Question:
My surgeon who primarily does the RNY orders the

same post op diet and dietary supplements for his RNY and DS patients. I know other surgeons order different diets and supplements for their DS patients due to the difference in the procedures. This is the only Dr in my area that does the DS so I want to have him do the surgery but I don't know if I want to follow his post op advice re diet and supplements. For those of you who have had this experience can you tell me what to do????    — [Anonymous] (posted on September 20, 2001)

September 20, 2001
I know EXACTLY how you feel. I was Dr. Gagner's 7th lap DS patient two years ago. He was the surgeon who first instroducted the DS laparascopically and while I was beyond thrilled to have this opportunity, his office, completely unused to dealing with DS patients, kept mistaking me for a RNY patient. Some ever kept insisting, as though I didn't know what kind of surgery I was specifically going to Mt. Sinai for. I got so scared that I put a Post It Note on my bare belly before going into the OR. It read "DS ONLY -- NO RNY". Apparently it got a big laugh from the interns & fellows. Anyway, the day after surgery, the hospital nutritionist came in with her RNY diet sheet and started yahda, yahdaing me about "now you won't be able to eat any sugar and must be on a high fat diet and chew, chew, chew your food." I nicely corrected her that I had a DS and could eat fat, sugar and had no artificial anastomosic connection. She insisted. I told her to get my chart. The chart said I had "gastric bypass" (a term usually meaning RNY) and I cannot tell you how upset I was -- demanding my doctor immediately. His nutrionist rushed over and assured me that it was a chart error (Thank GOD!) and corrected the other nutrionist and explained that DS patients don't have the same post-op protocol as RNYs -- but they didn't yet have a revised dietary list. Luckily I was very connected to the www.duodenalswich.com list and knew what my cohorts were eating. Basically, you can eat whatever you want, but it is most important to eat protein while you stomach is still healing and can't handle large quantities of food. Cottage cheese, tuna, eggs, cold cuts, cheeses, bean and pea soups, etc. My first meal home was a grilled cheese sandwich (could only eat 1/4 on day 4) but I remember how good it tasted. You may have some trouble with fats very early on, but that will resolve after your innards have healed. Get connected on one of the DS lists for eating ideas from Post-Ops. I remember someone kindly provided Dr. Rabkin's diet sheet for me. Early Post-Op your main job is to stay hydrated -- popsicles, juice, whatever you can get down. After you've healed, let your cravings guide you. I found I couldn't get to McDonald's fast enough every morning for my Bacon Egg and Cheese Bisquit and literally ate 8 lbs of pistachio nuts every week for the first year (protein). You can do this with a little help from your friends -- I did!
   — Jill L.