I'd totally agree with JC here....when I started this journey I was looking at lapband....and as they say...we've come a long way baby...I ended up getting the DS and wouldn't look back and change a thing....I read the horror stories associated with all the surgeries....and read the success stories...then went on to read the long term success stories and failures...in the end the DS was the right one for me...

Thank God that due to an insurance issue and a Dr. who didn't want me to play in his sandbox anymore, lol...I went to Topeka and was even introduced to the DS....because I couldn't have lived with anything else and certainly wouldn't have been as happy and successful....I know me...and in the end it was the DS or nothing for me....DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOU DESERVE!!!!!!  FIGHT FOR IT IF YOU HAVE TO!!!!

Nina

The lap band is crap.  I would never recommend it to anyone.  Lots of people think that it is the less invasive surgery, but it's also ineffective.  Do your homework!!

Check the revision boards ... I found this was very valuable when researching which WLS to have.  I had the DS with NO complications and none of the problems that people like to associate with the DS.  It's saved my life AND given me back the quality of life that I had 20-30 years ago.

I've lost weight before.  I was sick of the roller coaster and wanted the surgery with the best statistics for losing AND maintaining weight loss. 

I don't know what doctor / program you're referring to, but here is my experience in Topeka.  At one time, I heard that  there was one patient who died in Topeka.  I do not know the surgeon's name, but I was told that  the problem was an undiagnosed sleep apnea problem.  This is very second-hand information, but if you have questions about your surgeon, you should ask him/her directly.

I had surgery with Dr. Berntsen in Topeka.  I was a high risk patient, I believe, due to my high starting weight.  Dr. Berntsen was able to do my surgery (the DS) laparoscopically and I had no complications at all.  That was in October of 2008 and I'm doing great!  She is highly skilled. 

All surgeries have the risk of death.  The statistics are low for this surgery, but yes things sometimes happen.  My life had reached a point where I was willing to take the risk rather than continue to live the way that my life was and the way it was headed.  I truly believe that the surgery not only saved my life, but has given me back the quality of life that I had 30 years ago.

It's a decision that only you can make.

I just had my surgery with Dr Hoehn on 3/31 and the whole experience was amazing. I'm telling you I'd do it all again tomorrow if I had to. Great surgeon, very nice and compassionate. The staff was great as well. I just called today and talked to Becky (who is sometimes too cheerful) to schedule my 2 month follow up appointment.

Great people!

mine was done at ku med. though i've heard of a couple other people (they were self pay that might make a diff) who went to outside hosp. i too researched and researched online and didn't find much, if i get brave ..when my son get's home, i'll e mail you a pic. it's not beautiful unless you know what it looked like before...which i'm pretty sure you do!!! lol i went in wed,had my surgery 1:30 pm, had a long wait at ku, was originally scheduled at 10 :30 am, anyhow dr. said i could leave the next day if i felt ready, but my pain wasn't well enough under control, so i left friday, when i felt i could control it better. i will tell you it felt better to get up and walk around hanging on to my husband than it did trying to sit in a chair, the nurse said the dr's orders were for me to at least get out of bed 2x a day and sit in a chair for an hour, at ku i shared a room with someones else and it was so crowded in there , there wasn't a chair anyway, so walking around was better and less painful for me, and i think that is better at preventing blood clots anyhow, so try to do that. i was 215 when i went in, and today i am 204, i still have some excess water and a good amt of swelling, so i am hoping in the next week or so i'll get below 200 , that is my golden number BELOW 200!!! you'll problably hear my yelling from where you are lol!  please please let me know if you do get an est of the arm lift though, thanks, susan