You might try googling success stories and go for a counter balance... There is danger driving to the mall... and if we look up the accidents and deaths that happened on pretty much any given stretch of highway, well, we'd probably not want to drive it either :)

Watch this if you have a bit of time... Its on fear. Very moving if you ask me :)

Karen Thompson Walker: What fear can teach us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwgWkUIm9Gc


Best of luck with your decision... Only you know whats best for you!

I read a lot of folks's stories here. They talk of their woes and their triumphs. Seems like the general theme is that they have no regrets having the surgery, which ever kind they had.
Now days for the most part I have been told it is a safe surgery. There are of course dangers in any surgery, or as Becca said even going to the mall.
We all got to wiegh the pros and cons and make an educated decision. I chose the RNY becasue to me it offered the best chance of success due to the small pouch and malabsorbtion.

As for choosing between the two surgeries - i would first check with your insurance. the sleeve is still considered "new" by some insurance. The RNY as my dr put it is the "gold standard". So if your insurance only cover RNY that may be your choice by default. if it covers both do as becca said.

there is danger in everything you do. i have three small children and my hubby and i were both scared. but i told him, i can have one surgery now - or i can have many surgeries later.

the surgery part of this surgery has about the same risks as any surgery.

i found you tube videos of people who had problems and i freaked myself out.

on this site everyone is honest. they don't paint everything as a perfect picture, but nor is it doom and gloom. they just talk honestly about the problems and we all try to help make sense of them. but they also tell us about all the great parts.

as sgt said - most of us would do it again!

haven't met my surgeon yet. surgery is about 2mo out. my wavering is ,do it or not. But reading the stories and honest ones at that makes me more confident in my decision making. was told , get a paper and pen draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper, head the two columns pros - cons and put your thoughts down on either column ck your results might help you. good luck

I freaked out at one point as well. This is a big choice that will change your lifestyle forever and you have to be prepared. My only advise, which I have posted several times. List everything out on paper. The good and the bad. If you are concerned with a risk, talk with your doctor to see what the real numbers are, not the dramatised "press" version. I found out that the death risk, is more to do with any surgery in general, and that made me feel a little better. Other risks depend on your compliance with the rules. Take your time and research and ask questions. You are not on a timeline here. If it takes you a year to decide than so be it. Only you can decide if you want to change something that is a major part of your life.

Thank you everyone for your advice and comments!! Thank you Becca for reminding me that I need to include positive research in my Internet searches and not just negatives! Lol! I guess I'm just worried that I can do this by myself and I'm wondering why I would put myself through this. I can honestly say that in the past diets I wasn't 100% fully committed and I didn't exercise 100% either. So it gets my brain thinking that if only I just exercise full force and stay focused and committed to this new diet that has already allowed me to lose 28lbs then it will work and I won't need the surgery. I'm thinking its just cold feet but every minute is a different thought or feeling!

As I was poking around on another site today I came across this story... Here is a great place to help counter balance your list.... :)

http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/topic/83576-article-about-my-wls-journey/#entry939835

Thanks again Becca!!! Awesome story!

After hearing some scary stories on here lately, I have wondered at what I was thinking wanting to do this too. I think we run the gamut of emotions around here and that is pretty common.

I look forward to meeting with my surgeon this week. I'm hoping I feel better then. I am excited about WLS. I just need to understand that some days I'll be a little scared. I'm trying not to dwell on those days, because this whole thing is a huge opportunity for me.

@idajoy- I know what u mean...everyday is a different emotion! I was feeling great about it before meeting with my surgeon. I had hoped that he would help me make the decision on which type. Instead he says either one and its my choice. So now I'm at square one trying to decide yet again! I keep coming back to the "I already lost 28 lbs on my own ...I'll just keep going"

Has anyone on here experienced the putting off if surgery to try it on your own because u lost weight pre-op then wished years later that u did it the first time because u were unsuccessful? Does that make sense? Ugh! I feel like I'm all over the place!

aloharada I understand where you are coming from, sorta, I lost 50 lbs and questioned why I would go for surgery when I could do it this way. Then the lbs started to creep back on, I took them off but the scale just went up and down on the same 5 - 10 lbs. When surgery was set and I was half-way thru fast I had to cancel surgery, depression, eating, it was ugly. I knew without a doubt then that I need this surgery, this tool to help me change. I will be 60 in a few months and it sure would have been great if I had done this earlier but at least I will live longer with a better quality of life, Surgery is 21st and I will worry till I am on that table that something will stop it again.

Aloharada,

Hi there! I am brand new on here, and will be having a gastric bypass this July or August. We will schedule as soon as i get my tests done, and my evaluation and attend my support groups, as required by my insurance. I have already lost my 5% that is required by my surgeons office, by watching my sodium intake, and eating low fat. I have cheated a TON, but I'm so ready for the surgery. You are so pretty, and you will show off your beauty at just a lower weight!! How fun and exciting is that!!!

So, don't worry so much, like everyone said, you could get in a car accident and die, and you could have the surgery and be just fine, wihich i'm sure you will!

GO for it girl!! Be healthy, look healthy, and LOVE BEING HEALTHY!!!

Boo

Thank you Boo for your kind words! I'm trying really hard to search for clarity..but keep going around and around! I appreciate everyoes comments though...they help a lot!

Sometimes too much information is not good. What does your heart tell you.
I chose RNY becuase of it's long term success rate. A woman in my local support group chose the sleeve because she's of child bearing age and she wanted the procedure that caused the least amount of mal-absorbtion. I've heard of people having the RNY and still having children. It's really a personal choice that you need to make.
Dont' chicken out....the majority of the people in ths group will tell you it was the best thing they've ever done for themselves (me included). The ONLY regret I have is that I didn't do this sooner.
I hope this was helpful.
Shelley :O)

@shelly- that is exactly why i was leaning towards the sleeve was because of the malabsorbtion and having kids. but then my surgeon told me that either procedure is fine for having kids....then he goes on to say that the surgical staple line on the sleeve is the longest incision for any surgical proceedure. this scared me because the chance for leaks are greater on a longer suture line then on smaller ones. So then i leaned back towards rny only to be worried about malabsorption still since i am already vitamin d deficient and take thyroid medicine. its so frustrating...i'm already an indecisive person with everyday decisions...this is a big decision and i feel i can't make it. :( and since i can't decide i'm convincing myself to just forget it all together. :( I'm so sorry to be bugging everyone with this problem! :(