New Member considering revision - LB to VSG or DS - HELP

Hi Gang,  It was suggested that I post in this board! :)

I got my Lapband 1.5 yrs ago, and lost really well for 3 months (50 lbs), then haven't lost since.  The past 6 months or so I've gained 10 lbs, even though I work really hard to stick to the eating guidelines, and am working ou****rainer 3X week.  As of a couple of weeks ago, ALL my co-morbidities have returned (diabetes, high BP, slightly high cholesterol, and triglycerides thru the roof).  I'm seriously considering a revision (GS or Plication, I don't know). 

I have several questions:
        - I only have about 65-70 lbs to lose and am concerned that a GS or GP won't help much.  A DS sounds like a better fit, but hardly anyone performs them, so I'm wondering why not?

If I go to a surgeon over the boarder?:
        - what about follow-up care? 
        - What if you have complications that don't show up for a while?
        - Isn't it dangerous to fly so soon after surgery (risk of blood clots)?
        - Can anyone give me info on Dr. Ungson in Mexico?

I'd like to move forward with a plan ASAP.  The timing is perfect as I recently took my company's early retirement option and have a few months before starting a new job.

Thanks!  - Shari

Dr Smith near Atlanta is an excellent DS and band to DS revision surgeon. You can find his contact info and more about the DS on www.dsfacts.com . I haven't heard anything good about the plication yet. Some surgeons will tell you a restrictive only procedure such as the VSG (GS-I think you're talking about) might not give you the results you want since you've already had a restrictive surgery.

You might want to go to one of Dr Smith's seminars, even if you don't end up using him as your surgeon. At least he does all of the WLSs and is skilled at it. You don't see the DS done as much because it takes time and more skill to learn and many surgeons want to start bringing in the $$$ rather than learn another WLS no matter how great it's success rate.

--gina
 

We have a few ds'ers here. I'm sure that they will chime in and give you more info than you wanted about the DS.

In my opinion, and admittedly probably not the most technical, is the the only major difference between the two are Malabsorbtion.

DS has it, sleeve don't. Both have restriction.

Hi Shari,  I know you'll find your perfect fit.  I just want to say that I love my VSG.  I had it almost 20 months ago and I've never had a bit of trouble with it. 

Good Luck!

I love my sleeve. I started out at 210 lbs at 4'11." I lost 33 lbs pre-op,  and since surgery I have lost 67 lbs and have been maintaining within a 2 lb window since mid-April.

I know sleeve people who have lost 200-300 lbs, so 65-70 lbs is very, very doable, if you stick with the rules. Your co-morbidities have returned, because you have gained 10 lbs, most likely due to returning to former eating habits. Elevated triglycerides are usually due to dietary reasons, not always, but quite frequently.

Are you logging your food? Are you exercising, outside of your time with your trainer? Recent recommendations suggest that one needs to work out at 4-5 times/week. If your diet isn't correct, exercise cannot do it alone.

Gail

I haven't heard anything good about plication. That procedure doesn't make sense to me.

Thanks everyone for such quick responses!!! I have read the dsfacts.com site 'cover to cover' in the past few days, and though I totally understand the difference between VSG and DS, it's so hard for me to figure out which way to go.  I AM worried that just another restrictive device won't be enough for me, but the more invasive DS is a little daunting.  This is my last chance to get it right, so I'm scard of making the wrong choice.

I will have to be a self pay this time (bummer), as United Healthcare has the one WLS per lifetime clause, so although I would love to have Dr. Smith do my surgery, I don't think I can afford the typical US surgical/hospital fees. That's why I was hoping someone who had Dr. Ungson would give me a little more info about him and his clinic.  Or let me know if there's another non-US surgeon who's good.

My husband told me to go ahead and self pay for this surgery on Monday, and I've thought of nothing else since then!  I'll be like this till I make a decision, then I'll be able to relax a little!

- Shari

Let me see if I can get Dr Ungson's info for you. He is a great option and his patients love him and the experience they had at his hospital. Another great DS surgeon is Dr Marchesini in Brazil.

Did you try the contact info listed on DSFacts and it wasn't up to date?

--gina

Dr Marchesini's  Facebook profile includes a link to his practice: www.facebook.com/#!/jbmarchesini

www.bariatricsurgeryinbrazil.com


Dr Ungson's point of contact: [email protected] for Luz at Ungson's office. Give her a day or two to respond.

 I have a virgin sleeve and love it.  My bmi is 19, that is 5 foot 8 and 1/2 inches and 138 lbs.  I had my surgery on Feb 10.  

My surgeon was Dr. Aceves in Mexicali.  I am self pay too.  Email me with questions or if you want to talk to other sleevers.  There are many who have converted. He's done a ton of conversions.  Call nina at his office and ask how many.  He's a great surgeon, very accesable, good listener, willing to work with you on what you really want.  

There is a support page of patients on yahoo and you have have to join to see the posts. Anyone can join.   They could be helpful.   They are called acevesbandsters.  Go to yahoo  groups and search for them, then join.  There are very few bands in this group it's all sleeves.  

Do your research, I know it's a hard decision.  

K

With all of your comorbidities, I think the DS would be your best option.  If you get the VSG and lose a significant amount of weight, the comorbidies could go away but it would be a result of the itih the DS, they are most likely to disappear primarily as a result of the surgery, and in advance of any significant  weight loss.  There is something about the malabsorptive surgeries that produces this result.