleeve.. that was my original choice. .than changed my mind to bypass because I deal with reflux. But he suggested sleeve and at a later time if I wanted I could do the whole rny gastric bypass. So this is what I'm going to do

[imsoglad56 402]

I picked, and my doctor agreed with me. I never considered lap-band as an option as I did not want to have to deal with the fills, etc., because my surgeon is a two hour drive away. So I was looking at sleeve vs. bypass and I just felt more comfortable with the sleeve so that's what I did. I'm one year and one week post-op and have lost 126 pounds so far and still losing slowly. I'm happy with my choice and would make it again in a heartbeat.

[jane13 2,256]

@@gobeit - I went to a preliminary seminar with hubby and after listening to the surgeon I felt like I was more comfortable with the sleeve. My adult daughter didn't want me to do anything permanent. Surgeon said I could choose between band or sleeve. So I headed down the lap-band path. I liked the idea of out-patient and being back to work in a day or so....long story short. I did the sleeve and am soooo happy with my choice. My HW was 282 and I am now hovering around 205-203....surgery was 5/6/15.

No regrets.

[BairwithMe 144]

Hi . My doc picked the sleeve for me. He decided since I had colon cancer in the past that the sleeve was the way to go. Not sure why but going with what he says. Good luck to you Hun.

[Niki15 198]

I was going to pick the sleeve but after talking to the surgeon he receded the bypass for the best result . And if something were to happen and they needed to reverse it that would be possible so zi went with that ... My HW 363 Sw 340 Cw 315 I am 6 weeks post op.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I chose. I knew it was either sleeve or bypass. After I attended the seminar I knew I wanted the sleeve.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I picked. I also picked a Dr that didn't do RNY because I knew I didn't want it. If that was the only option then I would rather just die fat. I am not knocking RNY for anyone else, but RNY is just not an option for me.

[newmebithebypass 713]

i choose sleeve and my dr agreed he feels very strongly that it will work for me. i am having my surgery march or april 2016

[slvarltx 332]

I initially wanted the band as the sleeve and bypass sounded pretty darn scary. Very few doctors still perform the band procedure where I am, so after talking to 3 different doctors, I picked the one I felt most comfortable with and choose the sleeve. I asked him what his leak rate was, he told me he has never had one in over 8000 surgeries.

[Andrew0929 1,101]

I, too, wanted the band when meeting with my doctor initially.

He was willing to go with that, but strongly recommended the sleeve for my situation.

I'm so glad I followed his lead, as this experience has been life-changing for me. Met my goal in 10 months (down 145 pounds) and am still very close to goal at 21 months out.

[BairwithMe 144]

that is an awesome leak rate!! and such a good question. I want to ask my surgeon now!! thanks for sharing.

I initially wanted the band as the sleeve and bypass sounded pretty darn scary. Very few doctors still perform the band procedure where I am, so after talking to 3 different doctors, I picked the one I felt most comfortable with and choose the sleeve. I asked him what his leak rate was, he told me he has never had one in over 8000 surgeries.

[KarenLoh 128]

I really wanted the RNY, but because of scaring from my hysterectomy my surgeon couldn't do it without opening me up and I did NOT want that. So far the sleeve has been good. I've continued to have some hunger which I was really hoping would go away (I've always had ridiculous rates of hunger from acid in my system). My brother had the RNY 8 years ago and did amazingly well and I would have preferred it but the sleeve is working out pretty well so far.

Also, I don't have to change my medications like I would with the RNY as the stomach processes meds better in the sleeve.

[Ilovecats1985 100]

I had my heart set on the sleeve. When I met with my surgeon he agreed with my decision. Due to the conditions I have he felt it was the best option for me.