diabetes

I am two and a half years out from my DS and considering extending my common channel due to side effects.  It would probably end up between 160 and 200 cm.  The surgery got rid of my Type 2 diabetes (--pre-surgery I was controlling it by diet only, no meds--), and I am terrified that revising the DS might bring it back.  Can anyone who has had an extension done share the effect it had on their diabetes?  Thanks.

Just curious.  What side effects would make you want to revise to a longer channel? 

I have had bad cramping, burning and diarrhea since the surgery.  Nothing improves it.  It is at its best when I eat only protein, but it is still bad then.  It severely limits my actuvutues,  I am allergic to aspergillis so cannot take a lot of the probiotics.  I take acidophillis and tons of vitamins.  My doctor thought it would get better with time, but it has not. 

Are you already taking a PPI, like prilosec, or nexium?  Most people use it for gerd, "to much stomach acid".  If your not showing

any sighns of gerd, it still might be worth giving it a try to see if excess stomach acid is a contributing factor.....  Just an Idea, I thought I would throw out there.....

I don't know how much calcium citrate you take daily but I would try and increase it and see if that helps some. Some people also react with lose stool when they take to much magnesium.

Many times Questran can help if the burning and stuff happens because of bile salts in the stool. Questran has to be prescribed by a doctor. 

Have you also have been checked for c-dif, that can really cause severe dh and can take a long time to get rid of.

I wish you luck.

Thanks for responding with your story. 

I've seen a lot of the vets respond to this type of question.  Hopefully they see your post.

Best of luck.  I hope you find some relief.

I had some of the worst GERD ever. It literally eroded my teeth from all the vomiting I did. Did they take your Gallbladder during surgery? 

Anyway, Nexium has really helped where prilosec and prevacid would not. Have your doc try several different meds first if you have not already. He may even have to mix a couple. 

The high rate of resolution of type 2 diabetes with the DS comes from the metabolic changes caused by food not coming into contact with the duodenum and proximal small intestine. So, with the lengthening of the common channel being at the distal (lower) end of the small intestine, it hopefully won't cause your diabetes to return.

    But of course, the best thing would be to discuss this important concern with your potential surgeon.

Larra

I take Colestid (which is similar to Questran).  Colestid is a prescription pill I take twice each day.  It is a waxy pill that will coat over the bile salts in your colon and possibly stop the burning diarrhea and cramping.  My life was crap before I started taking the Colestid.  Now I enjoy my DS with hardly any bowel problems.  If you happen to be sensitive to bile salts, this pill will help you.  Also if this happens to be your problem lengthening the common channel will not help.  I would give it a try before doing the surgery.  If you take Colestid you have to take your other supplements at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after you take colestid.  Otherwise it will bind to your supplements.

I take calcium citrate and also 40 mg of omeprazole daily.  I have very little problem with GERD.  It is burning pain inside (I guess it would be) the colon from the diarrhea.  I went to a gastroenterologist, and he did a colonoscopy.  He said he saw diverticulosis, but no sign of infection.  I did have my gallbladder out at the time of my DS, so the gastroenterologist gave me this powder/fiber stuff to take.  (Don't remember the name of it.)  That just made things worse.  So I basically gave up and hoped it would improve with time.  It hasn't.  Thank you so much for the info on Colestid and Questran.  I will talk to the doctor about those and the possibility of more testing for infection.

Thank you for listening.