DS surgeon who has swithched to mostly LAPBAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out Dr. Terry Simpson's posts. OMG http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/board_id,5357/user_id,6636/a,messageboard/action,memb erPosts/

It only makes sense. A band cannot be stretched out. The stomach - of any size, can stretch....

I bet I could stretch it if I heated it up and pulled on it really hard - just kidding

Not to overtake your forum...but since this was DS related...I hope you don't mind my comment. I think Dr. Simpson PMed LeaAnn saying that he had too many noncompliant patients and it grieved him tremendously. Obviously, with ANY WLS, follow up is critical...but especially with the DS. Regular bloodwork and vitamin suppliment is the key to health for the DSer. Since he doesn't have a crystal ball, he can't predict who will and who won't be compliant. Personally, I too would hate to have that burdon to bare. On a side note, my surgeon who does all the WLS, is considering not performing the band procedure any longer in favor of the sleeve. He loves the results with the sleeve and how restriction is accomplished and maintained without complications he sees with the band. Just like Dr. Simpson, he has his own professional reasons for performing which surgeries he feels is most ethical for his practice. Just like our surgery decisions are personal, so too are a surgeon's decision on which surgeries to perform.

That's correct, Sylvia. Dr. Simpson PMd me and said that I was correct when I said: "Simpson doesn't want the responsibility of non-compliant DSers on his watch. Same reason we don't want converts that are easily distracted by the smokescreen of stupidity looking into the DS. The DS is NOT a toy and not for those incapable of understanding the serious nature in which their anatomy has been altered by the procedure and the diligence that is required to stay healthy." Here's what he sent me in PM: Personal message "Date Sent: March 5, 2008 - 3:41pm From: terrysimpson Click here to add this user to your friends list Subject: thanks "LeaAnn, I appreciate your comments on the site. Someone sent me the original post and I thought I should respond to it. I use to be on the forums all the time, and now I remember why I stopped-- there are a number of patients who want to take everything in the wrong manner and it gets tiring to defend myself. Essentially - I love the DS. In fact, my DS patients are wonderful -- but there are a number who after a year stop coming. Well, my coronary arteries get a little squeezed when I think about it -- and I email, phone, write letters. The number of letters we wrote per month was amazing -- and many did write back, and some would all of a sudden show up. We had great results, and I probably did more DS and revisions to DS than most. Our statistics were well below or at national averages -- so I didn't quit because of bad outcomes (although any bad outcome makes me feel bad for a long time - after the death of one particular patient I was ready to give it up but the DS community sent me some very supportive letters and encouraged me to continue). I loved the forums -- and use to participate weekly in them, as well as have weekly moderated chats. But sometimes they turn nasty, and people get quite personal -- which is why I left them several years ago. Anyway -- you seemed very level headed, and I appreciated the posts I read of yours. Feel free to email me with any questions or if you would like me to respond-- through you, about anything, but I am not going to get back on the forum and respond to every silly question and frankly don't have time. So -- see, you have been appointed official Simpson moderator -- sorry. Terry Simpson" ------------------------------------ So, there yawl have it. I'm the official Simpson moderator. If yawl have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me and I will relay them to Dr. S. hahahahahahaha! Love and kisses, LeaAnn

Interesting! This is NOT a loaded, critical or anything else question - a genuine desire to know! If DSers are "not compliant" I assume that means that they may not be healthy as they are not taking vitamins etc.. But because of the way I understand the DS works, i assumed you woudl still lose weight. Isn't that the case? Kate

Yes, they were unhealthy in that their labs were all wonky - meaning they were at unhealthy levels due to not taking their vitamins....as far as I know, based on all I read, they still lost weight, just were at unhealthy levels with bloodwork

Hi Kate! Yes, if DSers are not compliant, they are NOT healthy. By this, I mean that compliance is not equated to weight loss (as it is with other WLS), it is equated to overall health which is evident in their blood work. It's kind of like a person with elevated blood pressure not taking their medication. They might LOOK healthy (ie. of normal weight), but internally, a ticking time bomb. That's why follow up is so necessary. Getting blood work done at least yearly (some do it every 6 months) is critical for good health. Since the doctor can't FORCE a patient to come in for bloodwork to assure that vitamin and iron levels are sufficient, it becomes an ethical concern. It would be like a bander, who has too tight of a restriction...they might lose weight more efficiently, but the effects a too-tight-band could have on their health is very dangerous.

Very interesting, Nancy!

Unless his practice was located in Antarctica, there is really is no excuse for such a pathetically low follow-up rate. WITH ANY SURGERY, if there is an outrageously low follow-up rate, we COULD say: *there's something wrong with the procedure. But then, ALL the surgeons doing that procedure would have the same follow up rate. *there's something wrong with this non-compliant patient demographic. But then, how did ONE surgeon get all the stupid people who didn't follow-up and who didn't follow instructions? *there's something wrong about the surgeon. YOU choose. Sue