How did you decide?

[Ita_Me_Emmie]

Hello! I am just starting the journey to weightloss surgery. Tentative procedure is set for September 2020. I have to make a choice between bypass or sleeve before then. I am going to be 30, F, 319lbs and 5'7. I need some experiences and advise from y'all from both procedures. I'm having so much trouble deciding. Please help!

 

[Brenda2010]

Hello! I am just starting the journey to weightloss surgery. Tentative procedure is set for September 2020. I have to make a choice between bypass or sleeve before then. I am going to be 30, F, 319lbs and 5'7. I need some experiences and advise from y'all from both procedures. I'm having so much trouble deciding. Please help!

Hi and welcome. If you poke around the site, you see that this is probably the most asked question. Do a search and you'll get a ton of answers.

 

[3momchaos]

I was up in the air also. My initial surgeon appointment is at the end of March. While
I will listen to what he says, and I was leaning toward the sleeve when I started, I have since changed mindsets to the bypass. I have decided it will be better for my overall health, weight loss, and health problems.
You should consider health problems and personal goals.

 

[Cyxelsid]

This is an extremely personal choice, so not sure how much help this will be...

For me, I went with the sleeve for two primary reasons... 1) it actually changes less of your body, and particularly does not change your absorptive parts, e.g. your duodenum and your intestines. So... you should still be able to absorb nutrients as normal. 2) The bypass cannot be reversed. BUT, with the sleeve, if it does not work for you, you can go back and get the bypass done. My surgeon explained that the sleeve is actually the first part of the bypass anyway.

Either way, everyone's circumstances are different. I recommend interviewing several surgeons in your area. You would get multiple bids on getting your car painted, right? Why would you do less with your health? Ask the surgeons about their post-op routines, and support network. (I have direct text/email access to surgeon, dietician, and psych). Ask them if they have had any complications, either during the surgery, or during post-op. And all of that information can be verified through your State medical board.

Ask them to help you understand the pro's and con's to both procedures, and more importantly what THEY would suggest for a person in your circumstances, and WHY. Ask them to help you map out a post-op plan.

You are paying a lot of good money for their expertise, and they should not be afraid of any of these questions.

Best of luck to you whatever road you choose. We will all be here to support you!

 

[Reptar Kay]

First off, what worked for me, may not work for you. This is a snowflake surgery. No two cases are ever alike. So I would take everything you see with a grain of salt, and like Brenda said, do your own research.

But I knew immediately after the seminar that sleeve was the way for me. I would recommend it everybody. Not only is it the most popular option, but it's a lot less strict than bypass, and a lot less maintenance than lap band. And within less than a week, I was back to work. But once you attend the seminar, you will know what's right for you.