lightweights with DS

I am becoming more  and more interested in the DS-I see it has having a lot of advantages that are appealing to me.  But as a lightweight it was suggested to me on OH (not in LW) to get the sleeve.  I feel like others look at me and lightweights and think "Oh you just want to be as skinny as possible" if I bring up DS or WLS at all for that matter.  Yep, I would like to weigh less.  I will admit that there is a superficial streak.  But I am doing it for my health too.  I am terrified I will have diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, hypertension, and two knee replacements just like..who you ask...my MOTHER.  I already have the high cholesterol.

I am affraid to even approach a doctor about a DS because I am a lightweight.  Heck I dont even want to put my stats up here since Im under 200 pounds.  I have seen posts about those who are "only 200 pounds", how they should just diet and exercise.  I wish there were less hate surrounding weight.  But my argument is should I just keep going on like I am, get bigger, sicker and then Im allowed to have the surgery?  Maybe I am just thinking too much and there really isnt anyone thinking that about lightweights....

I just had to get it off my chest.  I have been wanting to post my feelings for so long and I feel comfortable here in LW.

If your BMI is under 35 you are going to have a hard time finding a surgeon to give you a DS and I doubt that any insurance company will pay for any WLS if your BMI is under 35.  If you are self pay you may find a surgeon, maybe out of the country, who would, but I would think they would probably steer you towards a restrictive procedure like the sleeve or lap band.
You can get the DS more tailored for someone with a smaller BMI with a larger sleeve and longer common channel.  That way you are able to eat more food and absorb more vitamins.  That would be what I would recommend.  
Good luck to you.

My BMI is 37.  I'm working with a surgeon now to get the RNY but am looking more and more into DS.

If you qualify for WLS then you qualify for the DS.  You just may have to look around for a surgeon who will do it on you.  I think Southernlady on here had a problem finding a surgeon who would give her a DS because of  her BMI but she found one.  I don't know if her common channel was made longer or not.  She will probably be around soon to talk to you.
I would check into the surgeons near you that so the DS and see what they say.

Dr Elariny is going to be your closest option if you're in Maryland. I don't know what Dr Vangurie does, open or lap. He's in MD and I don't know his opinion about giving the DS to LWs. You might also check out Dr Smith in Atlanta. Tazz is right, Southernlady had to go toe to toe with her surgeon but he ended up happy to do it for her and gave her just a little bit longer common channel. He's one of the TN surgeons you'll see on www.dsfacts.com .  I wouldn't venture too far from that list you find there.

As a LW you're going to have to have a couple of significant comorbidities to get insurance approval in the US. You might want to go ahead and get tested for diabetes and sleep apnea just to see if you already have them and don't know it.

--gina

The rest are dead on! My BMI was 35.2 when I signed into my original surgeon (partner to the surgeon who did mine) and he refused to do a DS on a lightweight...since my insurance would not pay for a VSG, I balked and went hunting for a surgeon. I was limited in my search in that it had to be a COE (or my insurance would not pay) and the surgeon HAD to accept Medicare/Medicare Advantage policies. Also I wanted to stay within driving distance.

I contacted Dr. Alfons Pomp, at Weils Cornell at NY Presbyterian. No, he is no longer on dsfacts and I disagree with that. I think he still should be. He's had over 25 years of surgery experience and prefers to do the DS. He also took on my husband as a patient and DID his DS surgery...on Dec 16th, 2010.

Then my insurance company had a fit and told me, while I was still approved for the DS, it had to be an INSTATE surgeon...I was down to ONE option, my original surgeon's partner. My original surgeon had to agree to release me as a patient and Dr. Boyce had to agree to take me on...they did and on Jan 24th, 2011, I had my surgery. 

We were originally going with a 200 cc commen channel but at the last min (LITERALLY), I got him to agree on a 175.

Eight months later, I reached my goal weight, reset that to 10 lbs lower but it's been really slow to disappear...Since Sept, I've managed to lose about 1 lb a month. But I had lost almost 70 lbs prior to Sept.

It helped that I already had diabetes, was a type II ON an insulin pump and a second medication. By April, I was diabetes medication free...no insulin, nothing.

Lightweights are MO as well...just because we don't have but 100 or so lbs to lose doesn't make it any less necessary. If you qualify with a surgeon, don't let what others think...you and your surgeon/PCP know best.

If I had to do it again, I would do it tomorrow!! Best thing I ever did.

Liz

You may have a bit of a battle but stick to your guns if you are sure what you want and you know your insurance will pay.  Lots to think about but the DS folks here can help you process through.

This is what was told to me by my surgeon when I was making my decision.

First, he would not even consider the DS because my BMI was not what it should be when he performs DS.  He did however recommend the sleeve and its ease for converting to DS.  He said the sleeve is the first stage in DS, and if I needed at a later date to convert DS, it is easily done.  I was 54 when I had surgery and could not imagine losing weight only needing a second operation in my 60s if I had regain.  So I chose RNY for the added malabsorption.  From what little I know, the DS offers the best chance for longterm success, but I was not a candidate.  If I were a lightweight of childbearing age, I would seriously consider the sleeve knowing the DS is a great possibility for the future if needed.

Daisie..I was told by my original surgeon, I also was not a canditate for the DS...I disagreed...Think twice, cut one. Revisions are exceptionally hard and only a handful, if that many, do a revision to a DS out of the listed DS surgeons.

As far as converting...most insurance companies are going to the "one surgery per lifetime" rule which means converting to a DS from a Sleeve is on your dime. So even if the surgeon is willing, the insurance company will most likely deny it.

As a passing note, I am 57, my DS was less than a year ago...I chose it because I needed to be able to take NSAIDs, wanted to eat normally (okay, except I developed lactose intolerance),

Liz

I wish I had more knowledge when I made my decision and pushed harder.  I love my surgeon; he is truly amazing.  He was the director of the Bariatric program at one of the Nation's 10 ten medical schools/clinics when he did my surgery.  You are right about the one surgery per lifetime rule now.  Converting from VSG to DS was not a problem for him, he just did not think I was heavy enough for the DS the first go round.  I think that attitude is changing though.  I am always so confused when I read that RNYers convert to DS.  He told me if I chose RNY that was pretty much it as far as an alternative route in the event I failed my tool.   I don't understand that process unless they reopen the remnant stomach, reduce it?  At any rate, I have what I have and must therefore make this work.  I will be 57 my next birthday.  I worry about needing NSAIDS as I age.  I pray my health remains good so that I do not need them for some chronic condition.