new ohio guy for lapband

You will be hard pressed to find anyone around here that does not like or love there DS.

With that being said, I had my DS a little over 2 years ago. I started out at 453 lbs and now I weigh 250 lbs. I have maintained this 200 lb weight loss for about a year now.
I can literally eat and drink anything I want and still maintain my weight loss. Here is a sample of my average daily diet.

B1- Big glass of whole milk, and a few handfulls of my 2 year olds cereal, usually some Honey Comb or Capt. Crunch

B2- 2 large cups of coffee with real cream and some french vanilla coffee syrup ( full sugar, not the sugar free crap), a sausage, egg and cheese bagel or biscuit, from one of the fast food places and then I will stop by the quick shop and get either a donut or maybe some trail mix, or  bag of peanut M&Ms

L- I usually order a sandwich from Mr Goodcents or PlanetSub. half on wheat with double meat and double cheese and a bag of chips. Sometimes I will get a Pizza or Chinese.

S- When I get home, I'll have some more milk and what ever might be laying around, Wife made some cookies the other day so I've  been working on those.  

D- We usually have some sort of meat, steak, pork chops, chicken, fish, hamburger's, you name it. We usually have some sort of veggie and some rice or potato to go along with it.

S2- Maybe a couple more cookies or a bowl of yogurt with some granola mixed in it.

A couple nights a week, the wife and I will split a bottle of wine or I will have a couple beers. Now I don't recommend this until after weight loss but I just wanted to add it, to let you know that it is OK, if you like that sort of thing.

Good Luck with whatever you decide on.

Another happy DSer here!

Yes, the DS is a pretty 'permanent' procedure---the intestinal part CAN be revised, or even reversed, but it rarely ever needs to be. The stomach portion is non-reversible, but it's designed to stretch to the point where you're eating 'normal' portions by about two years post-op. (By 'normal', I mean the amounts that average-sized, non-metabolically-challenged people eat, not the huge portions that most of us ate pre-op.) I can go out to s resturant and have an 8 oz. ribeye, part of a baked potato (with LOTS of butter and sour cream, yum!), a small salad, and a roll---all washed down with a glass or two of iced tea. Sometimes I eat dessert, too.

In fact, since taking vitamins and supplements have now become a 'habit' with me that I rarely ever have to think about, it's easy to 'forget' that I ever had WLS, at least as far as eating goes. I've never had any food intolerances, bowel issues, bad lab results, etc. I'll be five years post-op come December, and not only have I not had any regain, I'll still losing a few pounds here and there.

Since you mention "permanent", know that at some point your lap band *will* need to be removed. From the manufacturer's web site:

The manufacturer of the LAP-BAND AP™ Adjustable Gastric

 

Banding System has designed, tested and manufactured it to be

 

reasonably fit for its intended use. However, the LAP-BAND AP™

 

System is not a lifetime product and it may break or fail, in whole

 

or in part, at any time after implantation and notwithstanding the

absence of any defect.

http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/lapband_dfu.pdf

I had no idea about the DS either.  I was posting here on the Ohio forum, just like you when ValGroce replied asking if I'd considered it.  Needless to say, I thank my lucky stars daily for her reply.  In our neck of the woods (I'm only a few miles from Lancaster. My boys play Bloom Carrol in football this weekend) , the DS is unheard of because there's no surgeons around who performs it.  Like I said, I went to Dayton. Here's a the website for my surgeon, Dr. Teel in Dayton:

www.premierbariatricassociates.com

The procedure is done at Miami Valley Hospital.  I've been in the Columbus Hospitals (as well as the local ones) and none compare to MVH. The quality of care is bar-none. 
I could go on and on about the DS so if you'd like to hear, just send me a PM with any questions.  And, you can also read my blog.  Like I said before, once you've seen a real-life DSer eat and enjoy the post op experience, it's hard to go with another WLS.

Before I forget...congrats on your new baby with your lovely wife! Talk about motivation to get healthy!

ETA: fixed link

Billy

If your insurance will cover it, there is also the VSG or sleeve option.  Make sure you are completely aware of all of your options.  However, if you lurk on the lap-band board, you will find people like Smilin Shrinkin who are doing great with the band, she has 200 lbs to lose and has already lost 90 since July I believe...so it is possible.

Definitely make sure you have completely researched before you make the leap, make sure you pick the right surgery for you. 

I would personally start with - what will your insurance cover and go from there.... I considered the DS but knew I would have to do it with no support and trying to take care of two children...there was no way.  My family would have completely freaked out and rebelled if I had chosen that surgery. 

Anyways, my results thus far are really good and I am completely capable of losing 100% of my excess weight with the band, and I will definitely keep it off.  There are plenty of success stories out there, it's just  a matter of following about 10 simple rules and taking two vitamins a day.

Hi Bill,

Congrats on making the decision to take charge of your health for the sake of your family. I agree with Valerie, that the band is likely to be a disappointment to you. Even if you do manage to lose more than the average 50% EWL, with the band you will be, statistically, very likely to gain it all back by the time your child starts school. And in the mean time, you'll have to deal with fills, and even possible erosion, band slippages, etc.

The DS is most likely to give you sustainable weight loss. And with your BC Federal insurance, you are one of the lucky few whose insurance actually covers the DS! Plenty of people self pay for a DS rather than have insurance pay for an RNY or band. You are truly blessed to have the opportunity to get the most effective surgery, and the one that will give you the best quality of life.

Read the medical literature, and think about where you want to be in 10 years. With the band, you could easily still be battling morbid obesity. Don't put yourself in the position of having to consider a revision to another surgery. Think twice - cut once. 

How soon did those of you who've had DS get approved?  Was it a long process?  Where did you have it done ?

Hi Bill!

I had Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and my Duodenal Switch was approved in about four hours after my paperwork was faxed in.  Federal BCBS does cover the DS and there are prefered doctors in your region that will perform the DS - you may have to drive for an hour or so, though.

I am 25 years old and I decided to have the DS because obesity and the threat to my general health would no longer be part of my life.  I chose to be through with obesity forever and there was no way I was going to let even a small chance into my life that I was going to fail to loose the maximum ammount of my excess weight I could.

You are in the same BMI range I was a couple months ago (super-obese/BMI greater than 50).  I have uploaded two medical studies that really helped me in my research for you.  Please consider reading:

1.  Bariatric Surgery A Review of Procedures and Outcomes
2.  Duodenal Switch Provides Superior Weight Loss in the Super-Obese Compared With Gastric Bypass

The first is a GREAT overview of most, if not all, of the weight loss surgeries available to you and each of their outcomes.  The second shows why the DS offers the greatest weight loss for guys like you and me.

Good luck on whatever path you choose and know that we are here to encourage and support if every you need more help!

Best,
Justin

Thread Hi Jack! 
Justin...let me just say that you're looking FABULOUS!  And, look at that weight loss ticker go!  I remember you as a preop (brb?) and just look at you now! 

 Oh, Sylvia, thank you!  Too kind, really.  And may I return the compliment:  I've admired your avatar since you've changed it - happy and healthy you look.

Every now and then I'll catch a reflection of my face in the computer screen and startle myself  

I can't wait to be a normie like you!

Thanks again,
J