RNY revision to DS report to ya'll

I just wanted to report on my revision out of appreciation for the information everyone on this site provides for me. I had an RNY in 1992, lost from 310 to 240 then regained to 320 over the next 8 years or so. (I am 5'6") I looked into lapband over RNY, endoscopic bypass repair, distal RNY and the always popular..doing nothing.  My daughter needed WLS and didn't want an RNY after my failure. She was told to avoid a lapband for many reasons. She chose the Duodenal Switch. Since our insurance didn't cover this surgery, we found a doctor in Brazil who does the DS and also has a revision from RNY to DS that gives the bowel configuration of the DS and leaves the RNY pouch alone. I have had no problems with my pouch, no ulcers, no vomiting just stretching out over the years. My surgery was easier than my daughters, no nausea, smaller incision, etc.  I lost 20lbs before starting and have lost 61lbs in 8 months. I am supposed to avoid carbs, but I have quite the chocolate addiction, so I still fight that. Luckily, with the malabsorption of the DS, fat is only absorbed at 20% and chocolate has a lot of fat in it. I also find the fat in my meals gives me more saiety with less food consumed. My daughter has lost 110lbs in the same time, as her new gastric sleeve is small still. She has about 40lbs to go and I have the same.  So, it cost about $28,000 for the two of us, including hotel, airfare, meds, etc. We are thrilled, as the DS has a high rate of keeping the weight off long term. We have diarrhea in the morning once or twice and get gas when we eat certain foods. We have to take lots of vitamins. It is not an easy solution, but I think it was the right one for us. We feel the trade off is worth it. 1000 reasons it feels great to have the weight gone and 20 reasons it is a hassle to deal with a malasorptive surgery. I think everyone needs to evaluate the life they want after surgery. Not everyone is the same or has the same specific needs. Just wanted to share, as everyone has shared to help us decide.

I am lookiing to have my stoma shrunk smaller as I have gained 30 pounds in 6 months, having the RNY just over two years ago.  If my insurance won't cover it, I just do not have the  money or the means to get it to self-pay.  How in the heck did you come up with $28,000.00 to do it in Mexico?  It behooves me how some people just come up with out of pocket money. I know I am missing something here.

I know just how you feel about the weight regain. It was a horrible situation to be in. My husband and I took out a home equity loan for my half of the money and my daughter used money that was set aside for her by her grandparents for college. Shhhh! Don't let grandma hear. My daughter felt at 330lbs college would be extremely difficult. She is now going to the local community college for her first two years and if she runs out will have to get student loans. By the way, we went all the way to Brazil!

The two of you look great.