DS QUESTION

How many of you had your ds in one surgery? If it was two seperate surgeries how far between were the surgeries?

I had mine in one surgery. (I think most do.)

well see my heart was set on ds. i couldn't find a surgeon who did it within 300 miles. My hospital started doing the surgery about 20 min away shortly after I had my sleeve done ( which I opted for because I knew it was first step in DS) I'm wondering if it's too late for me to have the DS. I am six months out from my sleeve. Any ideas or suggestions? I would like to go to them and tell them that I wanted DS but it wasn't available to me but i'm just wondering if it's even worth it to ask.

It's not too late to get the DS. I know there are people here that have done it in two steps. Check the Revisions board -- I'm sure there are some people there who have gone from VSG to DS.

They say that the two-steppers lose more slowly than people who have a virgin DS, but I'm not sure if that's entirely true. 

The DS is designed to be done in one operation. However, there are some people who have a planned 2 stage DS because they are medically too fragile to have it done in one stage. Also, we are seeing more and more people with other, failed bariatric operations revise to the DS, though it is a standard of care primary bariatric operation and not at all reserved for revisions.

    It is absolutely not too late for you to have the full DS done, in fact, the sooner the better, as there appears to be benefit to having the restriction of the sleeve and the metabolic changes and malabsorption of the "switch" part at the same time (though I can't document that). Whether your insurer will pay for the second operation, and whether or not you have grounds for an appeal if they won't, I have no idea.

Larra

I had mine in one surgery, also.

A subject like 'Any 2 step DSers' may get you more replies as the majority of questions on this forum are on the DS. FWIW there are several 2 parters on here and I responded on the LW forum.

BTW make sure you use a vetted surgeon. You can find a list of them on DSfacts.com

I had mine in one operation but my Doctor initially wanted me to be a two step DS. The time limit would have been however long it took me to lose about 100 pounds.

I was able to take off about 75 before the operation so he said it was OK to get it all at once. I was on a strict high protein diet to get that initial weight off.

In my opinion better to have it in a two stage than not have it at all. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't do it.

Pete

According to your ticker, you are only 27 pounds from goal. It sounds like your VSG is working for you. Why have a second surgery??