Hi Everyone!

Hi everyone, I'm new here and thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Jonathan, and I live in Avon. Currently working on qualifying for surgery with Dr. Harris @ Dakota Surgical Ltd @ Avera in Sioux Falls. I'm going to be having the BPD/DS surgery as my BMI is over 60. I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself. The only thing that stands between me and scheduling my date (EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE) is 1-2 months of supervised diet for Medicare. Did I mention I'm excited??? :-) Well, hope everything is going good for you guys.... -- Jonathan

Hi Jonathan, me Desiree again. Question? Your surgery...what is BPD/DS surgery? I know I sound dumb, but I know the DS part, but what is the BPD??? Just wondering as I too have a high BMI.

It's a Bileopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch. It has the highest success rate long-term (in terms of weight loss and keeping it off) of any WLS. It's a combination procedure, like the RNY except for the fact that you keep part of your stomach (including the pyloric sphincter) while most is cut away (so there's no dumping), and more of your small intestine is bypassed. In most RNY's, about 1/5 of the small intestine is bypassed, whereas with the BPD/DS, 4/5 is bypassed. -- JP P.S. Most people call a BPD/DS just a DS because nobody performs just a DS anymore. You have to have the restrictive portion (The partial gastrectomy to reduce stomach size) and the malabsorptive part (the bypass).

CONGRATULATIONS...I hope everything goes well. I will be thinking of you and praying for your success. The losers bench is waiting for you.

Hi Jonathan, You are rounding the final curve and heading into the home stretch! Isn't it AWESOME! I hope everything goes smoothly for you! Keep us South Dakotans updated on your progress.

Jonathan, I too wanted to have the BPD done. I researched this for over four years but decided to get the RNY done instead. ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT THE BPD?????????? Also are you sure Fred does this procedure? Fred did mine in July. I did not know he did the BPD................I have lost over ninety pounds since meeting Dr. Harris early May of 2006 and the RNY is much easier on you in the long run. It sounded like the best choice for me and I am glad I did the RNY. I too thought the BPD would be better in the long run but there is a reason 75% of the surgerys done are RNY. If you want to talk more my email is [email protected] Best Wishes, John

Regarding the BPD, Dr. Harris the one who suggested it. He believes that as I am 28, I will respond well to the surgery. His goal is to get me under 200 lbs, and he believes that the BPD is the best option for me since I have a BMI of almost 67. (Yowza!) As for the RNY being easier on you in the long run... From what I gather that's still debated by lotsa folks. In some ways, having a larger stomach (and pylorus) left over will make things easier at meal times. As for the longer bypass, I think I will really benefit from the increased malabsorption. I have to take medications multiple times daily already , so the supplement regime will not be a big change to me. As a side note, I think that Dr. Harris is working to increase the number of BPD's that he does. I think he wants to do long-term research on its success rate. As it stands now, it is the WLS with the highest long-term success rate. I've been researching the surgeries for about 5 years now, and feel comfortable with Dr. Harris' recommendation. I have a "virgin belly" and no significant medical problems other than hypertension and sleep apnea. I hope all goes well... Thanks for the input. -- JP