DSers advice? anyone

Hi All,
I have been worried lately about DS surgery never getting approved. Where does that leave us waiting for it? When I first went to see Dr S I wanted lapband not knowing anything about DS. After discussing it with him we decided that DS was a better option for me. I have been able to maintain my weight (330) for the past year waiting for the surgery. If I would have went for lapband I would have been done already. Maybe I wouldnt have never lost as much as I wanted (he said I wouldnt with lapband) but at least I would be alot smaller and life would be much better.
My thoughts are now should I wait or should I try to get another surgery. I know that lapband and gastric bypass are not the way I want to go. I was thinking about VSG ( the sleeve) so I guess it is half the DS. However if is doesnt work or if I regain the weight which is a bigger risk with it then I am back to being obese and no surgery option. I am sure the province will only pay for one.
I would love to hear anyone opinion on this. I am so confused and just dont know what to do now.
DSers have you decided to wait it out?

Help

Actually both the RNY and the DS are both gastric bypasses. Just different methods of bypass. Both are malabsorbtion and restrictive procedures.

I've no advice - just comiseration. I've kind of given up on any kind of surgery because I'm really kind of fed-up with everything. Before people start jumping in with "it's a long wait" argument, yes I know that there is a long wait, but that's not my complaint. My complaint is that we were told that we would be having surgery within a 6-month time frame, and now two years later, we can't get any information and the type of surgery that we initially wanted doesn't even seem to be offered.

I'm not really willing to go with another type of surgery because I don't know if I'll be happy with it, nor do I know that it'll work with my physiology. I'm not keen on settling with the VSG because basically it means you have to eat only 800 calories for the time that you're in the weight-loss window. Cripes, I can do that now and not have the potential after-effects that surgery can give you. I want something that has both restriction and malabsorbtion and can help me avoid regaining if I work with the tool effectively. Loosing weight is not my problem - keeping the weight off is my problem.  I've lost 44 lbs since November on my own but the irony is that my health keeps getting worse - I've been diagnosed with diabetes during that time, found out that I have nerve and kidney damage due to the diabetes, plus I'm on 4 blood-ressure pills per day. I really wanted a surgery that would almost guarantee a cure of type-2 diabetes because it's so rampant in my genetics.
 
I don't know - I guess that I'm very discouraged over the lack of concrete information - at least with Dr Beausoleil they tell you upfront that it's an 8 year wait. We're going blind with the lack of information. Sorry to sound so negative, but I just had to vent everything out.

Hi PN- good to see you on the board. I am sorry that you were diagnoised with diabeties- not a good thing. The reality, especially where you have neuropoyhy, you have likely been a diabetic for years. Losing the weight is not the culprit. If you want to stop or slow the progress of diabeties, the sooner you have WLS, the better.
BTW- Lyn had a baby boy Xmas Eve!

I so agree. It is the not knowing that is killing me. I have already waited years to see Dr. B. I have done my share of waiting and I will wait longer if someone could just tell me yes for sure the surgery will be done. Keeping it off is also my problem. So frustrated.

With a BMI in the 70's I definetly wanted the DS but nobody does it in Canada.  I decided I couldnt afford to go to the US to have it and I just couldnt wait any longer for the public waiting list in NB.  I am having RNY gastric bypass which does have some some malabsorption.  I am self paying, I have to or I will die, I decided to remortgage the house and self pay.  I am going to Montreal next week for surgery on Tuesday with Dr Nicholas Christou.  It's not ideal but when is life lol.  I'll work with it, it has to be better than living like this.  It's a tough decision especially when you research so much and have your heart set on DS but life is about comprimises.  I'm excited now about it and cant wait to have it done.  Best of luck with your decision

I thought that Dr S learned how to do the DS from Dr Christou. He studied in Montreal.....

I believe the DS has been done the longest in Montreal. I read elsewhere the longest studies on the long term effects (20 years) of the DS has been carried out in Montreal. The Montreal studies are cited in baratric confrences.

The difference in resolution of diabetes in the 2 surgeries is I believe 86% in RNY and 94% in DS. (I could be off a little bit on the numbers) Not exactly huge differences and neither of them 100%. Most everyone I have heard of on the OH board has had their diabetes resolved following RNY including me. Quite a few have even had their diabetes resolved or significently improved following lap band

There is a doctor who does DS in Montreal, Dr Court however he only does off the public waiting list I believe.  I asked Dr Christou about the DS and he recomended the RNY...it would only be self pay if you could convince them to do it, it seemed to me like they were not keen on performing it

I am curious as to why they said you would not be a candaite for lap band , I had done alot of research myself and had decided that gastric bypass was the answer until I met with the Dr after ward I decided to go the lap band route. 

If you are one of the people who is not successful with the band you can get another surgery covered by medicare. Some people with a to high BIM will start with the band and once they get their BIM down to have a safer surgery will then go the bypass route.
 
I wish you the best of luck at one point I consider paying for the surgery myself but with three kids and other expenses I just could not swing it.

I had given up ever getting the lap band waited about 4 1/2 years with Dr B and never did get in to see Dr S.
 
Now that I have the band I have had days when I have thought maybe I should have gone with bypass but that is mostly because I want the weight off yesterday. I have only lost 36 pounds in 10 weeks but that is above average and I never feel deprived. I was back to work 6 days after getting the lap band and had no adverse effects.  My problem has always been feeling hungery when losing wait and I do not feel that with the band.