KellyinGermany

I have my consult with my surgeon on Jan 18 and will probably go with what he recomends but I prefer the sleeve.
What made you choose the sleeve over RNY? Was it a personal choice or Doctors?

mistymee

For me, I didn't know about the sleeve prior to having my RNY but I wish I had... the lack of malaborption would be one reason for me to have chosen the sleeve over the RNY, and the ability to take NSAIDS, for my arthritis would be another reason.

I'm happy with my RNY overall, but I do regret that my doctor didn't suggest the sleeve and though I did do research, it just wasn't on my radar at all till I spent time here on TT.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

__________________

Hychap2009

Hi Kelly,

I was initially told that I would be having the bypass, by my second appointment the head surgeon had decided I would be better suited to the Sleeve. At that time I had never heard of it, but once I researched it I became much more comfortable with the idea. The surgeons decision was based on the fact that I had a number of health issues that could make it more difficult for me to be on the operating table for the length of time the Gastric Bypass took.

So arguments for the sleeve were:-

Less time on the operating table.
Less chance of complication during and after surgery.
Based on my current eating pattern the sleeve was suitable as I was not a grazier, but tend to have issues with my portion sizes and the surgery is a restictive one.
No need for re-routing of intestine.
No issues with malabsorption of nutrients.

So basically I was quite happy with this procedure once I understood it.

Hope that helps some.

__________________
Height 5ft 2"
2004 Highest weight: 22 stones/308 lb
269 lb/123kg
BMI: 53.2 Current BMI:41.53
BMI Member No. 7

Weight Loss Surgery: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Added to waiting list: 23 January 2009
Pre-Assessment date: 3rd July 2009 (accomplished)
Assessment call back: 10 July 2009
Transvaginal Ultrasound: 7th August 2009
Surgery date: 2nd March 2010 YAY!
GYM RAT ♯145
The race is not for the swift but for he who can endure to the end.

watfam4

If your doctor thinks that the less invasive and less restrictive procedure (sleeve) will allow you to achieve your weight loss goals, seems kind of like a no-brainer to me.

I am very happy with my RNY, but if the sleeve could have gotten me to my goal without the malapsorptive issues, I would have gone with the sleeve.

__________________
Jim

Lynette

I have a friend who got the sleeve a month after I had RNY, we both have the same surgeon, and we both started out about the same weight. I asked him about it and he said that RNY is the gold standard and with my BMI I would have better success with RNY. My friend got the sleeve because she was already very anemic so RNY would have made it worse. Having said all that, the rate of her weightloss is pretty comparable to mine so far and she doesn't dump of course so I dunno, maybe someday the sleeve will be the new "gold standard"?

__________________


Highest ever: 345 11/15/2007
Weight at Kaiser WLS orientation: 329 2/26/09
Met pre-op surgeon's goal: 299 5/20/09
Lap RNY: 292.5 6/24/09
Century Club: 245 09/09/09
Onederland: 199 1/19/10
Post-op Century Club: 192 2/22/10
No longer "obese": 185 04/09/10
One year post op: 169 06/24/10

poet_kelly

Like Kel, I did not know about the sleeve before I had surgery. My surgeon did do that operation, so he didn't tell me about it. I really feel he did me a disservice in that regard. Had I known about it, I would have seriously considered it as the nutritional deficiencies that can occur after RNY really scare me.

Kelly

__________________
RNY 11/4/08

surgery/current/goal
270/122/140

Hychap2009

Actually that is probably one of the other reasons he opted for VSG for me, I also have anemia.

With regards to the camparability, from what i was told by my surgeon is that the sleeve is proving to have the same results as the bypass. Maybe the reason why doctors see the bypass as 'the gold standard' is that the VSG has not been around long enough to provide the necessary long term statistics as oppose to the bypass. However, what results there are so far are looking pretty good. So maybe you're right, in the future VSG may well be the up to 'Gold Standard'. Heres hoping.

__________________
Height 5ft 2"
2004 Highest weight: 22 stones/308 lb
269 lb/123kg
BMI: 53.2 Current BMI:41.53
BMI Member No. 7

Weight Loss Surgery: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Added to waiting list: 23 January 2009
Pre-Assessment date: 3rd July 2009 (accomplished)
Assessment call back: 10 July 2009
Transvaginal Ultrasound: 7th August 2009
Surgery date: 2nd March 2010 YAY!
GYM RAT ♯145
The race is not for the swift but for he who can endure to the end.

KellyinGermany

I do have hypothyroidism, so I think the malabsorption could be a problem for me.

Thank you-this is a great point, I have issues with portions too

this is good to know , thank you!

I had never heard of the sleeve until I went into my insurance office and they asked me which surgery I was getting. They are the ones that told me the sleeve has approval (only within the last year for TriCare)
I was also the first person to tell my nutritionist and psychologist about it. They had never heard of it and started googling it the moment I mentioned it!lol

The one thing that bothers me is that I can't seem to find any info past 3 years...I am hoping my Dr has more info on long term effects.

Thanks for all the input, it's a life long decision and I want to make the right choice (don't we all )

poet_kelly

If your nutritionist has never heard of the sleeve, I would find a new nutritionist if that is the procedure you decide to go with. Obviously you need someone familiar with the procedure so they can advise you correctly.

Kelly

__________________
RNY 11/4/08

surgery/current/goal
270/122/140

KellyinGermany

Very good point!
I thought it was weird that they had never heard of it! If TriCare (the military insurance) has approved it, you would think the medical professionals that deal with patients would be up to speed!
Unfortunately I am limited to the resources our base provides for us (bc of the language barrier) Thank god for the internet!