Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
I'm trying to find some good info to make a decision between the gastric bypass & the sleeve. Luckily my insurance covers both! My twin sister had the bypass last year and has done well with little effort. My best friend had the sleeve done 3 yrs ago and looks AMAZING!! I'm not sure which one is best for me...
My question to all you: Why did you choose the sleeve? What's the benefits over bypass?
Thanks!! :D
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
depending on how much you have to lose, I chose Sleeve after looking into things and speaking with my Doctor. I was concerned with the having to be on b-12 shots and lack of nutrients and vitamins with the bypass. You keep a much smaller pouch with the sleeve (hence it being a tool for success) Good luck :)
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
Hi, I had less then 100lbs to lose and that in part helped me decide on the sleeve. I also worried about the malnutrition that can occur with bypass also if you develop cardiac issues later on there are several medication that you can not take after bypass. I also did not want to worry about dumping.
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
I agree it is the amount of weight you have to loose! Your Dr. should advise you of which one he belives is best.
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
My husband convinced me that gastric bypass was not an option for me. He has gone through two cancer surgeries in two years, and expressed concern that if I should ever get cancer (God forbid) or another serious illness, the malabsorption issues with bypass could cause real issues in my recovery process. I'm 54, so am not getting any younger and recognize the increased risk of serious illnesses as we age...so the old man actually made some sense this time! Besides, all that cutting of intestines and resectioning of them sounded too tricky and more risky for me. Sleeve = no messing with my intestines, and no malabsorption issues ever, and no dumping syndrome. All good stuff.
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
Here's my standard reply when this question comes up: I have tons of research links and other information if you'd like more than just personal stories, and opinions on the sleeve. Feel free to contact me. I don't want to bombard you with information that you wouldn't want.
Quote:
The VSG was my 2nd, and final WLS. I could have easily had RNY, but I fought to have VSG as my revision from the band. Some factors I considered in deciding on VSG. The pouch that RNY offers is similar to the pouch with the band. Least to say, a pouch sucks, I love having a normal tummy, just less capacity and still fully functioning.
1) No blind stomach left behind that can be difficult to scope yet can still get ulcers and cancer.
2) 2 years max on calorie/carb/sugar malabsorption, but a lifetime of vitamin/nutrient malabsorption
3) I had a pouch with the band, and it sucked. I'm pretty fond of my pyloric valve and the sleeve let me keep it. I love having a normal functioning stomach, just smaller in capacity.
4) Regain stats and #of RNY patients seeking revision truly scared the poop out of me
5) I have too many friends in real life that struggle with vitamin deficiencies post-RNY, and most of them either never got to goal, or have gained back a significant amount of their weight.
6) The long term complications with RNY were too numerous for my comfort level.
7) I researched gastrectomies that had been performed for stomach cancer and ulcer patients, and found comfort in the long term results and minimal complications of patients that had lost most or all of their stomachs had dealt with over several years.
8) I was a volume eater, and knew a restrictive only procedure would work for me. That was my thought process when I got the band, and I thought I could beat the odds on complications. Sadly, the band only lasted 8 months before I had to revise.
9) I did not want to have food or medication restrictions. I chose WLS to have a "normal" life, and I think it's normal to eat a couple of cookies. With RNY, I wasn't willing to go through the possibility of dumping if I wanted to have a couple of cookies, or a slice of cake on occasion.
I lost all my weight with the exception of 7lbs with the sleeve. It's been a fabulous journey, and I'm easily maintaining with zero issues. I dropped 138lbs in 10 months with the sleeve, and have been maintaining my current weight for 10 months. I'll be 2 years out in June. Still never experience hunger, have zero food or medication restrictions, and truly live a very normal, active, fun-filled life.
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
Thanks! That's really helpful! I'm a big portion eater - I know that this will take out my hunger hormones, but do you know when you're full? Is it still possible to overeat?
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
Hello. I alwayss thought of bypass as a last resort if I ever decided to have wls surgery. I was never interested in bypass because I did not want anyone to re route my intestines. I had no knowledge of the sleeve until I met with my surgeon but when he explained the procedure I knew that was what I wanted. I am over 400lbs and have over 200lbs to lose and my doctor said I would have great success at weight lose. The sleeve is restrictive but does not have the same malabsorption and dumping concerns as bypass. I would cont to research , discuss with surgeon and make a decision on which wls would suite your specific goals. Good luck!
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
USAFWife, I want to be You when I grow up! LOL! I mean, when I get skinny! I'm a Navy daughter, Marine sister, and MarineMom now...so I'm already in the military family. I just need to get into the lost-the-weight-and-kept-it-off family. At least I know I'm on the right path, NOW!
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dizzy
Thanks! That's really helpful! I'm a big portion eater - I know that this will take out my hunger hormones, but do you know when you're full? Is it still possible to overeat?
Eating until we're full got us fat, right? So, measuring your portions, and tracking your food intake via a calorie counter (I prefer myfitnesspal.com) really helps keep you from overeating or consuming too many calories/carbs.
I still rarely eat until I'm full even at 20 months out. Early out, your stomach will be healing, and you might not develop a full signal. I get a hiccup, and I know if I take one more bite, that one last bite is going to come back up. It only took one or two times for me to realize when my stomach was full.
Measuring my portions was the best practice for me so I could start eyeballing my portions.
It is very easy to cheat the sleeve. Surgery only fixes part of the issues. The further out you get, the more you will be able to consume until your sleeve matures. My max capacity is about 3-5oz of dense protein. I eat 3oz if I wants some veggies/carbs. If I just want meat, I eat 5oz of meat and I'm done. At 20 months out, I'm eating the same quantities I was at 8-9 months out, but 2-3 times the amount I was eating at 2-3 months post-op. It's normal, and should be expected. Most veterans I have followed and talk to share the same experience. They all report max capacity around 3-6oz of dense protein, and about 6-8oz of mushy/slider foods. My surgeon believes my sleeve is at max capacity and matured. I'll be eating these amounts for the rest of my life and I'm perfectly content.
I refused to stretch my meals over 20-30 minutes during my losing stage. Now, if I want to eat more, I can stretch my meal out over 45-60 minutes, and fit more in. Of course, I'm in maintenance, so it's a completely different ballpark than the losing stage. I consume anywhere between 1500-2000 calories a day with 100gr of protein. I don't count carbs anymore, just keep my white carbs in check. I've been able to maintain for almost a year now.
The sleeve can be cheated. I've learned the tricks, and knew them before I had surgery. So, making the best decision on what I put in my mouth is still on me 99% of the time.
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
Thanks for this info. This only serves to reinforce that I am making the right decision for myself.
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
USAWIFE ur posts here are very helpful and lets me know that i can again lead a normal life after surgery. And tomorrow is the day :)
Re: Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve
I am so happy and glad to have read this post ladies my surgery date is April 21st and I was still debating but I believe in my heart that sleeve is the way to go I want to have a child and i know I am the only one that can control and have to learn. Bypass i thought would be easier for me to deal with craving and eating the fatty foods but I am praying that getting the sleeve will benefit me has it has done alot of you :) Thank you soon to be sleever :)