Important Question....which surgery to pick???

Hi all!! 

I am sure you all love seeing my face and all of my kazillion question I have, but how else am I to learn if I don't ask, seek, and knock??

So I basically have my mind set up for the RNY, but I came across somebody who had the DS. I have done some research both, but I am just wondering what surgey you all have and what you would recommend me. I know that its a personal choice, and no one should tell me what to get, but I need suggestions... here are some things about me to help out with your answers....

I am 23 and 284 pounds
Been trying to have kids for 1 1/2 yrs with my husband
Haven't been diagnosed with PCOS, but my cycles are ALL MESSED UP since I gained my last 50 lbs
High blood pressure (thanks mama and daddy!!)
back problems
asthma

One thing I have noticed while reading lots of posts is that some DSers can be kinda mean! Sorry to say that, and please don't take it personal, but I am just wondering why that is? Anyway! Help from both sides would be LOVELY! Thanks!!!

LOL @ mean DSers..... that's funny!

Anyhoo - I had RNY - why did I pick it?  Well - I didn't know about DS, but honestly - I don't think I could have done what I have with DS. 

RNY was for me because I am a sweets/carb HOUND.  I'll gobble up that mess till I burst - RNY gave me the restrictive component so I am FULL after a smaller amount of food and the dumping is my 'sucker' punch when I act up......

I think you really have to look at what drives your eating behaviors and go with the one that best address that - you didn't list that here, so I can't tell you what I think

Thanks for your answer!!  I would say that my downfalls when it come to food is ice cream, cheesecake, cookies, desserts like that! I don't really do cake, or much chips, but I can buy a box of Famous Amos cookies and eat the WHOLE box in one day. Or I can buy a bag of chocolate hersheys and eat the whole thing!  And I love cereal too... especially the sugary kind!

Well - keep in mind not everybody dumps with RNY - but you sound like me.  and I wanted to not eat so much in terms of volume

I really haven't experienced the big 'cons' that are put out there about RNY - the feedback I have seen on DS says that it's an easier maintenence process, that RNY gain back easier - but if you change your habits and lifestyle and REALLY take care of yourself - either one should work.

RNY was the only one I felt comfortable with.....5 1/2 years out and the weight still hasnt come back yet

Some DSers are very enthusiastic and in their zeal have made 'predictions' that anyone with an rny will gain all the weight back.  That is just a very vocal few.  Most are cool people especially on BAF.

You can regain every pound of lost weight on every surgery including rny and ds.  No surgery is cheater proof.   You can also loose 100% of your excess on every surgery including restricctive only procedures.  Stats for success and failure vary by procedure, but the greatest factor is you working your tool. 

Look at the pros and cons of every procedure and compare them to what you want to accomplish for yourself in addition to weight loss.  Which surgery bests serves your personal objectives?  Do you have medical issues that one surgery better serves over others?  How important is that to you? 

I chose rny over ds despite medical reasons why ds my have made my wl far less frustrating.  Why?  Because it better served my long term personal goals.  In the beginning I was on the fence as to if wether I should have taken the option that may have made things easier.  A few months out I am so glad I stuck with my objectives and altough it was more difficult, went with the rny.  

The surgery I wanted was neither.  I was in this for a restrictive only procedure.  Fortunately my insurance would cover any procedure I selected.  It was weighing the surgical risks and rewards against my personal goals that lead to my decision.   

"I have done some research both"....Do more. Much, much more.

"DSers can be kinda mean".....Hee-Hee...I think they are very defensive because so many have nothing good to say about the surgery. Research the DS at www.dsfacts.com.

~~~Putting on my white doc's coat~~~

Look at your diet. If you are really the carb smasher, the DS will be better since you will not enjoy the side effects. Hence, forcing you to change your dietary habits. You MAY dump on carbs with the RNY, but that's not guaranteed.

~~~Putting my hood coat on~~~

Stop thinking about having kids. You need to wait 18+ months before you try post WLS. Wear a couple of condoms and tell your hubby to still pull out. Having a baby early out is very dangerous and irresponsible.


Do more research...either surgery is NOOOOOO joke. Vitamins, water, protein...you'll get tired of it real quick if you're not committed.

Now put those Famous Amos cookies down...now

Hey lady! I'm a DSer but you more than likely will not see me on the surgery wars threads. Don't get into the "my surgery is better than yours" thing at all! I loves errybody lol

I didn't have any co-morbids so there wasn't a medical necessity to have either one of the surgeries. If you said you had diabetes I would have def suggested the DS right off. The way the intestinal part of the surgery is performed it changes the way your body metabolizes food and this has been used in non-obese people to cure diabetes.

Anywho, you'll have to analyze your eating habits and what lifetime plan you can live with. I like all kinds of foods, especially sweets, and I wanted to have them on occasion without the fear of getting so sick from dumping. I also love my diet of high protien, high fat. I started thinking of all the yummy food I could still enjoy and knew I would be happy. I eat buffalo wings like they going outta style lol....and its actually good for me.

Statisticly the DS has the least percentage of regain, which also sold me. But, if you put your mind to it and stick to the rules, you can def be successful with either.

Hey being pre-op myself I definitely understand where you are coming from.  I'm not sure why DS'ers seem to be so mean but some of them will get on you in a heart beat and it kind of makes you not wanting to get their advice but not all of them are like that.  I've meet and talk to some pretty cool people they have given me all kind of advice from crazy questions to serious questions.  So, they are not all bad.

For me I once were thinking about getting RNY but then I found out about DS and I did my research for about 1 year and I chose to go ahead and do the DS.  There were many pros and cons for me for both  but in the end I chose the DS because of my personal choices and my co-morbilities. 

Its basically a personal choice for everyone and we all have to do whats best for each of us and sometimes what the next person did isnt always the best thing for us.  Our body is different and we have different c-morbilities and have different bad habits so the only thing we can do is research and find which one fits us best.  Well thats what I'm doing.