HELP. I have no idea what surgery to choose. Please give me the details on DS.

Hi All,

First real post. Hoping for some words of wisdom.

I have been lusting over WLS for 10 years now. I was 23 and 300 lbs and really wanted to do it then. I waited because my husband and I wanted a family. Here I am 3 boys later and ready to make this life change.

After twins, and singleton I went in for my physical the scale said 414 I was shocked asked for the referral to the barriatic dept. and went to the consultation. Started the pre-op diet.. Met with the surgeon to get my goal weight loss (Kaiser) . Went in and he rocked my world.

I had my heart set on RYN, had googled and googled and knew it all about RYN.
Then he said he would suggest I actually look into DS. Given my weight and BMI (63) he thought this was the best option for me.

I said I need to do a consultation with that specialist to decide. That's in 2 weeks. In the mean time I am obsessing over this choice.

I don't know what to choose. One day I think DS, then the next RNY. I went to have my psychological exam (I dropped 20.4 lbs last month following the pre-op lifestyle changes) , and he told me to read Jen Larson book Stanger Within. I am and it is scaring me. (maybe it was a scare tactic)

I know I need one of the surgeries as a tool. I don't mind taking vitimens and up on my care. I have no co weight issues (knock on wood) ..

I'm not searching for happiness, I have that. I want to be long term healthy and not feel like a ticking time bomb.

I'm in no rush, I want to wait till Jan. so I can practice these life changes. Also if I decide RYN ha said I'd have to loose somewhere around 70 lbs.

I just want to choose long term health best choice. DS seems to have a high risk of malabsorption (scary) and repeat surgeries (hernia) and scary bathroom stuff.

Set me straight. Why did you choose DS, and are you still satisfied with your choice???

Hi and welcome!  I am totally satisfied with my DS and hope you will give it a chance. Kudos to the doc that suggested you look into it. You might want to do some reading on www.dsfacts.com. It's an excellent resource that was put together a couple of years ago by DSrs. I read Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies, kid you not. I bought it on Amazon. Good luck!

--gina

 

I just want to choose long term health best choice. DS seems to have a high risk of malabsorption (scary) and repeat surgeries (hernia) and scary bathroom stuff.

Welcome...and kudos to the doc who steered you to the DS.

Okay, I chose the DS cause I wanted to eat as close as I had already been eating (Atkins Style) cause of the highest resolution of diabetes. It also allowed me to use NSAIDS which is not possible with the RNY.

As young as you are, arthritis probably is not an issue right now but look at your family history, how many of your older family members have arthritis issues?

The RNY ALSO has the HIGH risk of malabsorption of the same KEY parts of food...the nutrients. You do regain the ability to reabsorb the CALORIES but not the good parts...the vitamins/minerals. So you have to supplement with both surgeries.

And bathroom issues ALSO happen with the RNY...it's not the free pass many think. Most of the bathroom issues (after the first month) are related to what you eat...mainly carbs. They are NOT our friends. And each person handles carbs differently.

DSFacts is an excellent resource but you can also google "weight loss surgery" and "proboards" for even more information.

I was scheduled for the RNY and bucked the choice trying to get the DS instead. I am SO glad I went with the DS...I'm only 2 1/2 years out but have not regretted a day (okay, maybe the first week when it felt like I had been hit by an 18 wheeler) but after that, not a bit.

Liz

 

Welcome!   The research is pretty clear that the DS is THE most effective weight loss tool in the battle against obesity.    I will assume that you are doing plenty of independent research on your own, so I won't expound on that topic.    From a personal standpoint, I am seven-plus years out, and have lost and maintained 146 pounds.   There are many on these and other boards who have lost and maintained far more.   I cannot begin to describe how many ways my life has been positively affected by this surgery.   My confidence is through the roof, I love looking nice in clothes, but, most importantly - it is SO SO SO much better to move around!   I walk, I run, I jump, I climb on high things, I dance, I bounce around with my kindergarten students, I paint, I garden, I scrub floors on my hands and knees, and trot up and down the stairs all day.  I shop, I garden, I clean house, and go out dancing at night, ALL IN THE SAME DAY!   When I weighed 282 pounds, I had to pick one of the above.    Plus, I'm 52.   No spring chicken - but I sure feel like one.

The downsides?   Vitamins - lots of them.   Stay away from flour and sugar unless you want to gas yourself and your family out of the house.   Wake up a few minutes earlier to get your potty time in before work.   Be proactive and self-advocating about your labs and your medical needs.    You  might need to have iron infusions at some point.    I would trade ANY of those "cons" in ANY time, for the gift of normalcy.    Good luck to you!

I know recovery time varies on person to person. I have heard stories of Gastric patients bouncing back after 2 weeks, I google and DS some say 6 months or more?

Since I will have 3 kids to help care for, and work I can't handle 6 mo. of down and out.

What is everyone's average recovery time?

I went back to work full time (desk job) at 3 weeks out from surgery.

I was 52 years old and had open surgery.

I was 52 when I had my DS and went back to work after 2 weeks. 1/2 days the first week and full days from then on.

--gina

Research is your best friend right now.

The DS provides the best chance of losing most of the weight and KEEPING it off long term.

I could have had the RNY 100% paid for, right down the street from my house.  After doing my research on both surgeries, I opted to self-pay and flew out of the country to get the DS.

I am 8 years out, no complications, and 100% of my excess weight is gone.

I do have a slight problem with constipation if I don't have enough fat in my diet. What a problem to have, right?

 

 

4 years ago I was exactly where you are. After my initial consultation I was scheduled for an RNY. After starting hanging out here, I realized the difference in lifestyles. DSers eat high fat and high protein and I knew that was a diet I could live with- I hate fake low fat food!

I know you don't have to deal with this but the resolution of diabetes was better with the DS too.

But the biggest thing that made up my mind was regain. Most of the people who have huge regain and want another surgery are going from RNY to DS. I didn't want to need another surgery! Most DSers who have regain can lose it again if they go back to a strict DS diet-- low/no carbs, high in protein & fat.

Three years ago I had my DS and I've lost about 170 pounds. I've been maintaining it since I was 18 months out. I was 297 at my preop appt and this month (I weigh each month) I weighed 131. This is not true for everyone, but I eat anything I want. I absolutely make sure that I get my protein in but beyond that I just eat. My portion sizes are small but I eat whatever. I have gas when I eat carbs, including sugar, but I can control it if I make good choices (I don't always make good choices - grin). Both surgeries have malabsorption and you have to stay diligent with your supplements.

I'm incredibly happy with my DS!

I had RNY. I was 100 lbs overweight. I lost 110 lbs, regained 30 and holding steady last couple of years, at my current weight and seize 6-8.
Not too bad, but to keep my weight of I do need to follow a very strict diet, and exercise. On top of that I developed severe RH - reactive hypoglycemia, plus some food allergies.
If I knew then what I know now I would not have RNY but sleeve, or if I had to lose more than 100 lbs - I would chose DS.
At this point in my life I had RNY.. And I made that work for me.

BTW - counting on fast recovery with RNY vs DS may not work... Some people need more time to recover from ANY surgery. It took my friend 8 weeks before she could go back to semi normal life after "simple" RNY...