Sleeve to full DS?
Hi Artsong,
I am a VSG to DS'r; originally had VSG in 2007 and revised to DS in 2011. I orinally lost around 100 pounds with the VSG but started gaining back with a vengeance within two years of my VSG (despite exercising 5x per week and closely monitoring my nutrition).
I had all the signs of a screwed up metabolism and should have had the DS from the beginning. The VSG was simply not enough for me. I tried for four years to make it work, and was at my wits end.
At the time I was in my decision process about revising to the DS, there were not many who had been through the process of revising to DS from VSG. I honestly did not have a lot of research to base my decision on, but I honestly didn't know what else to do. My surgeon was not even sure how well this would work as it was not a common revision a few years ago. I just knew that I didn't want to continue living my life with the struggle I faced everyday with the VSG. I was tired of feeling like I was doing everything I possibly could to lose weight and my body just wasn't cooperating. I knew my metabolism was seriously broken.
So, on a wing an a prayer, I finally revised to DS. It has so far been VERY successful for me. My pre VSG weight was 325, My Pre DS weight was around 270. I now weigh 142, and am 5'5. I would have been happy to get down to 190, so 142 is far better than I ever expected.
Just wanted to add to anyone that is considering revising from VSG to DS surgery, please choose your surgeon wisely. I see too often that people refer to revising to the DS from VSG as not a very complicated procedure and that any DS surgeon should be able to do it. I had severe complications due to scar tissue from the VSG and other prevsious abdominal surgeries. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did, and I am eternally grateful to have chosen the surgeon that I did. I have no doubt that without his skill and humble manner (he did not hesitate to admit when certain aspects of my complications were outside of his realm and to call in every specialist he knew to help me) that I may not be here today. So, everyone, PLEASE PLEASE consult this list of vetted DS surgeons. These surgeons have made it on this list for a reason.
So, long story short, revising to the DS is a very personal decision. You have a lot more information to go off of now than I did a few years ago. That being said, everyone's body is different and will react differently to the surgery. For me, it has been a huge success. I now know it was not me all these years doing anything wrong. My body was seriously not working well, and the DS has given me a huge advantage.
Best of wishes to you, and may you make the decision that is right for you and your life.
Ty very much for this. I was told DS makes you haveto go poo a lot or mess your self a lot 30 mins or so after eating you will have to go. Is this true? I am just strting to look up the DS and the more I read of it the more I'd rather go with a RNY the Ds sounds hard to have to d with I run a comp and not sure going potty all the time is something I want to live with the rest of my life or messing my self in a meeting or on a plain. I was told by a few the DS and RNY are a lot alike but again I'm just now looking up DS. I will be going for a Doc in ohio that has done them a lot and is on the list. But again I'm not 100% sure if DS over RNY is what I want I was told it is upto me But i want to hear from all of you.
I think that the majority of DS'rs will tell you that their bowel habits are not a big deal.
From all that I have read in my research, and my personal experience included, a lot of us only go poo twice a day. I go once in the a.m., and once in p.m. I did this also before DS surgery, so no big change for me in that area. The volume that you go will increase as you are malabsorbing so much of what you eat if you stick to a high protein low carb eating plan. Food in + food not absorbed =larger poo's when the malabsorbed food comes back out.
I have only had two close calls bathroom wise since my surgery 1.5 years ago. I had warnings each time that it was time to go, but I got busy and didn't listen. Again, this is a normal reaction that would have happened whether I had a DS or not.
Now, if I don't eat correctly (high protein, low carb) I will have to go more often. If I eat too many carbs or the too much dairy (I am lactose intolerant) I will have to go more. It is very controllable.
