Lightweight newbie and DS question

I am 5'3" and my BMI is 41.1. I want to have DS. I have HTN, and I take NSAIDS for my fibromyalgia. I have GERD, but it is controlled with PPI (omeprazole), I have edema of my feet and legs. As far as my diet is concerned: I love carbs... sweets and starches, and I love my meat. I have been known to binge eat.

So in the opinion of all you experienced folks, what is your recommendation? Do you think my doctor will go along with DS?

Would appreciate all comments and advice.

Welcome.  I'm not the one to answer the type of surgery question but we have some of everything here and we welcome them all.  Some of the problems with DS are finding a surgeon who does them and insurance which will pay for it.  But we have lightweights who have been successful in that so I'm sure they will chime in. 

I'm not familiar ith DS but I wanted to wish you well on your journey.

Welcome! I'm glad you found us! I don't know much about the DS. It was not one of the options that I considered. I know that there are other people on this forum with more experience, so I will leave it to them. Good luck on your journey!   -Julie

If your insurance will pay for it and you can find a DS surgeon there shouldn't be a problem.  A lot of lightweights have been successful with the DS.
I do want to say that no matter what WLS you have if you don't address the carb problem it could sabotage your efforts.  I regained 100 lbs after my first WLS due to my unaddressed carb addiction.  This time around I have eliminated all refined carbs and I am doing much better.  Check out OA or counseling.

Hi there! I think if you can find a good DS surgeon you'll do fine. Check out the list of vetted DS surgeons on www.dsfacts.com. The ones advertised on OH pay to advertise and many times are "bait and don't switch" surgeons. Meaning they get you in their office and try to talk you into another surgery because they really don't do the DS. The DS takes more skill and time to learn but it pays off in the end for the patient as long as they are compliant with the vitamin requirements and lab follow-ups. I believe Southernlady will chime in soon, she had her DS in TN with Dr Boyce. He's not on DS Facts yet but we know he will do the DS on LWs if they know their stuff. Get hooked up with Southernlady and she'll help you through the process.

Welcome aboard! 

--gina
 

I answered you on the DS board but will also answer here:

I am a Dr. Boyce patient and he does LW's. Be careful tho as his partner does NOT do LW's for the DS, Dr. Williams only does them for 50 & above BMI.

I saw Dr. Boyce this week for my gallbladder surgery and he stated that the DS was the best one for any weight.

No, he isn't on DSFacts but will probably get on the list soon enough.

Oh, and I had to fight my insurance over my choice of doctors, and ended up checking every bariatric surgeon in TN, Dr. Boyce was only one of two that will do a LW and the other one was not in my insurance network.

Also, I am 5'4" and my starting BMI the day I signed into his office was 35.2. I am now 6 months and one week out and down to 143. (my BMI is now below a 25).

Liz

I recommend that you find a good surgeon that does a variety of surgeries and discuss the alternatives.  I also have GERD, and that was a key factor in the type of surgery I am having (my surgeon does perform DS), yet NSAIDS are a no-no for my surgery type.  So it all depends on looking at all the alternatives, and finding which is best for you.

I am a super lightweight  BMI 29 at the start.  I had my VSG for medical reasons and of course needed to lose weight.  I have lost 39 lbs and have 6 more to go but the reason I am writing is because of the insaids, stop them at least a month before if not longer.  I only stopped 2 weeks and the bleeding was bad.  My drained over filled many times and when they took it out my whole stomach turned black and blue from my breast to my legs.  I got very anemic from it and I need my blood work done now but I am sure I am still anemic since I am an avid ice cruncher and never was before.

Talk to your Doctor about this. I took ibprophen for a back problem.  Haven't taken any since surgery, we aren't suppose to at least not the way I was taking it before.

I love the Vertical Sleeve.  They also found a hiatal hernal and fixed it while I was there.

Good Luck, Mary

Howdy,

On surgery day, my BMI was 39 and I had the DS. My surgeon and even one that did not do the DS agreed that the DS was the most appropriate surgery for me and the numerous comorbidities that I had. And I still had to fight for it. My PCP had no idea what the DS was and was more than a little skeptical about a lightweight having it done after she learned about it. Luckily she finally saw things my way.

My surgeon is cautious about GERD patients and DS. He believes RNY might be more appropriate but that if there are other comorbidities those could out weight the fact that GERD could get worse. You will have to determine what you can live with. 

No surgery will help with the carb monster and binge eating. Loving meat is good step toward being successful with the DS.

Wishign you success on your journey.