Praying for a conversion... now RNY or DS?!

 Hi. I'm Marz and am 19. Four years ago, I had the Lap-band placed as an experimental study for adolescents for the FDA and the Lap-band. Because of immaturity on my part and no follow up (the study disbanded... leaving me without access to fills or support or nutrition support or anything). I'm just glad I didn't have any serious complications.... but increasingly, I'm realizing that my life quality has just gone down hill since my surgery. I haven't lost any weight (in fact, I've gained), I can't eat barely anything anymore and am losing hair because of lack of protein, I can't eat healthy because I throw up my veggies. Sighh.

So I'm looking into revision to RNY or Duodenal Switch. I would, honestly, love to have DS because I think it would fit my extreme weight loss need (my BMI is 51). But my insurance is probably only willing to cover RNY. Regardless, I don't know whether my insurance is going cover a revision, because I don't know what consitutes as anotomical failure (which my insurance will cover). I'm really frusrated because no, I haven't had any "serious", "life-threathening" complications with the Lap-band, except the fact that I can't eat barely at all. 

Sigh... I just don't understand why I don't lose weight. I suppose I probably eat a lot around the band... but I kind of feel like I have to. 

Anyone have any advice? Which I should switch? I may have to pay out of pocket either way. Sighh. 

Go over to the DS board and post, the vets over there are so helpful. You know even if you get denied they will support and help you through the approval process. It seems that a lot of people are denied first and go on to get insurance approval. Good luck

 Hi, did you have a lap-band revision? 

Or a different revision? 

I started looking at the lapband when I first decided on WLS, but because I am so young (27) I was worried that it would not be permanant enough for me.  The thought of having to worry about post-op care for 60+ years just seemed unrealistic.  Anyway, I've since decided to have the "sleeve" (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) and I'm in the process of getting all of my ducks in a row for approval.  It seems like a really good balance between permanancy and not having to worry about vitamin deficincies down the road due to the malabsorbtion caused by rny or ds.  Check out the VSG board, they have lots of great info!  Make sure you do lots of research.  You are super young and want to do something that will meet your needs for a long time!

HI! I am in a similar situation only I did have complications with my BAND.

1st I would like to say that you should go to get your band unfilled. If you cannot get veggies and protein down then you are too tight. I know that all to well. If you continue to throw up you WILL end up with complications that will make a revision more difficult but not impossible.

2nd There are two types of surgery for WLS. There is purely restrictive (Lap Band and Sleeve) and  there is malabsorbitive (RNY and DS).

If you have not done well with the restrictive surgery, then you may want to consider the malabsorbative option.

So you ask if DS is a good option for you? Any DS'er is going to tell you it is a good option so you want to look at the long term data and the side effects and the risk of complication and risk of death and decide what is right for you. Every surgery has its down sides.

In the end YOU will be the one to live with your option and you should research heavily before choosing.

That being said, there are a lot of successful people who had high BMI's and had the DS.
From what I understand you can eat more with a DS because they dont make your pouch as small as an RNY but you absorb less calories than an RNY'er. That would be biggest plus, I think after having the band and not being able to eat for 9 months myself. Also the DS has a higher long term success to keep the weight off from the data I have seen.

But that being said as well. I have chosen the RNY because I am not willing to stomach the higher death rate and some of the side effects that come along with the DS. But I am willing to restrict more of the food that I eat and live with a small stomach for the rest of my life. It is all what you are willing to do and deal with.

It is a personal decision and I hope you can find the choice that is right for you. You are young and will have the rest of your life to live with whatever decision you make and either the DS or the RNY would bring you well below a 51 BMI.

GOOD LUCK

The DS does not have a pouch, it is a sleeve with the malabsorption of the intestines. So its the same as you just with extra. It is the stomach, just smaller. And the death rate is still small, and only higher bc more high risk patients (high BMIs) try to ds and have more complications. I can't imagine what side effects you are referring to.

Look into the VSG. That is what I did and I could not be happier! But you definately need to find a local surgeon to do an unfill for you. It is not healthy to not be able to eat "real" food. You also need to do a mental inventory of yourself. Visit the different forums for each surgery you are looking into for several weeks, if not months...and see what they are dealing with. Feel free to ask your questions and go with the one that you think will make you the healthiest down the road...this isn't just about losing weight, it's about being healthy. Good luck to you in your journey!

Before you look into a revision(not conversion) why don't you find a DR. willing to help you get your band working for you? If eating is that difficult for you something is not right with it. How are you gaining weight if you can't eat? No matter what procedure you have done, you have to seriously relearn eating to make it work, and it isn't easy. I also throw up if I don't eat right or eat too fast or don't chew enough, etc. and I am over 2 years out from DS. There is no "easy" WLS procedure-they all involve work on your part. Get some help with your band first.
-Wanda

The Band is the proedure with the worst long-term stats; the DS is the one with the best. The DS also has, in my opinion, the best post-op quality of life. And while the DS is the most effective form of WLS for ANYONE< it is especially so for those with a starting BMI greater than 50.

If your insurane company turns you down for the DS---appeal. There are plenty of folks on the DS board who'll help you.

Kamelion had a great post above!

Do not go by opinions; do your research and make an informed decision that you can live with.  Each of us have personal issues that play a factor, and your personal needs may dictate one surgery over another.  I, too, had specific issues, and made a decision before I ever found out about this site.

I hope for the best in your behalf.  If you have a PPO, you should be able to get whatever surgery you want.  If not, and you have an employer that will let you change, I strongly suggest doing so.  If you work for the feds, then I strongly suggest BC/BS PPO.  They gave me not one problem.