VSG vs. RNY, Pregnancy, Age, etc??? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

NorCalRN · 05-01-2009, 01:03 AM

Hi Everyone! Sorry- this is kinda long!

Ok, so this is my first thread start... I am like many of you on here- have been overweight pretty much my entire life and am finally ready to change that for good! I never liked the thought of WLS, felt I would be a failure for not being able to lose the weight on my own, etc. I lost 40+ lbs last year on a physician supervised diet, loved how I looked and felt but ended up gaining back 50+ lbs in a very stressful, chaotic and very short 7 month period, and I'm now at my all-time highest weight.

So, I found out today that although I am fully qualified through my Insurance for WLS, and all I have to complete is the paperwork and the Psych eval- the only 2 surgeries they approve is RnY and LapBand. I am absolutely against LapBand, for my own reasons. I feel that RNY is a very drastic surgery, and I am only 25 and want to have babies in the nearer future... It seems to me that VSG is actually the best option for me.

A coworker (Nurse) of mine went to Costa Rica last year and had her bypass done at a JCAHO Accredited hospital there and said her experience was the best. I have looked into getting the VSG done by her surgeon, and it will cost me $9500 plus airfare & Hotel.

So my dilemma is this: Do I pay a lot of cash in Costa Rica for the surgery I want (VSG), or do I have RNY and it is paid for by insurance at a local hospital???

My Other question is this: I am 25, healthy other than obese, wanting to get pregnant in the next 2 years or so, and I am very resistant to the life-long mal-absorption issues with the RNY. So is the VSG really the better option or am I making the RNY out to be scarier than it is????

HELP?

hexx2003 · 05-01-2009, 09:02 AM

I think you should consider RNY. VSG is still a major surgery,and with going outta the country your not gonna get all the aftercare that you truely need and deserve. I am 32 and totally wanting babies NOW, but i need to wait 1 year after surgery. 1 year isnt anything. If you are wanting 2 years.. then you've got time. I love my RNY surgery. I have lost 72 lbs in 3 1/2 months. I love the idea that i have consequences for eating poorly, keeps me on track. I dont mind the idea that i may never beable to eat cake and icecream on my birthday.. it doesnt bother me. But i can stay healthier longer i believe than with any other surgery. I considered lapband first. but i knew that if i couldnt limit what i eat now, then i couldnt do it after lapband. VSG is the same. You dont have dumping, so you can still eat poorly. I knew that if i had that (though it isnt covered by my insurance either) that i could still consume high fatty calories and have much slower weight loss.

Its a big decision, but you need to look at the big picture. Care after your surgery for a lifetime, can you give up certain foods without being forced, and how fast do you want to lose weight.

I made my best decision ever.. I hope you can make yours too!! good luck!!

Jeanie · 05-01-2009, 09:16 AM

I'm not sure why you think you can't have a healthy baby after RNY. There are several people on here (me being one) that have had healthy babies. There's a few on here that have had healthy babies and they were less then a year out. Of course it's better to wait at least a year, but things happen for a reason. The baby will take what he/she will need first then you get what ever is left. I know that with my pregnancy I gained 23 lbs which is a "normal" weight gain. Most doc's want you to gain no more then 25-30lbs. My baby was 7lbs 7oz and 21 inches long. Came out pink and screaming.

Best day of my life!

So if you are worried about a healthy baby after RNY you shouldn't be there are pleanty of little ones that have been born around here within the last 1 1/2 years and they have all been healthy babies.
Good luck to you on whatever you decide to do. Keep coming back here because there's lots of info to be had.

jerseygrl684 · 05-01-2009, 09:20 AM

The myth that you cannot get pregnant after wls is one of the dumbest things ever. They rerouted my stomach/ small intestines, not my reproductive organs.

With that, I don't know if going out of the country for a surgery is an option for me, but the choice is yours. However, if you are against RNY AND Lapband, i guess that leaves you no other choice.

Fyi, plenty of women on and off here have gotten pregnant after wls. Try looking on the Pregnancy forum, there are many with healthy babies.

poet_kelly · 05-01-2009, 03:54 PM

I think you are making the RNY out to be scarier than it really is. I mean, of course it is a major surgery, but so is the VSG. It's my understanding that you can expect to lose more weight with an RNY, although I may be mistaken about that. You can definitely have a healthy pregnancy after and RNY. Check out the pregnancy forum here to learn more.

I would be a little bit hesitant to get surgery done out of the country just because the surgeon won't be available for follow up care. Unless you're planning to travel out of the country for regular follow up appointments, that is. And you'll need long term follow up. If you do decide to go out of the country, I really suggest you first find a doctor near you that can help with follow up care, especially in case of an emergency.

Kelly

foxyfuzz · 05-01-2009, 04:00 PM

I am 28 and plan on having kids in the next 2 years or so and I had the RNY. I have done a lot of research and found that many women who have RNY WLS go on to have very healthy babies after and have no other issues.

Welcome to the forum family, there is a ton of info here.

NorCalRN · 05-01-2009, 11:39 PM

Aww... you ladies are all awesome!

I have put a lot of research, time and thought into the whole decision. It is not that I worry about GETTING pregnant, it is more the worry about 1) a healthy baby, and 2) a healthy mommy. I worry about how it will affect my body as well to support a baby growing for 9 months with all the malabsorption going on, ya know?

I SO appreciate the feedback from you all- I will do more reading into the forums re: pregnancy.

FYI- I have a GREAT Primary Care Doc and Clinic setting with access to a lot of wonderful after care, so that is part of my homework that is already done regarding the choice of whether to go out of country.

My other mental hurdle that I have yet to beat is that while I am ready to make this decision to have sx to lose the weight- it would be nice to be semi "normal" once I get there. I have this mental block that if I have RNY, I will never be able to enjoy "normal" foods, etc again.... Pretty stupid, but I know I share that mental block with others in this boat! And I love Ice Cream and Cake!

Thanks a million and one times... keep the tips coming please! I am so grateful for such a wonderful online support group like you all!