Just curious---about the DS

I had RNY and couldn't be happier. I started out at a 60 BMI and might have considered DS, but there isn't a single surgeon in New England that did them.

There are just far too few DS surgeons for it to become more popular.

My RNY surgeon also did the DS (she stopped doing it a few years later) but I would have had to fight for an exception to my insurance policy to have the DS.  I knew of others who had been able to get it with a BMI over 50 (mine was 57), though, who had policies with the same insurer, so I might have been able to get it approved.  I opted not to try.

I was afraid of the malabsorption with either surgery, but was especially concerned about it with the DS.  (I am still concerned about malabsorption even with my RNY as I continue to age (I am 52).) I also felt a little uneasy about losing the remnant stomach. In the end what tipped the scales and caused me to choose the RNY rather than the DS was that the only person I knew with a DS at that time had not lost all of her excess weight and had terrible trouble with oily diarrhea and gas (so much so that she always had a full change of clothes in her car).  After I had surgery I met other DSers who have no issues whatsoever, but I wasn't willing to risk having to live with the issues she had!

I also did NOT know that only 30% of RNYers dump.  I'm not sure that would have changed my decision at the time, though.

What would have changed my mind, and caused me to opt for fighting for the DS instead, would have been to know that my knee pain wasn't going to decrease much even after losing 190 pounds and how hard it was going to be to live without the NSAIDs after the RNY. Meeting enough DSers who were 5-10 years out and had no "potty" issues or nutritional deficiencies would also have helped a LOT!

Lora

I had the DS 10 years ago and am very happy with it. I lost 194 pounds, then gained about 20 pounds back maybe 3 years ago. So all in all, I'm happy with a net of 174 pounds lost. When I had my surgery, the VG wasn't too popular (or maybe I was just not aware of it), so I'm not sure if I would have chosen that over the DS. But I do credit the malabsorption part of the DS as the key to my weight maintenance. I eat a lot (definitely more than I should - working on it!) and am still able to maintain by cutting back carbs and focusing on my protein for a week or so if I notice my weight creeping up.

As far as side effects, I'm not sure if I have any or if I don't notice anymore because it's been so long. I eat whatever I want (weight gain is a consequence but no pooping/gas issues) and haven't had any major vitamin deficiencies. I had an anemia problem last year but now I do Ferclicet infusions every 6 months (sooo much easier than the stupid iron pills!) and have been fine.

I agree with everyone on this forum that everyone should decide for themselves what the best surgery is for their body. Aren't we so lucky that there are choices for us and we don't all have to have the same cookie cutter surgery? I thoroughly researched my choices, knew that the DS would work best for my body, and fought like hell with my insurance company to get what I knew was best for me.

And as a side note, I had an appointment with a doctor today and he said, "hmm...DS...you don't see those much anymore." I thought that was an odd/funny thing to say. But I'm in Massachusetts and I don't think it ever really caught on in this part of the country for some reason. I had to go to California for mine in 2004.