Help! May not get the DS afterall!
Hi Diana:
I spoke with Lisa at length last night. Here's a bit of her back story, that she doesn't mind sharing. When she had her DS, she had multiple strictures. The several endoscopic dilations she received bascially blew out her stoma, causing permanent enlargement, and she never lost even the minimal amount of weight to be considered a surgical "success," because food just literally dropped into her intestines. She does not experiencing dumping. Dr. Buchwald, in preparing for her surgery yesterday, re-reviewed her endo reports and noted that her pouch is unusually small and sits unusually high. He is concerned about having to cut into her esophagus if he gives her a sleeve. He told her that he is going to go into the procedure with the assumption that he's going to give her a DS, but may have to resort to the long-limb.
After a great deal of deliberation, and after contacting a few distal rny'ers including Vitalady, and because she already had had her bowel prep, had family coming in from out of town, and had taken two months disability leave, she decided to go into surgery, making sure that she reiterates to Dr. Buchwald that she fully expects a DS. It is not well known, but Buchwald has done over 400 RNY to DS conversions.
She has authorized Dr. Buchwald to contact me after she's out of surgery, instead of her family, because of my familiarity with the situation. I will be on pins and needles all day waiting to hear from im. Please keep her in your thoughts today.
I spoke with Lisa at length last night. Here's a bit of her back story, that she doesn't mind sharing. When she had her DS, she had multiple strictures. The several endoscopic dilations she received bascially blew out her stoma, causing permanent enlargement, and she never lost even the minimal amount of weight to be considered a surgical "success," because food just literally dropped into her intestines. She does not experiencing dumping. Dr. Buchwald, in preparing for her surgery yesterday, re-reviewed her endo reports and noted that her pouch is unusually small and sits unusually high. He is concerned about having to cut into her esophagus if he gives her a sleeve. He told her that he is going to go into the procedure with the assumption that he's going to give her a DS, but may have to resort to the long-limb.
After a great deal of deliberation, and after contacting a few distal rny'ers including Vitalady, and because she already had had her bowel prep, had family coming in from out of town, and had taken two months disability leave, she decided to go into surgery, making sure that she reiterates to Dr. Buchwald that she fully expects a DS. It is not well known, but Buchwald has done over 400 RNY to DS conversions.
She has authorized Dr. Buchwald to contact me after she's out of surgery, instead of her family, because of my familiarity with the situation. I will be on pins and needles all day waiting to hear from im. Please keep her in your thoughts today.
Julie R - Ludington, Michigan
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
And 'all day' may be exacty how long you wait! He WILL take all day, if that's what it takes. I was in surgery for 8.5 hours for my surgery. I don't know what happened to any other surgeries schedule for that day, but he took the time he needed to assure my best outcome and safety.
5' 5" - 317.5 / 132 / 134 SW / CW / GW
I'll be hoping for best possible results. Dr. Buchwald is someone whose decisions I would absolutely trust in this. His history speaks volumes for how pro-DS he is.
There ARE people living well with super distal RNYs. See the Vitacouple. You might need to do what they do in order to maintain good nutritional status, and there is some work involved in that. (I spent a few days with them this summer and saw their routine firsthand. There are lots of protein powders and pills involved *g*.) But lots of DSers live that way, too.
If this came from any of several other surgeons I'd be suspicious, but Dr. Buchwald's reputation is stellar.
Here's hoping he can work magic.
There ARE people living well with super distal RNYs. See the Vitacouple. You might need to do what they do in order to maintain good nutritional status, and there is some work involved in that. (I spent a few days with them this summer and saw their routine firsthand. There are lots of protein powders and pills involved *g*.) But lots of DSers live that way, too.
If this came from any of several other surgeons I'd be suspicious, but Dr. Buchwald's reputation is stellar.
Here's hoping he can work magic.
5'9.5" | HW: 368 | SW: 353 | CW: 155 +/- 5 lbs | Angel to 
If it was some other surgeon I would say get a second opinion. But Dr. Buchwald has a great reputation as a leader in the DS field, and if he can possibly do the revision to DS safely, he will. And if it isn't safe, welll, then it isn't safe, and that would be a shame, but even without ever meeting him he's someone whose judgement I trust.
Larra
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