Trying to decide which surgery is most effective?

But that isn't the fault of the surgery.

Most of that is getting inaccurate information about supplementing the DS and/or just failing to supplement. Which can ALSO happen with the RNY.

AND that is a shame.

So the DS surgeons have been giving inaccurate and non-comprehensive information to their patients is what you're saying? Now, that is a shame!

Self management is key to all of the WLSs- failing to supplement correctly will effect all of them.

Actually, so do MOST surgeons...they are cutters not nutritionists...and their dieticians are awash in outdated info.

Yes, it IS a shame. Sadly, most surgeons know very little about nutrition. After all, they're trained to cut and sew. But it's true across the board---surgeons who specialize in other forms of WLS do it, too.

Most surgeons have Bariatric nutritionists working with them- I saw mine a lot at first, and found her very informative and helpful. My blood levels have consistently been excellent, which is what I go on for feedback as to whether I am taking sufficient types and amounts of vitamins and supplements.

You must have not had such a good experience, but I do think your statement about surgeons is overly general and judgmental. Also your surgery was done awhile ago, and there has been an increase in knowledge since then as to what is needed post-op.

I find my surgeon to be very comprehensive, experienced and professional with his knowledge. Plus I was cut and sown well. He sure knows a lot more than me.

I was actually given a diet sheet by my surgeon's nutritionist with the title RNY Nutrition Guidelines.  I was told to eat low fat.  I freaked and spoke to the surgeon who confirmed that I did get the DS and that I could have as much fat as I liked.

I've come across many DSers who are given the same misadvice and as for vitamins, the post op advice I was given was totally inadequate (a couple of multis, some zinc and calcium), whereas I've had some great advice on OH and my labs are OK.

It's scary when you don't get accurate and appropriate information, isn't it? I've learned so much here on OH, too. Immediately post-op I spent days and days reading posts on several different boards going back a couple of years. Plus I'm grateful I got good professional recommendations.

Scary indeed ;-)

Agreed that it can also happen with RNY.  My surgeon gave good supplementation guidelines for both surgeries though (I have never heard of any issues from her DS patients).  Too many patients simply chose not to follow them. I'm sure there are lots of RNY patients of hers that are also non-compliant.

That point remains, though, that it appears that in the midwest, at least, a certain percentage of surgeons are choosing to stop doing the DS as opposed to more surgeons adding it to their options. I know of two other local surgeons, in addition to the three that have already stopped, that are doing it only for very few patients who meet specific criteria and have indicated that they will likely not do it at all in the future.  That would mean that anyone here would have to go to Cincinnati for a DS.

Lora

In all fairness, Lora, their patients suffered because their nutritional advice was horribly inadequate and they just didn't know how to work with it.  I speak from experience.  When my numbers were dwindling with D, I was told to wait another 3 mos and test again.  When the numbers got lower, she just said "hmmm..lets double that (meaning take 800iu) and try again in 3 mos.   My levels of A and D got down to barely double digits (try 12) and I started learning on my own what I really needed.  Then and only then did I learn about the mega-doses required and take matters into my own hands, and I finally saw results.  One of Dr.Rita's staff wrote a book on wls types, and it still had the recommendation of only needing 400iu extra D.  I pointed it out and they blew me off...again.  This is not new information anymore, but the lack of DS knowledge in nutritional needs is too often missed and they are lumped into RNY instructions.

 It wasn't the fault of the procedure, just the lack of information (or compliance) when it comes to nutritional needs.  It does require specific care and can be horribly dangerous without it.  It takes a person with the drive to leearn on their own, for very little is spoon-fed to them.

Surgeons are not nutritional experts - and unfortunately, nutritional experts haven't bothered to know enough about the DS to give valid advice.  Fortunately, there is a wealth of information to be shared by other DSers these days.  The only problem outstanding is compliance of the patient.  There are some people who just really shouldn't get the DS, and I know that one of the Ohio surgeons started taking that into account.