VSG or RNY?

lsorenson22

Hi all! I'm having trouble deciding between vsg and RNY. I've read other forums and have found them somewhat helpful, but I'd like more help related to my specific situation. I'm 31, no health problems, I weigh 250lbs, 5'5" tall. I've read all there is to read about both surgeries and I know the ins and outs. My surgeon says I'd be suitable for either surgery. What I need is help from people like me. I want to lose 130lbs. Which surgery is going to help me best?

garber6th

This is the kind of question that is so hard to answer because as you probably know, everyone has different results for different reasons. I can only speak for myself - I have had great success with the sleeve. I chose the sleeve because I didn't want to re-route the plumbing so to speak, I didn't want malabsorption issues or dumping issues either. I had minimal health problems compared to some people. I had high blood pressure and chronic back pain from being so heavy. Both of those things are not issues any more - my PCP took me off blood pressure meds months ago and I can't even remember the last time I had back pain.

You will hear positive and negative stories for both VSG and RNY. Are you leaning towards either surgery?

lsorenson22

Not really. As soon as I start to think, "yes, I'll do vsg" I start doubting myself and thinking I won't lose all the weight. So I start rethinking RNY, but then I think " no NSAIDs" or "it's more expensive". Then I'm back to square one. It's just difficult for me not knowing the exact outcome. I realize it's a tool and it's up to me, but I've had no success in the past so its hard for me to believe this will work.

garber6th

I totally understand how you feel. I had fear that it wouldn't work, and I think that's so normal because most of us wouldn't have thought of surgery if we hadn't had failure elsewhere, you know? When I weighed 382 lbs I was really scared and hopeless, but having surgery gave me my life back and that was worth taking a chance on. The best advice I can give you is stick to your program, and do what your surgeon and his team tell you to do. You can totally do this and you can totally make it work for you.

rpyle111

When I started I needed to lose about 180 lbs. I was initially assuming I would end up with RnY because it tends to result in a larger weight loss. After I started my pre surgery plan, I have been so successful at the MFP conceptual plan that I fleetingly considered trying to do it without the surgery.

I have decided that I still need the surgery, but am following the less invasive VSG route and am confident that I will be able to lose the weight to goal using the sleeve tool and the knowledge I have learned from MFP.

Good luck ad let us know what support you need. Feel free to friend me!

Rob

csmccord

I think the biggest downside to the RNY is the mal-absorption. At my 18 month check up I was speaking with my DR about this. He said that over time the body adjust and will start getting the macro nutrients at a normal rate again. However the micro nutrients (vitamins+minerals) would still not be as readily absorbed for life as far as he knew. So, really, the primary question I think you should ask yourself is if you can stick to a regimented vitamin routine for the rest of your life?

For example, I'm 22 months post op. Due to the vitamins I have selected, I currently take 3x multi, 3x calcium chews, iron, B complex, and and extra 5000 IU of D. I don't mind taking the vitamins. I actually take two calcium chews at the same time and call it my afternoon snack! What I do wish that I had thought about more, was the long term effects. If I have trouble absorbing some of these now, how will my body react in 40 years when I'm 73?

I mainly chose the RNY for the mal-absorption and dumping. However, note that not everybody dumps, and you'll never know if you do, until you actually do. Trust me it's no fun, I wouldn't try it out. However, dumping can go away with continued eating of fats and sugars. If you push the envelope on a regular basis you can completely reverse any progress you made.

So, yes it's a very person decision and we all come to it a different way. From my perspective, I wish I had looked harder at the sleeve, and it doesn't have many of the downsides of RNY. Please don't get me wrong, given how I've done, I would certainly do it all over again. I am in no way displeased with my choice of the RNY.