Gastric Bypass vs Sleeve...how did you decide?

[comtngirl 9]

I'm not sure what surgery I want or need. I'm just in the starting phases..The nurse mentioned because I am a recently diagnosed diabetic, I should look at by pass over sleeve because its more successful in keeping blood sugars down and I might not need medication anymore. I weight 210 and 5"2 tall - or should I say short?

Is it harder post-op to do one over the other? Are there more complications with gastric by-pass? How bout down the road? Is your lifestyle more changed over one or the other? I know gastric you will have to take a lot of Vitamins for the rest of your life. I've been reading on this site that people have a lot of gas, smelly breath, etc..will that go away?

Does everyone get hanging skin? Is that because it was such a fast weight loss or does anyone who loses that much weight have sagging skin even if they lose it slower...With all the saggy skin will you have to wear clothes to cover it all up? How about your face? Will that become saggy?

I'm sorry so many questions....I need some positive insights....and know that life is better on the other side...I know it will be for my health and that's why I'm doing it. Thank you!!!

[ALFxRNY 540]

I'm not sure what surgery I want or need. I'm just in the starting phases..The nurse mentioned because I am a recently diagnosed diabetic, I should look at by pass over sleeve because its more successful in keeping blood sugars down and I might not need medication anymore. I weight 210 and 5"2 tall - or should I say short?[emoji3]
Is it harder post-op to do one over the other? Are there more complications with gastric by-pass? How bout down the road? Is your lifestyle more changed over one or the other? I know gastric you will have to take a lot of Vitamins for the rest of your life. I've been reading on this site that people have a lot of gas, smelly breath, etc..will that go away?
Does everyone get hanging skin? Is that because it was such a fast weight loss or does anyone who loses that much weight have sagging skin even if they lose it slower...With all the saggy skin will you have to wear clothes to cover it all up? How about your face? Will that become saggy?
I'm sorry so many questions....I need some positive insights....and know that life is better on the other side...I know it will be for my health and that's why I'm doing it. Thank you!!!

I am also in the beginning stages and though I originally was going to opt for the sleeve, I started leaning towards the bypass. After my consultation with the surgeon I've decided on the bypass. I have a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure (I don't have either of these ailments) and after telling my surgeon about my appetite (I don't eat as often as I should) he declared my problem a metabolism problems and said it could be fixed by bypass but not sleeve. The biggest concern I keep hearing about the sleeve is the risk of developing GERD. The biggest complaint about bypass that I've heard is the vitamins and potential Hair loss from lack of vitamins. All you can do is research. I wish you the best of luck on your journey

[dreamingsmall 1,125]

2 hours ago, comtngirl said:

I'm not sure what surgery I want or need. I'm just in the starting phases..The nurse mentioned because I am a recently diagnosed diabetic, I should look at by pass over sleeve because its more successful in keeping blood sugars down and I might not need medication anymore. I weight 210 and 5"2 tall - or should I say short?

Is it harder post-op to do one over the other? Are there more complications with gastric by-pass? How bout down the road? Is your lifestyle more changed over one or the other? I know gastric you will have to take a lot of Vitamins for the rest of your life. I've been reading on this site that people have a lot of gas, smelly breath, etc..will that go away?

Does everyone get hanging skin? Is that because it was such a fast weight loss or does anyone who loses that much weight have sagging skin even if they lose it slower...With all the saggy skin will you have to wear clothes to cover it all up? How about your face? Will that become saggy?

I'm sorry so many questions....I need some positive insights....and know that life is better on the other side...I know it will be for my health and that's why I'm doing it. Thank you!!!

Start : 244lbs, I chose sleeve. I am also 5 foot 2. I chose sleeve as I did not want the absorption issues. I dont know anything about what will suit anyone else though. I also chose sleeve as less time in surgery and less risk i was told while someone else may be told otherwise so depends on the person. i dont know how bypass is down the road as i had a sleeve lol. but 3 months post and glad i had a sleeve. and well yess there are complications with every surgery for me i worried the huge problem i could put myself in if i forgot to take my Vitamins , still should always try and remember but more issues if not taken with bypass. The thing is your asking for people to say if there experience would be one way over the other, but unless people have done a sleeve to bypass conversion we dont know what the other one would be like.

Does everyone get hanging skin, well no one knows everyones contributing factor, racial backgound, start weight, elastistity so cant answer that. I already am abit flappy 3 months post 50lbs loss. Early on I dont know how people would want to make themselves lose slower, I am enjoying honey moon phase. Down the road I will probs lose slower as I get closer to goal. Again to the other questions about will your skin to abc No idea, depends on the person.

You need positive insight or reality? It is not all cotton candy its hard the first few weeks I wish someone told me so i could have been prepared. But 100%%% life is better on the other side for me.. after the first month lol i was miserable for that amount of time on puree etc etc.

Sorry for bad spelling typing in the dark.

Just being honest, may not be what your looking for. - Goodluck

Edited October 30, 2017 by dreamingsmall

[comtngirl 9]

Totally appreciate all the responses. It helps me a lot!!!! THANK YOU!!!

[dreamingsmall 1,125]

5 minutes ago, comtngirl said:

Totally appreciate all the responses. It helps me a lot!!!! THANK YOU!!!

No problem when you get more detailed info from a surgeon it will make things clearer, it did for me

[dmdakd 44]

I'm no doctor so you will get better advice from you medical team but I chose the sleeve mainly because my sister had a bypass 20 years ago and after seeing her life adjustments the sleeve seemed a little easier to live with. Don't get me wrong, my sister is happy with her bypass and has been super successful but I just didn't want to deal with the never having sugar again, it's not something I eat a lot of but it's nice that when I chose to have it i don't suffer the consequences. My sister also seems to have difficulty with more foods than I do and I am still in my first year. Maybe she's just different or maybe I am but for me the sleeve has seemed easier to live with than her bypass. That said, I'm nine months in, she is 20 years, I'll be interested to see if I'm as successful as she is 20 years from now.

Loose skin, yup I've got a lot of it, maybe as not much as some but I have it. It doesn't really bother me though, I look great in clothes, to be honest I don't know if I will ever do anything about having it removed, maybe one day but for now it doesn't really bother me. Obviously it will bother some people more than others but for me it's not a big concern.

You will love whichever decision you make. Nine months ago I used to sit on the side of the bed after walking up a flight of stairs and catch my breath so people couldn't see how winded I was, today I ran 5 miles, consider that for a moment, where will you be in nine months..... you will be amazed with where you can be.

[fruitandveggies 456]

My surgeon recommends bypass for nearly everyone because he says it's the gold standard. They've been performing it the longest, it has the best track record for success, and you lose the most weight. If you have diabetes it's for sure going to be your better choice.

I haven't regretted my choice at all, and (unfortunately) I can have sugar and all sorts of junk without much issue. It's more about keeping portions small, I don't really have any food restrictions.

And though it doesn't really matter, I liked the idea of the bypass better because I'm not losing any body parts. They are reconnoitered, but I still have my stomach in there--I don't want it to go away! (love you, stomach)

[comtngirl 9]

So the saggy skin afterwards doesn't interfere with fitting in your clothes? How about swimsuits? I'm glad to get the input....I just want to feel good...

I can't ever imagine running 5 miles but ya never know!!! One mile would be awesome!

[fruitandveggies 456]

Oh, and about saggy skin, I think you'd get it either way. It's not like the sleeve is much slower than the bypass, but you don't lose as much weight in total (statistically speaking). I don't really know if I have any yet because I'm still fat. But the fat isn't as dense anymore for sure.

[amoss42268 3]

I'm 5 foot tall. I had the sleeve 3 years ago and yes I regret it. I am now planning to have the mini gastric bypass in March after a lot of research I feel this is right for me. Best of luck on whatever you decide to do.

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