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Bypass vs sleeve

M

marge211

Member
Hi everyone. I am in the process of a 6 month program required by my insurer prior to authorizing mysurgery. I have met with my surgeon, have had one diet class, and have had my psych eval. My surgeon recommended te roux n y bypass for me because of my diabetes. I am hopiing to be able to stop all of my meds after surgery. My question to everyone is how did you come to decide a sleeve vs the bypass vs the band. I knew i didnt want the band because i wasnt fond of the idea of needles in the port in my belly every 4-6 weeks. Iam thrilled to have found this online support center- everyone seems so nice and helpful! ;)
 
My choice was easy to make. The lap band was out for the same reason you mentioned. My insurance wouldn't pay any portion of the Sleeve so it was the RNY or nothing. I would probably have had the Sleeve because of no malabsorption, no dumping and less sensitivity to sugar and fat. It's my understanding the weight loss is comparable to the RNY. I am (was) also a diabetic, type 2.
 
How soon after your surgery were you able to stop your diabetes meds? I also was leaning more towards the sleeve because of the reasons you cited. When i met with the surgeon, she aso stated that the weight loss was fairly comparable- bypass losing 60-70% of excess weight and sleeve losing about 60%. She aso said the sleeve was the 'new kid on the block'- that gastric bypass is the gold standard for weight loss surgery. I think some insurances dont cover the newer procedure. Glots of luck in achieving your goal!!!
 
Hi Marge, Tom here. I chose the Rny because the band was out of the question too, because I did not like the idea of something in me that could have complications or move around, I spend a lot of time in the woods and with my luck I would be miles from nowhere when something went wrong, my clinic wasn't doing the sleeve yet so I didn't know much about it so the RnY it was. There are severy sleve patients in my local support group and they are doing quite well so it is copmarable. Our facilitator said one reson the surgons like the sleeve is if they need to they can go back and switch it to a RnY if they need to for some reson. I guess it is like a partial RnY, they have been doing it for years in Australia. Hnag in there the 6 months will be here and gone befor you know it. :cool: Tom
 
marge211 said:
How soon after your surgery were you able to stop your diabetes meds? I also was leaning more towards the sleeve because of the reasons you cited. When i met with the surgeon, she aso stated that the weight loss was fairly comparable- bypass losing 60-70% of excess weight and sleeve losing about 60%. She aso said the sleeve was the 'new kid on the block'- that gastric bypass is the gold standard for weight loss surgery. I think some insurances dont cover the newer procedure. Glots of luck in achieving your goal!!!
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I was taken off my diabetes meds while I was still in the hospital :) I can't remember who gave me the surgical information about the Sleeve but it was someone from my surgeon's staff. The Sleeve procedure is simple and takes only 45 minutes compared to 2 hours for the RNY. Makes you wonder why some insurance's won't cover it yet. Like anything else they are probably waiting for data to prove its effectiveness over the long run.
 
marge211 said:
Hi everyone. I am in the process of a 6 month program required by my insurer prior to authorizing mysurgery. I have met with my surgeon, have had one diet class, and have had my psych eval. My surgeon recommended te roux n y bypass for me because of my diabetes. I am hopiing to be able to stop all of my meds after surgery. My question to everyone is how did you come to decide a sleeve vs the bypass vs the band. I knew i didnt want the band because i wasnt fond of the idea of needles in the port in my belly every 4-6 weeks. Iam thrilled to have found this online support center- everyone seems so nice
an
Hi Marge I had sleeve surgery feb 7th, i originally wanted lap band but would have to make constant trips to dr. for fills, sleeve did take 2hours but i still have absorption and i was not personnally comfortable with them playing with my intestines , i have lost about 40lbs since surgry and i feel great! good luck to you
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To be honest with you the sleeve scared me! I knew the band was totally out due to my liver being to large my doc told me that i needed to lose a massive amount of weight to have a better quailty of life.
 
hmboucher64 said:
what scares you about the sleeve? If you don't mind me asking, you can message me if you want:)
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What scares me is that they cut the stomach and completely remove it so if there is a problem they can't reattach like that can with the by-pass, they can't rebuild your stomach and put it back, but with the by-pass they leave the stomach and if something happens and they need to reverse it they can. with sleeve well your out of luck there.
 
I had the sleeve on 01/31, best thing I did. I chose the sleeve because it seemed to be the easiest procedure of the 3 and less side effects after surgery. I did not want anything foreign placed in my body, so the band was out. What ever choice you make will be the best for you, we all have different reasons for what procedure we chose, just do research and what seems best for you. Good Luck!
 
Hello.. I didn't want to deal with filling in the pouch with cc of IDK what the band.
I didn't want the sleeve I was told not enough weight will be lost.
I stood with the gastric bypass. It's been around for a long time. You lost more weight. Also I'm not a fan of sugar so if I'm suppose to say away from it ok with me.
 
Pat,
Even though you didn't do the sleeve, did you ever wonder what would happen if you were to be diagnosed with stomach cancer, after having the surgery, since they cut off the remaining part of your stomach.
Thanks,
Heather
 
I know! My thing is, what would happen if you were diagnosed with stomach cancer, after the sleeve and you wouldn't have anymore stomach.
 
hlambert said:
I know! My thing is, what would happen if you were diagnosed with stomach cancer, after the sleeve and you wouldn't have anymore stomach.
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I don't think about getting stomach cancer any more than I think about getting anything else. Gastric bypass IS reversible though in case you didn't know. All of the stomach is still present after the surgery, it's just in 2 pieces. I'm curious as to why you even brought up the subject of stomach cancer though. Does it run in your family?
 
I understand that by-pass is reversible, because the remaining portion of the stomach is left. I was talking about the "Sleeve," procedure. Since, they completely cut off the rest of your stomach. No, stomach cancer doesn't run in my family, but you never know. I sure didn't expect to be dx with cancer last year, but I was. Never thought I would get it, but I did. There is always that possibilty of anything. I am still researching and reading all of the time about WLS surgery. I now have all of my appointments scheduled, but two. I just fill more comfortable with the bypass surgery.
 
They do not cut off all of your stomach, they remove 3/4. For some of us without surgery we would not be living along life so you take your chances. We could get hit by a bus tomorrow that does not stop me from going outside. Anything can happen!!
 
The hospital I go to doesn't even do the RNY. I had the sleeve and outside of my own little mental issues it has been great. Honestly the RNY scared me cause of the malsorbtive issues with it. The have done the sleeve for many years. It started out as stomach stapling. I remember my step grandma having her stomach stapled when I was like 10. That was 30 years ago. There are more opportunity for complications with the RNY. For instance I did not have drains. I understand you do with the RNY. No my stomach will never be the same again. I guess thats the chance you take to make the changes you want. Just remember that you have right up until they put you under to change your mind about this. Also remember 'if you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you've always had.'. I did not have any insurance issues. BCBS. I assume you have talked to your issuance company? Anyway good luck whatever decision you make. It is scary. It is a big decision
. I look at my arms a say they look smaller today. I put on my undies and say I'm goona have to buy smaller ones soon. These make me smile and that's worth it. talking

Butyba
 
Butyba said:
The hospital I go to doesn't even do the RNY. I had the sleeve and outside of my own little mental issues it has been great. Honestly the RNY scared me cause of the malsorbtive issues with it. The have done the sleeve for many years. It started out as stomach stapling. I remember my step grandma having her stomach stapled when I was like 10. That was 30 years ago. There are more opportunity for complications with the RNY. For instance I did not have drains. I understand you do with the RNY. No my stomach will never be the same again. I guess thats the chance you take to make the changes you want. Just remember that you have right up until they put you under to change your mind about this. Also remember 'if you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you've always had.'. I did not have any insurance issues. BCBS. I assume you have talked to your issuance company? Anyway good luck whatever decision you make. It is scary. It is a big decision
. I look at my arms a say they look smaller today. I put on my undies and say I'm goona have to buy smaller ones soon. These make me smile and that's worth it. talking

Butyba
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Butyba, you talked about drains with the By-pass I dont have drains of any kind coming out my body and i know of three others that didn't either. I know some that had the bypass that did but not everyone does that. I just wanted to let you know that no not everyone has the drains put in after a by-pass surgery :)
 
Please talk to the professionals at your appts coming up about your concerns. I think your fear of the unknown has you grasping at unrealistic ideas. I am having my surgery done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and my surgeon informed me there will be no drains.
In either surgery, sleeve or RNY (which I am having) PART of your stomach is removed (Sleeve) or cut and separated from the larger part of your stomach (RNY).
In either case, how many calories you ingest after surgery will determine your weight-loss and maintenance through the years.
Since nutrients are still able to go through the stomach juices with the sleeve, there is no problem with malabsorption. In the RNY you have a much smaller stomach pouch then the sleeve, plus the surgery bypasses most of the stomach juices needed for nutrient AND calorie absorption. This causes the malabsorption of the RNY, and the need for us to take in more and easily digestible vitamins and minerals.
As for stomach cancer....it doesn't matter how big or small your stomach is. Working in a hospital I see most patients having their whole stomach removed regardless. That however is a whole nother thread...LOL I want to hear more from you about what you have found, I care.
I am attaching some websites for you to read, if you like, on the things I have mentioned here if you would like more information....http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/my00825/dsection=what-you-can-expect and
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stomach-cancer/DS00301/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
 
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