Recent Posts
on 1/24/23 12:33 am
Hi there!
Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I'm six months post op from SADI (modified duodenal switch) myself and was also a bundle of nerves going in. I personally have not had buyer's remorse for the surgery, not even a little. I'd tried unsuccessfully for decades to control my weight on my own. Surgery was my chance at a tool to make a difference while I still could. I got lucky with recovery- almost zero pain and no complications.
DS surgeries are the most malabsorptive WLS, so I'd reinforce being mentally prepared to ensure you take all of your supplements and keep up with labs regularly.
As to losing too much, I hear it can happen, but it's more rare. My manual says DSers control their weight with carbs, and I've seen some people post here with similar feedback. There is a balance you have to find along the way, and I'm definitely not far enough along to have my own feedback there yet (complex carbs reintroduced last Monday).
I will say that the way I've lost weight this time has been more uneven compared to my self-paced efforts. My face looks massively different and my cheekbones are showing more than they ever have. My knees are knobbier. And I still have the spare tire and hips to lose from. Advice from others here says that you may look more gaunt for a bit but that it evens out over time. Personally, I'd rather be working through it this way than continuing to deal with the extra weight and health conditions it was contributing to.
All of this to say, losing too much is uncommon, but can happen. If you work with your clinical team, they can help respond to things if you communicate with them regularly. It's good to research and be informed. Best of luck!
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
Hello all. I am waiting for my date this week to have a sleeve revision to duodenal switch. I have a million questions about what to expect and need a mentor. Is there anybody in here who's had the sleeve revision to duodenal switch.
I am much more anxious and scared this time around. Not even sure why.
Tanya
on 1/23/23 2:38 pm
Thanks for sharing your feedback! It's good to hear both stories, and to know that your wife has been able to resume a normal diet for her after surgery.
I've definitely seen everything from "as much fat as possible" to my clinic's direction of super lean everything, so agree that it will be finding the balance that works. Of course, when I asked my clinic last July why they recommended low fat, their concern was loose stools and gastric issues and had nothing to do with gallbladder. You live, you learn!
Glad it sounds like you're both doing well. Cheers!
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
As you can see, it is certainly possible, and not all that unusual. It can even be done with just a VSG, though that's a tougher to do. More importantly, though, is that with the DS, it is much easier to maintain the loss that you do achieve, particularly for someone starting out on the high side.
Good luck with it...
1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)
Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin
Gallbladder problems are not unusual post WLS (any WLS) as the rapid weight loss can trigger it (maybe 10% or so run into it?) Our surgeon routinely removes the gallbladder on his DS patients, mostly since he has a lot of travelling patients, he doesn't want some general surgeon going in there and getting lost in the altered anatomy; in his sleeve patients like me he normally leaves it in unless he feels stones in there while he's working as the risk/reward balance is different.
I agree that your low fat prescription is likely temporary to avoid tickling the GB more than necessary for now, and then you can go back to, or evolve into, a more normal dietary balance. Some DSers we see online go overboard on the "full fat everything" which is fine, to an extent - some take it to the point of triggering additional bathroom, and even septic system, problems. Balance is still a key, and while with a DS that balance point may be biased more toward the fat side of things than normal, there is still a balance point to find. My wife is generally on what one would call a moderate to moderately high fat diet while I keep mine somewhat leaner as I don't have the malabsorption in play.
We haven't noticed any particular difference between her having had her GB removed, and mine still in there. One of those big YMMV things.
1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)
Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin
Good Morning
I am scheduled for duodenal switch surgery on 3/9/23. I am having anxiety issues. I been on tik tok, IG, FB looking at videos, testimonials about the pros and cons. I am nervous about losing to much weight where i look sick. CW 352 my goal weight is 215-230. I more nervous about the post op that everyone says when the regret starts to set in. Any advice for me
Good Morning
I am scheduled for duodenal switch surgery on 3/9/23. I am having anxiety issues. I been on tik tok, IG, FB looking at videos, testimonials about the pros and cons. I am nervous about losing to much weight where i look sick. CW 352 my goal weight is 215-230. I more nervous about the post op that everyone says when the regret starts to set in. Any advice for me
Hello, I too had my sleeve surgery around the same day you had yours. I too did really well for about 5 years and then for me it was my son getting really ill. I had to quit my job to take care of him 24/7. At that time I was depressed and not very motivated and throw in a hysterectomy to throw off my hormones and voila. Weight gain. I am however back up to my original weight and finally got the guts to talk to my surgeon. It's strange but I felt like I was disappointing him in a way. He however was very sweet about it and told me that he is finding that for many people the sleeve is not a long-term solution. He also recommended I have the duodenal switch. So I'll be having mine in a few weeks and it looks like once again we'll be on this journey together. I am so looking forward to it because this time around I have a bad knee, a bad back and recently adopted three young kiddos who need me to be able to get around. It's strange but I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop like something's going to go wrong and I'm not going to be able to have the surgery. At this point I'm just waiting for the date. Congratulations on all you've accomplished it was great to hear.
Tanya
It is. I was at just over 500 when I started my pre-op diet. Had surgery at 464 (with the threat behind me that if I didn't lose enough pre-op they would have to do the DS in 2 stages.)
I spent several years hovering around 225-235 and in the past year or so have slowly gotten down to 196. Do from the pre-op diet I'm down over 300.
Good luck,
Pete
HW 552 CW 198 SW 464 4/15/13 - Lap DS by Dr. Philip Schauer - Cleveland Clinic.
on 1/19/23 5:08 pm
Hey there!
Nope! Today is the first time I've heard of it, so of course had to Google it. Looks like it's still common practice, and recommended, even, so I'm not sure why this didn't come up. It definitely wasn't something I thought to ask, even with all the research beforehand. Since I'm having a surgical consult Monday, I'll be sure to ask him the logic since now I want to know. He also didn't prescribe the blood thinner injections afterwards, though other surgeons at the practice do. For that part, I was told it's up to individual practice.
Ultimately, I went home with painkillers I didn't use, a few anti-nausea pills that also weren't used, and omeprazole. Everything else is supplements.
Thank you for calling this out! I wonder about the experiences of all the other DS variant folks out there!
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
