Hi aloharada -
you have tons of advice here on this board and it sounds like you are also very well informed of both types of surgery.
For me the decision was easier. I chose RNY because there is more history attached to that surgery and because people that I know that have been successful have had this surgery. I am 57 and with arthritis in my knees and hip. I have found myself moving less and less because of this. Although I know the surgery will not cure the arthritis, I know the less weight these knees have to carry the better.
If you need to give yourself another chance to do it on your own to feel better about the surgery, then you need to do that. I think it is so important to go into surgery with as little doubt as possible. You could be one of those people who succeeds with diet and exercise. I however would never keep the weight off. I have been losing the same 40 pounds for years.
The only advice I can give you is to follow your heart. Wishing you the best :)

What comes to mind for me when you talk about the risks of surgery: Think of picking up a script from the pharmacy.. They list every possible side affect possible... Even if ONE person has suffered from it... Well, the same with surgery... You will hear every bad thing that has ever happened...
And look at the news and the newspapers.... They are FULL of the negative in our world...
So as humans we follow the negative... If you focus on all the bad that COULD happen, it may just manifest itself....
When I made my decision to have the surgery, I focused on all the success stories that are out there.. I put faith in my surgeon, and I put faith in GOD.... That HIS will be done in my case...
I am not going to say I wasn't scared... Because I was... But those fears were minimized by thinking positive...
And I am NOT sorry one bit that I had the surgery.... And I had RNY... I wanted the tools and the long term success rate that came with this surgery.... There just isn't enough long-term results on the sleeve for me...
I hope you are able to make a decision and come to grips with it.... Life is about choice, and we all have ours to make... I can only share with you where I came from... I truly hope it helps....
Do what is best for YOU... And all will work out perfectly....

I should tell you that my insurance made my decision for me on which surgery I'm going to have. They don't cover the sleeve because it doesn't have enough history for them. So I'll be having the RNY....if I'm accepted to have surgery, that is.

Thank you Healthydiane-
I too have been doing the yoyo thing...but part of me is so scared that the surgery is approaching so soon that I think i might have scared myself into being more diciplined and sticking to it! LOL However, I have been here before where you have a little bite of ice cream...you don't gain anything so you think...i'll have a little more today...and thenyou gain one pound only to think.."its just 1 pound"...ill have a little more...lol! thent he vicious cycle happens again! LOL

If you are having doubts maybe you should go with your gut feelings and hold off on the surgery. My doctor never made up my mind for me he just gave me information on the various surgeries and left it up to me.

I never had doubts about having the surgery, I was just anxious to get it done. And I am So VERY HAPPY I did. I had my surgery last year (June 5, 2012) and it's the best decision I could have made. I chose the Sleeve surgery and to date I have lost 85 lbs and wearing a size 10. My only regret is...I wished I had done it sooner. I have not and did not experience any difficulties...not a one. I have no complaints. Just happieness and loving the compliments.

Good luck with your decision and best wishes on whatever you decide.

I went back and forth for 5 years. I also kept telling myself I could do it without the surgery. Nope. Wasted 5 years. On second thought, those years weren't wasted...they got me to the place where I was willing to do ANYTHING to get to a healthy weight again.

So, if I was willing to do anything, why not just diet and exercise, right? The reality is 95% of ALL diets fail. The statistics get worse and worse the more overweight a person is. Fat becomes a hormone-producing organ in our bodies. Metabolic syndrome makes taking the weight off and keeping it off almost impossible. For me, RNY was a metabolic "re-set." I am completely thankful the surgery was available to me and I had the strength to go through with it.

When I first came on this board, I met another lady who was scheduled for surgery the same time I was. She got scared and decided to try one more time to do it on her own. I got an e-mail from her a year later. I was at my goal weight and loving life. She was heavier than she was when she cancelled surgery. She was so discouraged. It has been three years. I don't know what happened to her.

Also, don't take your insurance for granted. Most insurances don't cover weight-loss surgeries. You never know when your employer/hubby's employer will be forced to change insurance companies or the insurance company will change coverage.

JJ

tahnk you jj!!

you are so right as far as the insurance goes! :) I think i just need to practice some breathing exercises to get over the anxiety! LOL

When I was contemplating surgery I was told by my primary doctor that I had more of a chance to get sick or die from an obesity related illness than having complications from surgery. That really helped me to make the decision to go ahead and do the surgery.

My health insurance didn't pay for the surgery for any reason, no exceptions. I was luck enough to be able to switch to my husbands insurance and they only cover RNY and SLeeve not the lap band which I was not interested in any way. My surgeon asked me which surgery I wanted, he suggested RNY but ultimately the decision was up to me. I told him RNY but I also signed a waiver that if he got in and there was some reason that he could not do RNY that he would do the sleeve instead that way I had one of the surgeries.

@kelly- yeah my surgeon said that if for any rason they get in there and can't do the RNY then the plan B is sleeve. I told him I was fine with that. :)

Don't have surgery. It is a choice you have plenty of time to decide. It is only your choice. Your doc shouldn't or can't tell you which is best for you. Only you can decide that.

But don't decide not to have suregery because you are are afraid.

Decide not to do it because you are not ready or want to take a different path.

If you do decide commit to change for yourself and only you. Don't do it for a spouse, family member or your doctor. They can't eat the food or have the surgery or do the exercise for you.

It's all you. I wish you the very best.

Be well.

hello aloharda i really understand where your coming from i feel exactly the same as you as don't know whether if i really comitted 100 percent that i would not need the op its a really big decision so you have to be sure so what ever concerns you have ask before going ahead but then at the same time you don't want to lose the opportunity of a chance to change your life for the best i wish you all the best in whatever you decide xxx

I to have chicken out on this process. I actually chickened out twice--after I had completed all the class and just waiting a surgery date. Why did I chicken out--I thought that I was taking the easy way out of this process. I thought others close to me would think the same thing. I also did lose the weight while on the program but it didnt continue after I stopped. I had the knowledge of how to do it but it didnt stay off.
Finally a year ago I decided to start again. I had the surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago and I know that it will be a little difficult adjusting to the life long decision I have made BUT it is the best decision for me. I went between the sleeve and RXY and ended up doing the RXY.
I have loss 25 lbs so far since my surgery. The only thing that I have been struggling with are the protein shakes--yucko for me.
I wish you al the best and just make the best decision for yourself.

Stay calm. Due more research and ask on here. I've had gastric bypass last sept. It worked for me. Know others who have done well with the sleeve. They both in the end will be the same as far as weight lost. RNY will started out having you lose weight faster than the sleeve will but like I said in the end it will all even out. I wish you the best debby