Starting my journey..need advice!

[kiki326 0]

Two days ago was my first appt with the bariatric program. My ins requires a 6 month diet program with them in order to qualify. My starting weight is 258 at 5'5" with a BMI of 43. I do not have any health issues other than GERD. My ideal weight would be 150-160. I am completely torn as to which surgery to have. I feel like bypass will give me more weight loss but the sleeve seems safer and my doc prefers me to do that one. Half of my fam has had both surgeries and results are mixed. My older sister was over 300lbs and had the sleeve and lost 60 lbs but then my aunt who was 225lbs lost 75lbs. My little sister had bypass and was 318lbs and lost 130lbs but another aunt had it and was 285 and she lost 70lbs. I understand every person will be different but I worry It won't be possible to lose 100lbs with the sleeve but I'm afraid of the longer list of long term complications with bypass. My brain is telling me sleeve but my heart is saying bypass. I only get one shot at this and I want to choose the tool that is going to benefit me the most! Can anyone share their experiences with me and any pros and cons from both types of surgery?

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[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Two days ago was my first appt with the bariatric program. My ins requires a 6 month diet program with them in order to qualify. My starting weight is 258 at 5'5" with a BMI of 43. I do not have any health issues other than GERD. My ideal weight would be 150-160. I am completely torn as to which surgery to have. I feel like bypass will give me more weight loss but the sleeve seems safer and my doc prefers me to do that one. Half of my fam has had both surgeries and results are mixed. My older sister was over 300lbs and had the sleeve and lost 60 lbs but then my aunt who was 225lbs lost 75lbs. My little sister had bypass and was 318lbs and lost 130lbs but another aunt had it and was 285 and she lost 70lbs. I understand every person will be different but I worry It won't be possible to lose 100lbs with the sleeve but I'm afraid of the longer list of long term complications with bypass. My brain is telling me sleeve but my heart is saying bypass. I only get one shot at this and I want to choose the tool that is going to benefit me the most! Can anyone share their experiences with me and any pros and cons from both types of surgery?

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This is a decision you need to make with your surgeon. Just learn as much as you can and ask lots of questions. None of us can tell you what is right for you. We can only share our own experience.

You absolutely can lose weight with either surgery as long as you follow your program and do your part.

I was sleeved April 20, 2015 and started at a much higher weight than you. I couldn't be happier with my surgery, recovery, and results so far.

[Bufflehead 6,358]

Having GERD would indicate that medically bypass is something you should strongly consider because it will cure your GERD, while a sleeve very well may make it worse. Definitely discuss it with your surgeon.

That said, you can certainly lose 100 lbs with the sleeve. I've lost over 200. With either surgery, you need to be committed to healthy eating for the rest of your life. Without that commitment, you will pretty much certainly fail. With that commitment, you will succeed with either surgery.

[Sophie74656 1,572]

I had the sleeve and lost 175 lbs in 8 months

[KristenLe 5,979]

I have about 140lbs to lose and I am have the sleeve. I did not want the malabsorption part of Bypass. Good luck on your journey!

[stacyrg2 350]

Having GERD would indicate that medically bypass is something you should strongly consider because it will cure your GERD, while a sleeve very well may make it worse. Definitely discuss it with your surgeon.

That said, you can certainly lose 100 lbs with the sleeve. I've lost over 200. With either surgery, you need to be committed to healthy eating for the rest of your life. Without that commitment, you will pretty much certainly fail. With that commitment, you will succeed with either surgery.

I agree 100% with Bufflehead. I didn't have GERD prior to surgery and had the sleeve. I was successful and am maintaining a 120lb loss. But I developed severe GERD after surgery that is not controlled by medication. For that reason I'm converting to bypass 7/1. I know there are many on here who will say that the sleeve cures GERD but that has not been my experience. Knowing what I know now, if I had GERD ore surgery I never would have had the sleeve

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[Harsha 168]

I had the same dilema.. only my surgeon told me either surgery would be equally successful. I wish he had said one would be better than the other. In the end I decided I'm going to do the bypass because my insurance will only pay once, so if I had sleeve and wanted to later get the bypass... it would be out of pocket. Also, the bypass has more of a history than the sleeve. If the sleeve had another 10 years or so of data/history I may have gone with that.

[kiki326 0]

Thank you all for the replies! My doc is aware of the GERD and is still pushing for the sleeve. He said it is my choice and he will do whatever surgery I ask but he does not advise bypass. He is more concerned with long term issues from bypass than he is GERD. But one of my fears is it getting worse and I end up in the same situation as stacyrg2. I guess I have the next 6 months to figure it out lol!

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[James Marusek 5,244]

I had severe acid reflux (GERD) prior to surgery. I am 3 years post op RNY gastric bypass surgery and GERD went into remission after surgery.

[stacyrg2 350]

Frankly I would be concerned about any surgeon who is not concerned about pre existing GERD. It is well accepted that the sleeve can make acid worse which can lead to Barrett's esophagus or esophageal cancer. I would think long and hard about your decision!

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