DS Questions...

 So as some of you my know, I wrote a post not to long ago about how scared I was about this whole process. I must say though that after everyones kind words I feel much better.  Still uneasy, but much better than i was. I've taken your advice and have looked at all the options available. I think I have piked one that  I feel best about. The Duodeal Switch Procedure. I was wondering if those of you who have been through this procediar could give me so heads up on how it goes and what to expect? Along with anything I may need to be aware of. 

Start here......
 http://www.dsfacts.com/
Then look at old posts... Most if not all your questions will be answered.
Just Saying.... the best descision I EVER made!!! 
Good luck. 

I'm glad you've made a decision and I know I'll be here, God willing and the creek don't rise, just ask your questions. :)

--gina

I am a Lap-Band revision, and I was terrified that this procedure would also fail, but 21/2 years out all I can say is thank God I found this site and the DS has given me a whole new life I could never have believed!

Now don't get me wrong, NOTHING is perfect and I do have issues that I face daily, some days are harder than others, but for the most part I would do it all again, but this time sooner.

The surgery sucks!  Mine was an open procedure where I had my gallbladder and appendix removed as well.  The recovery was worse than I expected.  It was about 5 weeks before I could actually say I felt better, thank God I had such a supportive husband.  I basically sat around, walked hunched over and slept as much as possible (abdominal surgery sucks!)  Slowly but surely I got better everyday.

Eating is a challenge in the beginning, you get a lot gas and bloating until you figure out what bothers you and what doesn't.  Stick to the protein and lots of water and you'll be fine.

The weightloss is awesome!  The maintenance is easy as long you stick to the program!

I was terrified too, constant second thoughts and even after the surgery I was worried I did the right thing, but now I can see, it was the right surgery for ME.  Its a major surgery that is irreversible so you need to be sure for you.  I hope I helped.

Good Luck!

We are all different.  This forum is great!   Wonderful informative people!  I look here daily for inspiration!  I have been inspired by many people on this board!

I am a newbie only 7.5 weeks out.  I have lost 60lbs.  I have also been in the hospital more than once after the original surgery with complications due to the surgery.

The weight loss is nice, we'll see how I feel later on.  Everyone says to give it more time. 

At this point in time, I would not do this over again.  I'm probably the only one on here that will say that.  (Please ~no one shoot me~)....I have not given up hope yet that maybe one day my body will like this.  

I would make sure your Dr is part of the Bariatric Center of Excellence.  I would also make sure he follows the protocol of the Hess method (measuring the CC).  I would also make sure he has you go on a 2 week liquid diet before surgery.  This last one could have possibly saved me from the complications I've had.  Plus, it will tell the surgeon if your body can tolerate a "High Protein" diet.  Yes, there are enzymes they can give.  My surgeon only will give those as a last resort.  I would also make sure of the bedside manor of the surgeon. My sister and friends did not like the coldness of mine.  Nor the aftercare...try to find one with an aftercare program....

I would have someone at home with you and not work for the first 2-3 weeks.  Only hydrate walk and whatever protein you can get in.  I would not drive or work.  My surgeon said I could go back to work after a week (because I have a sit down job).  It made my life much worse and the complications harder on me. My surgeon is like "do anything after 10 days: drive, work etc".   I've been driving since 10 days.  I think everything was too soon.  My GI Dr's think so as well.

At this point in time, I'm walking daily.  I have no energy (unless I do a lot of B12).  I do continue to add regular food (try new foods) daily.  I'm still not getting in all of what I should be at this point in time without protein shakes.  If I don't get in at least 9-10 hrs of sleep a day, I cannot function at work.  On my days off, I literally sleep, walk and get in as much protein as possible.  The surgeon's office told me to bump it up this week to 100 grams of protein.  I'm  having a very rough time getting that much in.

Your taste buds go away after surgery for a bit (some longer than other's).  Whether you are hungry or not, you have to get the protein in!  I tried nearly every protein on the market before surgery.  What I liked before surgery, I don't care for now.  A friend of mine sai to try the Unjury (http://www.unjury.com)... I love the Vanilla & Chocolate Splendor!  I would get some sample packs to try after surgery to see if you like it after.


Dipping.... One thing is that in the class they say to cover everything you eat with fat (sour cream, cream cheese, mayo).  I'm a mustard person for meats.  I still have not gotten used to this. 

I'm going to try the "fluffy" recipe Julie suggested.

Best of Luck to you with your surgery!

 You'll love the ricotta fluff! Thanks to Val for the recipe!

My first 3 mos. out were the worst!  I had to get scoped and have my stomach stretched 8 weeks out, because I wasn't able to eat solids very well.

Most people sail through the immediate post-op phase with no issues at all.

Recovery is a very individual process, and even with the issues I had, including recent deficiencies (my Mom was dying, and I got sloppy with nutrition and vites ), the weight loss maintenance is pretty effortless.  The vitamin, mineral and protein supplementation is pretty rigorous, but worth all 245 pounds gone *forever*!
The DS is the only way to fly for permanent weight loss. With RNYGB, you are sentencing yourself to a lifetime of dieting and "forbidden foods". 

I will be four years out on 2/25/13! Preparing now for excess skin removal. Check my ticker!
That said, simple carbs and simple sugars will giveDSers GI issues, but  * you * decide whether you want to deal with that, not the procedure deciding for you what you can and cannot eat.

I would do this again in a heartbeat.

I would make sure your Dr is part of the Bariatric Center of Excellence.  I would also make sure he follows the protocol of the Hess method (measuring the CC).  I would also make sure he has you go on a 2 week liquid diet before surgery.  This last one could have possibly saved me from the complications I've had.  Plus, it will tell the surgeon if your body can tolerate a "High Protein" diet.  Yes, there are enzymes they can give.  My surgeon only will give those as a last resort.  I would also make sure of the bedside manor of the surgeon. My sister and friends did not like the coldness of mine.  Nor the aftercare...try to find one with an aftercare program....

Okay, there is a part of this that is dead on but some things are not:

Following the Hess method is a great one.

Most of the DS surgeons are NOT part of a COE...that is an insurance "scam" to make sure you deal with only certain doctors...it was dreamed up by an insurance company not by doctors or hospitals or even patients!

The two week liquid diet is hocus pocus...just a "nice" way to torture you.

PRE-OPS: YOU CAN FIGHT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY'S REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE-OP WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS!

Summary and Recommendations

1. There are no Class I studies or evidence-based reports that document the benefits of, or the need for, a 6 to 12 month pre-operative dietary weight loss program before bariatric surgery. The current evidence supporting preoperative weight loss involves physician-mandated weight loss to improve surgical risk or to evaluate patient adherence. Although many believe there may be benefits to acute preoperative weight loss in the weeks before bariatric surgery, the available Class II-IV data regarding acute weight loss prior to bariatric surgery are indeterminate and provide conflicting results leading to no clear consensus at this time. Preoperative weight loss that is recommended by the surgeon and/or the multi-disciplinary bariatric treatment team due to an individual patient’s needs may have value for the purposes of improving surgical risk or evaluating patient adherence, but is supported only by low-level evidence in the literature at the present time.

2. One effect of mandated preoperative weight management prior to bariatric surgery is attrition of patients from bariatric surgery programs. This barrier to care is likely related to patient inconvenience, frustration, healthcare costs and lost income due to the requirement for repeated physician visits that are not covered by health insurance.

It is the position of the ASMBS that the requirement for documentation of prolonged preoperative diet efforts before health insurance carrier approval of bariatric surgery services is inappropriate, capricious, and counter-productive given the complete absence of a reasonable level of medical evidence to support this practice. Policies such as these that delay, impede or otherwise interfere with life-saving and cost-effective treatment, as have been proven to be true for bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity, are unacceptable without supporting evidence. Individual surgeons and programs should be free to recommend preoperative weight loss based on the specific needs and cir****tances of the patient.

Aftercare is iffy at best, even those with one doesn't mean it's a good one...your PCP can do 99% of what you need, blood work, labs, etc.

And a lousy bedside manner does NOT make a good surgeon, just makes a surgeon "easy" to deal with...some of the best doctors have lousy bedside manner...Don't think "bedside manner" is a required course in med school. LOL

Liz
 

I totally disagree with regards to the liquid diet before hand.  For the people that I have actually met in person (not online), the one's who's Dr required a 2 week liquid diet had hardly any problems.  The one's like mine, have had problems.  Even my surgeon (who I do not care for after the crap I've been through), is re-evaluating this.  With a liquid diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery, it shrinks the liver.  The liver processes what we come into contact with from lotion to food.  He has a 20% problem patient rate (he is on the DSFacts website but not a Center of Excellent Dr), He shared that statistic with me after my first hospital stay after surgery.  He also said that he is rethinking the liquid diet, after 4 GI Dr's saw me, he said to me "Well, they all can't be wrong".  Before surgery, I spoke with his Nurse with regards to "Why no liquid diet".  Her response was "He doesn't feel that it makes a big enough difference to shrink the liver".  Well, in one month, I know of 5 people who have had problems (myself included) due to not shrinking the liver before surgery.

I would like to see the Center's of Excellence scam documentation.  All the Dr's I have spoken with after, seem to like the fact they are part of that group. 

I myself wanted a great surgeon, not worrying too much about bedside manor.  However, all he wanted was my $$$!  He's a factory for WLS and the DS is supposed to be his specialty.  Those who get lucky with no problems are the ones who are under 30.  Of the patients of his I have met, I only met one woman in her 40's who is not having issues.

I stand on my original post.

Those who get lucky with no problems are the ones who are under 30.  Of the patients of his I have met, I only met one woman in her 40's who is not having issues.

Had my DS at 56, my dh had his at 50, both of us have had no complications.  There are PLENTY of us NO complications well over 40.

Yeah, they like the fact they are part of the COE because it means they get the patients whose insurance companies will not pay UNLESS it is a COE.

And which one is your surgeon?

I'm glad you stand by your word.. I just don't agree with it.

Liz

Yep. I was 43 and my mother was 64.