Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Choices, Choices

Yesterday, I had my first consultation with my surgeon Dr. Trevedi.
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Here is Nate and I waiting for the doctor in his cute little office.
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The appointment went really well, and I felt very comfortable after he came in. He asked me some questions to determine what kind of surgery I should have, but he surprised me. After I answered everything, he told me I had a choice based on what I wanted between the roux-en y gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve.
For those who are unsure of the difference:

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Basically with the Gastric Sleeve, they cut the stomach vertically, and leave a “sleeve” as your stomach. This is a restrictive surgery only. With the Roux-en-y gastric bypass, they cut your stomach off except for a small pouch, reroute your intestines to the pouch, and then also route the rest of your stomach to the intestines. This makes it so that a small portion of your food and nutrients to not be absorbed, and also restricts incoming food. So they call this a restrictive and malnutrition surgery.

Here is a great website I found comparing the two:
http://www.gastricsleeve.us/gastric-sleeve-vs-gastric-bypass.html

As you can see there are lots of pro’s and con’s to both surgery’s.

The sleeve is less complicated, more food options, I can have sugar, and they can always go back in and do the roux-en-y if I feel like it isn’t doing what I want. The cons are that it is a newer surgery, so they only have about 12 years of research. There is a slightly lower success rate, and I can have sugar. I think this could be harmful to my success if I can still eat the same things, the point is to be healthier, and to not eat sugar and stuff. Also, based on other research, it isn’t be best surgery for acid reflux.

The roux-en-y has a slightly higher success rate, a higher loss %, and it has over 60 years of research. My doctor knows that if I stick to the plan I will be able to keep the weight I lose off for 40 years a minimum. That’s good odds’ right there. It’s more of a complicated surgery, and a longer overall recovery time. This is also a better surgery for those who have acid reflux. Because there is a lot more research, a higher success rate and the fact that I can’t have sugar will be better in the long run. A more restrictive surgery may be better for me.

My surgeon says it will be successful either way, but I don’t know what to do. Everyone keeps telling me to follow my gut, but I have no idea what my gut has been telling me. I’ve been preparing myself for the roux-en-y, because that is just what I assumed he would suggest. To be honest, I like the idea of having the sleeve. It sounds like less complications, less restrictions, and I can use a straw!! But by having less restriction, will I have the will power to make it work? If I can actually eat sugar, will I have the will power to not do it? My mom and my friend Meaghan have said I should do the roux-en-y, but that is what they have, that is the only basis I have to go off. And what if I don’t lose as much as I want to lose with the sleeve? or what if I lose too much w/ the RNY?

I am so confused now with my decision, and research and personal testimonies aren’t helping. Every time I think I am going to do one or the other, I change my mind again. I wish my surgeon would have just told me what surgery he wanted me to have and be done with it. I shouldn’t be making this choice.

As I promised before, here are “before” photos, the start of my journey, about 12 lbs less than my highest weight.
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