Hi, I'm New Here
relentless2121
Posts: 431 Member
Hi Everyone, it was just recommended to me to join this group from a friend in the VSGers forum. I just passed the 6 month pre-op check in this week and will soon see the surgeon for a consult and to decide which surgery to have. I'm in Canada and my surgery won't be till October or November. Up until now I have been leaning towards VSG. I have been part of the MFP VSGers group since the spring and thought my mind was made up.
At my 6 month pre-op check in, a few of the clinicians I saw indicated that they thought Gastric Bypass was a better choice for me with a current BMI of 49 & a history of obesity since childhood.
The lap band is not covered under my insurance so that is not an option.
I am not here to start a debate or cause any controversy, but to educate myself more on Gastric Bypass and meet some people in the community that are willing to share their experience.
I value the surgeon's input but I likely won't meet with the surgeon for 4-6 weeks.
I'm going to go back and read some threads on here and you will probably see me asking a lot of questions.
I look forward to getting to know many of you on this site. I know that some of the VSGers are on here too so I will know some of them already.
Looking forward to learning more about this forum. I cannot put into words how much MFP and the VSGers forum have helped me prepare for this journey. I'm sure I will have the same experience here.
At my 6 month pre-op check in, a few of the clinicians I saw indicated that they thought Gastric Bypass was a better choice for me with a current BMI of 49 & a history of obesity since childhood.
The lap band is not covered under my insurance so that is not an option.
I am not here to start a debate or cause any controversy, but to educate myself more on Gastric Bypass and meet some people in the community that are willing to share their experience.
I value the surgeon's input but I likely won't meet with the surgeon for 4-6 weeks.
I'm going to go back and read some threads on here and you will probably see me asking a lot of questions.
I look forward to getting to know many of you on this site. I know that some of the VSGers are on here too so I will know some of them already.
Looking forward to learning more about this forum. I cannot put into words how much MFP and the VSGers forum have helped me prepare for this journey. I'm sure I will have the same experience here.
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Replies
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Hi and welcome!
The VSG vs. RNY is a fairly common debate as both are good surgeries to help with resetting your system. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
RNY patients can no longer take NSAIDS (ibuprofin, advil, motrin, etc). RNY patients also have to be very judicious about taking vitamins, especially iron. RNY patients don't absorb food nutrients as readily as before surgery by design. Your entire GI tract is rerouted. This can also have the effect of being very sensitive to sugar and fat. Some people will encounter "dumping" when eating food high in sugar and fat. Dumping is the worst thing you have ever experienced in your life. I can assure you from personal experience. It's like my built in warning system that I take too much crappy food and then pay the price for it.
VSG on the other hand, leaves the GI tract intact. So no problems with vitamin absorption, and no need to skip taking NSAIDS. On the other hand, no built in mechanism to monitor your eating for you.
Both surgeries are very effective at getting the weight off. However, the most important thing to remember is that this is only a tool. It will initially help you to lose weight however, you still have to do the work afterward. You still have to control your eating, and watch your weight. Something my surgical team told me at the beginning of my process has stuck with me. 50% of weight loss patients gain it all back within 5 years. I am determined not to be one of those 50%, and I hope you are too!
As my disclaimer, I'm 2 years post op from RNY surgery. I've been maintaining my weight for about a year now.0 -
Welcome! :happy: Im Allison and Im in Calgary, so I know what you mean about things moving slower up here. Im pre-op VSG, and am finally meeting my surgeon at the end of August. AHC is providing the coverage for me and there is a really awesome program here.
Feel free to friend me if you'd like. If not, thats fine too. I found reading the different threads on MFP very helpful, and everyone is really nice.0 -
I have had great success with the SLeeve, and chose it based on the fact it was the least evasive of the two. I didn't even consider the band since I know people that have had it and remark how they can "Eat around it".
I don't ever want to put the weight back on.
I started my journey at 425 over two years ago. Had my sleeve surgery February of 2013, and reached my goal of 220 November of 2013. I have been doing walking the entire time and started going to the gym doing strength training and endurance training since August of last year. I am feeling great and doing things I never imagined two years ago.
Make your choice base on the one you are comfortable with. Both work but like i said sleeve had least chance of complications in my eyes anyway.0 -
Hey! I was born and raised in Winnipeg, now live in Arizona. Had RnY in Feb-2012 and lost 120#, getting to goal weight and a normal BMI in about 10 months. Chose it because it is more restrictive, felt that I needed those physical reminders of overeating. Yes, I will need to take more vitamins including calcium for the rest of my life, no it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Have had zero complications. "Unfortunately" I rarely "dump" either. Maybe only if I am really stupid and eat too much Ben and Jerry's or something super rich and full of sugar. You have a lot of time to research both options (I'm not even including the lap band, as its not covered and just not recommended for people with a lot of weight to lose and long term stats aren't great). Feel free to friend me!!0
