Any Tennesseans with DS?

Oh, Dennie HAS done her research. But the surgery you're talking about that the "nutrition goes right to your bowels." is NOT the DS. You (or your surgeon) is thinking of the INDEED outdated JIB procedure. The DS is not as old a procedure as the RNY. It is newer. The DS improves on metabolic complications associated with the old JIB surgery and other older outdated surgeries. The complications associated with the DS are pretty much identical to the RNY, MINUS some of the complications of the RNY (dumping, plugging, ulcers). If you're interested in learning more correct info about the DS, please visit the DS Forum right here on OH, or www.duodenalswitch.com.

Interesting the stories that you hear from RNYers whose "surgeon told them" why the RNY is better, or why they only do the RNY, or why the DS isn't6 safe or...on and on and onl I suppose that is what happens when your research source for your comparison between the two procedures is a surgeon who does RNY, rather than all of the current peer reviewed published scientific research. The first surgeon I went to also flat out refused to do the DS. He said that if I wanted a DS I needed to go to a surgeon who does lots and lots and lots of them because they require more training than the "WEEKEND SEMINAR" where most surgeons learn how to do the RNY! OMG!!!!!!!!!

Hi, Baby Catcher. I wouldn't worry about the RnY surgeons - a weekend seminar to learn the procedure is going to be plenty for these guys. They've all done abdominal surgery and most of them, lap surgery all along. The concept is pretty standard and the anatomy doesn't change much. I've seen some procedures that the doc learned from the equipment salesman! By the way, I envy you your career in midwifery. When I got out of nursing school I really wanted to go on to grad school and learn midwifery but life intervened and I couldn't even get a job in the OB field at all. I got a job on neurosurgery/neurosciences that I decided was scary enough without ALL the responsibility. Never did go to grad school. javascript:setMainIcon('frown',15,15) javascript:setMainIcon('frown',15,15) Love Dennie

Kathy, I hope you do well with your RnY. And, you might let your SURGEON know that the ASBS has a very easy-to-understand group of pages on the various types of bariatric surgery. Given his current level of understanding of these procedures, perhaps he should start reading here at a level designed for the non-professional reader. http://www.asbs.org/html/patients/story.html Once he observes that his colleagues have published information at odds with what he is telling patients, he may want to revise his statements...lest he look very uninformed in front of his peers. Bless his heart... Sue

Oh, you are sooo misinformed. Many Docs don't know much about the DS, which is fine, but they should send you to research elsewhere instead of handing you untruths to pass around. The DS has been improved and has JUST moved out of the label as "experimental" by Medicare. What your surgeon was probably referring to is the BPD, which the DS is an improvement upon, which alleviates those malnutrition issues. Now as long as the patient takes their vitamins as instructed, all is just fine, like the RNY. The reason not many docs do the DS is because it's more difficult, 4 times longer to perform, and takes more training than a weekend seminar....extensive training, actually. Why bother when they still get standing room only waiting for the RNY? For many, it's all about the $$$$$$$

Sounds like your surgeon is quite misinformed...and that you're thinking of the old BPD which was the predecessor to the DS. The DS is not in any way, shape or form "outdated". As it's quite a bit newer than the RNY, what would that make the RNY? The BPD had the serious malnutrition problems...the DS fixed those issues. The reason there are fewer DS surgeons is that it takes longer to learn it as it's a more difficult procedure and, unlike the RNY, they can't just learn it at a weekend seminar and start doing it. RNY surgeons crank in more money...they can do more RNYs in a day than a DS surgeon could do DSs. Unfortunately, bariatric surgeons say incredibly outrageous things about procedures they don't do...why? Because they want your business. Anyone who picks a surgeon first, then lets that surgeon pick the procedure is, quite honestly, a fool...folks need to research procedures first, choose the one that best addresses their individual needs/situation, and only then start the selection process for the best possible surgeon for that particular procedure. Otherwise, it's like going to a Honda dealer and thinking they're going to have good things to say about a Nissan... they want to sell you what they sell...not someone else's product. Nancy

The Ds switch is a very very drastic approach to weight loss surgery You must live with that decision for the rest of your life.. please.. .. get all the information you can before subjecting your self to this kind of surgery!! What Kathy Newton is saying about this surgery is true ...go the the Baptist Hospital seminar and listen and ask, lots of questions bring a notebook with questions and write it all down .. dont' be afraid to ask questions especially about the DS switch, that is what the seminar is for, many surgeons refuse to do this kind of surgery on their patients ,not that they are not able.. they do not think it is ethical ,even though I believe it is also the most detailed and most expensive .putting more money in the surgeon's pocket. there are many many things about the DS that is not really discussed on most of the boards, go the the DS board.. check out the memerial page also ... ..talk to as many as you can that have had this and ask all kinds of questions ask them what is it about this surgery that bothers them .. especially talk to those that are out at least 5 years.. are they healthy & happy?? being skinny is not enough healthy and & happy is what counts. you can lose a great deal of weight with the RNY very quickly, and it most likely will cure your problems you are currently having and is safer thean the DS .. have to ask the surgeon at the seminar... whatever your final decision I wish you the very best of luck and God be with you.. Good luck ..

Arianna, Just a couple of things I wanted to point out to you regarding your post stating that many surgeons refuse to do this procedure because it is not ethical...............I don't believe that statement is correct. First of all.... if money was the motivator then why would they choose to perform a surgery that takes twice as long to complete and the insurance reimbursement is about the same as it is for the RNY. Also I believe that most surgeons choose the RNY because it is not nearly as technically difficult to perform and train for. I would also like to point out to you that the DS is no more of a drastic approach then the RNY. I have chosen this surgery for many reasons and I am considered a light weight with a BMI of 40. Before I decided on the DS, I researched extensively on all the boards for over 6 months and discovered the DS board was probably the most informed about the pro's and con's of all the surgeries available. I also do not believe the RNY is any safer then the DS with a qualified and skilled surgeon. I do not want to stir up controversy... but I just feel very strongly that the facts need to be represented here. Asking questions at a surgeons or hospital sponsored seminar might not be the best way to receive unbiased information.

I would like to point out that yes I did get my information at the two seminars I went to and there was a lady there who had the DS that I spoke to at my first seminar this past march.. . the information you have received is No more or less biased than any I have received.... both from the 2 surgeons and also from the woman first hand also when you go the the DS board it is written plainLy before in back and white that there are only maybe 50 surgeons in the entire world who do this surgery ... as I said make you own decison I did not write this to offend you and if you feel this is the surgey for you go for it... Arianna

Seminars are what my surgeon calls "Sales pitches". They are incredibly unreliable sources of information about surgeries if that practice doesn't do them. Cattle calls, really... The reason there are fewer DS surgeons is that it's a much more difficult procedure, takes longer to learn and perform and doesn't make as much money for the surgeons who can do many more RNYs than DSs in a given time period. Any surgeon who says the DS is "unethical" is uninformed. The complication/mortality rates between RNY and DS are virtually identical which 10 minutes of actual research would clearly show. And I'm a bandster...and I know this stuff...but I actually researched these procedures and didn't assume medical personnel with conflicts of interest would tell me anything accurate. Nancy