Question:
Please help- anyone who had BPB/DS!
I have been approved for a BPB/DS- which is what i requested because of the greater weight loss potential and lower regain. I know about the logistics, but I need to hear from people who have had this surgery done- some personal insight and helpful hints would be wonderful. Thanks in advance! — Mariposa (posted on October 23, 2003)
October 23, 2003
Woo HOO! Congratulations to you! It took me almost 6 months of fighting
with Aetna (and I'm a lawyer!) to get approved for this "platinum
standard" WLS! I had my surgery 8/5/03 -- I'm 11 weeks out, and
feeling pretty damned good -- down 43 lbs (wish it was more, but I'm not
exercising much yet), but I'm eating fine, rarely nauseous (I very
occasionally get a little queasy if I eat too fast, which I'm still prone
to do -- but it's a VERY pointed signal for me to STOP, SLOW DOWN, and
taste my food). Don't get me wrong, the first 3 weeks SUCKED -- I was
nauseous, then queasy for that type -- it finally stopped at the one month
mark; and I was SOOO fatigued at first (I turned 50 12 days after surgery),
but the more I did, the easier it was the next day. Now, I'm even more
convinced it was the right thing for me to do.
Go confidently -- you won't be sorry! And if you haven't been to
www.duodenalswitch.com, or
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/duodenalswitch/, please look into
joining us!
Diana
DS 8/5/03
285/242/160
— [Deactivated Member]
October 23, 2003
Donna, definitely go to the yahoo group for the duodenal switch. Lots of
people there. I was fortunate to get to know many DS people over the
internet and last month met a couple near me who BOTH had the DS at the
same time. Everyone I've spoken with has NO REGRETS and love the
lifestyle. I think the best way is to listen to the stories and
experiences and then if you can locate some folks near you to get together
for lunch. See how the post ops eat, hear their stories, ask them your
questions face to face. It'll make a huge difference in your confidence
with the surgery. Good Luck!
— Shelly S.
October 24, 2003
Let me start by saying this is the first time I have ever posted a reply, I
mostly just read them. I had the BPD/DS on 07/15/03 and have lost 55lbs as
of yesterday, and let me tell you, it was the BEST decision I ever made for
myself. I feel as though I was priviliged, having the most gifted surgeon
ever, and this is allowing me to live my life normally. I am 28 and married
with two small children, and this surgery has let me become more active
(already) than I have been since I was a child. I am full of energy, and am
addicted to Curves, and I still can eat things that I want, even though I
do for the most part make good food choices.
In my opinion, this is a superior surgery, and the only regret I have is
not doing this sooner. If I can answer any questions for you, please feel
free to e-mail me.
Good Luck!!! :)
— tamster513
October 24, 2003
Hello Donna, This question was asked on the DS Forum. It is here:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/DS/posts Look at
the thread titled "Rny vs. DS" which asks people "why"
they chose DS. I gave several reasons for my choice there. Also, I am 2+
years post-op--healthy, not hungry, no weight regain, and so thankful for
my quality of life. If you're into reading profiles, I also go into detail
about my choices there. You can read at your leisure. <p>Also, check
out www.duodenalswitch.com and read the patient profile of "Melanie
M." She really knows her stuff--is well educated on the DS, and is
also the author of the duodenalswitch.com website. The reason I like her
story is because I could relate to it so well. She states what I have
believed all along about myself--that I was not an overeater. My body
simply betrayed me, and the DS fixed that. <p>Happy reading! And God
bless you and protect you in your upcoming surgery and recovery. Please
feel free to email me with any more questions or concerns.
— artistmama
October 26, 2003
My insurance (Fed BC/BS) wouldn't approve this surgery, so I got an open
RNY (100cm proximal) and went from 205-95lbs in one year.
— jengrz
October 26, 2003
Another satisfied customer here! 16+ months post op. Congrats to you for
winning! I lost and paid very hard-earned cash for my DS rather than have
RNY or VBG for free. There were a lot of reasons, but the biggest one was
that I saw too much chance of regaining much or even all of the weight with
those surgeries. Unlike Brenda and Melanie, I was a binge eater; I could
pack in 7000-10,000 calories in a typical day. My body was not betraying
me, I was betraying my body. I knew if I did not have something as close to
foolproof as possible I'd find a way to sabotage myself. I was right, too.
I still struggle with my carb addiction, sometimes eating as much as 3000
calories, but I'm still losing! It's because half of that is from fat,
which I absorb very little of. To me the great miracle of DS is that I know
I'll never regain the weight. This is the only WLS where we can say that
without fear. That peace of mind was worth the price. You might want to
come over to duodenalswitch.com tonight and join the chat room, 6-8PT.
Everyone who wants to learn more about the DS is welcome!
— Chris T.
October 26, 2003
Chris I hate to inform you that its possible to out eat ANY SURGERY. There
are long term regainers for all surgeries including the DS. So its not
guaranteed. DS tend to have messier bowell problems and a bigger risk of
anemia too. Like Barb Hensoin a member here has.
— bob-haller
October 26, 2003
Chris: I am not sure where Bob is coming from - the bowel issues are not
any different than someone who has had a distal rny except we don't dump
with the DS. As for anemia I had that before surgery but I don't have it
now. 7 months out - I can eat like a normal thin person (more than 2 bites
per meal like an rny) without chewing 3000 times on each bite, I've lost
90# and am 4# from goal. C 242.5/152/148
— Cera H.
October 26, 2003
It's just part of the strange anti-DS thing that goes on around here,
usually propagated by people who know very little about it. Barb Hanson's
name is often brought up. She did have major problems and nearly died, but
her surgery was done incorrectly (apparently) and she used to admit that
she did not take her supplements, although she has now removed that little
tidbit from her profile. As with any WLS, anyone who does not eat their
protein or take their supplements can get very very sick indeed! Yes people
do occasionally have serious problems, but a far lower percentage than with
other types of WLS (IMO because the surgeons are better trained as it takes
a long time to learn how to do DS, which is also one reason there are
relatively few DS surgeons, unfortunately). And as to regaining weight, it
is simply not true that DSers regain any major amount. 20 lbs sometimes;
200, never! Sorry to say but I do not have messy BM's either. Most of us
have soft, well-formed stools and go 1-3 times in the morning, period. Nor
do we emit noxious clouds of death-inducing gas all day! Please, any pre-op
reading this who would like to learn more, go to duodenalswitch.com and/or
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/duodenalswitch/ where you can get the
true story from people who live with the DS every day. You owe it to
yourself to research every type of WLS before deciding, don't you?
— Chris T.
October 26, 2003
Congrats on your approval. My BPD/DS was 4/11/01 and I'm down 110 lbs and
over 70". For me, this was the best gift I could have had. I was
originally having the RNY but my surgeon suggested this for me due to
another medical issue I had. I'm so glad he did. As with any of the Wl
surgeries you must take your vitamins,supplements etc.. All the surgeries
have the potential for malabsorbtion issues. My gas is it's worse when I
eat lots of carbs and not enough protein. I have personally tested this
out. Now, this is for me and not anyone else. Also, my BM's are normal. I
go first thing in the morning and usually, that's it. Now, when I eat earbs
and too much fat my BM's change. I know this and if I want eat those things
than I must accept how my body's going to respond. I absolutely LOVE my DS.
It allows me such freedom. I'm still responsible for what I put into my
mouth and can blame no one but myself. As for any surgery you need to
understand what your eating triggers etc.. are. This surgery dsn't change
your head and your habits and that you need to learn. My DS allows me the
freedom to eat what I want and when I want. I don't want the McDonald F.F.
anymore but on occasion I may have a few. Any surgery can be out eatin'. I
don't think you can restretch theDS stomach back to the size of a 2 or 3
liter bottle but you can gain weight back. Also, there are risks with all
the surgeries. Is it that we hear more issues with the RNY because more are
done? or do we hear so little from the DS because there are so few done?
Whatever the reason you still need to be vigilant in your research and go
into this knowing all the possible risks that there are. Wishing you all
the best.
Linda
— Linda M.
October 27, 2003
Just want to thank everyone who has posted an answer to my question. I
HAVE A SURGERY DATE- NEXT WEEK!!!! Tuesday, Nov. 4. I will go into the
hospital (UW Hospital, Madison, WI) on Monday for pre-op stuff. I was a
wreck when I found out yesterday that I only had one week, but this is what
I have been waiting a lifetime for, so I am taking all my fears and going
ahead anyway. Thanks again, everyone, for all your support!
— Mariposa
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