I LOVE THIS PLACE! After spending countless hours reading and rereading so many wonderful profiles, I wanted to somehow give something back. I hope that my profile might encourage those who are searching for their own answers in the same way that I was encouraged. I will endeavor to keep my profile updated with regular posts.

I’ve struggled with my weight since I was about 15 years old. Looking back at pictures of myself then… I wonder how I could have been so miserable. I looked perfectly normal. But I was quite miserable. I dreamed of having thin, athletic thighs – not the full, meaty ones I had. Over the last 30 years I have dieted myself to being over 100 pounds overweight! (If you do the math, I’m 45.) With each new miracle diet “success”, I eventually ended up even bigger than before I started. I was always looking for the perfect diet, the perfect pill, the perfect exercise. I have successfully dieted myself to over 250 pounds… sleep apnea, osteoarthritis – hip, knee, foot and back pain; stress incontinence; asthma, gastric reflux, hypertension and elevated cholesterol. Lovely. I have a whole new respect and empathy for those who are SMO. If I am this miserable as a MO person, how much more do others, dealing with even more weight have to suffer?

HOW MY JOURNEY BEGAN

How could I even consider WLS as an option?… Well, it was a strange comment that hit me out of the blue. I saw a woman at my local Curves and she told me, “Oh, I just had weight loss surgery and it’s fantastic! I’ve already lost 50#. You should look into it!”

WHAT? WHO ME???

You have got to be kidding!

That’s for REALLY fat people. (duh)

I was working so hard at getting back in shape and well, it was working again… but I was still quite heavy. BUT WLS? How could she even SAY that to me? When I told my best friend about this little conversation, I thought she’d say “That’s ridiculous.” But no, she didn’t say that. She didn’t say anything. Hmmm.

SWITCHING TO THE DS

When I first started researching WLS as an option, I only thought that there was two choices -- RNY or Band. I consider it a “blessing in disguise” that my insurance denied me for the RNY. It gave me more time to investigate WLS and I found that there is something much better out there -- something that will offer me a 'normal' life. I decided that the surgery I really want is the Duodenal Switch www.duodenalswitch.com . My primary motivation in having the DS is that the last thing I want is to have this surgery fail and end up fat again. I kept reading about people getting revisions, regaining lots – if not ALL of their weight -- lap bands that fail, RNY's that people 'out eat', and end up having to redo! Many of these stories led me to the ‘revision’ of choice for most – the DS. For me, this is my one-time shot. I don't want to have to go through this again. I understand that some people view this surgery as a more “drastic choice” with malabsorption consequences, etc. However, I don’t agree that this is a more extreme choice. It is more difficult to find a competent surgeon. A surgeon has to be willing to be educated, trained and experienced to perform this surgery. It is a more difficult surgery – but the lifestyle for the patient is so much better – I don’t see why anyone would view it as being extreme.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DS

Gastric Reduction Duodenal Switch - GRDS is a hybrid surgical procedure that has two aspects that reduce weight.

1. The smaller stomach size limits the amount of food that can be taken in to about 120-150cc (1/2-3/4C).
2. The small bowel is reattached in such a fashion as to keep the biliopancreatic juices away from the food until the last portion of the small bowel, enabling limited absorption of the food that is eaten. The hallmark of GRDS is the preservation of the pyloric valve. The pyloric valve is at the last portion of the stomach and acts as a gateway to the small bowel. The food product needs to be of the right chemical and mechanical consistency before the pyloric valve will allow the food product to progress into the small bowel.

MY OWN “WHY DS OVER RNY LIST”

1 – Ability to eat (not overeat) normally after a certain amount of time.
2 – The stomach is bigger and functions more normally. (Go to dinner with a post RNYer and a post DSer and the answer is clear!)
3 – Not having to chew my food to liquid mush before swallowing.
4 – No blind stomach – entire stomach can be scoped, if necessary.
5 – Pyloric valve stays intact.
6 – Entire digestive system is functioning and can – if necessary – be rebuilt; except for lower portion of stomach, which is removed.
7 – DS patients tend to lose a higher percentage of their excess weight. 80-90% excess weight loss – compared to 60-70%.
8 – DS patients keep off that higher portion of excess weight for a much longer time, 10 years +.

Another reason I choose the DS is that I have osteoarthritis and while my weight loss will improve my situation, it won't cure it -- I will STILL need some relief. People with an RNY have little pouch with little stomach acids. There are certain drugs that doctors call "pouch burners" and RNYers aren't allowed any of the NSAIDS.

DSers don't have to worry about NSAIDS. We still have the acids and pepsids and stuff to be able to process those things without causing our stomach to "burn". DSers have a stomach, an intact pyloric valve, and no stoma that goes straight from intestine to "pouch".

Here is the list... I snagged this list elsewhere, it may or may not be complete, but will give you an idea of all the meds that are "off limits" to RNYers.

Advil, Aleve, Amigesic, Anacin, Anaprox, Ansald, Anthra-G, Arthropan, Ascriptin, Aspirin, Asproject, Azolid, Bextra, Bufferin, Butazolidin, Celebrex, Clinorial, Darvon compounds, Disalcid, Dolobid, Erythromycin, Equagesic, Feldene, Fiorinal, Ibuprofin, Indocin, Ketoprofen, Lodine, Meclomen, Midol, Motrin, Nalfon, Naprosyn, Nayer, Orudis, Oruval, Pamprin-IB, Percodan, Ponstel, Rexolate, Tandearil, Tetracycline, Tolecin, Uracel, Vioxx (off market...not safe for anyone), Voltaren

I do not believe that the DS is the right surgery for every weight loss patient. I do believe that every WLS patient should be informed and know all their options before they make a decision. I’ve met RNY patients who have never even heard of the DS! I find that sad because it probably means that they don’t know enough about their own tool.

As with any weight loss surgery, the patient has to make a commitment to life-long health. I know that I’ll have to take supplements for the rest of my life. (For years I have taken a handful of pills every day, taking daily supplements for the rest of my life is a given; with or without the surgery.) Patients with the RNY also have malabsorption problems and take supplements. Everyone is different. I have talked to DS patients that don’t have problems and RNYers who do. Each person needs to decide what they can live with.... and what they can't.