VGB vs DS

Hi everyone! I've just recently decided to look into some WLS options and hopefully find a procedure right for me so I can start a new life! I've researched and researched all the options and still have questions. I was just curious to know why some of you chose to have the VGB than the DS. These 2 surgeries are the ones I'm looking into the most and haven't really come to any decisions yet. And I really rather steer clear of the RNY because I don't like the side effects. It would be greatly appreciated if some of you could give some pros and cons of the VGB and tell me anything that I should known concerning this surgery. Thanks in advance! Jennifer

Hi there! As for my own WLS I didn't have alot of choice- Abawi, my surgeon- does the VBG... I'm not sure that he does other types of surgery. It took me two years to decide to go thru with it- One of the things that I liked about the VBG is it can be removed/undone/reversed if I decide to have it done.With the VBG the surgeon does not unhook- and than rehook-up any of your intestines or innards, which they do with some of the other surgeries... and I really didnt want that invasive of a procedure. As far as I know the VBG works more with portion control- meaning you really have to watch the sizes of the portions. In my own experience with surgery- I've had few complications- which might not have been the case with an RNY, had I gone that route. One of my deciding factors was the foods themselves- after the VBG you can eat any type of food. I was worried with any other surgery I wouldn't be able to resume eating hot and spicy foods- so far I have had no problems with hot or spicy- just have to watch the portions.... Plus with some of the other surgeries there were so many foods that would be absolute no-no's afterwards- I kind of think that if my consumption-capacity is dwindled as much as it is, than I want to be able to eat what ever- and not have half of the foods in the world elimnated right off the bat. You know? The major drawback (for me) with the VBG is there is no sugar-dumping if you eat too much sugar... I can not say anything about the switch as I know nothing aobut it, sorry. Would I reccomend the VBG- yes, whole heartedly.

Hi Jennifer, I actually had to have the VBG because my small intestine was too short to have the RNY. That said I am so happy with my VBG At first I wasn't sure it would work for me, but it has and I feel great. I have lost 76 pounds in less than 5 months and still going strong. I recovered from surgery quickly and I tolerate food well. I have only gotten sick a few times and that was from not chewing well enough or eating too much. I am experiencing some hairloss right now, but its not bad. I am against advocating for one surgery over another because the decision is so individual. All I can tell you is the VBG has been a great option for me! I love the fact that I don't have to completely avoid sugar. I can actually have a very small peice of cake at my nephew's birthday party. It makes me feel more normal and like I am in control of my own success. I do have to be very careful about my calorie intake, but it's pretty easy to do that right now since I am still in the honeymoon stage. I know that this is a lifelong commitment and I have changed my lifestyle considerably. I exercise about 3-5 times a week and I try to walk a lot more. The best part is that I enjoy it and its not so hard for me anymore Good luck with your research and if you have any specific questions for me please feel free to email me any time Hugs, Sara 356/280/175

To be honest I never looked into the VBG. When I first started looking into WLS I looked at the lapband because I was afraid of the invasiveness of the RNY and the DS. Three years later I chose the DS as my best alternative to finally get rid of this weight. I mainly chose it because I love the fact that I still keep a normally functioning stomach. Meaning I still have my pyloric valve in tact. I chose it because I do not have to chew chew chew in order to make sure I can swallow my food. If there is one pain is that I have to take 12 pills a day. Not all DS patients have to but that is what my surgeon recommends. There is a misconception about all DS patients having runny stool and gas and chronic diahhrea. With me that is not the case. It all depends on my diet. If I eat something too high in greasy fat then yes it is likely I will get diahhrea if I eat too much white bread or pasta then yes I will get gas. But it is a small price to pay for losing 60lbs already. I can still eat these foods just in the comfort of my home. I still have to watch my sugar and carb intake but Protein and Fat are my friends which is good because I still enjoy a juicy bacon cheeseburger sans the bread of course. The DS gives ya a little more space after so you can have normal portions without absorbing all the calories and fat but the malabsorption is also why I have to take so many pills a day. So if your not a good pill taker then the DS may not be good for you. Every surgery has pros and cons so make sure you chose the procedure you can live with for the rest of your life.

I don't want to scare you but, I had heard and read somewere on this site that the ds was banded from being done and they are now doing the ds/pd switch instead. I think I got the abbreviation wrong but I think you might know what I mean. I had read that the ds doesn't work as well as the others. I think that the ds, and rny have very similar after affects. Have you considered the lapband? L

Since I posted this thread, I've decided to go with the DS. I haven't heard anywhere where it was band. I've visited this site constantly for about 2 months now and I haven't come across it. And the DS and RNY side effects are greatly different. There's no dumping with the DS and the less chance for ulcers. DS post-ops can also eat 'normally' and drink with their meal. The only difference is that there are more BM than with the RNY because there is no dumping or throwing up. Also, there's a less chance of gaining a great amount of weight back witht he DS. And I've thought of the Lap Band for about 2 minutes...I just don't like having a foreign object (especially with silicone) in my body. With the chances of it being embedded and causing irritation, I decided against it. Also, I don't like the idea of going to have fills/unfills...someone even said it was about $300 per fill/unfill. Thanks for everyone's input...it's greatly appreciated!!

Solid silicon is completely inert...it's not the same substance as the gel/fluid in the silicon breast implants which is neither solid nor inert. The lap-band has be far the fewest dangerous complications. The DS can cause tremendous complications from malnutrition and cannot be fully reversed (when they do the sleeve gastrectomy on the stomach, they remove/discard the portion of the stomach stapled off, unlike the RNY where nothing is discarded. If you want a real picture of how severe complications can be, please go to the OSSG_Gone_Wrong yahoogroups list. In terms of the foreign object thing, do you have fillings in your teeth? LOL would you refuse a pacemaker? A knee or hip replacement? And hundred of metal staples...they're foreign objects as well. Nancy 394/278/180

I'm still pushing for the DS. And still don't like the idea of an object in my body. The seminar I went to last Wednesday said that with rigorous activity, the lap band can even slip causing serious problems. They also told of the port being misplaced or moved and the surgeon being unable to find it or inserting the needle in the tube instead of the port itself. Also, with the cost of fills/unfills, trips to the office to have them done, and losing only 50% of your excess weight, I decided against it. The DS can also have severe complications and I have read about them while doing my research. However, I also learned that there are more complications with hip replacement surgery than with any other surgeries...more deaths too. Also, the top 3 complications (bleeding excessively, blot clots, and leakage) are not only the top 3 in WLS but in any surgery in general. So the DS isn't the one and only surgery that falls under complications. Malnutrition is preventable and easily solved if caught in time...which it wouldn't be caught or a problem if vitamins were taken everyday!! lol I know that there is a 30% of nutrition deficiency but since it's preventable, it's not at the top of my list. I know that anything can go wrong. But I also know that if you have a Grade A surgeon (like I do - Dr. Husted), and are young (I'm 24), and have no serious co-morbities (I don't have hypertension, high bloodpressure, lung problems, etc) - then you will be okay. Dr. Husted and crew at CCFOS, have .1% complication/mortality rate. And if I have come off too strong or cranky, it's because that this isn't the first time I've heard that the lap band may be better for me!!! lol It seems like the only person who thinks I'm an excellent candidate for surgery, is the surgeon itself and that's enough for me!!! Thanks so much for your info though!

I'm all for folks choosing whatever procedure they think is best...I just dispell misinformation LOL Rigorous activity will not cause slippage. The band is sutured down...slips are when part of the stomach slips up through the band causing it to be at a wrong angle. The band itself rarely slips since the suturing became standard practice at least 6-7 years ago. I lift VERY heavy weights regularly and my band is fine. I'm already over 50% EWL and at the 2-3 year mark the stats for the band and RNY are about the same. Good friend of mine who has been banded 2 years now is down 170 pounds...90% of her EWL. Tube punctures are also rare, and tend to happen with inexperienced fill-givers. One should no more seek an inexperienced banding surgeon/fillgiver than seek an inexperienced DS surgeon...it's begging for problems. Personally, I like the very hands-on aftercare that the band warrants. I hate hearing about WLS patients who haven't seen their surgeons for a year or 2 and are having problems but hesitant to call after such a long time. My surgeon is rigorous with aftercare for both bandsters and RNY & DS patients...she sees them far more regularly and long-term than most surgeons. Good luck with whatever surgery you end up getting Nancy