My first year I was taking all in one pills and they worked out fine for me then. My levels were always good, however I had to take 8 of them since they weren't specifically made for DS patients - just bariatric in general. The "normal" dose was three a day, but like I said I was told to take 8.

These new ones are specifically made for DS patients, and are high in ADEK. I think I'm safe with them for now, but my anniversary appointment with the doctor will be some time in July, so that lab result will be able to tell me if these are working or not.

I was taking the separate pills as you've been saying - prior to me not taking them - and I made it through an entire pregnancy with no complications and a healthy baby. If these don't work out, then I will go back to that. I will say, when I told my doctor that I wanted to start taking individual pills for things, they obviously let me, but looked sort of surprised. Most of the patients at my doctor apparently use an all in one multi as their main vitamin source. That is what was recommended to me when I started, and most of the patients, myself included, do fine with them.

I have also tried the patches in the past and they do NOT work. So if anyone reading this is thinking about trying those, PLEASE DON'T. I was on them for a week and got sick with all kinds of side effects.

Update: I verified the surgery is covered by my insurance (there is no exclusion). I have found a doctor in my network. Unfortunately, the doctors in CA are not in the network. The one I found is Dr. Simper in UT but I can't find much information/reviews for his RNY-DS revision work.

Hi, I was wondering how you are doing. I hope your tummy is better, and you got an answer.

I just responded to someone's post and noticed in my signature block that yesterday was my 16 year DS surgeriversary. I still love my DS every day. I'm within 10 pounds of my goal weight (I hover around 155). I eat what I want but focus on protein - at least 100+ grams per day. I take my vitamins every day and get labs done once a year. Unfortunately I have developed osteoporosis and periodically need an iron infusion. Otherwise I'm good.

For someone who's about to turn 62, I'm proud to say I don't take any prescription medications and I'm probably the healthiest I've ever been.

Revision of RNY to DS is a complicated and high risk operation. It requires taking apart the old RNY, restoring the original anatomy, and then performing the DS. It should only be done by a very experienced DS surgeon, not someone who does the DS every now and then, and not someone unfamiliar with this specific revision (not just revisions in general). With a less experienced RNY to DS revision surgeon, the risks escalate. There is no one in AZ that I would recommend for this specific revision.

The surgeons in CA - I would guess you are referring to Dr. Rabkin in San Francisco and Dr. Keshishian in Pasadena - are two of your best possible choices for this operation. I hope you won't let the extra distance affect your decision.

And, to the person who answered your post earlier, I have never heard of a Dr. Schuster in AZ as a DS surgeon at all, let alone as someone who does this difficult revision. That's not to say he's never done a DS, I wouldn't know, but he definitely isn't know for this revision. I recommend you also contact the surgeons in CA.

Larra