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I am 13+ years out and DS was the right decision. I am 100% compliant with daily vitamins and have not had vitamin related health issues other than ferritin deficiency (corrected by infusions) or osteopenia (but I am 67, and it is age related). I picked DS for health. Eliminated diabetes, hypertension and joint pain. I picked it because of long term efficacy. My niece had VSG at 359+ lbs and lost maybe 100, only to regain it all and then some. Fact is DS provides significantly superior excess weight loss in morbidly obese people over VSG over the long term. I started at 285, and lost 150, maintained more or less -135 lbs over time. If I had been 210, I might have considered another procedure.How confident are you that you can maintain weight loss by permanently eating fewer calories for the rest of your life? You can out-eat DS, but you will pay a price in quality of life with diarrhea, gas, etc. it has been effective discipline for me. DS requires you to be devoted daily to supplements, but it's only a few minutes a day. It does cost money though, perhaps $500/year or more for vitamins. It does mean you will need health insurance consistently, because vitamin testing without insurance can be more than $750/ year. Being morbidly obese is expensive too in terms of health care, food costs, clothing costs, employment discrimination etc. there are pros and cons, but I wanted to "cut once" and have the best chance of permanent weight loss. Good luck with your decision. My surgeon said DS should be restricted to people who are smart enough to keep up with vitamins and who know the risks of getting lazy about it. The fact that you are asking these questions is a very good sign.
Vitamins are a non-negotiable part of the DS. Most of us do very well as long as we accept that fact, supplement as needed, and follow our labs to adjust our supplements as needed.
I think it's a whole lot easier to take a bunch of vitamins every day (several times a day for calcium citrate) than it would be to lost as much excess weight as possible AND keep it off with just a restrictive operation like VSG. We see new people with VSG all the time asking about revising to the DS because they never lost enough weight and/or gained a lot back. So yes, vitamins are more of an issue with the DS, probably a lot more, but weight loss is much easier and far more lasting. We each have our opinions, but personally, I would be a lot more concerned about weight regain than about taking more vitamins and following my labs carefully.
Larra
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HW:330 - GW:150 - MW:118-125
RW:190 - CW:130
Because of the malabsorption that comes along with the DS, vitamins are a key part of our everyday life. I take vitamins three times a day - and will for the rest of my life. Vitamins are not an option. Neither are annual labs - first couple of years I had labs drawn every 6 months).
I'm 16 years post-op of the DS. I've had iron deficiency anemia, which is kept in check with iron infusions and my monitoring my labs. I've also recently been diagnosed with Osteoporosis (this has been a gradual decline for the last 10 years - but I'm also 62 years old). I've also struggled with D (which is currently maintained by taking 150K of D3 every day).
I think we're all susceptible to deficiencies. I have always been good with vitamins and labs, eating healthy for the DS, etc., yet I still have deficiencies. Others may never experience deficiencies by taking the minimum amount of vitamins.
You're probably going to hear different stories. That's where you have to make the best decision for your situation. For me the DS was the only surgery I would consider - I was super morbidly obese and was determined to maintain my weight loss, which I have. I'm still within 10 pounds of my goal weight and my tool still works if I need to lose a few pounds. There is no malabsorption with the VSG so I believe deficiencies are less of a risk, but that also means that you have no malabsorption to help with maintenance after reaching goal.
Good luck with your decision.
Janet in Leesburg
DS 2/25/03
Hazem Elariny
-175
Hi!
I am brand new to all this, hoping to have surgery in October. As I am deciding between VSG and DS, the big scary thing for me is vitamin deficiency. For those of you that are years out, how have your labs been? Does anyone know how common vitamin deficiency is in the DS? Thanks!!
I respond really well to the biotech dry vitamins. I know there are cheaper versions out there, but I started with them 10 years ago and they never let me down (FYI for anyone who cares, Vitalady's vitamins are biotech) and amazon now carries them so I can get them overnighted to me when I run out.
Bruce
Hi Dnicko,
Quick question, have you tried to reset your gastric? What I mean by reset is you start over like you just had the surgery.
I was in my way to regaining all of my weight and I was back up to 260 for a while. My health had started going back to where it was when I was 356 before my "RNY" back in 2001.
I found that my "New" stomach was still working, I just wasn't "Working" the "Tool" way it was intended. So after almost 15 years out and still 100 pounds from my goal.
(My regain was appx 60+)
I started a small farm to force myself to work my "Tool" again. Toating water for the animals, carrying 40-80 pounds of feed, digging a new garden and building cages takes some getting used to. But by drinking clear water, no juice, no soda and eating 4/6 ounces of protein the again weight off flew in 8 months that 100 went bye bye!!!!!
I also adapted a saying: If I didn't catch it, kill it, grow or make it myself I won't eat it.
I have chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats and pigs. I also go deer hunting, we hike at least 20 miles when we hunt. So protein is my number one food source along w/my garden and small orchard I don't crave fast or convenient foods.
Toned and leaner than I've ever been, I can wear lil girls or boys clothes because sometimes a zero is too big.
You don't have to go as extreme as I did but you can control YOUR tool/fork with or without surgery or an extra surgery by working it daily, hourly, minute and by second.
To make it simple:
A "Tool" takes work to use it.
Awesome. If I ever get any more work done I will use him again.
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
I'm right there with you - without her I don't know where I would be. My regime is similar to yours but I actually take vitamins three times a day - I take a little more calcium than you do. I've never been able to get my A up no matter how much I take and also take 150K of D. I've also had iron issues over the years - don't take oral anymore and have finally had success with the latest infusion - 18 months ago and labs are still awesome.
My doctor is also amazed how "healthy" I am at 62 - no prescription meds needed :)
Janet in Leesburg
DS 2/25/03
Hazem Elariny
-175
