Ahh, that would do it. I hear this procedure is not widely covered, yet. It was one of the questions I'd specifically asked my health insurance case manager since it wasn't listed as covered in our benefits. I called it modified switch and she said yes. Everything else has been through my surgery clinic and them, so guess I'm lucky there. My practice still calls it the DS and I'm always particular about calling it out, just in case.

If you weren't able to go with loop switch, I'd say a 200cm common channel is amazing for the traditional version as a compromise. If your surgeon is able to make that adjustment, good for you! You know yourself better than they do. I'd think that since the results of the loop switch are so similar to the DS with an even longer channel, that could be an indicator that you'll still get great results with the benefit of less potential issues.

Yes, I've read about some people who want the shortest channel possible and I know everyone's cir****tances are different but...too many possible side effects. Like you said, spending your life in the bathroom wouldn't be fun. And the protein, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies are so much more common the shorter you go. We're already playing on hard mode...personally wouldn't want to add that in.

And thanks! I'm super nervous but this is long overdue. Best of luck on your journey, and congratulations on finding a surgeon who will work with you! Cheers.

Hi there!

I'm still pre op but will be getting the SADI/SIPS/loop switch in a week. My pre op appointment is Monday, and I'll get to ask more questions there.

However, my manual says this clinic measures out 300cm, so I'm assuming that means I'll have a common channel of that length. Since half the point of the loop switch is a longer common channel to stave off the deficiencies that were much more common with the traditional DS, this makes sense to me.

I'm with you - super worried about the possibility of deficiencies across the board. That, and the fewer complications, are a couple of the reasons I opted for the loop switch over the traditional DS.

Guess I'll know more on Monday. Happy to talk about this, though! Cheers!

I too had the DS in 2007 and I was feeling so crappy, turns out my ferritin was at 4 when they tested, I now get infusions when it drops too low. The only advice I have is to get in and have the infusions. I tried Proferrin and Hemaplex (but they do slow the time between infusions).

Set a goal of one pound per week for example

While I agree with your that we learn more than most PCPs about WLS and the DS in particular, choice of PCP can make a substantial difference as some can be anti-WLS while others are quite supportive. Our PCP was pushing my wife for quite some time to look into WLS as with a 665ish BMI she seriously needed intervention, she knew that the default of the day RNY wasn't going to do it for her; once she learned about and researched the DS, that made a lot more sense, and the doc was supportive of that decision, though his knowledge of it was even more marginal than of the RNY. And he continued to be supportive through all the many post op years with ordering the labs, etc.(gee, none of my other WLS patients get this kind of post op support!)

I would agree with checking with Roslin, as if you can find a PCP that has other DS patients, that is another positive toward getting referrals to other DS knowledgeable specialists down the road (like endocrinologists or gastros.)