Channel Length Meaning/Loop DS

I would like to know what does it mean to have a longer or shorter channel length? I noticed doctors may vary as to what size they use. 

 I am still in research stage and have looked into the loop DS as I am in the possible revision stage. Although on paper a full DS makes sense the high malabsorption/30 vitamins a day is something I'm still trying to swallow, no pun in intended.

So I thought to myself the RNY requires less vitamins although according to advise on here not as much but close however I have a friend ten years out with good labs and nowhere near thirty, not even ten pills. It would appear that a longer channel might allow of more absorption if comparing the RNY. 

The decision is somewhat hard because I'm hearing conflicting information regarding vitamins. So, while reading I noticed a DS'er suggested on a loop DS that having the full DS surgery with possibly a longer channel would make a difference but I'm uncertain as to what difference that was and what it means. 

I am not sure what you are meaning when you say full vs. loop but in going to try to answer your question as best I can. A "typical" DS generally has a common channel of roughly 75-150 cm and I have heard of 200 cm before. I have the type of DS often referred as the DS with SADI (which means they reroute the intestine differently and typically have longer common channels). Mine is 300 cm though from what I have seen 200 cm is pretty common with this surgery. Even my 300 cm common channel has more malabsorption than a RNY gastric bypass. I absorb a little more fat because of my length but my trade off is more vitamin absorption too - but that doesn't get me off the hook for vits. Even with the higher fat absorption I pass a lot right along ;). Some will say there is no research behind this but it isn't true. If your surgeon is thinking of this type they better be able to share the research - mine did. My personal story (and remember YMMV) is -75 lbs in 3 months so I am very happy with my loss. I also had the lap band previously so I have had great losses despite it being my 2nd WLS. 

Now regarding vitamins they are critical to both types of DS. I take about 13 pills a day (but 8 of those are calcium). It didn't sound fun to me either but I decided that popping vitamin pills was better than the life I was currently leading. At first it was super annoying but now it's almost 2nd nature. It is definitely something to think about because vitamins are something you have to commit to for life and if that isn't for you that's ok it just means the DS probably isn't either. Good luck on your research! You will find the best surgery for you!!! If you decide on the DS both types are phenomenal in my opinion so you have good options! Good luck my friend :)

Thanks for sharing your info. I don't mind taking vitamins. Ten/fifteen I can handle because I figure you divide that into three times per day I can hang it's the thirty that I've noticed some DS'ers take that I don't think I can manage. I'm not sure what if the surgeon does the loop since it's new but I plan on finding out. Thanks again. 

Re: the 30+ vitamins

It really isn't that big of a deal. I take my 36 pills in 6 batches throughout the day and it has become second nature for me, too. 

Granted, I'm a newbie, so I'm taking ALL of the recommended vitamins on the Vitalady plan. Once I get my next lab results in about a month, I'll be able to see if I can eliminate some vites. 

I would rather start off with higher levels than have to fight my way back after developing a deficiency, which I've heard can be pretty difficult. 

I'm going to print out some information about the vitamins I received. I think I'm also going to start taking some more vitamins right now to get myself in that frame of mind. I normally take gummy multivitamins but have not taken any calcium in awhile. I had the VSG eighteen months ago. 

I take my vitamins 4 times a day---breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. No biggie.

Here's the thing....you MAY only need 15 pills a day or you MAY need 40.  It will depend on YOUR labs and YOUR research to learn what you really need to get checked and how often.  You need to advocate for yourself.  Most surgeons don't test all we need and most surgeons give crappy supplement guidelines.  You are going to need to research.  This is your body and you only get one life to live, so take charge.  If you honestly don't think you could EVER handle taking 30 pills a day....DO NOT GET A DS.  I repeat DO NOT GET A DS.  Supplements are non-negotiable.  If you don't take what you need, you WILL DIE.  So, think long and hard.  You have to be willing to take anything and everything that you need to stay alive for the rest of your life.  You have to figure in cost as well.  Some spend as little as $30 a month for supplements.  Some can spend more than $100.  The thing is, no matter how much your supplements are, you have to figure out a way to get them.  ALL THE TIME.  

If you do get a DS, start out aggressively with supplements.  Some people come on here and so, "I only take 8 pills and my labs are perfect and I am 6 months out."  Well, yeah, your labs are going to be fine because your body is still living on the store in your body.  If you don't start aggressive, you can get in trouble around the one year mark.  You should have comprehensive labs done every 3 months for the first year and then every 6 months thereafter.  Always get a hard copy of your labs and chart them in an excel doc so that you can see trends.  If you notice that your D level is slowly going down over the course of a few lab draws, you need to up it.  If too high, you need to lower.  This is very important because almost all docs will tell you that you are just fine when in fact you are sinking fast.  They don't care about the level until you are already in the ****ter and by then you are in trouble.  It is far easier to decrease levels then it is to bring them out of the whole.

I take a handful of pills four times a day.  They equal close to 40 a day.  That is my.  That is what my labs say I need and a few extras thrown in that I choose to take.  I take a glucosamine/condrotin supp and omega 3 sup.  The point is that no one can tell you exactly what you need.  YOU have to be willing to do whatever you need to do.  If that means buying and swallowing 40 pills a day, then you have to be willing and able to do it.  

I had a VSG 4 years ago. In. March 2013, I converted to the DS,in.MX. I don't know for sure,but I believe I was given the loop DS instead of the traditional,becUse. The surgeons said,he was just going to plug it straight in when I asked about channel lengths.

I only lost another 15 pounds after the conversion. I needed to lose  50  to. Reach my goal. I have been disappointed with the weight loss of. The apparent single loop,so I would not recommend it,and most especially not as  a revision surgery,as revisions lose slower than virgin DSers do anyway. GL

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. :)

The longterm results for the DS are well documented, and show that it provides the highest percentage excess weigiht loss and best maintenance of that weight loss of any bariatric surgery presently available, as well as the best rates of resolution for almost all comorbidities. In contrast, longterm results for the loop DS, aka SADI, are unknown. Unless there is some specific technical reason that the DS as traditionally done is not physically possible for you, that is the way to go IMHO. Why take your chances on something with unknown longterm results?

As far as the vitamins go, yes, we take a good number of them (though I don't take 30/day) and they are crucial for maintaining good health, but it really isn't difficult. You make the commitment, establish a routine, and do it. And I doubt that anyone really knows that you would need less vitamins with the loop DS because again, no one knows the longterm results. So just accept that you will need lots of vitamins and that you will need regular lab work to check levels, get started now as you said (good idea!) and go for the tried and true DS with documented excellent results.

Larra