You might want to visit www.duodenalswitch.com ---they have a list of "approved" DS surgeons. At last count, there where 46 here in the US. Yes, you might have to travel several hours away from home in order to get the DS---but if it's what you WANT, it's more than worth it. I could have had the RNY an hour away from home, basically for FREE---my insurance would have covered EVERYTHING. But I decided having the DS was important enought to pay $7500 out of pocket ,traveling 3.5 hours each way, staying in a hotet, etc.---because I was lokking at how my life would be affected for, hopefully, another 40 years or so.  I'm almost 4 years out, an d my DS has ALREADY more than paid for itself.

Thanks - I agree!  

Great idea - will do, thanks! Interesting - I just came frommy WLS support group meeting and I asked if my surgical group does DS; the moderator (who also runs the whole program) said they don't because of the high rate of complications.  Go figure!  ;- l

Bear in mind that not all WL surgeons do the DS, and the Ford dealer isn't going to tell you what you really need is a Cadillac. (*grin*) Come visit the DS forum and read up on the procedure, talk with others who've had it, etc.

Actually, the DS gives a high degree of malabsorption, but it's different from the malabsorption of the RNY---it specifically targets fat absorption (DSers absorb about 19% of the fat we eat, compared with 62% for RNY patients), so SOME DSers need to supplement the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, ,and K. I haven't been taking supplements of them for about two years now, and my annual bloodwork says everything's fine. I do take a multi-vitamin every day, and 1800 mgs of calcium. But no, I don't do protein supplements---I EAT around 100-120 grams of protein daily. (*grin*) I eat less because I do get full MUCH faster than I did pre-op---pre-op, I just NEVER got full!!! But yes, if I over-eat, I do feel uncomfortable. Not so much now as in the early days, when I was learning to understand just what 'full' felt like, but there are still times when I've just gotta eat that 'last bite' and I do feel uncomfortable for a few minutes.I also drink with my meals. Yes, I can eat everything, including sugar---no dumping with the DS. But I limit how much sugar I eat, because I still absorb prretty much all the refined sugar I eat. And the DS has sort of pulled my sweet tooth---most sweets are just TOO sweet for me now, and a couple of bites satisfies me. I definitely thought the DS was better for ME than the RNY!