DS Pioneer Gives Up On DS - For Lapband???

Not only that, Val-- but I actually have a theory that poor post-op nutrition may actually be one of the factors that lead to regain: as people's bodies crave more and more food to make up for their nutritional deficits, they "overeat." i actually felt that way about myself pre-op. My diet was so nutrition poor, I think I craved lots and lots of crappy stuff just to get the trace nutrients I was living on!

I'm no expert, but it makes sense to me.

This is old news.  I seriously doubt it has anything to do with efficacy of the DS or patient compliance or any other thing.  I think allergan and the band camp just made a better offer.  Medicine is after all in some cases just a business.   Red

Isn't Allergan that same band co. that Mohammed Ali's daughter is now on the payroll of, and speaking across the co. at seminars to push (inc. some sponsored by OH)?

I think so.  I know that she is working for some sort of band company.

*shrug* Same deal with Kurian, Ren, and Fielding in NYC.  They all used to do the DS, and now they no longer do.  Partly, I think, because noncompliant patients frustrated them, and also because you can do half a dozen lap bands in the time you can do one DS, and they are now the poster doctors for lap band.   The DS is a great surgery, but I just shook my head at that "is it for everyone" thread a week or two ago - of course it isn't.  It requires far too much compliance and aftercare for a lot of people.  Doesn't mean it isn't a great surgery, it just means that there are some people who will seek support on OH, monitor their supplements and labs closely, follow up on any issues, and take excellent care of themselves following their surgery; and there are some people who won't, and those people shouldn't have DS.  I can thoroughly understand why a surgeon would get frustrated with patients who won't take the responsibility for their own aftercare.  I would, too.

I saw someone from another forum chime in, so I thought it would be OK to tell you what I found out on my journey to WLS.  First, if you read above you will see Dr. Simpson refused to band this lady who had the DS and has 100 more pounds to lose (if he was in it for the money he would have thrown a band on her)..BUT once he lays a hand on her and operates he becomes her dr. and when/if she gets ready to sue it is him she will hold responsible.  She is already incompliant with her iron, and in trouble because of this. The band would not cause her any viamin deficiency problems, but she already has a serious one. I live in SLC, and so had the privilege of looking into all the surgeries.  I was strongly encouraged with just a little over 100 lb. to lose NOT to have the DS..reason-I may not be able to stop losing when I want to and need yet another surgery.  The dr. also had stats that he had in hand that Dr. Simpson had put out in a study (one of the reasons he stopped doing the DS).  It is far more then incompliance.  It is the dangerous aspect of this surgery only being used for people with lots and lots of weight to lose, and even then this dr. talked like he was phazing it out in favor of the tried and true RNY and banding.  I honestly believe him when he cites that in years to come this surgery will no longer be done at all, and that often people do not get to their goal weight with it.  I guess this could be said for any surgery if you aren't compliant.  I have to take a couple vitamins with RNY, but nothing like I would have had to with DS. Please don't misunderstand, as I went into this WLS thinking the DS was what I wanted.  It sounded like a dream come true, only to be told by a dr. that did this surgery it could well turn into a nightmare.  The band also wasn't for me.  I didn't think I had the self-disipline required for it, but I appluad those that do.  I am happy with my RNY so far, but I still have a lot to learn. For you that have the DS and love it, take your vitamins and get your blood work done and stay on top of it. The main purpose for this post is in defense of Dr. Simpson who dismissed this woman because of the fact it could involve a malpractice suite if he slapped a band on her.  Please take his point of view into consideration.  A lot of dr's. are taking Dr. Simpson's studies to heart and not doing the DS, and I honestly believe it will be history in a few years..just my 2 cents nanno for what it is worth. No flames please, as I'm simply repeating what I was told.  I to started out wanting the DS, because heck who doesn't want to eat cookies.  I wish you all the best of luck. Shannon

 well, as to the iron, let me just say here my friend was NOT being "noncompliant" ..  She really is having absorption problems with it and has been trying to address it as best as possible with supplements all this time   ..  Admittedly, some DSers do have a major supp. absorption problem (usually it is calcium, though, or Vit. D) and it seems like a few of them can never get enough of that supplement no matter what they take ..   The transfusions appear to be the only answer for her, at present ..  Hopefully that will change as time goes by and she learns more ...   I don't know if trying a sleeve band would necessarily be "malpractice" on a DSer  .. I know my surgeon would not do it on me b/c he opines that the band would so further restrict the sleeve capacity that it would further discourage the intake of protein in general, which foods tend to be bulkier and denser than carb-laden foods ...   And we need all the protein we can get ..    It does look like Dr. Simpson's motives here to abandon DS are financial, from what other posters have shown in response (good job, there!) ..  I was speculating whether he might have had some disastrous outcomes with some of his DS surgeries and that was why he was giving it up, but then again one would not expect that to be the case from a WLS surgeon of his experience ( from a rookie, maybe) ..

Atty Dallas, if Dr. Simpson laid one hand on this woman "he becomes her surgeon".  I'm thinking this is a risk he doesn't want to take.  I honestly believe this is not anything to do with financial gain, because he has published articles on the DS that have been diseminated to many, many surgeons doing the DS, and may have stopped or thinking of stopping.  I for one was discouraged by a DS surgeon.  I think the DS people are just saying this is for financial gain, when it could well be he is seeing unresolved problems with the DS people he has operated on.  I think he definitely has an obligation to follow up with those he has performed the procedure on, however.  Let's be honest, the band is probably the safest way to go, and although the DS people appear to hate it, it works for a lot of people.  There is absolutely no malabsorption which is a huge thing for people.  You hear people say the band is being discontinued, and then you hear of surgeons who will only do the band anymore.  It wasn't for me, because I know I would have managed to eat around it, but it right for a lot of people. Anyway, no hard feelings I hope.

Boy what a difference a few hours can make. Here you are on the DS board today pretending to be as pleasant a*****h when just last night you were over on R&R saying you wondered if DSers had to pay extra to have a portion of their hearts removed along with their surgeries.  On March 1, 2008 at 8:16 PM Pacific Time, Shannon_Elizabeth wrote:

It is strange, the non-believers all come from one site and have had the same surgery.  It must be something in the OR me thinks :)  I wonder if they charge extra for removal of a portion of the heart?  They are indeed not a brilliant bunch.