Partial DS!
Thank you Janet, i don't know the length of my common channel...these are questions that I'm going to ask next week for my first follow up.
I agree, i have done alot of research and never heard of the Doc not reducing the stomach hence my frustration.
I have been getting in all my protein and water with no problems.. it just sucks.
I'll know more once i see my Doc.
Thank you!!
How did you make out at the doctor's? Was he able to answer your questions?
I'm concerned as Valarie is that your doctor did the distal bypass on you. I would see if you can get your operation report and I would also look at your insurance to make sure the surgeon didn't charge them for a DS surgery when it wasn't performed.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you Valerie and Dr Sanchez for your responses.
So after a back and forth bickering with my doctor as he was very arrogant and i had to let him know that he would not patronize or speak down to me, he finally explained this...
He said that he had previously explained to me, (maybe I misunderstood) that there was no need to do the Sleeve Gastrectomy part of the DS as i had previously had a gastric bypass done and my pouch was not stretched. He said by doing the Sleeve Gastrectomy it would make my stomach hold more (I'm not sure if I'm bought on that,). However, I do know that I don't/cant eat alot of food in one sitting.
I then asked him to explain what he did to me as if i were a 3 year old, i need to be clear before leaving.
What he said was my intestines is about 5m long, so he detached my stomach and reattached to the end of my intestines, leaving about one meter for the food to be absorbed.
So, when i eat i only absorb approx 20% of fat, calories etc, but that also means I only absorb 20% of my nutrients, hence why i have to diligently take all my vitamins etc.
So apparently a partial DS was done minus the restriction.
I asked him if he knew of any forums where i could speak to other people who have had the same procedure as i needed it for support through this journey, he said he didn't but they run a support group at the center the 1st Monday of every month and there should be people there.
He also said that the weight loss will be a long road and I'd probably get to goal in 2 years. ?
Dr Sanchez, do you have any advice? Does what he explained ring true to you?
I came away feeling like i hsd a bit more clarity but as the days go by, i don't know....
Thank you!
I'm not a doctor. Dr. Sanchez was my doctor who had done my lapband back in 2003.
I know there are folks on here who can answer your questions better than me, but I have a feeling your doctor explained things, but not the way he is trying to say he did. I think he left out information when you first spoke with him before your revision.
I can't explain it, but I have a gut feeling this guy took you for a ride. I have never heard of a DS surgeon not doing the sleeve part even if it was a revision.
If I am reading this correctly it is sounding more and more like he gave you the Distal Bypass. "Distal Bypass Surgery is when more than 120 inches of the intestine is bypassed as opposed to the eighteen to forty inches in Proximal Gastric Bypass. If more intestine is bypassed then weight will be lost through the process of malabsorption"
Please next time you go back ask for your operative report so you know exactly what was done.
Oh ok lol...
Yes, it does sound like a Distal Bypass. I will ask for a copy of the operative report.
Thank you both so much for responding and i will keep you posted!
Hi Sharon! I had a distal bypass revision 3 years ago. DS was desired, but due to severe GERD, my insurance wouldn't pay. My pouch was made large with my RNY and my stoma is normal size. I have a 100 cm common channel and 250 cm alimentary limb. Early on, I was able to increase my protein amount fairly quickly. Within 9 months, I was able to lose all my regain, but never got to my goal weight. (I have hypothyroid issues and working on that now) I am happy that I'm under 200 lbs! Due to the malabsorption, I am able to eat more and feel satisfied, plus maintain my weightloss.
Since my intestinal bypass is more like the DS, I follow a DS diet (high protein, moderate/high fat, low carb) and vitamin supplementation. The amount of protein and supplementation I take is based on my labs.
Good luck to you and your new journey!
Donna
HW322 SW296 GW150 LW196
RNY 8-29-11
Revision to Distal bypass 7-5-16
SW262 GW165
John 3:16
I am having a revision later this month with Dr. Ungson in Mexicali and I was told that my sleeve would not be touched. (unless I wanted it to be for an additional $2500) so I am basically having the 2nd stage of the DS. Your stomach will eventually expand again anyway, so if it's already been reduced, you should be fine with the 2nd stage of the DS. It makes losing much easier than restriction alone. You just may not lose as fast as a virgin DS-er.
Janet, don't be disheartened... You will get where you want to go. I had the "partial" DS in 2010. I had previously had a Gastric Bypass, and my DS was a revision. My doctor basically left my stomach alone and was not worried about me eating too much, he did a Bio-pancreatic diversion, so I don't absorb hardly anything. I only absorb 45% of all fats I eat, so yes, can't skip any vitamins and must have approx. 120 grams of protein daily. I lost 117 lbs. I could have lost more, but backed off being quite as strict on myself since I was getting a bit too thin. I've now regained about 20 lbs and am trying to make myself stricter on me as I speak. But, when with program, I have no problems in losing. You aren't very far out, so I believe you don't need to worry, stick with your program, very low carb, high protein no matter what anyone says because we don't keep it, and low carb veggies, stay away from sugar. You will be fine. I keep "white" out of my life, white flour, rice, potatoes, etc. Good luck.
Thank you Carolyn!! That is amazing that you've lost so much! How long did it take and if you don't mind me asking, what do you weigh now. Pre-OP i was 292... do you exercise alot?
I hope I'll have a similar outcome.. i just know that i can eat so much more than people who have had the stomach restriction part of the surgery.
Thank you for reaching out, its nice to know I'm not alone.
Hi Janet according to my Surgeon as i previously had the gastric bypass my stomach has not fully stretched out so apparently I have some restrictions... i honestly don't really feel it comparing to others who have had a revision surgery.
He also said i NEED to get in 120g protein daily starting from day one. As i don't have the same restrictions as every one else, its been no problems getting on the protein.
I just don't know and I'm becoming really disheartened.
I actually think you'll be fine. Obviously this isn't medical advice (I don't even play a doctor on TV), but just my opinion.
Since you don't have any real restriction I think there are two things you should focus on for good weight loss. Limit your carbs (less than 20 grams of carbs per day to start) and obviously focus on protein, even for snacks. Write everything down. Try to stay away from processed foods, don't eat "diet" food because you don't need/want low fat or fat free foods. Low fat equals added sugar. Added sugar is bad carbs. Read labels. Learn what you're putting in your body.
Vitamins and water are also very important. Come up with a vitamin regime and stick to it. Suggest checking out Vitalady's DS guidelines for vitamins.
You'll figure it out. The group here is a good. I think you can easily follow the DS guidelines - protein first, lots of water, take your vitamins, low carbs when you want to lose.
The beauty of the DS is that it will continue to work even when you reach your goal weight. It's all about the carbs - I still eat the same amount of protein I did when I was losing weight. I just added carbs to slow the weight loss. If I need to lose a few pounds, I just cut back on my carbs.
Janet in Leesburg
DS 2/25/03
Hazem Elariny
-175
Okay, so you started with a band over bypass and he increased your malabsorption. This is known as a distal bypass. They usually bypass around 100cm total of intestine. It's not as much as a DS, but a lot more than the standard RNY. I have a friend who did this who started out very big. She lost another 60 lbs or so, but is still morbidly obese. Results are a mixed bag.
Your specialist's explanation of scar tissue doesn't make sense because the scar tissue should be related to your pouch, not the stomach that he would have rejuvenated to function again. A bypass to DS is a very complicated procedure, and it's likely that your specialist didn't feel confident doing it. Many experienced DS surgeons step away from doing bypass revisions to DS, too. It would have been nice for him to be up front with you from the start, though.
I wish you'd reached out before your second revision. We could have turned you to a surgeon who could give you a proper DS revision. For now, you need to increase your vitamin regime to more of a DS regimen, but all of the rules and restrictions of the RNY still remain (i.e. you can still dump, no NSAIDS).
Valerie
DS 2005
There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes
on 7/26/19 7:33 pm
Hi Sharon, congratulations on the hard work going thru this process twice and dealing with the adjustments needed for your cir****tances. It's never easy but hopefully good as you eventually settle into it.
You experience sounds like a one off procedure to take your specific stomach scarring and other needs into consideration. My experience is a little different in that I had a SADi DS which reduces the stomach a modest amount compared to a standard DS. It then leaves a 400cm common channel instead of 150cm or so common channel in the std DS. Many people incorrectly think this means less weight loss. My was probably a little bit slower pace but eventually 100% of excess weight and the longer common channel has no issue keeping it off.
Your results may be slower but steady long term. Good luck and pls keep posting.
