PRE-OPS: Make sure you learn about the DS before you choose your surgery!

I had met every requirement for RNY (the only thing my insurer offered at the time) and was being offered a date, and just couldn't do it. I think I could have accepted the potential side effects of dumping and food getting stuck but could not accept the 30% failure rate quoted by the RNY surgeon. To this day, I appreciate his honesty.
      I had the DS almost 5 years ago. I lost 100% of my excess weight, and have enjoyed excellent health and quality of life ever since. There were difficult days at first, and my life, like everyone else's, has had it's bumps along the road, but I have not had one moment of regret about my decision.
     To all the pre-ops out there, no matter how desparate you are, no matter what your insurer does or does not cover, take the time and effort to learn the facts about ALL the wls options presently available and make the informed decision as to what is best for YOU. You are the one who will live with this major decision, not the surgeon, and esp not some bean counter at your insurance company. Choose wisely.

Larra

When I first came to OH, I was looking for RNY and only heard now and then about those trouble makers doing flame wars about that OTHER surgery. I stayed away, you know - because they are trouble makers.

Then, I was fortunate enough to go to a seminar for Dr. Stewart in my home town of Denton, TX. He actually recommended DS as a top surgery and said it had the best long-term statistics.

So, I came back, and with a bit of trepidation...sneaked onto the trouble maker's DS board to lurk for a bit. And HOT DAMN, they were the smartest posters on OH! Well researched, well informed, never afraid to answer a question, full of helpful links and information from new pre-ops to long term post-ops.

I am SO glad for the trouble makers! I love my DS!