Opinions please...I am needing to make a decision.

Hello all,

I just met with the surgeon for the first time and he suggested DS surgery for me. I am not well versed in this procedure. I will be meeting with the surgeon again in 3 weeks.

What are your thoughts about the added risk of the surgery? Did you complete the process in one surgery or opt for two surgeries?

Thanks so much!

Your inquiry is too brief. But my general anzwer is it the only wls I would have and did have. Open. Single proccess . And no extra risk involved. Just a better surgeons.

Thank you Walter.

You can research the DS here.  http://www.dsfacts.com/

Best of Luck.  I am very happy with my decision.

 

Susan

Thanks - I am glad to hear you're happy with it!

The DS has the best results of any WLS.  Why would you want something that doesn't work as well?  I think you were very lucky to have a doc who suggested the DS.

I met a man who was over 800lbs when he had his DS in one surgery.  If someone says you need 2, get a second opinion.  Many times the 2 part thing is an indication of the surgeon's skill level.  If that's the case, get a better surgeon.  Why would anyone opt for 2 surgeries?  Plus it's been a real battle with insurance companies getting them to pay for the second part of the OP.  Plus there is some kind of weightloss synergy when you have the whole thing done at once.  People who have the DS in one OP seem to lose better and faster than the 2 stagers.

More than 10 years ago I worked in an office full of heavy women.  I was right at home there.  We had great insurance that covered any kind of WLS we wanted.  One of us lost the weight on her own, low carbing, because she was scared to death of surgery.  Of course she gained back all the weight.  One was banded and I think she lost 30lbs and gained it all back.  7 had the RNY and every single one of them is now as big as they were preop.  One had been really successful up to about a year ago.  I was the only DSer and I waited 2 YEARS for surgery.  They ribbed me and made fun of me.  I was forever being told I should just go get the RNY.  Well this time I got the last laugh.  I am by no means skinny but I look like a normal woman in my age group.  And I'm still always trying to lose weight.  But so is everyone else.  I'm just normal!  And my poor RNY friends are still puking and dumping too.

Be glad that surgeon pointed you towards the WLS that works and is easy to live with.

Thank you for your story.

I googled WLS on youtube and found something called a DS. I was like...WHAT is that?? I then started doing my research. I found OH.com. They directed me towards DSfacts.com. I did as many searches and as much studying I could on this surgery. I talked to many vets. There are no more complications with this surgery than with the bypass. The only difference is that most people that have the DS are already train wrecks so naturally the complications look higher. Find yourself a vetted surgeon. That is the MOST important thing. 

I love my surgery. I am glad I had it and did not do the bypass. The bypass is a good surgery for some but for someone that was a 47 BMI with co-morbidities the DS was for me. 

Good luck. Do your research. Check out my blog "Things I can do now" That will tell you how happy I am. LOL

Thank you very much - I will check it out!

A few questions. Who's your surgeon? What's your BMI? Do you have any co-morbs, like diabetes or high cholesterol? Do you regularly take NSAIDs? (Google them---you'd be surprised how many OTC medications contain NSAIDs.)

The DS has the very best long-term, maintained weight-loss stats, period. Also the best stats for resolving or preventing diabetes and high cholesterol. Still allows you to take NSAIDs. And the post-op lifestyle is wonderful.

The 'added risks' are very few. DSers are at a higher risk of vitamin deficiencies, IF we don't take our pills and get our labs done. To the best of my knowledge, that's pretty much the only long-term 'added risk' the DS has over other forms of WLS. (And that risk is very real with the other surgeries, too---it's just that DSers can get in trouble more quickly.)

As for added surgical risk---when patients of similar size, with similar health issues are compared, and surgery is done by surgeons of similar skill---the added risk for the DS is something like 0.1%. That's one-tenth of one per cent. Do I think an added risk of one-tenth of one per cent worth the higher success rate and better quality of life the DS offers? YOU BETCHA!

I urge you to insist on a single surgery, unless there are some compelling health reasons why not. In fact, I'd take a one-step open procedure over a two-step laparoscopic one any day.