I had sleeve 2 years ago and to date I am down about 180 lbs. I only take a multivitamin and a calcium +D. The sleeve is sometimes used as a first step for people who are morbidly obese and need to lose weight in order to be a better candidate for full gastric or RNY (more of a surgery risk precaution). I was told that I could go through the same procedure and have a full gastric if I chose to. I am completely satisfied with the weight I have lost so far and the best part is my surgery was laparoscopic (no scarring down the middle of my belly) and my recovery was smooth. I never had acid reflux prior to my surgery however there are times when I need something to help with that so my PCP prescribed famotadine that I take as needed. Weight loss just depends upon the person - none of the surgeries are guaranteed unless you are committed to making the changes within you.

I am 6 day out of surgery ...When I started i was debating between the sleeve and gastric bypass. I went ahead and got the Bypass and Im happy with my choice . I figured if im going to do it im doing it big lol. it has proven over the years for people i know who have had it to be the gold membership.....

I had acid reflux/Gerd before sleeve surgery and they did it on me. They did find a hital hernia when they did my sleeve surgery so they fixed it too while in there. I did have some issues the first month but after that no acid reflux or gerd since that. I don't take anything for it and used to take generic priolesec daily. I think maybe them fixing my hital hernia helped with my acid reflux/gerd issue.
Talk to your surgeon about what WLS is best for you. I had the sleeve and love my little sleeve. I've lost 78 pounds in 7 months since surgery and I lost 47 pre op for a total of 125 pounds lost in almost one year. I weigh 145 today and want to get to 130-140 for my personal weight size. I didn't want them messing with my bowel is why I didn't do RNY and didn't want the issue of malabsorpion issue either.
I asked my surgeon what would be best for me cause I wasn't for sure and he recommended the sleeve and I had been leaning towards the sleeve also. I have noticed more and more people at my support group are now getting the sleeve. My bariatric group doesn't do many lap bands anymore either.
Good luck!

I'm 14 months out from RNY surgery on 11/1/11. When I first was looking at bariatric surgery, I thought only of the lap band. When I realized that having the lap band wouldn't give me as good of results with the weight loss, I looked into the sleeve, but that wasn't covered by my insurance. RNY gave me the best option of getting healthy with putting my diabetes in remission (once a diabetic, always a diabetic - you never get rid of it completely) as well as the weight loss. I also don't have sleep apnea anymore and lower blood pressure. You need to FULLY research all 3 options to decide what's the best for you. In the end, you and your surgeon will decide on the option. Yes, you will need to take supplements for the rest of your life - however, that's a very, very small price to pay for not having to carry all of the excess weight around, believe me. Good luck with your journey - I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

Lucy

Thank you everyone for your imput. I am leaning towards the rny because of the amount of weight i need to lose. But then I think the sleeve might be a better choice for more of a steady weight loss and to avoid the loose skin issue. also i am vitamin d deficient and worry about the vitmain malabsorbtion thing. decisions decisions.....lol

see...and this is just MY opinion...i look for them to phase out banding for permanent weight loss...is so easy to cheat with it...what i mean by that is that they cut a place in your abdomen and put in whts called a shunt...then they inject saline sloution in the shunt with is attached to your band and tighten or lossen it as needed..well theres the catch...anyone can go by a hypo and insert it into the shunt and loosen the band...as im told anyway...PLUS...you can still eat all the sugary stuff you want...so if you drcide to have just snickers bars that day and your band will let it thru..then you have eaten 3000 calories worth of CRAP...and thats what desparate people do...i KNEW i would cheat it because i have very little will power...the RNY will do most of the work for you...not to say you wont have your work to do to...

sorry again about the poor spelling lol..old key board and some of the keys get stuck

I chose the RNY and I'm six weeks out and have not regretted my decision for one second. My surgeon did mine laparoscopic,and fixed a hiatal hernia. I went into my consult knowing I wanted the RNY and my Dr was pleased that I had chosen that route. I was on bloop pressure medicine for 10+ years and have been on nothing since surgery! RNY is the gold standard in WLS I have several friend who did the sleeve and have been disappointed in the results. Personally, I think the lap band should be taken off the market