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Bypass vs sleeve

I had a drain after my RNY but it's not a complication, it's to prevent complications. It was removed before I left the hospital. I wish it had stayed in for a few more days though. After I got home one of the things I was told to do was to gently pull apart the drain incision twice a day to release any more fluid that remained. All I can say is Holy Crap!!! It was like watching a geyser *LOL* That was for 3 days then it stopped :)

You can have complications with any surgery but that doesn't mean you will. Things are improving all the time when it comes to medicine. This isn't something that I would have had 30 or 40 years ago because of the higher mortality rate. I had my hesitations when I had different surgeries in the past and my RNY was no exception. But I looked at it as a last chance to improve my quality of life and that far outweighed my fear of the unknown. I knew my surgical team would take excellent care of me and that all of the pre-surgical testing showed that I was OK to handle the surgery.
 
new to the idea of sleeve surgery but excited to look into it

hi to all,
i am new to this site. i am trying to get as much info regarding the sleeve procedure.
i am 72 years young and have diabetes II and have had 4 by pass surgery 6 years ago.
my first question is this. how do you find a competent surgeon.
my second question is who did you consult regarding the process to make the decision
to have the surgery.
i will be coming to this site more now that i have found it. i will do most of my reasearch
via the internet.
thank you for your responses
 
Hello Polo,

I researched on the internet, talked to people who had had lapbands placed since I thought that is what I wanted, and then approached my primary care physician about the procedure and her recommendations as to which surgeon. I had only two to choose from. The next step was the Seminar at the hospital bariatric center. Every Center is different but my first step was to fill out this health history thing on the WEB and give them my insurance information because they wanted to check it out first. Then various Emails until I spoke with the Doctor and we discussed the best procedure for me. My doctor is very open about how his patients do, infection rates, mortality rates etc etc etc. I also talked to friends who had different procedures done and by whom and all of them recommended my doctor. So, what I suggest is that you do your due diligence on the internet, talk to others who have the procedure you decide on, talk to your primary care doctor, and anyone else that you think might be helpful. This site is wonderful and you will get many helpful hints. Joy
 
Hi everyone I'm new to the forum and just have a question. I'm meeting with my surgeon on Aug 3. I have a choice between several surgeons. The one that is the most experienced only does the one incision he likes to be hands on. The others do laparoscopy. Has anyone had just the one incision or the laparoscopy. I am torn on which way to go. I appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks Doris
 
DEMARICI-Welcome to the forum. I had the RNY done laproscopically. It took an extra hour because the surgeon had to work around scar tissue from a previous hernia surgery. The recovery time for laproscopic surgery is faster than open surgery. Some of the more experienced surgeons that have been around a lot longer just choose not to train to do laproscopic surgery. I had a hernia surgey in June 2011 and used a remarkable surgeon who only performs open surgery even though there were surgeons who could have done it laproscopically. It just boils down to who you feel more comfortable with.
 
The Sleeve can make GERD worse or create GERD. So if you have Gastric Reflux talk to your surgeon and see what they say. Sleeve is best for those 65 or over and those who do not have GERD. Diabetes is helped by both Sleeve and RNY. something happens to the hormones governing insulin and hunger. Sleeve is faster to do and docs like it but is NOT reversable. RNY is reversible but most docs do not go in thinking they may have to reverse it, but if it is necessary it can be done I have read. I think Sleeve is going to be more popular as time goes on but not for everyone.
 
Hello and welcome: I had weight issues for yrs,and wanted a gastric bypass,but my surgeon told me that a bypass would not be safe for me,due to the fact that 2 yrs ago my colon up and herniated and that resulted in a open procedure and taking 3/4's of my colon out. My surgeon told me that he didn't feel an open procedure would be safe for me ,and that was the only way he could do a bypass. However,he said he could do a sleeve,and it would be a lot safer cause he could do that laproscopically,and I would lose 100 pounds. Anything over 100 pounds I'd have to work at. Just the thought of loosing 100 pounds to me sounded like Heaven,so I readilly agreed. My surgery was Sept 7th,I was in hospital for 2 days and feel good for the most part except a few pain issues. Dr said I'm coming along great. All in all I would whole heartedly reccommend the sleeve.;);)
 
Sleeve is not suggested for those with GERD so that is a consideration.
I was told that the weight loss is about the same with sleeve and Bypass, but Sleeve is permanent and Bypass can be reversed but difficult at best.
 
Thisis a good question. As a nurse i was fixated on the physiological differences of the two. A really good tool to use is the power point i was presented with. Go to weightcenter.org and click on new patient orientation. This is from Massachusetts General Hospital, they have a phenominal program with good descriptions for understanding.
 
Sleeve does not have to have intestines rearranged and does not get Dumping Syndrome BUT is permanent unlike Bypass which if absolutely necessary can be redone and rehooked up as before. Sleeve takes less time for surgury and has almost if not the same weight loss and same effects on Diabetes Mellitus. So there you have it!!
 
I had that conversation with my doctor and he said that a lot of dr don't like to reverse its complicated that's why when u go thru the classes to get it don't they pump it in your head its a life change. I had the sleeve done because I didn't want anything rerouted but if something went wrong they can always turn it to RNY.
 
My surgeon, and my neice's surgeon both have stated uncategorically that RNY is NOT reversible. I don't understand why it isn't reversible considering how it is done. My surgeon will do a procedure to make the RNY pouch smaller after it has been stretched though, or he will place a lapband after RNY. That is the main reason I chose a lapband in the first place is because it is reversible and they could then do a sleeve or RNY. Also due to my age and physical condition my surgeon even recommended a lapband. I doubt I could have the sleeve done due to some esophageal problems but we never even discussed it. With any of these procedures your pouch can stretch and become larger. That is why it is only a tool and you still have to follow the rules and work at it. Best advice I can give anyone is discuss with your surgeon what procedure is best for you and why! Whatever procedure you choose has to be right for you and there are many considerations. Good luck on your weight loss journey. And, no, I have never known anyone to have the RNY reversed.
 
RNY reversibility

I think it must be your surgeon and how he does the surgery or that he just does not want people going into it thinking they can have it reversed BUT my doc said he has reversed them but it is a difficult surgery and does not want to think about reversing it as you go into it. The reason the Sleeve is not reversible is that they cut away most of your stomach and with RNY they rearrange things but nothing is cut out so can be reattached but difficult surgeon. My surgeon has done it hundreds, maybe thousands of times. Has been doing it since it was first started to be done! He is GREAT, confident, and very skilled.
I just saw him today and got my date, now I have to convince my Primary Care doc. She is not going to like this much but I need it!!
Sandie
 
Hi Sandie,

I only stated what my surgeon and my niece's surgeon told us. The Center I went to is considered one of the best for bariatric excellence in Florida. My surgeon has NEVER lost a patient. I do understand the anatomy and what is done with RNY so I do understand that it can be reversed. I just have never met anyone who had it reversed or wanted to for that matter. I certainly never want to give up my lapband although I know people who have had to due to slippage or erosion.

I don't understand what your PCP has to do with it. It is your decision. All my PCP did was give me the original referral and I did not need her okay to have my surgery. My PCP is absolutely delighted with my results. All my testing was done at the Center where I had the surgery done.(that I still needed, most of it was done and I had copies of all the results)
 
Karenina said:
Everybody talks about RNY being reversible. Has anyone ever heard of a reversal being done???
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You might try asking your surgeon if he / she has ever done a reversal or if they know of another surgeon who has. It's a very specialized surgery and therefore not a lot of surgeon's are trained to do it. You could also check the Internet for more information about this.
 
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 and helpful! ;)
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I had my rny gastric bypass 11 days ago. I have not had to take insulin or metformin sense then! My blood glucose readings are between 96 to 111 every morning. My surgeon had told me the sleeve was not as effective for controlling diabetes. I was in shock and wasn't sure at first.
 
Hi so if gastric bypass doesn't work and you gain weight back does that mean you your stomach breaks back open or do you grow another stomach on top of your previous one?
 
Crymsynslady said:
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.
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You don't have to be scare because you have plenty time to stretch you stomach as the way it was before. after you recovery from surgery, maybe 8 or 9 months after you stomach is complete recovery, you can start to eat more and it can get the same size it was before. But remember you will be fat again. You decide if you want to be the same way you was before.
 
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