BMI 37.9...unsure if DS or VGS is for me?

I would like to lose 100-lbs., enough to get into my wedding dress. That would bring the BMI to 20-21. Doable with either or am I being unrealistic?and is DS even an option?

It's an option but to get it covered by insurance you'd need a couple of serious comorbidities such as diabetes and sleep apnea. Do your research and see what seems to fit your lifestyle and eating demons. A good site for the DS is www.DSFacts.com. Good luck! : )

--gina

 

Unfortunately, I do have several comorbidities. T2diabete****rigs, high chol, severe sleep apnea, mild HTN, and mod-severe arthritis I'm knees and feet. I'm a hot mess. My big issue is night time eating. I don't snack all day but come 6pm anD its ON.

I could have written your response. lol  That was totally me pre-op. You sound like a grazer too. The DS would likely be your best option. As a grazer you'll out eat all the other surgeries in the long term.

--gina

Except for the sleep apnea and the hypertension (altho mine resided at high normal for years), I was the same...

My starting BMI was 35.2, because of my diabetes (I was an insulin pump dependent type 2) and my need for arthritis meds, I went for the DS.

Come join us on the lightweight board, several of us are DS'er's there.

Liz

There was a recent study done at the Cleveland Clinic for how well different bariatric operations did for type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, they didn't include the DS, but we know the 95-98% resolution rate of the DS for type 2 diabetes from other studies.

In this study, gastric bypass did best, sleeve was significantly lower, and lap band resolution for type 2 diabetes was just plain poor. Keep in mind that with sleeve and lap band, improvement in comorbidities depends entirely on weight loss, without the metabolic changes induced by the DS and, to a lesser extent, by gastric bypass. And if the patient regains weight after sleeve or lap band, the diabetes will almost certainly return.

For sleep apnea, improvement dependson weight loss for all the operations. since the DS has the greatest percentage excess weight loss, it also has the greatest improvement for sleep apnea.

Is your decision getting any easier?

Larra

This is my second WLS. I had a 100 lbs to lose too. I have lost 67 lbs in under 4 months with the DS. I have gone from 236 to 169. I never have to diet. I look good, I feel good. I split my vits up into 4 times a day. It's easy for me. I absolutely love my DS and wish I'd done it back in 07 when I got my lapband. Fortunately for me, my husband had the DS in 09 so I was able to watch his journey. He went from 306 to 179 in under a year and eays to fulfillment with every meal. Good luck on your decision.

There is more to this decision than just bmi and how many lbs you need to lose. As someone else already pointed out, your comorbidities also should be considered. The DS has the best rate of resolution for almost all comorbidities of any wls, and is esp valuable for type 2 diabetes. It also has the best statistics for sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

Another important consideration is longterm results. We know that the DS has the highest percentage excess weight loss AND best maintainance of that weight loss of any wls. The longterm reuslts for VSG are as yet unknown. The short term results for weight loss are similar to gastric bypass, which 1) is not as good short term as the DS, and 2) has a much higher longterm failure rate than the DS.

If you do have the DS, the requirements for vitamins and supplements are substantial, and will be with you for the rest of your life. To me, this is a small price to pay for such excellent results, but only you can make your personal decision.

Larra

I think it's absolutely an option!  My surgeon didn't even blink when I went I asked him about revision, and I'd "only" gained back about half of my lost weight, so my BMI was similar to yours.  I need to lose about 70 lbs total after revision, and I've already lost about 15 of those in 3 weeks. 

Best of luck to you!