Why did you choose DS?

I am a newbie and though I'm still in the "research" phase... I am may be considering the DS. So my question to you is...

 

Why did you choose DS?
What was your starting BMI?
What was your Starting weight?
What is your Current weight?
How is your maintenance (if you've gotten to that point)?

 

Any replies are appreciated!  :)

 

Why did you choose DS?

I chose the DS because of the high success rate for people who start out with higher BMI's.  I had the sleeve in 2007, lost 189 pounds and gained back 117.  I felt that the DS gave me the biggest chance for long-term success and would still leave me feeling like I could eat "normally."

What was your starting BMI?

Highest BMI was 72.  BMI at the time of my DS was 61

What was your Starting weight?

Highest weight was 425.  DS surgery weight was 337

What is your Current weight?

I'll be 3 weeks out on Thursday and my current weight is 323

How is your maintenance (if you've gotten to that point)?

SO not there yet.  LOL!  Can't wait to get to that point though.  Maintenance with the sleeve was ridiculously hard for me.  I had to maintain less than 1000 calories a day and I took these insane hour long spin classes 3x a week and spent another 2 days in the gym or doing some other form of exercise.  I just couldn't keep up that pace with less than 1000 calories a day.

 

Highest weight - 446

Pre-op appointment weight was 427

Current weight is 409

 

I'm scheduled for DS on Thursday (nov. 1st!)

I did a lot of research on each surgery and found that the DS was best for me.  IMO it's the best of both worlds (restriction and malabsorption).  I didn't like that the RNY would leave me with a pouch, meaning I would no longer have use of my pyloric valve to  prevent dumping syndrome.  LapBand - wouldn't work for me. I have too much weight to lose, and I have heard too many horror stories about it.  The sleeve wasn't a bad option, but because I've struggled so much to lose weight and keep it off, only having restriction wouldn't work for me long term.

Which brings us to the DS.  I've always been good about taking meds, vitamins, etc as instructed - so I believe I'm ready for the commitment it takes to be successful with the DS.  I need help KEEPING the weight OFF!  The malabsorption part of the DS is the tool that I believe will help me do just that. 

I know someone personally who had the lapband (she's in the process of doing a revision).  I do not want to have to do wls over again, so I decided to just "nip this in the bud".    I know someone personally who had the sleeve, and I know someone personally who had the DS.  Out of all three, my friend who had the DS is the happiest, healthiest, and dare I say SEXIEST!  LOL!!!!!

I do understand that everyone must make the choice of what's best for THEM; and the DS is not for everyone!  Do lots of research, ask questions, communicate your thoughts and needs with your surgeon and primary care doctor.  Do what's best for you without the need to be celebrated or agreed with by everyone!  If you haven't already, please go to www.dsfacts.com for lots of great info on the Duodenal Switch.

Best wishes to you! 

Hi there!

 

Why did you choose DS?

Higher percentage of goal lost and higher long-term loss maintained.

 

What was your starting BMI?

50 (eek!)

 

What was your Starting weight?

264 on surgery date (July 23)

 

What is your Current weight?

223 as of this morning

 

How is your maintenance (if you've gotten to that point)?

Not there yet.  YET. 

 

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Why did you choose DS?

• Best statistics for weight loss over a long period of time
• Most attractive diet for me (high protein, high fat)
• no dumping
• preservation of pyloric valve, normal working stomach

What was your starting BMI?

49.4 

What was your Starting weight?

5'5" 297 pounds ... tight size 28

What is your Current weight?

130ish (I hover in the high 120s/low 130s...I think I was 129 this morning).... size 6 or 8, medium (sometimes small but I still have big boobs)

How is your maintenance (if you've gotten to that point)?

Honestly, pretty easy.

I drink 1 or 2 protein coffees per day and allow myself 1 bottled diet coke. My other fluids are G2 or Crystal Light, plain water does not work for me. I throw it up every time. (go figure...)

I eat mostly high protein with a few carbs thrown in. Yesterday I went to a restaurant and I ate: a salad with blue cheese dressing (I ate mostly the toppings cheese dressing carrots etc and very little of lettuce. Waitresses always think that I didn't eat any when I get a salad), a small steak which I finished, broccoli which I ate a couple of pieces of and sweet potato casserole which I indulged in and ate about half. My meals are mostly meat-based although I have added back more carbs as I've gotten into maintenance. 

I'm much more of a sugar person than I used to be and I eat too much of it!! So far, it hasn't caused any weight gain, but it does give me bad intestinal problems (gas,dhr that hit at night usually). Let me be clear that I could mostly control this if I ate more cleanly. I make the choice to be bad way too often, but I fight the sugar **** as much as I can. My family appreciates it when I do. :)

I'm 5'5", and my starting weight was 286 (BMI was 44, me thinks).  I currently way 150-something and quite happy as a 7 year post op.  

Maintenance is a breeze.  I pretty much eat what I want, being mindful not to go too overboard with the simple carbs.  

I chose the DS because of what I learned about it and what I knew of my own history of weight loss attempts.  It just made sense for me.  My body wouldn't budge despite the most drastic and teetering on dangerous attempts.  The change in metabolism is just what I needed to finally see a real result.

 

Why did you choose DS?

• Best statistics for weight loss over a long period of time
• Most attractive diet for me (high protein, high fat) I'm a meat eater.
• no dumping
• preservation of pyloric valve, normal working stomach

What was your starting BMI?

50.9

What was your starting weight?

358 on the morning of surgery, May 15th

What is your current weight?

248

 

How is your maintenance?

I haven't gotten there yet, but hope to be there by my one year anniversary

Everything they said plus I miss buying clothes. I used to be a fashion ***** Read GQ and all that shopped at nice stores I miss it and said enough was enough I'm not shopping at fat folks stores so I got it done. Vanity yes but still an honest reason. I was 360, at last weigh in (2 wks ago) I was 319. I had the surgery Aug 28th 2012, so in loss mode. Difficulty with this due to high protein but getting it straight so should ease up soon. Good luck and see it through. I actually had other reasons too namely my children and quality of life issues among others. It was just time to ... Or get off the pot. Little did I realize I would be more on the pot following this surgery. Lol

Why did you choose DS?
Normal functioning stomach, as a mother of two young children didn't want to worry about dumping.  Also, both of my parents are type 2.  My dad is at an ideal BMI and still must take his medication, so I was worried that even if I lost weight I'd end up as a type 2.  DS has a 99% cure rate of type 2 diabetes.  As it turns out, I was diabetic and didn't even know it.  I had my AC1 checked last November and it was fine, but by the time I went in for surgery i had moved to the dark side.  Luckily, the DS did its thing and I am not a diabetic now.

What was your starting BMI?  55
What was your Starting weight? 314
What is your Current weight? 278
How is your maintenance (if you've gotten to that point)?  Still working on it.  I'm only 6 weeks post op.

Why did you choose DS?

I was not comfortable with the anatomy for the RNY, and I liked the fact that I would still have a normally functioning stomach, just smaller.  I also liked the stats for EWL  and  maintenance. The lack of "food mourning" was another plus, since DSer's have virtually no "forbidden foods". 
 

What was your starting BMI?

Starting BMI was nearly 70 (check ticker)

What was your Starting weight?

Surgery Day weight was 397
 

What is your Current weight?

Current weight is 165. (advised to gain by PCP, was 0.3 pounds below goal of 160)
 

How is your maintenance (if you've gotten to that point)?

My maintenance has been nearly effortless in terms of food.  Vitamins are a whole other story.  I have to work very hard to get all the required pills in during the day. I have had to deal with a few deficiencies, which were my own fault, because I neglected myself during a major life event (my Mom passed away).  The DS gives me the tool I need to manipulate my body into a losing mode, or gaining mode if I need to, and that's something I never had before...it gives ME control!