What Am I Getting Myself Into?

So, I started the process in Atlanta to have the second stage of the two stage WLS procedure that starts with the Gastric Sleeve, which I had three years ago. I am tentative, but ready to be able to say I have done all that I can. After that, either my higher power makes it happen or not... {:>}

Good luck!

--gina

Actually, Ricky, the DS is NOT usually a two stage wls that starts with the sleeve. It's a one-stage procedure in which the sleeve and the intestinal bypass are done at the same time. There are some people who, for medical reasons, can't tolerate that much surgery in one setting who do have the DS done as a PLANNED 2 stage operation, with the "switch" part being done after there have lost some weight and are in better health. But for most people who have the gastric sleeve, it is intended to be sufficient...

 

which, for some people, it isn't, and we are seeing new people with the sleeve wanting to revise to the DS all the time. As more people have the sleeve and their sleeves stretch out over a few years, we will see more and more such people. It is as yet unclear how many people will do well enough with just the sleeve longterm. surely some will, but some won't.

I hope you are able to get the full DS done. The DS has the best statistics of any bariatric surgery for percentage excess weight loss, maintanence of that weight loss, and resolution of almost all comorbidities. It could make a big difference for you.

Larra

At nearly 400 lbs and a waist size of 68" unable to walk or leave my house, I definitely fell in the position of the two stage procedure. I never expected to need the DS, as I lost 40# before VSG surgery and with exercise and diet lost another 100# It wasn't until maintenance, which I did not realize for a year had already happened. I thought I was on a long plateau and the loss would resume. I was told the sleeve was slower, but lasted longer, and that was where the equivocacy with the RnY came in.

I stopped losing one year after surgery. Two years out I had gained about 12-15 pounds back. I tried to go back to a 1000 cal diet, as I have many times since, but nothing helped motivate my metabolism to move in the right direction. In typical yo-yo fashion, I would lose a few lbs, gain it back with a pound or three up. This was something I NEVER expected. I didn't expect, in Maintenance, that if I cut my calories, with exercise, that I would not be able to control the weigh over the rest of my life. After maintenance, I was left with a body that fought even harder to hold on the extra weight, and added a few pounds for insurance. What would this process mean for the future?sI still have cold feet when I think about the DS in another country, and posibly not being covered by my insurance, it there are complications. I don't want to borrow one set of problems, in trying to revent another. Nothing is crystal clear in this process...

Good luck! 

Are you getting resleeved?  Those who don't get resleeved, don't have the desired degree of success that they hoped.  You will have the best results if your resleeve, which requires an experienced surgeon.

Check out the revision boards.  We have also had some recent posts on this topic in the DS forum in the last couple weeks.  You have a great opportunity to follow their progress.

I had my sleeve in Dec 2010 and then the full DS in Feb of 2013. I lost 100 lbs with the sleeve and then now an additional 77 lbs. I was not resleeved as my sleeve did not stretch at all. Good luck.

Good luck. At my first surgical consult they wanted to do the DS two stage. I'm grateful I didn't have to do that but whatever works to get the job done.