Questions about DS. Any regrets?

I am about six months post-op, and I have NO regrets.  I've never really had any serious bathroom issues other than some constipation early on.  Once you learn how to regulate your vitamins, and follow the low carb eating, it's really not a problem.  This was the best decision of my life!

I am 8 months out from my virgin DS and have not had any BM problems except when Ive gone crazy with carbs.  I know my eating habits and knew that the DS was right for me. I eat every 2-3 hours and track my food to make sure I am eating enough protein and fat. I am 2 pounds from my personal goal and am at a "normal" BMI.  Regrets?  Spending my entire life struggling to be thin, dieting, regaining and being morbidly obese between my losses. I'm not implying that the DS is right for everyone. I had a hard time getting Kaiser to agree to it and was forced to attend an RNY support group. Ironically, that really cinched it for me because as I sat there listening to everyone complain about their regain and struggles to 'diet,' I knew I did not ever want to be there.  I have to work my tool, but it's quite different than the way I have previously lived. I love my DS! Keep doing your research and good luck on your journey!

All the science says the DS is the better surgery in EVERY thing they measure for success except for the resolution of GERD.  I went with the science even though I was a lightweight with only 100 lbs to lose.  There was never a discussion about any other surgery and there was never any discussion about getting the surgery in two parts.

My only regret is that I didn't do this 30 years ago.

And most of us have more problems with constipation.  Very early after surgery yes, you will have loose stools.  Fluids in, fluids out.  But once you are on all the Calcium you will need to take you will be looking for ways to not be constipated.

~Becky

10 years out and my regret is not doing it sooner!

Would I trade it for RNY?  Not just no, but hell no!  I can still eat and enjoy food.  I have never yet thrown up.  Honestly the DS works the best and it's the easiest to live with.

Honestly, I've been on OH since the late 90s when it first came into being.  I've seen so many revisions among RNYers, Lap-Bands, and now VSGs. (Back then we had a lot of VBGs too.)  I can honestly remember one DS that was taken down.  That's it. 

I've also had two failed bariatric procedures, and each time I considered the DS, but went the other way. (Mainly because I've suffered from IBD-D for the past 20 years and I worried that the DS would make it worse.  Both the VSG and Lap-Band did help with it.).  The success rates are NOT the same long term.  No way.  No how.  I completely disagree with your surgeon.  Far far more revisions with RNYs.  Far far more sustained weight loss and comorbidity resolution with DS.  

My honest advice is to pursue the DS if you think your insurance will cover it.  I know there's some debate on whether or not a longer common channel leads to fewer issues.  Discuss that with your surgeon.  I don't wish having to deal with three bariatric procedures on any one, even though I've had excellent care both times.

I am only 21/2 months out and am down 35lbs. I originally had the RNY and it failed me- I ended up with a fistula early on which prevented me from losing more weight. I am now realizing all the complications I had from that surgery. Spasms in my small stomach, my food intolerances went crazy, constipation, etc. All of those issues have been resolved since having my DS. My surgeon told me that he wishes he had known years ago what he now knows about the DS as that is now his preference for bariatric surgeries. He believes its a much more successful weight loss surgery - especially for long term success.
I hated having to go thru another surgery but knew I had to do it if I wanted to lose weight. I have no regrets. I too only wish I had done it much, much sooner. I can eat normally now- no heartburn! I feel so much better.
Good luck!
Sharon

Hello...

First of all, do I think the DS is a great surgery?  Yes. 

I personally do not believe the RNY or Lapband should even be available on the market.  I believe in 2 WLS, that is the Sleeve and the DS.  The failure rate with the Lapband is 70% and the RNY after 5 yrs is also high, I believe it's in the 60 percent failure rate.  The DS for me was a trade off.  I have lost 160lbs now, look great, feel aweful. 

I am 10 months out as of yesterday.  I would not repeat this surgery.  Everyone is different, when people say "Your Mileage May Vary = YMMV", it is the most true statement in the world!

If I had it to do over again, as a Virgin WLS patient, I would have only done the sleeve (which is what I started out doing). 

There are several reasons I feel this way:

1.  Until you have the DS, you do not nor will you know how your body will react to it.  My body has rejected it from day 1.  I have been compliant with food and bites and vits from Day 1.  That has not made a difference.

2.  If you have any kind of digestion issues, whether it be GERD, Diver, Crohns, IBS, this is not the surgery to do.  Everything will get worse, it is a trade off.

3.  I am on various boards, it is odd, but those of us with major issues seem to find one another.   We do not speak out because of the backlash saying "your not compliant" yadayadayada.  Well, that is not true.  I spend a fortune every month and have the receipts & labs to show for it!  I decided that I would not let anyone tell me that I cannot be truthful and speak my mind.  I will be honest with people to a fault.

4.  Yes, the stink of the bathroom never goes away.  For some, the bathroom issues get better over time, for other's it starts at 4-5 yrs out and becomes a real issue.  Once again, it is a YMMV.  Me, I have chronic diarrhea - stems from complications/issues which are too lengthy for this question.

5. The committment of this surgery is great.  I was told by the surgeon's office, my vits would run about $60/mo and my protein about $75/mo.  Well, because of how my body reacted.  I spend a lot more than that.  I spent a small fortune at first trying to find a protein that wouldn't make me vomit (literally).  I now spend an average of $125/mo on my protein.  I have become Gluten Sensitive & Lactose Intolerant (which I was a bit prior to surgery), now I can eat yogurt  & butter.  Even cheese bother's me (which I love & loved prior to surgery) but cannot have now.  I spend a lot on vitamins.  We do my labs every 2 months now.  I have to adjust accordingly.  One month, I may spend $100 on Vits (including probiotics), then other months it's closer to $150. 

6. I work at a hospital too.  The bathroom issues are a problem on some days.  I have to run to a bathroom.  I am support staff.  My boss will tell you, this surgery zapped you.  She says "After about 1.5 hrs, I could wheel a bed in here and you'd fall asleep".  She's right.  My quality of life sucks at the moment.  Even though my vit labs are good (except for my K1), I'm wiped out and exhausted all the time.  My B12, was not working with sublingals, so I switched to Injectible, which I was doing once a month, now I'm at twice a month to keep it high.

7.  Issues may arise that you know nothing about.  I now have a low White Blood Cell count.  It's very common for DSr (found out after).  It is something to be aware of because if you have a family history (which I do) of cancer.  This is not a good thing.

8.  I had no co-morbidities prior to my surgery.  I did not have HBP or Diabetes.  I had PCOS (some consider pre-diabetes) & Arthritis.  The PCOS is gone but the surgery threw me into menapause.  According to labs from last year, I wasn't even perimenapausal.  My arthritis is worse on some days now.  I went from having 4 Dr's (An Internist, Endo, Gyn & Derm) to now having 9 Dr's (Internist, GI, Endo, Gyn, Hema, Bariatric Surgeon, CRS Surgeon, Cardio & Derm).  I was tired of being fat and nothing was working that I tried.  I needed a WLS or at least felt that I did.  I wish I would have had just the sleeve. 

9. Just because a website or Dr will say "It's reversible", think again.  To reverse this surgery, is very dangerous.  I know this first hand because of my issues, I have been looking at my options. 

10. If you are single, then make sure you have enough friends or family to help is you need it.  You need the support around you!

There are no statistics that anyone has been able to show me of how well this surgery works and the malnourishment that occurs and what occurs later on.  There is no database for it.  Which irritates me to no end.  This surgery has been done in Europe for much longer than the states for curing Type 2 diabetes which it does do.  If you are a type 2 diabetic, then the risks are worth it.  If not, it's a very personal decision.  Yes, the weight stays off, there might be a regain a few years out, some have it some don't.  from what I know, it's not but about 20lbs.

I am one of the problem children from this surgery.  My experience has been terrible.  I still to this day 10 months out (I use Poo Pourri) cannot stand the smell, and the bathroom issues (forget all my complications).  I was at a friend's house (didn't realize I hadn't put the poo pouri in my purse),  my friends husband didn't say anything.  Their hallway bathroom stunk.  People went in after me.  Came out telling them, I think you have a plumbing leak.  My girlfriend knew I have issues, I took her to the side to ask if she had any fragranced spray.  She lit a candle.  Her husband was ready to call a plumber.  It was a dinner party, I couldn't eat.  It totally sucked.  It's only one of about 5 things I've done in the last 10 months.  Stools stink with the DS.  I take my probiotics.   I've tried different brands.  Makes no difference for the stink. 

I have become dedicated to helping people with this surgery to work it better.  The surgeon who did mine, (who some think of as a GOD) is not.  He is simply a man who happens to be a good cutter.  After he get's your money, he doesn't give a flip.  A lot of surgeon's are that way.  I am with another one now.  He said this to me "Picking a WLS is the most important thing in your life, if you choose a Weight Loss Surgery.  He said "It's even more important than a spouse.  You can always divorce a spouse.  You need your WL surgeon the rest of your life"  That is a huge statement!  Makes you think a lot!

Final thought, any Weight Loss Surgery is just a tool.  The DS is easiest because it controls you, you do not control it.

If you want more information, feel free to PM me.  It may take me a bit to answer.  I will answer.

One thing to note:  this surgery has taught me a lesson, when signs are cropping up all around you, then you must listen.  The month prior to surgery, a lot of stuff happened to me.  I felt 2 days before surgery I wanted to cancel, the day before and the day of... I wish I would have looked at those signs. Felt the signs, payed attention to the signs.

In the end, if I had to do over again, I would just do the sleeve.

It is a personal choice, you are not going into it blind.  Do a lot of soul searching!  The rest of your life will be changed with the DS.  A lot of Dr's do not understand it, so if you have problems, finding those to help is really difficult.

Good luck with your journey!

If you do go ahead with the DS, this group is a lifesaver.

 

 

 

 

Over 7 years out - no regrets ever! Could have had RNY close to home and sooner. Was being offered surgery date, but I knew that it was not the right answer for me. I continued my research on the DS and realized that it was the operation I could live with and be successful with longterm. Once I made that decision, I felt at peace with it, and that sense of peace with my decision continues to this day.

Your surgeon is either mistaken if he really thinks longterm results with RNY and DS are the same, or he's trying to steer you to the operation he can do more easily or quicker or whatever. The statistics are clear: the DS has the best statistics for excess weight loss and for MAINTAINANCE of that weight loss of any bariatric operation. It also has the best statistics for resolution of all comorbidities except for GERD, where RNY does better. The failure rate for RNY is 30% longterm, and when you consider that "success" means losing just 50% of your excess weight, that's means that 30% of patients did not meet even that low standard for success.

Stick to your guns. If you are confident that the DS is your best choice, do it, even if it means waiting a little longer or fighting your insurance company. The effort will be well worth it in the long run.

Larra

As I mentioned on the main board when you asked (and I am glad you came over here to ask the ones living with it!)

Sonya, I am SO glad I had the DS...only regret was not getting it sooner.

As to loose stools...yes, but typically ONLY while you are in the immediate liquids only phase right after surgery. In fact most of us tend to have constipation not loose...

Read this web site: DSFacts

Also come visit us on the DS forum to get more answers to this.

Go read the regrets and revision boards...you will NOT see many wanting to revise FROM the DS....you will find lapbanders, vsg'er's, and rny'ers on there.

Liz

 

Wow! Thanks so much for the input! I really appreciate all of it!

Can some one tell me about the carb restriction? What happens when you eat carbs? 

I have Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and I do have GERD although it is mild. 

I am not worried about "stink" but I would be worried about uncontrollable diarrhea. 

Best wishes!