Anyone from Manitoba have DS?

 Just wondering if anyone has had the DS, if so where and how was your experience? I have a whole bunch of questions that I would love to ask, but hopefully I can find someone who also went self pay and go from there.

Thanks in advance

They don't do the DS here I believe... I don't believe it is done in canada at all.. could be wrong. It is a very good surgery. I would have rather had a DS over a RNY. I was self pay as well - I went to Mexico but got the sleeve, mostly because I think the sleeve was going to be good enough for me to lose the weight , but also the price is much cheaper than the DS . I suppose if it wasn't enough I could always revise it into a DS in a later operation, but I doubt I would need it.

Are you thinking of going to the states or mexico?

 I was thinking of going out of Canada if need be, I know Dr Gagner in Quebec does the DS and he is a very good surgeon however haven't heard much lately about him so not sure if he is still practising. SO yes, I will be going out of country, just not sure where yet. 

Where did you go to get your sleeve if you don't mind me asking.

I have been looking at Dr. Aceves if I decide the sleeve as I heard his are exceptional and quite small but still very good. If I decide DS, I have only heard of one surgeon in Mexico doing it and that is Dr Ungson. I know several in the states however I think the cost is just too crazy for me, I heard like $30k which I really can't afford.
 
But yeah, I am still trying to figure out what I really want, I like the idea of the DS but I am scared of all the implications of a more complex surgery.

Well, thanks for all your input and advice.

I never even researched much about DS..mind telling me what you like about it? Im have the VSG but would love to know more about the DS and what its all about. I do know that I read on the Mexico forum that Dr. Ungson is highly recommended for that...his name seemed to be mentioned alot.

The DS basically has two stages, stage one is restrictive, which is basically just gastric sleeve and the second is malabsorptive. The intestines are switched so that the stomach and digestive juices travel seperately and don't meet up until towards the end of the intestine which causes less absorption. There is a great website that explains it very well if you are interested.  dsfacts.com

The surgery is done all at once but sometimes can be split into two seperate ones in severely high weight and risk patients as it is also one of the more complicated procedures. If required, they will do the sleeve first, have the patient lose some weight and then go in again and do the malabsorptive part of the surgery.

 the reason why I am looking at it as an option is because I am terrified 5 years down the road after having a sleeve or RNY that I will re-gain and then have to go through this all over again. However, it also has lifelong responsibilities, such as taking vitamins daily and keeping on top of your bloodwork to make sure all your levels are okay. I also have a lot of weight to lose and from my research this surgery has been the most promising in losing excess weight and keeping it off in morbidly obese patients.

If there was more studies and stats about long term sleeve results with high BMI(50+) patients I would definitely do it and as it is now, it still seems like a really great option.

I also hate going under, I am terrified I won't wake up. So I would rather go under once and get it all over with, do all they can do and the rest is up to me and be done with it then have to go under several times.

It is also the most expensive surgery of them all and so that is also a factor seeing as I am not able to get into the clinic here at my BMI is too high and I don't think I can wait that long, not to mention they don't offer this surgery here. 

Yes, Dr. Ungson has a great reputation I was hoping to stay in Canada but from what I have heard, it is almot impossible to find a surgeon who does DS in this country. 

If they do it in Canada , can you get it covered through Manitoba health? I agree it looks like a fantastic surgery. I like the stats on it compared to RNY

I do wish they would offer it here. It is definitely the surgery I would have gotten.