Update! (long)

 "This surgery is not for the weak at heart, or for folks who aren’t ready to work hard at losing weight. If you want the surgery to do most of the work, then I strongly suggest DS"

I had Ds about 3 years ago would have to agree with Scartears.  My surgery does most of the work for me to loose weight.  It is not a cake walk for sure and there are lots of challenges...but loosing weight has not been the main challenge for me.  Eating enough, and eating enough protein especially.   Making sure I don't miss any vitamins.

So, the way I take Scartears note...and really in a nutshell is why I chose DS and would not consider a band...is I am a lousey dieter and exerciser and you need to be very very determined at both.  I would much rather have a surgery which does alot of the work for me, and I can focus on nice healthy eating...and never diet again! 

Funny thing is that I did have a small gain earlier this spring...and it reminded me that DS as well is a tool I need to work with...but in working with it....I could not give up the good foods I eat... like burgers, cheese, steaks, so I can see how it looks really easy...I on the other hand had to focus on any sugars I was eating...and get off my butt and exercise.

I think that Lapband takes willpower.  DS does not (for me anyway) take any where the same level of willpower really...it just takes extreme dedication.  

Not sure if that makes sense, and I have the most admiration for Banders...they are the ones still dieting/exercising...and from this board...having great successess.   But...when I did my research...I was just to afraid I did not have the same dedication to be successful..and the DS lifestyle looked (and is for me) much more comfortable.

Thx,

Thank you for replying ladies.

After reading your post Catherine...i have to say..I sure am glad I chose the DS.  As much as I lurk, it is great to actually talk to a vet.

I too have great respect for bandsters, as they all have something I do not...WillPower. 
I guess I was just comparing the fact that they may have to watch the calorie intake, but as a DS'er I will have to be diligent with protein and vits, and reducing/ eliminating those carbs and sugars.

Again,  Sorry for jumping Monica...I do understand the malabsorption piece of the DS surgery, but really never heard until yours and Catherines post that the DS does most of the work.  Please understand now that I hear that from you and a DS vet that this statement is true...I am even more stoked to have this surgery

Amary

I have absolutely NO willpower and that's why I chose RnY. Eating sweets and carbs are not an option for me, not right now anyway.  It may be the further out I get but for now I dump on a lot of things especialy carbs and sweets and milk.

I think bandsters are real troopers. I couldn't do it. If I could eat sweets and carbs, I know no matter how hard I tried, I'd be eating it. I think it would be like being oon a diet for the rest of my life. Dieting has not worked for me for the past 20 years, no reason to think it would now.

I researched DS a litttle. I must confess I don't know a whole lot about it. It sounds like living your life according to the Atkins diet and having to add a LOT of vitamins daily. To miss vitamins means becoming very ill.  What I gleaned from reading up on DS was that if you ate carbs and sweets you (1). regained weight and (2)  had severe bowel issues with flatulance and diarrhea and the "can't always trust a fart" issue. Sounds good but I'n sure it has it's drawbacks.
 
I go to the revision sites and people there who have had all kinds of wls looking to get their surgeries revised. You do hear some of the downsides to every wls there.