Long term effects of the DS?
Chemo - everyone metabolizes drugs differently. They have to test to make sure the patients' levels are correct. If a med isn't being absorbed properly, they can change the amounts, or change the method of delivery, change drugs - or, as a last resort - revise or reverse the switch.
The 15 year old boy isn't even finished growing. He hasn't damaged his metabolism too much yet; he hasn't damaged his joints too much yet; he hasn't damaged his chances of having a normal adulthood yet; he doesn't have comorbidities yet. He has time. You are already 23 - I don't know how big you are, or what your comorbidities are. But indeed, you have a long time to live with the surgery. It is something to consider.
As far as we've heard (although this information is now 7 years old) the first DS patient is still alive. This is from the website of the first DS surgeon, Dr. Hess, who has since retired (dshess.com):
•First BPD/DS performed in •The world (3/24/88) a Redo, •From a failed gastroplasty, •In Bowling Green, Ohio, is •16.5 years post op. Wt. 454 •To 218 lbs. today Nov. 21,04 •(BMI from 60 to 29 kg/M2)
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You are incredible. I think of you as a walking DS encyclopedia. Thanks for posting that about the first ever DS patient. Interesting.
I chose this surgery because it offered me a new chance at life. I had high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease and pcos. My kidneys were being damaged by all of the medications I was taking just to survive normal life. I will live much longer as a person with malabsorption than I will as a very sick, medicated woman. I just have to make sure to keep my labs in check and work on my health in a different way.
I pray for another 50 years. That would give me 90 wonderful years of life on this earth. I'm counting on my DS to make that possible.
Good luck to you! Hope you find all of the answers you are looking for.
on 9/4/11 6:10 am
You are indeed a DS enclyopedia!!!!!!!!! Considering how short my life would have been with diabetes (more than likely, didn't have it prior to my DS but it was coming I can assure), sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, I choose to have the surgery. The benefits far outweigh the risks!!!