Talk to me about DS.

My BMI is 63.  When I initially went to the doc for my first consult, I was actually interested in banding.  Once I saw the stats though, I knew that wasn't going to be enough for me.  As of now, I am going through the 6 mo supervised diet requirement (for my insurance) preparing to have RNY.  I think that next time I see my doc, I should maybe talk to her about DS, because I am hearing things about it being the best option for "super morbidly obese" patients.  I'll have to see if my insurance will even cover it, but in the meantime, I'd be interested to hear about your experiences, and how you made the decision of one over the other.

I had a BMI of 61 and I am so glad I opted for a DS.  I can eat great food in smaller portions, I don't have the dreaded bowel issues unless I make poor choices like too many white carbs at a time, and I am losing my weight. 

I do not think your current surgeon performs DS - look for one who actually does on dsfacts.com.  If you ask a RNY/band surgeon about the DS, chances are you won't get an unbiased opinion.  I had to switch clinics to get my DS (originally was going to have a band and then chose RNY but when I read up on DS, I knew it was right for me) and it was totally worth the hassle and a couple months' delay.

Unfortunately, I can't switch clinics.  My husband works for the hospital where I am having the surg and our insurance only covered surg there.  But there are other surgeons there, and I will check into whether any of them do the DS.

Hi :) I have to do a big fat pay it forward here.

I was well on my way to RNY, got approval, preop testing, I think I was 10 days away from my surgery date, when I did an about face....to DS.

I was dreading, dreading, dreading RNY. It seemed like something I would be miserable with. I have NEVER been good with diets. So bad, in fact, that I rarely tried them. I pretty much have just been eating myself to numbness because of depression and anxiety things I deal with. DS has better statistics for excess amount of weight lost, and for keeping it off further out...

RNY is considered the "Gold Standard WLS", well, the DS is considered the "Platinum WLS". Please pm me if you want to talk or anything. Also check out www.dsfacts.com, and www.duodenalswitch.com I wish you the very best.

I had the DS, I went from almost 500 lbs to 190 lbs (i'm 6'1''). I've been at a stable weight for a couple of years now, and do not struggle, diet, or worry about or with regain.

Personally I think the RNY, the VSG, and the lap band are complete waste of time for most people who have BMI's over 50.

Scott

I dunno, Scott-- I don't feel my time's been wasted so much.

Either can work, but the RNY is certainly less user-friendly. When it's your only option, though, you really can make something of it, so there's no need for despair.

I agree with Jupiter--

I don't feel that the RNY I had last year was a waste of my time.  I also have my struggles but I can eat most anything and have made a choice not to go for the sweets.

When I discussed my options with my surgeon, I went with RNY because I didn't want a portion of my stomach removed which I thought was too radical.  I originally went for the band but my surgeon felt that it was not the option for me because of the amount of weight I have to lose.

Today is my 1 year surgiversary and I feel that the 180 pounds I lost from my heaviest weight and 160 from surgery were not a result of a waste of time.  No matter what surgery you have, you still have to struggle with maintaining your weight by diligence and care in what you put into your body. 

I am at a different stage now--trying to get off the last 50-60 pounds and maintaining the lifestyle. 

Everyone, no matter what kind of surgery you choose (and it is your own individual choice) goes thru the same struggles and worry about maintaining the hard work you put in.

Sylvia

Congrats on your success...but you are only a year out. Most of the regain for the RNY occurs after the 2nd year. It's when those that dump stop dumping (in most cases)and they learn to out eat their surgery. The university of chicago said very clearly that there is no better surgery for the SMO then the DS.


Scott

I noticed you are 3 years out--I know several people who are 3 or more years out and have maintained their weight because their mindset changed.  Having DS alone does not solve obesity related problems.  Maybe you have forgotten that.

I know I'm only a year out but I have made a lot of changes and I feel pretty damn good about myself.  No matter what surgery you choose, you still have rules to follow-diet, exercise and vitamins.I really don't care what the University of Chicago says about DS but isn't it a well know fact as well that DS patients have a bigger malabsorption rate than RNY and can potentially have bigger malnutrition problems.  It isn't all about being able to eat whatever you want without some of the same side effects.

You should really be respectful of other people's decision about what surgery they choose to have and even if they choose to have surgery.  DS isn't for everyone while RNY isn't for everyone--that is why we have choices.  Putting people down for their choices really shows that you forgot where you came from.

Sylvia

I'm not putting anyone down, but the RNY is a waste of time, an old technology surgery, and anyone with a BMI over 50 that choose it over a surgery like the DS (when there is a choice) is a moron. When facts are compared, DSers maintain their weight loss at a rate of 95 percent, while RNYers regain at a rate of 50 percent. That's extremely sad.

Do DSers have more malabsorbtion? Yes. DO they have many more issues with malnutrition then RNYers? No. I know plenty of RNYers who have severe vit issues, esp with Bs. Where oral suppliments alone are not solving their issues and they need to get injections.

Sorry if the fact that the DS is a better surgery then the RNY upsets you, but the facts are the facts.... www.DSfacts.com

Scott