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Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
Hi Laurie, (great name, btw!) 
I flew to OMAHA, yes Omaha, from Los Angeles to have my DS with Dr. Anthone there in Omaha. Had a really pleasant experience in Omaha ... the people there are great! Since we came from out of town, several of Dr. Anthone's patients visited me at Omaha Methodist. Midwestern hospitality at it's best.
So ... sounds like you want a less complicated life as a post op?
I can testify that you will have the MOST NORMAL post op quality of life after the DS. I can go out with others to a meal and they never have to know I've had wls. With the DS, you can eat meat without chewing it to mush, never have to worry about food getting "stuck" in a lapband, stricture or narrowed stoma, and never have to worry about dumping. I eat REAL food, just in smaller quantities.
Of course, because of the malabsorption, you must be diligent with your vitamin supplements and yearly follow ups (every couple months as a newbie post op). Anthone prescribed me a prescription prenatal, plus calcium CITRATE and dry vitamin D daily. That's it.
Dr. Anthone ordered me "real food" my last 3 days in the hospital. Of course it was bland and tasteless, but I got ground meat patties nontheless (along with other soft type foods). Stopped at Arby's (and ate some meat out of a junior beef sandwich) on the way to the airport 7 days after surgery. I was eating chicken parmiagiana, shrimp and filet mignon within 2 weeks. (Now I don't know if Sudan uses the valtrac ring - Anthone does NOT- so your diet early post op might be slightly different)
Because of the malabsorption of the DS, I never have to diet again. I lost just about 100 lbs and then bounced back up about 10 pounds. No matter what I eat I bounce around the same 3-4 lbs. You cannot break a DS. No more diets, baby!!!
If ya wanna see some So Calif DSers having fun EATING, email me and I'll send you links to photos of our gatherings ...
Best of luck, and come visit us over on the DS board.
Laurie
I flew to OMAHA, yes Omaha, from Los Angeles to have my DS with Dr. Anthone there in Omaha. Had a really pleasant experience in Omaha ... the people there are great! Since we came from out of town, several of Dr. Anthone's patients visited me at Omaha Methodist. Midwestern hospitality at it's best.
So ... sounds like you want a less complicated life as a post op?
I can testify that you will have the MOST NORMAL post op quality of life after the DS. I can go out with others to a meal and they never have to know I've had wls. With the DS, you can eat meat without chewing it to mush, never have to worry about food getting "stuck" in a lapband, stricture or narrowed stoma, and never have to worry about dumping. I eat REAL food, just in smaller quantities.
Of course, because of the malabsorption, you must be diligent with your vitamin supplements and yearly follow ups (every couple months as a newbie post op). Anthone prescribed me a prescription prenatal, plus calcium CITRATE and dry vitamin D daily. That's it.
Dr. Anthone ordered me "real food" my last 3 days in the hospital. Of course it was bland and tasteless, but I got ground meat patties nontheless (along with other soft type foods). Stopped at Arby's (and ate some meat out of a junior beef sandwich) on the way to the airport 7 days after surgery. I was eating chicken parmiagiana, shrimp and filet mignon within 2 weeks. (Now I don't know if Sudan uses the valtrac ring - Anthone does NOT- so your diet early post op might be slightly different)
Because of the malabsorption of the DS, I never have to diet again. I lost just about 100 lbs and then bounced back up about 10 pounds. No matter what I eat I bounce around the same 3-4 lbs. You cannot break a DS. No more diets, baby!!!
If ya wanna see some So Calif DSers having fun EATING, email me and I'll send you links to photos of our gatherings ...
Best of luck, and come visit us over on the DS board.
Laurie
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
My-oh-my, what a garden of misinformation grows around the DS. Thank heavens you're not getting your feet stuck in that mud.
I'm very glad you've found the DS board. You might also take a peek at duodenalswitch.com. You'll find a lot of peer-reviewed articles by DS surgeons. Of further interest is the forum on insurance issues and resolutions.
The DS is no longer considered experimental.
I'm 3+ years post-DS and I've never had any complications, nor any weight regain. I kept air freshener in my bathroom before the DS. I also took daily vitamins, and calcium as I was peri- to post-menopause.
You definitely don't have to be SMO to merit, or qualify, for the DS.
There's a lot of phallic narcissism involved in WLS advocates.
Be careful of hearsay. Continue to do really indepth research. With due diligence you'll make the wisest decision.
All is well in the garden, Roz
DS lap--8/4/04--Dr John Rabkin, San Francisco (246/118)
4/6/06--Lower body lift with muscle repair, Dr J. C.Fuentes, MX
7/31/06--Facelift; TCA peel (lower eyes); canthopexy,Dr . Binder (love him), BH, CA
2/7/07--Breast Aug/Lift--Dr Bresnick, Encino, CA
Better living through the scalpel
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
Hi Mona,
This is the part of your quote that is inaccurate and ruffling:
You have diarrhea and more difficulty with vitamin deficiencies. There are also other bad side effects with this surgery.
Your statement is too absolute and a little misleading.
The more correct version of your statement would be:
"You have controllable loose stools and have to be very compliant to take a lot of vitamins. There are also some other side effects that are dependent on the food that you eat that can be controlled."
You're doing so well with the band, so I'm sure you have a lot to offer on that subject and that advice would be extremely valuable. I'm sure you're not telling potential bandsters that the band is going to slip to a place where the only thing that can be done is surgically remove it or their stomachs will grow around the band and it will erode into the body. These are two examples I've seen first had from people I know first hand, but knowing that these are isolated incidents and not the norm, I'm not sending messages of doom to everyone interested in the band. Instead, I ask them to consider their own physiology and determine if restriction is all they need. If so, it's the quickest and least complicated way to achieve their goal.
That's all we ask from you about the DS. If you really are curious and would like to know more about it, I invite you to come to the forum and ask questions or just lurk around. Working together, we can help these newbies select the procedure that will help their individual situation and be the most successful.
Valerie
DS 2005
There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
Hi Laurie.
Thank goodness someone pointed the DS board folks over here to help you out. Yes, it really is less limiting than the other procedures on the whole "Can't eat this - can't eat that". I'm nearly 2 years out, and have found post-op living to be very easy.
Side effects are grossly over exaggerated, too. Common side effects are:
Loose stools -- NOT diarrhea (unless you eat a lot of greasy food) -- controllable, no straining...a couple each day
Bad Gas -- but this comes from eating simple carbs, steer clear of those and it's a non-issue.
It works with restriction and malabsorption, and is statistically rated as offering the highest percentage of weight loss and lowest rate of regain. Complications are rare, but can very serious when they occur. There are complications with any procedure, some more common than others.
Please come join us on the DS forum to ask us more questions. We're here to help.
Valerie
DS 2005
There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
On September 21, 2007 at 9:55 PM Pacific Time, BBoop wrote:
Laurie, I'm pre op so I'm not an expert but I am going to my surgical consult next month. I began wanting the lap band, then the RNY and finally by accident I learned of the DS. It sounded too good to be true to me.
Some of the reasons I chose the DS are the ability to take anti-inflamatory drugs without fear of an ulcer; I will continue to have a fully functioning stomach although much smaller than I have now: the highest rate of complete elimination of comorbidities in most patients; & ability to eat most foods except carbs and sugar. With that said, many people are able to eat carbs and sugar early on, some never and some after a while out from surgery. Yes, you do have to take supplements for the rest of your life. That doesn't seem like a bad trade off for all the expensive medication I take now. Protien and plenty of water are the first orders of business with a DS. I am a meat eater and just about all the people I have heard from enjoy steak and other goodies I like. Not a lot of steak but there is no stoma for to get hung in.
Please come on over to the DS forum and ask all the questions you like. There are no stupid questions and we answer any question about flatulence and bowel movements. By the way, the issues with gas and diarreha are highly exgerated. If you know what causes you to have gas and loose stools then don't eat it. It's just hat simple. Or if you have to have that donut, just make sure you are at home. LOL It isn't as bad as it is stated in some medical literature and there are many internal deoderizers that take take of those problems. I personally think the DS allows you to be very normal in your eating as long as you get your protien in first, take your supplements and drink plenty of water.
I wish you the very best on your research. This is going to be one of the most important decisions you make.
BettyLaurie, I am one of Dr Sudans patients as well. I am still preop. For 10 more days anyway!! Betty said it all above these are the reasons I chose the DS and I think many others will agree. I also am not a big fan of surgery LOL so I only want to do this once. If you do some research you will find out there are a staggering number of revisions to the DS from other failed WLS. I am by no means saying that one WLS is better than the other but please do some research and don't listen to this mis information. Pm if you want to talk more about this. I can pm you my phone #
Good luck In your Journey you are in good hand's Dr Sudan is awesome and his nurse Charity Rocks!!
Jordan
HW/CW/GW
411 258 200
By the way
Robb T. is my angel 
Topic: RE: Reflux now?
You might have too much of a fill and just need a little bit taken out. You should get ahold of Dr. Holloway and have him check it out. It would be better than letting it go any longer. This is fresh in my mind, of course, because I just went for my consultation with Dr. Holloway last week and this is stuff that he talked about. Call him, don't wait!
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
Laurie, I'm pre op so I'm not an expert but I am going to my surgical consult next month. I began wanting the lap band, then the RNY and finally by accident I learned of the DS. It sounded too good to be true to me.
Some of the reasons I chose the DS are the ability to take anti-inflamatory drugs without fear of an ulcer; I will continue to have a fully functioning stomach although much smaller than I have now: the highest rate of complete elimination of comorbidities in most patients; & ability to eat most foods except carbs and sugar. With that said, many people are able to eat carbs and sugar early on, some never and some after a while out from surgery. Yes, you do have to take supplements for the rest of your life. That doesn't seem like a bad trade off for all the expensive medication I take now. Protien and plenty of water are the first orders of business with a DS. I am a meat eater and just about all the people I have heard from enjoy steak and other goodies I like. Not a lot of steak but there is no stoma for to get hung in.
Please come on over to the DS forum and ask all the questions you like. There are no stupid questions and we answer any question about flatulence and bowel movements. By the way, the issues with gas and diarreha are highly exgerated. If you know what causes you to have gas and loose stools then don't eat it. It's just hat simple. Or if you have to have that donut, just make sure you are at home. LOL It isn't as bad as it is stated in some medical literature and there are many internal deoderizers that take take of those problems. I personally think the DS allows you to be very normal in your eating as long as you get your protien in first, take your supplements and drink plenty of water.
I wish you the very best on your research. This is going to be one of the most important decisions you make.
Betty
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
Hi Laurie, hey, lucky you that you live right near a surgeon who does the DS! Please feel free to look at my profile, where I've gone into quite a bit of detail about my procedure and how things have gone since then, and please do come pay us a visit on the DS board. There's a lot of misinformation and downright fiction floating around, so it's really important to do your research.
There's an OH member, Anne S. from WA, *****cently had the DS. If you look at her profile, she has a whole pile of bookmarks to various medical articles and studies about the DS. http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/zeebs/
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
You are wrong. The DS is both a restrictive and a malbsorbtive procedure. The restriction comes from the partial sub gastrectomy (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) and the malabsorbtion comes from the re-routing of the intestines. Not everyone who has the DS has diarrhea, nor does everyone have vitamin deficiencies. These two "facts" are myths about the surgery. There are some people who experience these sorts of issues but these folks are not the majority. And I am not sure to what you are referring when you say there are other "bad side effects with the surgery."
I would urge the OP to post their questions on the DS board.
Topic: RE: Lap band vs. the Switch
Would you please contain yourself to your OWN surgery and stop spouting misinformation, please? I'll do my best to do the same. Thank you.
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