almost 700 lbs

Actually, in California it's pretty true.  There are a couple of insurance companies that try to not cover the DS, and the CA DHMC overturns them every time.

I started at 597 and by the time i went in for surgery i was 540. I had mine done as a lap also. everything went very well. They thought it would take 3 hours and were finished in an hour and a half. I was on a liquid diet for 2 or 3 weeks before surgery...not the easiest thing, but you will get through it.

I am continuing to lose and didn't have any complications. i wasn't even using the pain pump after surgery, i was sore but not in any great amount of pain.

Best wishes on your surgery...i'm sure you will do wonderfully

Hey Russ,  Welcome.  I started with a BMI of 74, about 430 lbs...  (for a short girl, this was QUITE a weight!)   I'm still short, but almost normal weight.  I'm working on that last 20 or so pounds....  I've lost a little over 260 pounds...  Where are you having your surgery?  Have you been to that hospital before?  Can they accomodate someone of your size?   You'll be less nervous  (OK, I was nervous, maybe you're not!) when you know the facts before you go.    Keep researching and asking questions right up until the moment!    Mary C

as the others said, I would consider getting the DS. I had a BMI of 64 at the time of surgery. At 6'1'' and almost 500 lbs, I got to goal in about 18 months.

Scott

Russ, first off, let me say congratulations for making the decision to do something that will change your life! I didn't start out as high as you but I would also venture to say that I'm a lot shorter than you. I am 5'2" and started out at 381. I had my heart set on the RNY. I did years of research and just knew that was the surgery for me. Then I went to my consultation and my surgeon told me that for my BMI (which was 69), he wouldn't recommend anything but the Duodenal Switch for me. He said that I would most likely not accomplish my weight loss goal with the RNY. I had never given the DS much thought due to the things I had heard about it and that it was reserved for the most serious and life threatening cases. I got on here and went to the DS boards and that changed my world. Within 24 hours, I was dead set on the DS and now can't figure out how I ever would have lived with an RNY. I know some people have the RNY and are pleased with it and I'm very glad. I want everyone to be successful in whatever form of surgery they decide, and everyone has to decide for themselves. However, I do think you are doing yourself an injustice by not being completely informed in ALL of your surgery choices. If you have not done any research or visited the DS boards, please do so before going on with your current plans for RNY. And, as someone said above, if your surgeon doesn't do the DS, don't count on him/her for information regarding the DS because they will not give you accurate information usually. If they did, they would be losing a patient and they don't want to do that. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message and I will answer to the best of my ability. I am still new myself, almost 4 months out, but I can find the answers for you if I don't already know them! Good luck with whatever you decide and God bless you!

There are excellent studies in the medical literature confirming that the DS has the best statistics for excess weight loss, and most importantly for maintainence of that weight loss, of any wls. While it works fine for lightweights, it is especially useful for people with higher bmi's who are unlikely to get to a normal weight, or close to normal, with other operations.  It also has the best rates for resolution of comorbidities, esp type 2 diabetes (98% resolution).
     It used to be thought that the DS was more risky than RNY. This was because it was "reserved" for the heavier, and therefore higher risk patients. If you compare results with patients of similar weight and health, the complication rates are the same - but the results are better with the DS.
     Keep in mind also that weight regain is a major problem with RNY. Almost everyone loses weight well at first, but once the restriction wears off, there is very little malabsorption to help with maintainence. Some people do well and are pleased with RNY, and that's great, but the failure rate longterm is 30%, and it's higher for people with bmi over 50. To me, that was not acceptable. You will have to make your own decision.
     With DS, you can take NSAIDs, which are unsafe after RNY. You can drink liquids with meals. There are no foods that are forbidden forever. There is no dumping. All in all, a more normal pattern of eating, and an excellent quality of life.
     come on over to the DS forum and learn more about it. Every patient should go into wls well informed about all the options.

Larra