Question Re Surgery Choice

I am a pre-op planning ot have DS in July. It seems that most people in the Oregon forum have opted for Lap Band or RNY and, for those of you who chose RNY, I am wondering what made you make this choice over the DS? Thanks! Cheryl

Hi Cheryl... For me, the DS, was really not an option. I had insurance that was willing to cover my RNY 100% and nothing for a DS... so not even an option. I also think that you will find (and maybe already have ) that the DS is definately in the minority in the world of WLS. I think this is for a couple of reasons.. the main one is that is it relatively new compared to the RNY. The DS is a bit less drastic of a change in the anatomy. A few things that I have heard (no research done) that really also steered me away from considering it were *very bad gas afterward *a lot of patients have several bathroom runs after each meal *no restriction of diet *relies heavily on malabsorbtion *I do not know what your BMI is but seems to be geared to the higher BMI's of 50 or greater... mine was 43. I hope that didnt go wrong on here... again I did very little research as it really wasnt an option but this is what I "know" on this... Hope it helps. Tara

Thanks Tara! It's good to hear the other perspective. Cheryl

I chose DS after almost 2 yrs. of research and talking to patients from both "sides". The DS has a longer "life" compared to RNY- meaning patients are still losing after 5 yrs. and lost more weight. Also- quite a few RNY ers seem to be revisions to DS after a long time. Also for diabetes , there is a different component. It seems to have better resolution of diabetes......and it is unknown why. Some thoughts are that the pancreatic 'juices' are not beat up by the stomach in the the Biliopancreatic switch. Also- no dumping syndrome with DS as there is with RNY. A more normal eating is allowed. The bad gas is only in a few folks I hear and can be a problem....but not as bad as dumping syndrome. I have only found a very few folks who get diaherrea or many trips to bathrm.- and that is only first thing in a.m.'s it seems normal to go 2-3 times and then you're set for the day. Go to DS forum on this OH site and ask the questions of those who chose it. That's what I did too.