Bypass vs sleeve

[BayougirlMrsS 3,934]

I've started the process to be approved for surgery, I meet with my nutritionist Monday and Tuesday I set my appointment for the psych evaluation. What are the pros and cons of either option? Personal results/preferences/experiences? What no one ever told you. Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Why are you limiting your self to those two? I myself had the band done in 2009 have lost and maintained 87lbs. I have had NO complications at all. If it's Portion Control you want, then the band does it better than any other. All surgeries have there pro's and con's and i have Many personal friends that have had all..

4 have had the GB: One passed away due to obesity. He lost over 300lbs and gained it all back. two did well, gained it back and Untill just this past year i had one friend that lost and kept it off... but sadly she has gained it all back too.

3 sleeve friends: One had done great, she had it done two years ago. she had a ruff start as something went wrong in surg. and had to get a stint put in, she has maintained over 100lbs but she also bust her ass in the gy.....one did great, lost 150lbs, she had hers done in 2008, sadly she has put back at least half. the other never really did that great and sadly looks to be the same weight she was when she had it done in 2011.

My friend paula had the band a year before me and last year had her band removed and got the sleeve. She had re flux... she loves the sleeve. Christine, Me and Paula's gf had our band done the same day. Chris and Mia both lost over 60lbs and has kept it off... and me. Gina got her band a year after me and has kept it off. Not Mica, lost over 200 and had gained a bunch back due to a back injury and steroid injections..

This is what i can say about the band: yes there is maintenance, fills and such. But, i loved it because it gave me time to adjust my eating... Learn great portion control. my band keeps me in check. Yes if i eat too fast or don't chew good enough i "uneat".. Aka throw up... but, that's my fault.

My suggestion is too go to some seminars.... talk to people who have had... ALL three... talk to your dr and come to an agreement on what you both think is best.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,934]

Yes, this issue comes up often from my limited experience on this forum. My reasons for bypass:

1. My stomach remains whole and if RNY needs be...it can be reversed as God originally plumbed it. Gastric sleeve removes more than half of your stomach which cannot be replaced.

2. Gastric bypass has shown to return ghrelin levels to normal regulation within several months post op.

3. My BMI was >50 which makes gastric bypass the gold standard for faster weight loss.

Your stomach does NOT remain whole. You have a little pouch that is made. The difference between GB and the sleeve is with GB they leave the remaining larger part of your stomach attached while with the sleeve it is removed(normally 85% is removed). I wouldn't want any newbies to miss understand what you are saying.

Thanks for the information. I think I'm still a few months away from getting it done, I want to know all I can so when the time comes I am well informed. I was curious about the pain. I've had three c section in 4 years, all of which were very easy to recover from. Is it similar? Worse or better?

I had my LB on tuesday and was back to work on Monday. Now i do have a sit down job, but my pain was minimal. I also had had two c-sections, Hysterectomy and gallbladder removed, LB and TT.... the most painful was my Csection. the others were a breeze... I know for my Hyst. i was back to work in a little over two weeks only because my gyn would not release me. My GB i was back at work in 3 day. TT i was back at work in 12 days

[CSchulden 61]

All of my physicians recommended the sleeve, especially my gastroenterologist. He said its the best aligned with natural anatomy and the Vitamins and minerals consumed will be absorbed normally, unlike with the bypass. If you over-eat with the sleeve, you feel lots of pain so it does give you a signal to stop eating. And you'll naturally want to stop eating once you're full.

I got my surgery on 12/28 and am still finding my new normal. For me, it was the perfect choice. I do know others who have had the bypass and feel like they made the right choice also. I think you need to determine what things matter most to you. I didn't want my internals re-routed so I chose the sleeve; that was the culminating factor in my personal decision. I think you'll be equally as successful with either option.

Consult your other docs during your evaluation phase. Some have very hard opinions about which option they think is best. Overwhelmingly, mine recommended the sleeve based on my situation and health.

[oceangirlpc 68]

Is it true that one procedure over the other causes Gerd? I have Gerd but so confused because some don't ever mention having it after sleeve and that is what I was hoping for.

[4MRB4PHOTO 3,900]

Asking a question is good, but I recommend you do extensive research from major bariatric surgery center of excellence hospitals, JAMA, ASMBS and other respected publications, attend a WLS informational meeting, WLS support group meetings and discuss your findings and concerns with your PCP and surgeon to address your specific medical needs.
Good luck.

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@jj7481 - those were great links, thanks

[jj7481 363]

@@jj7481 - those were great links, thanks

You're most certainly welcome. Hopefully the clarify the difference and background of the surgeries.