Duodenal switch... Scared. Any DS'rs...

This isn't the right board to find DS advice.  Please look for the DS board here.  I would also recommend you go to:  www.dsfacts.com for a great amount of info about living with the DS.

You will need to take vitamins with any surgery.  As someone living with a DS for almost 7 years, it's just a regular part of my life.

It's a wonderful surgery, but you need to be educated.

As far as skinny goes - that's something you need to talk to a counselor about.

I am 5'7" and wearing between a size 4-6.  I still have curves.

Best of luck to you.

Sharon

Even though I have the band and have been successful, I think the DS is a great surgery. However, since you already have the band, why not try to see if it will work for you. Looks like you're in Austin. I know most doctors won't help if they didn't perform the surgery and you may not have options in Austin. Dallas is not that far and I saw a billboard for one who will and very cheap.$50 for a fill using flouroscopy regardless of who did your surgery. That would be just a day trip to and from from Austin.   http://www.forestparkmc.com/lapbandfills/

 Ty Neal. Yes finding someone to do a fill was irritating so I'm done with it. Glad to here you had a success with it.

I'm over 8 years post-op from the DS, and I'm thankful every day that I made this choice. HOWEVER---

I'm not familiar with Dr. Ganta, and his profile here says he's only done about 15-20 DSes. I personally would hesitate to use a surgeon who's done fewer than 100 procedures. I suggest you also consider Dr. Stewart in Denton, TX.

For me, the reason that *I* ate all the time pre-op was because I was HUNGRY all the time. My sateity mechanism was broken---I NEVER felt full and satisfied. Since my DS, I no longer feel that way, which convinces me that some of us have either a physical or physiological problem that the DS does cure.

As for pills---I take a handful with breakfast, and then two calcium citrate pills three more times a day. It's a habit now, and a LOT easier to deal with that spending the entire day (and night, LOL!) resisting the urge to eat. (Which I don't really have any more---I have 'normal' hunger, and it's appeased by 'normal' portions.)

Please visit the DS board here, DSFacts, and search the web for other WLS sites (there's a good one on proboards). Talk with people who are long-time vets---they'll give you the real skinney on the DS. You won't get it here on the Main Board.

 Hi Misty, I'm a recent RNY revision to DS. My RNY was in May 2002 and I had my revision on Dec 15, 2011. I just turned 51 and have struggled with obesity since I was 17 years old. 

Please know that everything I write is without judgement, and because I worry about people, genuinely care. 

You sound to me like you have more issues going on than portion control, which must be dealt with along side any WLS procedure. They operate on our stomachs, not our heads. If you feel you have truly exhausted what you can achieve with the band - and only you can answer that - than you are right to consider a revision. I think your goals about your weight are realstic, and sound a little like myself in that regard. I never did this to be a Size 2, skinny, bikini body, etc. Just want to be at a goal weight with the work I'm willing to put in - and I work hard at this - years of therapy, nutrition and exercise education - in tandem with my surgeries. I'm curvy, muscular, a bit voluptuous and fine with that - I just want it to be the best shape I can be, toned up, and minus the excess skin I hope to get removed some day. 

However, in figuring out which surgery is the right one for you, you have a lot of reading, research work to do first. And while we all have to balance family, costs, time off work, spouses, kids in our decision, t the top of the list is not the cost, but what the DS and RNY are, fully understand each procedure and the malabsorption processes for each. Of the two - having had both - no question the DS is the superior malabsorption surgery. Both surgeries require life-long committment to vitamin supplementation to make up for what isn't absorbed in food. Both surgeries require making a committment to eating appropriately for life - something we're supposed to, but we can't for many reasons, and why we have surgery - but surgery is a TOOL, and it works for a very short period without much needed from us...and then that small window is over, we work at it. The difference is, not only will we lose the weight, the DS gives us the best possible outcome of maintaining the loss. 

The DS post-op life is very much Atkins, which is a great way to eat, very satisfying. Good full fat meats, cheeses, butter, cream, bacon, complex carbs (whole grains for starches, vegetables, low-sugar fruits). DSers only absorb 60% protein and even less of the fat, so we HAVE to eat...a lot! But of the good stuff. Tons of great sugar/gluten/white flour carb alternatives out there now. With the RNY, you have to monitor your protein, make sure it's always lean, stay low fat, count your calories. You might dump, which is unhealthy and awful and in no way is a positive factor to long-term, permanent weight loss. And same rules of thumb about complex carbs apply. That's a very short fast lifestyle analysis. 

I did everything I was supposed to do with my RNY, and couldn't get/stay under 200 lbs, and became severely anemic and calcium/D3 deficient. Since my DS, all my lab numbers are going up, and I'm barely 5 months out, and I'm 191 lbs. 

For more efficient, accurate information about the DS (and vs the RNY), in addition to DSfacts.com, visit Weight Loss Surgery on Probards, where a host of veterans provide information in a very fact-driven format. Link below. 

Read up on Atkins, either online or buy the paperback for $10. Make sure you get consults from VETTED surgeons for the DS and RNY. Read, research, ask LOTS of questions to truly make the best decision for yourself. 

http://weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk

I'm a broken record but I want to remind you that no matter what surgery you get you will always absorb simple carbs 100%.  When they find one that will help me malabsorb simple carbs I will be first in line since that is my addiction.  Sugar, candy, bread, lots of bread, any combination of fat, sugar and flour and I'm in heaven.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good steak but given the choice I would grab the sourdough bread over the fillet Mignon.
I am a revision but I never would have been revised just because of weight.  After nearly 8 years I came to the conclusion that no WLS surgery could help me.  My problem wasn't just physical but mental and emotional as well and if I didn't deal with those issues then nothing would help me lose weight and keep it off.
I'm not saying you shouldm't have a revision.  Just make sure you address your eating issues as well and you are sure to have a successful WLS, whatever you choose.

 I am 4 weeks out from the DS. One of the things that I like about it is that the part of the stomach that is removed is where the body makes the hormone that makes us hungry. I have a fully operating stomach, it is just smaller. I will be able to enjoy a wider variety of food. I will have to watch refined carbs. I do have to get my protein in first. I do have to take vitamins for the rest of my life.

So far, I have healed well, and I can eat about 4 oz of food at a time. I will be able to eat more later. I do not feel deprived. I eat about 6 times a day.

One of the things I did to help me deside is I looked at what people who had the surgery lives were like by looking at their boards. One thing I noticed was there were a lot of rny people *****vised to a ds. The DS lifestyle and what they were eating sounded the best to me.

Here is a link to to a virtual model you can play with to see what different weights look like. It isn't quiet the same as reality, but it will give you some idea http://www.newlifestylediet.com/virtualmodel.aspx

 MsBatt makes a very good point.  When you get past all the emotional eating stuff, I stopped emotional eating after my RNY because I was never hungry again.  DS removes the part of the stomach that makes the hunger hormone.  It is so much easier to follow a healthy diet and exercise program when I have zero hunger.  

With RNY you malabsorb for a while, then almost always start gaining again when the malabsorption wears off.  For me the feeling on no hunger is still with me almost five years after RNY.  The doctor tells me that is because he cut the vagus nerve, which got rid of hunger for me.

It is a waste of your life to worry about taking vitamins, when the benefit of the DS can be a slim healthy body.  Don't even do a lot of thinking about it.  You know that lapband does not work for you.  Go for the surgery with the best chance to change your body and your life, for you that is DS.

If you want to lose only 140 lbs you might want the Vsg (the first part of Ds) it has no malabsorption just smaller tummy. If later you want the  malabsorption you may add it.The Ds is a good surgery but the vsg might be for you if you don't want to take all the vitamins.and here is a website so you can picture 5"8 and  your choice of weight
http://www.mybodygallery.com/search.html?height=5+8&weight=220&pant=any&shirt=any&zphoto=Large&new=1

I'm a RNY to DS revisioner. I would strongly urge you to have a consult with Dr. Stewart in Denton, TX. He is an exceptional surgeon. Based on what you've shared, the DS would probably be your best choice to have a normal life if you're willing to accept eating and supplementing right.