Advise and my seminar experience!!!

Hi all, I went to the USC seminar yesterday and found out some disheartening facts. Well I hoped to have the DS with Dr. Crookes; it turns out that he is no longer apart of the program. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Katkhouda, an avid DS opposer, and I made it clear to him at the end of the seminar that I was interested in the DS. He quiz me on why I wanted the DS. I told him everything I knew about the surgery and why it was best for me and he said it was clear i have done my research. Go me for being prepared. He then asked me if I was okay with having the surgery open. I told him that I already knew that Dr. Crookes only performs the surgery open and I was prepared for that. I told him that I would like lap DS but I understand that Dr. Crookes only does the surgery open. He then preceded to tell me that he wished I would come to his office so he can talk me out of the DS. I told him that he would not be able to talk me out of the DS that I was dead set on that surgery. So he told me thayt if I was sure he will do what he can to have Dr. Crookes perform my surgery. I kind of fill like that was a victory. However, on the way home my husband said he wanted me to talk to the Dr. Katkhouda because he may know something more about the DS than what I have found. I told my husband that I felt like I knew everything I needed to know about the surgery to make an informed decision. So my question is: should I go talk to the DS hating Dr. to ease my husband's mind or do I just go ahead and talk with Dr. Crookes. My husband also feels worried because I am calm and at piece with my decision to have the DS. I explained to him that I have researched this for two years and I understand all the risks involved with the surgery. I am comfortable with Dr. Crookes and his experience biy my husband is only focused on the negative aspects of the surgery. How can I assure him that everything will be fine? I want him to be at piece with my decision too. Don't get me wrong he is very supportive of my decisions, yet he is very worried for my life. I am lost because I am fine with my choice and he is worried sick. I don'y know what else to do with problem. Any suggestions will be awesome and sorry this is so long!

Many doctors try to limit their patients' choices to what they as clinicians are comfortable with.  

Well Dr. Katkhouda definitely wants to do that. My husband wants to hear him out but I do not see what this will accomplish since I already know what I want.

I am sort of in the same boat as you are. I haven't had surgery yet.

I feel like I am in no position to give advice, but it isn't going to hurt anything to go and talk to Dr K (other than to potentially waste your time.) Dr K probably isn't going to tell you about a risk you don't already know about. But if he does, at least you will be going into your DS with your eyes wide open and your husband will feel a little better, hopefully, knowing that you took the time to listen to what he had to say. Your husband loves you and is worried about you. He may feel a little better after you talk to Dr Crookes and he hears that most of the complications can be managed medically. I have found that while my husband is incredibly supportive he has needed a lot of reassurance that his concerns are being heard (and babying!!) through all of this. 

You know what is best for your body. Follow your gut. In the end its your decision. Not Dr K., and not your husbands (he just needs to feel like he is a part of it). :)

That's just my opinion. There are a lot of naysayers in regards to DS I think. And many of their concerns are valid. I don't think it hurts to be aware of the risks :) I think I am still going to go for the DS- but to me its worth the risk. 

Good luck!

Oh, and I would have no problem letting a surgeon doing it open on me as opposed to lap if that is how the surgeon is the most comfortable :) Thats just me though:)

Any good Psychologist will tell you the one thing that you cannot combat is "someone's feelings".  That being said, "He is your husband and obviously loves and cares for you.  Which is awesome!"

It doesn't matter how much research you do.  Until you have the surgery there are no guarantees of anything at all.  The way in which your body reacts is your body.  That's why learning YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) early on is important.  This is true of all WLSurgeries but especially the DS. 

If it were me, I would take my husband with me to Dr Crookes, to discuss it.  I am single.  I wish I would have had the support of a spouse.  I think it's very important for him to be on board with this.  I am 10 mo out, my life has changed dramatically, I have done it all alone.  Your husband needs to know everything, the good, the bad and the ugly.  

You may be one to be ok from the get go, no problems - be happy.  There is no guarantee.  I thought that would be me.  I have never had problems with surgery.  Wrong, I had a lot of complications and now issues.  I learned YMMV very quickly. 

We all have a 50/50 shot at how our surgery comes out.  Just know, even with my complications, I believe the ONLY weight loss surgeries that should be allowed is the DS & the sleeve (forget the other two).  I do know that the lifestyle change with the DS is huge and overwhelming at times.  I also had a Dr who did the smallest sleeve and next to the smallest CC.  If I was going to do the DS all over again, I would have gone to Dr K, Dr R Dr G or Dr S.  for the DS (flown and appealed for out of network).  

The one side effect that is my pet peeve:

I must say that what bother's me the most and it's a 50/50 chance for you... Bathroom issues. They are real!  They stink.  I've always hated public restrooms (came from my Mom).  I have to stop on the way home from work to go to the bathroom sometimes.  Drives me bonkers!  I carry PooPourri in my purse.  When I eat Beef or Pork, the stench is horrific.  It's bad with everything else.  I have to wear pads all the time still at 10mo out.  At work, when I was washing my hands one day, a lady came in and said, someone needs to call maintenance, this bathroom has started smelling like there is a leak in the plumbing.  I just shook my head agreeing (I knew it was from me being in there).  I can't always grab my purse from my drawer to go to the bathroom.  It's the part of the surgery that I absolutely hate!  I don't have CDiff (been tested twice), I take 2 probiotics a day.  I'm on top of things.

The weight loss is great!

Best of luck to you and your decision!

If I had it to do over again, I would be a 2 stepper... Having the sleeve, seeing how I do, then if I didn' t have the success I wanted then convert to a DS.

That is an option for you!  It would give your husband piece of mind as well.

 

AC, if you had to do it all over again, would you? Would you still have your DS, even despite the complications? 

I would like to know that too? It is sort of the "is it worth it" factor for me.... was the DS worth it?

No, I would not do it over.

I would be a 2 stepper.  I would do the sleeve.  Then see how I do, then if not good enough, go back for the DS. 

I feel like the DS is good for anyone who is on insulin, Type 2 diabetic or 400lbs or more.  Forget the BMI, mine was 53. 

I'm now at a loss of 160lbs in 10 months.  I don't feel better, it is a trade off.  I didn't have High Blood Pressure or a lot of co-morbidities.  I had PCOS and Arthritis. No high cholesterol or high triglycerides or anything.  The weight would not come off.  I felt that it was my only option.  The DS surgeon convinced me with a BMI of 53, that is was really my only choice. Now I have a lot of other issues I'm dealing with. They are complex because my body has fought it's new plumbing since day 1. 

So, I've lived and learned.  The surgeon that I went to - His Ofc Mgr made a comment prior to my surgery "It can always be reversed".  "No, humpty dumpty may never work the same"  There are options but it's not going to be the same. 

I wish I would have gone to at least 4 WL Surgeons before deciding rather than just 2.  When I had my breast reduction 10 yrs ago, I went to about 7 consults before deciding on the surgeon. 

I was so sold, he was on DSFacts.  His patients have a lot of complications - they are not reported, somehow through other support groups we find one another.  We all learn.

This is simply me.  If you notice, I decided to tell my story, the reality of it.  Most who have complications/issues don't for fear of backlash from other DSrs.  The only way for people to really understand is to hear all stories.  There is a vetted DSr who's story was on DSFacts, she's had no issues is many years out now.  She posts on here and is very nice.  My reality didn't turn out that way.

I get my protein in, I take my Vits and live the life.  I have been through it, never would want to repeat it.

 

You are not on top of things if at 10 months out you are having the problems you wrote.  There are tons of posts about how to combat that.  Probiotics and c.diff are not the only things to do/look out for.

Just some ideas off the top of my head (from reading this forum for 5 years now):

Increase your Calcium

Chia seeds

A round (or two) of Flagyl

Stop eating the offending foods.  Do a complete start from scratch and slowly add foods so you can find out ALL the offenders.

It may not be the meat but what the meat is in.  Wheat gluten is a culprit and is hidden everywhere.  Lactose.  Carbs in general.

 

You do not have to have this problem.  I"ve seen tons of people solve similar issues and unfortunatley some people who live with this for years because they are not willing to try any suggestions.

Best wishes,

~Becky

Hi Becky,

I have tried it all.  I can't afford to be clogged up due to my colon issues which will not get resolved until I have the colon surgery.  I am a complicated case.  Yes, in fact, I do do Chia seeds.  Just a couple or 3 times a week at the most.  Calcium is a whole different issue in itself with me.  I was in the hospital for 17 days with Flagyl & Ivanz, I have been on 3 rounds of Flagyl since I got out in March.  For my colon. 

I don't eat offending foods.  I have done the elimination diet.  I have maybe one or two days a week I can get food down.  Other than that I do protein shakes and yogurt.  I am gluten intolerant and LI (I can have greek yogurt, butter and now have to use the Lactose Free Sour Cream****ep trying to add cheese back in (which was one of the appealing things to me for the DS, because I love CHEESE!).  Sometimes it's ok, sometimes not.

My case is much more complicated because of other digestive issues that do not have to do with the DS but the acid production has brought into play and the DS has made it worse.  I have ulcers in my alimentary limb.  That has nothing to do with anything except acid production. 

It will be ok Becky, I'm not angry about it.  My body has not liked the DS from Day 1.  I am compliant with Vits, Protein & low carb.  I eat way too healthy for the DS. I get most of my protein from shakes & yogurt & fish.  Beef made me sick prior to the DS and continues to. 

I do not think the DS is a bad surgery.  I think it is a complex surgery that some people's body tolerate it better than others.   It's amazing, I've met several men who've had it at the surgeon's office.  Not one of them have had problems.  Out of about 20 women, 1/2 have had problems. 

I am grateful and thankful to be in the medical industry to have the wonderful Dr's I have.

It's not a bed of roses for a lot of people, I'm just vocal about it.  I'm made some wonderful friends.  Who otherwise I wouldn't have met. 

I'm happy for those who have had no complications.

I've lost 160lbs in 10 mo.  When I saw the Tech at the Surgeon's office she couldn't believe my transformation.  Obviously I work it the right way, it's just my body doesn't like it.  It probably never will.  I live each day as a new day.