I'm going to have my surgery at St Vincents , they will except my Medicare and Indiana Medicaid so what I wanted to know is for anyone that has the same medical coverage do I have to wait 6 months and see a Dietition is that always required or sometimes not ? The next question is when you had to chose a Dr at St Vincents did you research the Dr's first, what did you look for? I'm calling Monday with a list of questions because I want to know which Dr has the most experience in RNY Lap, I hope to find a surgeon because I will have to go to the seminar. Thanks everyone your input is greatly appreciated.

browneyes65-

If you want permanent weight loss, without restrictive dieting, the Duodenal Switch is the way to go.  That's what I had at St. Vincent's in Carmel 4 and a half years ago.  I have lost 245 pounds and am now working on medically necessary skin removal.

After 18 to 24 months. the malabsorption of the RNY is gone.  The small intestine grows more villi to compensate and restore absorption to normal,  you are left with restriction only.

That's why so many gastric bypass patients regain their weight...and then some. 

There is no restrictive dieting with the DS. simple carbs (white flour products, like white bread, cake, pies, cookies, etc.) and simple sugar (white and brown sugar, candy,  regular soda, etc.) are the only foods we DSers absorb 100% of. Protein and complex carbs at 50-60%, Fats(lipids) at 20% - which is why you see so many DSers eating high fat meals.  We need it to maintain digestive function.

Since we retain anatomically correct, yet much smaller stomachs, there are no forbidden foods, although simple carbs and simple sugars can inflict intestinal distress, BUT the choice is still *yours*, knowing full well that there will be unpleasant consequences, in the form of gas from Hades, and possibly diarrhea.  The stomach still does it's job, churning food and preparing it to be used by the body.  This surgery allowed me, for  the first time in my life, to eat like a normal person. Because the DS is the most malabsorptive surgery there is, we have to supplement heavily with vitamins and minerals, in order to remain healthy. My doctors all agreed that for me, the risks outweighed the benefits. 

Dr, Margaret Inman is the only surgeon in the state that does the Duodenal Switch, at St. Vincent's Bariatric Center of Excellence in Carmel, Indiana.  If after evaluation it is determined that the DS is not the best surgery for you, then Dr. Inman also does all the other weight loss surgeries.

Check the stats with my signature. and feel free to PM me if you would like more info.

If you are using Medicare and Medicaid, St. Vincent's and Dr. Inman accepts both. St. Vincent's has an entire unit for bariatrics, with specially trained bariatric nurses looking after you post-op.  

If you go to Barix in Michigan, your Indiana Medicaid will not work there, and you may wind up with out-of-pocket expenses.

At Dr. Inman's practice, Meridian Surgical Group, and at St. Vincent's there are people who will jump the insurance hoops for you, at least, that was my experience in 2009. I did the pre-op requirements, and they called me with approval and a surgery date when I was done.  Simple as that.

You stated that you friend wanted you to go to the Barix Clinic in Michigan.  This is a very personal and life-changing decision you are making. 

What do *you* want?

Just curious as to how you are doing and what you found out, if anything?  I suffer from chronic abdominal pain due to gastric bypass and have lots of lover abdominal pain.  I see a pain management doctor and live on prescription pain meds, but am working to learn to live with the pain.  Let me know what you found out.

THanks,

Stephanie

Didn't get to you pre-op, so by now you have the most powerful weapon against  severe morbid obesity there is!

I'm sure you know Dr. Inman and staff very well.  She is the best, and so are they!

I hope you enjoyed your eery two hour "walks"!  When I was there, the nurses were on me like clockwork and cut me no slack!

A few words about the NUTs at St. V's:

"Smile and nod " with your NUT, then come to  the OH DS board to learn the *real* care and feeding of the DS.

The NUTs at St. V's are myopic with regard to bariatric nutrition, they counsel DSers the same as RNY's   using a "one plan fits all" mentality. Our nutritional needs are so much different than RNYs and so much greater because our malabsorption is massive compared to the RNY.

Do *not* use Flintstone Chewables as your multivitamin!  There is simply not enough to meet the needs of DSers.  I cannot beleive that they are advising this.  I take "Centrum-Type" multivitamins (walmart store brand).  They also have Calcium Citrate+D in a large quantity bottle.  Whatever the brand, it *must* be calcium citrate.

Once you get back to solid food, which was about 4 weeks for me,  it may be different for you, do *not* go low-fat!  Fat is now your friend, and the DS malabsorbs 80 percent of all dietary fat that you take in, so low fat  actually translates to fat-free for DSers, since most of it ends up in the toilet.  You may see"oil slicks" with your BM's if you eat foods with a good amount off fat. This is just the fat that you didn't absorb, and shows you that your DS is doing what it's supposed to do. We do, however need some fat (lipids) for body processes, so low fat/fat free is not a good thing to do with this surgery.

If you have difficulty eating (keeping it down) when you get back to solids, let  Dr. Inman or Karen (her nurse) know right away!  I had to go back down and get "stretched" a little.  I've been eating like a champ ever since.  This may or may not be the case with you, but if you have that issue, let them know  immediately.

The only things that DSers absorb 100% of are simple carbs (white flour, white pasta, heavily processed foods) and simple sugars ( like the sugar used to sweeten drinks, white and brown sugar (brown sugar is simply white sugar with molasses added!) turbinado sugar, etc. Find an artificial sweetener you like, and use that. 

When you're further out, If you want bread, look for 100% whole wheat.  It is a complex carb, and you will only absorb 50-60% of that, along with 50-60% of your protein.  Choose whole grain breakfast cereals (Kashi in the red box is my go-to for breakfast *and* crunchy snacks - it has 13 grams of protein per serving. I also enjoy Aunt Millie's 12 grain wide pan bread.  Only takes a slice for me, and a loaf lasts me  6-8 weeks, refrigerated.

Prepare to be amazed!

Hello, I have met with Dr. Mattar and he seems very nice and knowledgeable, my other doctor, Dr. Ditslear, quit the practice and moved elsewhere.  Has anyone hear of Dr. Mattar and if you would please let me know how things went.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!