pros and cons please help

Here is some stuff: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000569.htm

I gather that because "intrinsic factor" which is needed to absorb B12 is produced in the stomach lining, and we have a lot less stomach lining, we can have trouble absorbing B12. So that's why we need either shots or sublingual tablets of B12, because our stomachs can no longer absorb it.

Interesting about the B12.  I take it in powder form (added to my shake) and my labs have been solid so far.  (But I'll definitely continue to get it tested.)

You may want to reconsider that because it's passing right through you.

Based on my lab results, that certainly doesn't seem to be the case.  

You have stores in your body from well before surgery, so your labs wouldn't be reliable indication of whether or not you're absorbing it now. Here's some more on B12. B12 deficiency is a very real and serious potential side effect of gastrectomies. 

Also, I believe I misspoke because I was confused. I don't think the gastrectomy itself affects iron absorbtion (unlike with B12), but the extended use of PPIs does. And since many of us struggle with reflux, sometimes for life, that is relevant to the surgery.

Like I said, I'll continue to get my B12 levels tested but, so far, they're fine.  

And I'm not taking a PPI :)

5. With the bypass, you're left with a remnant stomach that can't be scoped. That scares the crap out of me. First, the idea that I have this weirdly connected non-stomach but then to not be able to get it checked out with an endoscopy if there's a problem? Eek. Do not want.

That is a huge reason not to do RNY that I hadn't even begun to think of. Thank you very much for this list. All things I will add to my list. You rock!

You're welcome!  Good luck with your choice - I do believe that they're both really solid surgeries, but the VSG was definitely the one for me. 

one of the cons of the vsg is all the new cloths you have to buy after would 

 the pros are feeling tons better being able to do stuff like walking siting in a normal chair 

I wish I had known how dangerous reflux can be and how much it just SUCKS. I never really had it before so I don't think I realized how unpleasant it is. I am in the thick of it right now and it's miserable. My throat hurts all the time and I have a relentless cough and I wake up every morning at 4 or 5 am coughing on acid. The risk of reflux is very real with VSG. I just hope and pray mine goes away with time. Taking PPIs for life is not ideal. I will do it if I have to, but it has its own complications. 

I'm thrilled I'm losing weight, don't get me wrong. I have lost more weight in the nearly 3 months since surgery than I did in the year beforehand.