Question:
I have read about all of the types of surgery available, and have chosen BPD/DS for

myself, as it seems to offer a more normal lifestyle post-op. Why would anyone choose another type of surgery that has dumping and other nasties as a side effect?    — [Anonymous] (posted on February 19, 2001)

February 18, 2001
Just as you said that you chose the BPD/DS because it was best for you. I chose the RNY because i felt it was best for me. Lets not get into what surgery is better than the other. They all have the same common purpose that is to lose weight and live a healthier life style. Each surgery has it advantages and disavantages.
   — [Anonymous]

February 18, 2001
each and evry surgery have their pro and con. i use to belive into bpd/ds and after a few search and doc reading i choosed the by-pass... why ? it have a greater weight loss % and you are not stuck with thoses frequent bowel movement and stinky gas and BM and when i say stinky IT IS ! even if bpd/ds patient can take medecine to avoid thoses odors i prefeer to eat less and achieve a greater weight loss than to be able to eat almost all i want but need to take 5 vitamin/minerals plus calcium + vit D life long... choosing a surgery is like choosing a dentist or a PCP... you choose whats more convinient for YOU but it cant be suitable for everyone... each individual know their eating habit and life style and if you think that bpd will suit your life style then GO FOT IT !!!! you wont regret your decision.
   — carou1313

February 18, 2001
I chose the BPD/DS, but certainly would have gone with the RNY if that option had not been available to me. There are as many reasons for choosing the RNY as the BPD/DS (and actually - I was a bit disturbed by your question, and am hoping it was just inadvertantly awkward wording). I don't see anything wrong with negative behavioral conditioning - which is what dumping provides. Although not all RNY patients dump, for severe sugar addicts, this could be an extremely useful tool. I didn't personally want it, but believe me, I thought long and hard about the advantages of that feature! The surgery itself is a simpler procedure; if your weight can be controlled significantly by reduced portion size, the RNY is a great surgery for you and has been for thousands and thousands of patients. I have a number of friends who had the RNY, and are living quite normal lives, and are extremely happy with their choice. They aren't experiencing the "nasties" that led me away from making that choice (just like I don't experience the nasties that a lot of folks think DS patients suffer from). I think in many cases, RNY is all that's available, due to insurance restrictions and lack of surgeons. It sounds like you have made the right choice for you, just as I made the right choice for me. I see the positives and negatives of both types of surgeries. Now, the VGB....(just kidding guys!). KAte
   — kateseidel

February 19, 2001
I had the RNY and did not consider any other options as I felt it was best for me. I need to have dumping in the back of my mind to make sure I eat right. I have not tried anything extremely fatty but I can eat nuts and small amounts of sugar (under 12 g per serving)without dumping. I'm successfully losing weight for the first time in years but the difference now is that I do not feel deprived and am not hungry. This has been a blessing.
   — Lisa B.

February 19, 2001
I felt this was worth jumping into! I had surgery on 11/30/2000. I am a ds patient and I don't have gas,frequent bile movements, and my biles smell better than before I had surgery. I can eat whatever I want. When I came home after four days I ate soup and fish. I never ate puree food. I said that just to say we are all different what will work for others will not work for me and what will work for me will not work for others, that's why we are to make our own choices. Everyone that has DS does not have the nasties certainly not me.
   — TANGIE B.

February 20, 2001
I am chosing a regular rny because of the nutritional effects alone. I have health issues and talked in great detail with the surgeon and she agreed the rny would be a good choice for me. My concerns about the BPD/DS were the nutritional affects over a life time.. I'm young and don't feel it is the best choice for me.
   — Dawn R.