Re-Sleeve or DS? Need Help!

(deactivated member)
on 9/29/10 1:07 am - Medford, NJ
Hi.  I haven't posted on these forums for a couple years.  I got a lot of help back when I started out, and now find we need help again.  My husband had a VSG January '07 and lost 115 pounds.  He has since gained back 30 pounds and needs to lose (ideally) 80 or so pounds.  His stomach has stretched to the point of needing a revision.  His surgeon says he can re-sleeve or complete the DS (intestinal rearrangement).  The questions my husband has are:  has anyone had a re-sleeve, and what complications if any might be associated with it?  The other question concerns the DS:

(And I know how this will sound.  No, I am not a troll. . .) Has anyone had any bowel complications from the DS, such as diarrhea, nasty od******ultiple bowel movements, and then, nutritional disorders?  He has spoken with many DSers in our support group, and while they love their surgery, they all seem to have really nasty, smelly diarrhea and gas. My hubby needs to know if this is a universal thing, does it get better with time, does it get worse with time?  Any information will be greatly appreciated.  (I should note, that while this might not be a deal-breaker to some, he doesn't have convenient access to restroom facilities on his job and fears being stranded in an urgent situation).  He's running out of time to make a decision, and really could use some input.

Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
 
Renfairewench
on 10/4/10 12:04 pm
Chris,
You might want to post this on the DS and the VSG board. I had a revision, but it was from RNY to DS. I had a lot of post op complications.

I'm curious, is Dr. Greenbaum your husbands surgeon? 
 

                   HW (pre RNY) 430 HW (pre DS) 302 / SW 288 /
                          Lowest weight 157 / CW 161
GW 150
                "I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight"
                                       
(deactivated member)
on 10/4/10 10:48 pm - Medford, NJ
Hi:  No, Dr. Wasser did my husband's sleeve.  He hasn't had any complications per se, except for his stomach stretching again.  Now, when they do the sleeve, they make the stomach smaller so this doesn't happen as readily.  If he goes for the complete DS, Dr. Greenbaum will do the surgery (hubby's not happy about that) with Dr. Wasser assisting.  He's very unsure at this point.  He's heard so much about the "bowel" side effects, he's really scared of this surgery.  I've posted on both the VSG and the DS boards, too.  We've gotten a lot of input from the DS people.  So far, no one has had the diarrhea or multiple (more than 2ish) movements daily.  But if you listen to the people in the support group, the gas and urgent bowel movements are the "norm".  So confusing.  Thanks for your reply.  I hope things have settled down for you and you're doing well from your surgery.  Best of luck in your continued weight loss journey. 
Renfairewench
on 10/5/10 12:24 am
Well, I really feel that the whole bowel issue thing is highly exxagerated. Here was my experience. When I was in the hospital I didn't follow the one rule that I had heard from DSers all over, which is "never trust a fart."  I thought I had to fart and pooped the bed. I was mortified and so embarrassed. I'm certain it isn't the first time it has ever happened, but it happened to me and I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. I was on Enteral feedings through my j-tube for 3 months following my surgery (I had quite a few complications). My bowels were very loose because I wasn't eating anything. I was NPO (nothing by mouth). As for urgency, I've learned that if I have to go there is no waiting around. I just get up and go. I think that is more a factor of my age and muscle loss rather than anything else. In the months that followed enteral feeding I ate protein and fats (fats keep your bowels flowing otherwise you get constipated.). I guess I should tell you that I have a 50cm. common channel too. I go to poo twice in the morning and maybe once or twice during the day depending on what I have eaten. This is not much different than how I was before my surgery or rather when I had my RNY. I have found that white flour or flour in general will make my poo much softer and smellier. Sugar is a killer for me and makes me very flatulent. Pretty much, I avoid them and if I am going to have something sweet I usually reserve it for late in the day or on the weekend and when I am not going to be around people other than my husband who will just have to suffer through it. After all, I suffer through his boughts of flatulence too and he can make my eyes water!   

As for urgency, well twicein the last 14 months I have had an "accident", but both times were in the morning and a little squirted out in my undies as I approached the bathroom. I had eaten sugar the day before and sugar makes my poo rather soft. I had just woken up too and probably waited just a bit too long.

When I eat properly my poo is rather normal. Again, I think the whole bowel urgency thing is rather exxagerated.

As for doing the full DS, I know that right now Dr. Greenbaum is not taking any new revision patients. I don't know if that means revision from VSG to DS or not. You might want to call the office to find out. From what I understand Dr. Wasser doesn't do the DS, but I could be wrong about that.

The other thing too is that your husband does need to realize that vitamin deficiencies are more prevelent with the DS. Dr. Greenbaum's list of vitamins is lacking to say the least. He'll need to get dry vitamins for AEDK since DSers malabsorb 80% - 90% of all fat that they take in so fat soluable vitamins are just not good for us. Vitalady.com has these vitamins in dry form. I do take a lot more vitamins than I used to, but I'm ok with it. I also take potassium since I seem to have some difficulties keeping my potassium levels up to normal.

If you need anything else, or have any questions lemme know!

Maddie
 

                   HW (pre RNY) 430 HW (pre DS) 302 / SW 288 /
                          Lowest weight 157 / CW 161
GW 150
                "I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight"
                                       
(deactivated member)
on 10/5/10 12:49 am - Medford, NJ
 Hi Maddie:  Thanks for sharing. I know this is an indelicate subject, but one that actually is pretty important.  Hubby tells me he'll be good with his vitamins, and actually he has gone from taking nothing to taking his B's religiously, so I don't doubt him on that.  The bathroom thing is a little trickier though.  On his current job assignment (letter carrier) he doesn't have ready access to bathrooms during the day.  An accidental 'fart' could be disaster for him.  I think that's the main sticking point for him right now. Your story, along with all the others, really seems to hammer home it's a dietary thing.  That's the choice he'll have to make. I'll check with Tina, but with him being Dr. W's patient already, I don't think Dr. G has an issue with taking him on. Thanks again for all your help,
Chris
DivaJojo
on 6/15/11 1:59 am - Atlanta, GA

I also heard the "never trust a fart" advice, but have only experienced that once . . . perhaps because I was so paranoid about it that I never took any chances.  I can tell you that early on when I was compliant with primarily protein, cutting carbs way down, etc., my normal routine was to have one main elimination (bowel movement) in the morning, then I would urinate several times during the day and maybe a couple at night.  Didn't have major issues with gas unless I indulged in carbs or sweets.

Now, I'm getting back on track after a 2 year free for all of eating all the wrong things (food is still my coping mechanism, but I'm conquering that each day now).  During the two years I was usually bloated and gassy.  Could have several, not-so-solid, extremely smelly eliminations during the day and terrible, terrible, terrrrrrrrrrrible gas.

In the just over three weeks that I have been back on track, my body has gone right back to a morning elimination (smelly, but not NEARLY as bad), several bathroom trips to pay the water bill and so far I have passed gas once each day, later in the evening (again, not pleasant, but not the crime against nature that it was before).

This is just from my experience, but I hope it helps.

Diva Jojo:   SW:  440lbs -- CW:  274lbs  --  GW:  240lbs

    
walterswife
on 10/6/10 9:15 pm
I have several friends who have had the DS and they are all VERY HAPPY with the surgery as well as the results.  They do not complain about the prolems that you mentioned.  I believe those problems are related to diet and what they should or should not eat.

Gas is also a problem with RNY and controled with OTC medications.

If he stretched his pouch once with the sleeve, the DS might be the best bet for him.

HW 240/ SW 229/ GW 146/CW 125; OH Support Group Leader   

Starting size:  18W-20;  Present size: 0 or 2; 5'5-1/2" tall. 
Current BMI 20.4 as of 2/13/2013 (normal for the first time in my life).
Goal weight reached on 8/12/2010; As of 1/13/2013, 21 pounds below goal

walterswife
on 10/6/10 9:17 pm
I should have used the word stomach instead of pouch.

HW 240/ SW 229/ GW 146/CW 125; OH Support Group Leader   

Starting size:  18W-20;  Present size: 0 or 2; 5'5-1/2" tall. 
Current BMI 20.4 as of 2/13/2013 (normal for the first time in my life).
Goal weight reached on 8/12/2010; As of 1/13/2013, 21 pounds below goal

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