Switching surgeries

So I had my final Dr. apt before my paperwork gets submitted for insurance approval this morning and everything seems like it will go through without a hitch. At least the NP says she can't see nay reason we would be denied. So fingers crossed it goes through quickly and painlessly

However, we did look at my history with vitamin deficiencies, especially Vit D and Calcium, and we determined that the mal-absorption with the RNY poses more of a risk then we want to take. So the paperwork that is being submitted will be for the sleeve, not the bypass as I originally wanted. I'm not really sure how I feel about this yet. On one hand, I do think it is super important to make sure my long term health is protected of course. On the other hand, I would really like the initial boost in weight loss it seems you get with the RNY.

Oh well. I guess this means I will just have to be extra vigilant. In any case it is decided now so its just a waiting game to hear from insurance.

Most of the US population is deficient in vitamin D. Your surgery, your choice but I think that's a weird reason to change surgeries.

Surgeons prefer VSG because it's quicker and easier and so a better earner than RNY. They can do more surgeries in a day.

Make sure YOU are happy with the choice, not them, because noone cares about your health more than you.

It is true that almost everyone here is Vitamin D deficient. Unfortunately my body doesn't like to absorb it and they aren't exactly clear why. I take a daily supplement of 10,000 IU D3 and I maintain my vitamin D level at 26 which is just a hair above the lowest "normal" range. If I skip more than a day my levels tank. When they first noticed my levels were so low I think it registered as a 2.

To be fair my surgeon did leave the choice up to me although he strongly suggested the sleeve. I am sure hat his time and effort were a factor in that suggestion, but I think he has my best medical interest in mind as well. I guess what I mean to say is I agree with the decision. Now I just have to work on being HAPPY with it. TBH I've been so focused on RNY that I haven't even looked much in the VSG forum here so that will be my next step. Looking at what it will likely actually be like with the VSG and what differences I can expect.

I assume you're taking dry D3? Some here take up to 50k iu per day, so 10k is not such a big deal. Why not up it to 20k or 30k to get better numbers?

If you have EVER had heartburn/gerd, consider the sleeve carefully. We are seeing way too many revisions these days, and I'm always shocked to see people have VSG with any history at all. The risk is way too high to my mind.

Anyway, do your due diligence on both boards, as well as the revision board to get the best overview

I was vitamin D deficient before surgery. I will admit I am a sun goddess. I know that is silly to say. But I live near the beach.

I wouldn't chalk up my surgery decision on vitamin D. Just my thoughts.

The sleeve can be just as effective as the bypass if you are diligent and stick to the plan. I had sleeve and have lost like 90 some percent of my excess weight (i am only ten pounds away from my dream goal and surpassed my doctors goal) and as I went through all my follow up appointments my dr kept telling me I was losing at just as good if not better rate as the bypass patients. I hope you have great success!

I have to agree with Kim. It doesn't seem like a great reason to change. DSers have far more malabsorption than we do, and they make out just fine. They have to take higher doses, that's all.

You can also take the wrong kind of D. D2, or D in an oil suspension, aren't absorbed well. I've been using patch vitamins, so the intestinal malabsorption never enters into it.

Your choice. It just seems like a very weak reason. And with reflux hanging over my head like the sword of Damocles, I still would opt for RNY over VSG,

What's your BMI? I ask, because your weight is not that high...I mean you're not super duper obese. Weight loss is not SUPPOSED to be a race, and maintenance is a hell of a lot harder, than losing will ever be...ask any vet here...type of surgery means NADA...type of ATTITUDE is way more important, IMHO

I agree, with the others, on the vitamin thing...kinda scratching my head...

A local surgeon, whom I am acquainted with, LOVES doing sleeves...they about all he does these days...He can knock out 15, in one day...That is not a typo, folks...FIFTEEN, on a certain day of the week...every week...and does this several times a week, at various hospitals...easy in/easy out...

I do worry that peeps may not know about the reflux thing. My DIL recently got sleeved, and her surgeon's practice would have told her NOTHING, if she hadn't had a long list of questions SOMEONE supplied her with :)

My BMI as of today is 44.1. So definitely not the biggest but not small either. Of course if I were small I wouldn't have ever needed to come here I suppose LOL.

My surgeon is very up front that he prefers sleeves. He says the are faster because they are a simpler surgery which means less complications. Luckily I have never had reflux issues. I've had heartburn maybe a handful of times in my life and never any of the biley throat issues some people talk about.

The vitamin issue made sense when we were talking about it in the office, but after everyone here having a different reaction, I am going to call back up there ans see if I can get some questions answered.

Good to know. You will never get any "surgery wars", from me. I believe..and have seen...COUNTLESS times...than people can screw up ANY and ALL surgeries !!!

Just always good to have as much info, as humanly possible, so you can make your best informed choice, for YOU