Completely Overwhelmed

I chose the DS after having the Crapband fail me as well. I did my research...I hung out with these gals on here until I felt comfortable with the information. My surgery is scheduled for April 17th. I am happy with my decision and anxious to get it done. 

I can echo pretty much everything that has been said above. PCP's can be difficult but if you go in knowing what to say it's much easier. It's expecting them to know everything that can be problematic. They are usually generalists---not specialists.

As for the poo .. I know some RNY patients who have worse stink than I do. No joke.

 

I'm 9+ years post-op, and I wouldn't take a hundred million dollars for my DS. I probably wouldn't be alive today without it.

This is the easiest 'lifestyle' I've ever had.

Normally I poop twice in the morning and I'm done for the day. Occasionally I go again in the evening, and some days I don't go but once. It's just like pooping was pre-op. In 9 years, I've had to have a BM in a public toilet about once per year---or about the same as in my pre-op life. I don't have excess gas unless I bring it on myself, by eating too many simple carbs.

I take vites four times a day. I load up my pill-minder once a week, and that's the only time I have to 'think' about vites. I take 'em with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and at bedtime. Full autopilot.

I have NEVER seen a nutritionist. I learned how to eat like a good DSer by talking to the vets on here, and by listening to my body. My surgeon DID retire six months after my surgery, and it's never mattered. My PCP orders my labs, and she's a good egg---she orders exactly what *I* tell her I need. She knows that I know more about the DS than she does, and she's amazed at the results she's seen in me. She also now has a couple of other DS patients, and she can't believe how we eat bacon like it's going out of style yet had cholesterol numbers around 100.

Hi Roxie,

I agree with everyone here, they have given you super info about the D.S. I'm 19 months out from my D.S. Decided to go for the max help maintaining weight loss, and reaching my goal. The D.S. has the best track record of all the possible surgeries for maintaining,  with least regain. Keeping my pylorus for normal digestion is the biggest difference comparing D.S. to the RNY. This allows me to eat most normal food choices for  meals, and snacks. My  D.S. sleeve is the same as a sleeve only. I never felt any pain with the rerouting, or differences  living with it either. I cant tell I had it done. A few months post surgery, I decided to eliminate wheat to help with weight loss. Now I don't have any gas, and my joints don't have pain, or swelling like they did before.  

My insurance would only pay for one weight loss surgery in a lifetime. This reason alone made me choose the D.S. I wanted the best results, and least surgeries to reach my WL goal. I did reach it in the first 8 months with 135 lbs lost from day one entering the surgeons office. I have been able to hover around my goal weight of 120 with 4 lbs either side of it. I have my own list of healthy foods, and treat snacks I like. Heavy on protein- cheese, meat, shakes, protein fruit drinks, some fruit, salad once in a while, Ice cream, popcorn, nuts, chocolate. I don't feel deprived of any food. Meal size is small, but I can eat any time I like, snacking all day, and drinking all the time, with meals. Keeping hydrated with water, and protein drinks has helped me reach my daily protein and hydration needs.

Vitamins are not a big deal once you get used to dealing with your vitamin and supplement list. I have daily/ weekly organizers to load up once a week. Keep the days box in a pocket or purse to take a few throughout the day. Your labs determine the amount you need, with your Dr's help. Eventually you will be an expert about your nutrition and vitamin needs. You can't let them slide though, they are daily requirements, for maintaining good health. 

My internist said I am in the best health of my life. My weight is in the normal BMI range, my labs are good, my cholesterol is low, no heart, or diabetes issues, resolved hip and knee arthritis. I am pain free, able to work out at the gym, tone and stretch. No one can ever guess I was overweight. When I tell them, they can't believe it. 

Choosing the best D.S. surgeon and a team of nutritionist, exercise trainer, behaviorist therapy all work together to insure your success. After the first year you will have learned how to care for yourself with your PCP/ internist. I have my labs drawn every 6 months through my surgeons office, when they order them. I take copies of the labs to all my other Dr's when I see them. My PCP would order them if necessary, following the list from the previous surgeons labs. Make sure your surgeon is on the approved list on OH, here. You want to choose one with lots of successful D.S. experience working at  a" Bariatric Center of Excellence", because your life is in their hands. This is a very serious surgery, not to be taken lightly. All WLS are risky. Learn all you can, study, read, know what you are getting into. I am so glad I took the time to research, and chose such a knowledgeable surgeon, and support group he has at his "Center of Excellence". 

You will know you are ready for this surgery when you have answered all your questions, and can go into surgery relaxed about choosing the D.S. I would not change having the D.S. looking back at all my options. I made the correct choice for me. I am quite happy with my daily life. None of the specific details about D.S. life are any worry for me. Best wishes with your decision and journey through WLS.

Sandra ;-)

 

It's natural for you to feel overwhelmed right now. You went to the surgeon having done your research, only to be told that there was another, better option that you didn't research. You have already suffered through one failed wls. You have now rapidly read a ton of new info to get up to speed. That's overwhelming.

The DS has the best statistics of any bariatric surgery for percentage excess weight loss, for maintaining that weight loss (so important!) and for resolution of almost all comorbidities. The accepted definition of "success" in the world of bariatric surgery is losing just 50% of your excess weight. Even with that very generous definition of success, the failure rate with RNY is 30%, meaning that 30% of patients either never lose or don't maintain a loss of even 50% of their excess weight. Early results for the sleeve look similar to RNY, longterm results are unknown, but we are now seeing more people with sleeve wanting/needing revision. You have already experienced one failure - not surprising, as failure rate with band is the highest or all, and reoperation rate is the highest of all. But do you really want to go through another operation with a substantial failure rate?

The DS can certainly look scary at first glance. But in reality, you get into the swing of the vitamins, the number of lab tests is higher but it's not like you do them every day (I get labs once a year, many people do twice yearly), and you have so much more freedom as to what you can eat, how you can cook your food, no dumping, no food getting stuck. It's far, far easier to live with than the other operations, which, IMHO, is one of the big reasons that it's so much more successful. You do need to limit carbs, esp during the weight loss phase, but you do NOT need to limit protein or fat or overall calories. You can also take NSAIDs safely, which you can't do with RNY.

Take some more time. This is a new idea for you. Keep on reading and learning. Talk to the surgeon again if you need to. You are very, very fortunate that your surgeon does the DS and recommended it for you. Most surgeons would have been happy to take your money, or your insurer's money, and just do whatever operation they are most comfortable doing regardless of what results you could expect from it. You lucked out.

Larra

I responded to a similar post the other day regarding experience with the sleeve. Hope this helps. Here's the info:

I was sleeved 2 years ago in December. It stretched fairly quickly - my fault. Also have a hiatal hernia but I hear you can get those with any surgery. Because of the hernia, I get severe acid reflux, even with a daily PCP for the last 1 1/2 years. No fun! If you have lots of self control and can eat low carb, low fat and be on a good basic low calorie "diet" for pretty much life, then it's a good option. I didn't want malabsorption because I thought #1 the extra vitamins would suck and #2 I had enough control to maintain a good diet. I was clearly kidding myself. And the vitamins will be a good payoff for being healthy. I'm now looking into the DS, if that doesn't get approved (denied once already) I will look into the RNY. I need the malabsorption and wish I had gone that route the first time.

So I just say you need to really, REALLY, ask yourself why you didn't like the band. I hear the fills, etc. are a pain but if any part of you thinks it's because of your eating habits too, remember, the sleeve is all about changing your eating habits. No malabsorption there. It is a great option for people with self control because those of us without it will find a way to "eat around" the restriction.

Feel free to ask questions if you have 'em. Good luck!

Great questions and great replys. I am on my second band and I too want it out. My doctor recommended the DS and I had never thought about it. Actually, I had never heard about it. I have read all the info. and I am so scared to take the plunge. I keep going back and forth. I want quality of life, not just to be thin. So many people on this post have been happy and successful but on the board today I have read some scary things. It is the hardest decision ever. I wish you well. Let us know what you decide.