Welcome DSers!

It's great to have you here on BMI>50. Education about surgery alternatives when you're preop is very important.

Since I started lurking here a long time ago, this board is pretty much surgery neutral. In fact, we have several people who are doing it the "hard way" with regular diets. The mission here is all about supporting us folks who started out with higher BMIs. We don't care how you're trying to lose the weight.

We get excited about
fitting into regular car seats with the seat belt on
shopping for clothes from a store (let alone a store for normal size people)
wearing jeans
shoveling snow (!!) or whatever would have been a big challenge at our starting weight
spending a day out and not feeling like we need to amputate our feet at the ankles afterwards
getting off the meds, whatever they may be
holding the baby on our lap for the first time
... a lot of other things that I can't think of

I do have a simple request -- please don't bash the people who had different surgeries and are here asking for help POSTOP. It really isn't helpful to anyone and makes the person looking for help feel worse than they already do.

Once again, WELCOME! I'm sure we'll all learn a lot with you sharing your journeys here on BMI > 50!

Thank you for posting this. I was going to if someone else didn't. I am fairly new to OH and still preop. I came to this forum to get away from the whole "my surgery is better than your surgery" thing. Accept the choices that people have made. We all have different reasons for choosing the type of WLS that we want. Bottom line, mind your own business unless someone specifically asks about DS.   

I would never give post-ops a hard time. Well, not even pre-ops. I just want to make sure pre-ops know of a choice that isn't widely known, and in my opinion, a life saver if they knew about it.

We just happened to notice DSers weren't posting here, and thought that should change!

Honestly, it really, really, breaks my heart to see people go down a road that has such a high chance of failure. I realize it's their choice, but...at one time, I was on that road, and someone showed me a better way, and I'm going to be eternally grateful. I'd be remiss if I didn't pass on the gift given to me.

I do understand that you mean well, but this comment...  "Honestly, it really, really, breaks my heart to see people go down a road that has such a high chance of failure" really aren't the kind of comments that help people and give the tone of an inclusive message board, which is what I've loved about BMI 50+ so far.  The underlying message in that sentence is, "you have a high chance of failing if you didn't select DS." 

I'm not trying to pick a fight... I just really would like to see this board continue to be a place where all are welcome, all are encouraged, and people aren't made to feel poorly for choosing an option that others may not agree with (which frankly, the above comment can easily make one feel poorly and/or unwelcome).  It's such a personal choice, as it should be.  But what we all have in common is the need for support and understanding, which has no limitations based on surgical (and even non-surgical) choice. 

I look forward to posting with people of all surgical/non-surgical choices and getting to know you better as we do that.  I hope you'll understand that my response is out of desiring an inclusive and supportive community and to add perspective to how certain comments may be perceived.

Lovely post, Patti.  Thank you for that. 

"I do understand that you mean well, but this comment...? "Honestly, it really, really, breaks my heart to see people go down a road that has such a high chance of failure" really aren't the kind of comments that help people and give the tone of an inclusive message board, which is what I've loved about BMI 50+ so far.? The underlying message in that sentence is, "you have a high chance of failing if you didn't select DS."? "

Here's the thing....while I wouldn't necessarily agree with the whole "high chance" of failing - the FACT is that the DS does have the best stats of all the surgeries.? So if you have a surgery other than the DS then your chance of failing IS?higher.? That's not to say that some or many won't be successful, that's also not to say that YOU?might be successful BUT?statistically speaking if you have a surgery other than the DS then the likelihood of you failing is higher than someone with a DS.? That's the just the way it is.? Will you be successful?? I really hope so!? Will I?be successful?? I really hope so!? Is it possible that I, with a DS, will fail?? Absolutely!? But statistically speaking - you have a greater chance of failing than I do.

So what? "us DS'ers" are saying is to make sure that going into your surgery of choise, that you know EVERYTHING about your surgery and all the surgery types - INCLUDING?their stats - so you can make the best, most informed choice possible.? What "us DS'ers" are saddened by is that so many people are choosing a surgery other than the DS not because of fact, but because of lies that are spread about the DS and lies about the surgery they have chosen.? That's what's sad.

 Read the peer reviewed medical research....The failure rate for the 50BMI plus group is high with any other surgery, BUT the DS.  The truth deserves to be heard, and read!  Everyone should know all their options before they proceed!

Michelle, I agree with your comment 100%. Larissa, the fact that you have:

"DISCLAIMER: In my opinion, the Duodenal Switch, aka DS is the best WLS surgery, hands down."

Added to your signature and you haven't even had the surgery yet - really makes me wonder how you have formed that opinion. I also look forward to getting to know you better and sharing in your journey.

Happy Monday everyone!

Michelle and Patty - couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks!

Ditto thanks for the postings Michelle and Patty.  I have noticed the recent influx of DS postings and am quite sickened that they have brought their nonsense to our little corner of OH.  I don't need a bunch of no it alls to tell me how I my choice is inferior to theirs and I must not have been smart to do research about the 4 WLS types.  Guess what DSers, I knew all about the 4 WLS types and chose VSG!  My surgery type is not inferior to yours.  It was the right choice for me.  I am doing phenomenal and you can keep your opinions about my inevitable failure to yourselves.  If that is the only atitude you are bringing to this board, kindly bring it somewhere else.  If you started with a BMI over 50 and want to come here to support, encourage and otherwise share your successes WELCOME! 

"I have noticed the recent influx of DS postings and am quite sickened that they have brought their nonsense to our little corner of OH.  I don't need a bunch of no it alls to tell me how I my choice is inferior to theirs and I must not have been smart to do research about the 4 WLS types.  Guess what DSers, I knew all about the 4 WLS types and chose VSG!  My surgery type is not inferior to yours. "

And isn't this the EXACT same thing.  By putting "us DS'ers" all in the same little crowd of thinking that one surgery is better than others - you're doing exactly what the OP was saying NOT to do....*sigh*...