DO YOU REGRET YOUR DUODENAL SWITCH??

Please be completely honest. I feel compelled to ask because I am a young woman (under 30) with no co-morbidities and a BMI of 40.....no other reason to get surgery other than to get my weight down and be thinner (& hopefully avoid future problems caused by excess weight). Has anyone's life been so severly restricted/compromised/ complicated by DS that they wouln't do it if they could start over again??? Also, I am wondering how many of you have had a sucessful pregnancy following DS?? (I have 2 beautiful kids already but might want more in a few years) THANK YOU, Violet

Pre-Op, I was "mostly healthy" with co-morbidities that were more blood test related, and not so noticeable in 'real life'. I had high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease. Hypothyroid, and a mother who had goiter. I took my medications and lived my life.

At 39, I was a BMI slightly over 50. My high weight was 277. My surgery weight was about 261. While being thinner was a definite motivator towards having the DS, a secondary one (and very important to me) was avoiding the co-morbidities that were only a matter of time. My father died at 68 from heart disease only six weeks after my surgery. He had triple bypass surgery in his early 50's, and it gave him another 15 years. I was 39 - I wanted MORE than 15 years to look forward to, and with triglycerides of 650, I wasn't so sure I had them in the bank.

With the DS, I lost over 100lbs. On a 'fat' day, I'm a size 10, and on a skinny one, I can slip into a pair of (skin-tight) size 4 jeans. My triglycerides are under 100 without medication.

The compromises & complications that I have experienced are these:

1) I take more pills daily than your average senior citizen, most of which are OTC and therefore NOT covered by insurance. My monthly cost for vitamins & supplements are about $100/mo.

2) I take both Flagyl & probiotics to reduce the amount & toxicity of my gas. I still have it, but it's no worse than a normal person whose never had surgery, because of the things I take.

3) I have developed hypoglycemia, and have had blood sugar levels in the 30's a couple of times. (Normal is around 100, and people pass out & die when it's in the teens).

Because of this, I keep a case of OJ in the trunk of my car that doesn't require refrigeration, and eat a lot of candy. I also have a blood sugar monitor & regularly take measurements. Since I started having hypoglycemic episodes, I have put on 5-7 lbs probably related to the 'pro-active eating' I do when I'm NOT hungry, but am concerned about how long it's been since the last time I ate.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! Despite the fact that I traded one co-morbidity (high cholesterol) for another (hypoglycemia), I feel that I am in MUCH better health and have more control over it. I walk, run, rock climb, ride a motorcycle (my own - not as a passenger), go go-karting, ride a bike, and hike. I wouldn't trade that for the world.

Yes, I take a lot of pills, but I surrendered to that before I committed to surgery. I take over 20 pills a day. It's occasionally annoying, but it's a small price to pay. My regimine is determined by my blood work, and I do what it takes to be healthy.

Tonight for dinner, I had a pound of peel & eat shrimp with ****tail sauce (mixed with horseradish), a cup of clam chowder, and a little bit of bread. I washed it down with several glasses of iced tea, and a little bit of Merlot. Tomorrow, I'm planning to do Dim Sum with my brother, go climb an 80' rock, and then meet up for 9-Ball League. If the weather stays clear, I may go for a ride on the motorcycle as well.

So while yes I do have some restrictions (required to get in a certain amount of protein, take vitamins, get bloodwork, get exercise, keep my blood sugar steady), it doesn't interfere with my life. It's just *part* of my life, and I keep it that way.

--BT

I did not have any comorbidies and was also under 30. My bmi was 48.  I love my DS. I have no bathroom issues.  I do take a lot of vitamins (i took none before so that took time to get used to).  Having children is fine as long as you wait after the weight loss window (18-24 months), have normal labs, and r eating your protein/taking ur vitamins.  Ive gone from 346 to 156.  That is -190 pounds.  I feel great!

No, never!

Has anyone's life been so severly restricted/compromised/ complicated by DS that they wouln't do it if they could start over again??? With the DS, postop life has been very beautiful and will say, peaceful to live with that is worry free. I did had a very rough experience with my 1 year postop. After my 12th month postop, it has been very good and comfortable living with the DS. I do not regret it one bit because eating and living has been as though I never had DS or any bariatric surgery. There has been no need to compromise and have not had complications due to having the DS. The only restriction is unable to drink carbonated drinks, certain sugar substitutes and have to avoid sugar alcohols. Those 3 things are not drastic and maybe when further out, I will be able to consume it, if I choose. Regarding food, nothing has been off limits to me or affects me now. I am able to tolerate any type of lactose products and white carbs (flour) with no effects. I do keep my simple carbs low. My carbs I range from 50-150 daily and there are times, I go as high as 200gm or a bit more. At that level, it does not cause me any weight gain either. Personally, all I focus on is my protein amount for day, not my calories, fat or carb intake, unless I log it to an online food journal.

Although I love being thin, life has not been easy since my surgery. I have been reading many posts from so many people and notice similarities and differences in the experience. Some have had no problems, others many. I am one of the others. I will give you this advice, life will never be easy after surgery. You must take your supplements or suffer anemia, low iron, depression, weakness. I went off the supplements thinking they were causing my stomach problems and bathroom issues. But then I got really thin and weak, stopped getting a period and lost hair. Had to take two months off work to regain weight and strength. I still battle with the low blood. If you eat the wrong thing, you will suffer a day of living in the bathroom. This is tiring and difficult for work. Before you consider surgery, try every form of diet you can and try to be strict with yourself. Join a weightloss group for support. The surgery works but it is a life long diet which is what I thought I would be avoiding. Now I diet to feel healthy not to lose weight. It is much harder.

     This only adds to the point of how important it is that you keep up on your supplements and water. Of course life is going to be hell if you quit taking them. Your body needs those things to survive.    I did quit taking the Iron supplements because they hurt my stomach. I had very bad consipation, stomach cramps, hemorrhoids, etc..  This wasn't due to the DS. I've been anemic every since my youngest daughter was born. Now that I've had the DS and it's been drilled into my head how badly we need our supplements, I'm supplementing my Iron again... just not with pills. I will never put my body through the hell of taking an Iron supplement pill again. What I have to do is make sure that I eat a LOT of red meat to keep my Iron levels up. It seems to be working since I'm not anemic anymore according to my doctor.   As for living on a diet for the rest of your life.... this is the only diet I've ever been on that I have to ADD foods into, rather than restrict foods out of. I'd much rather live knowing I have to eat a steak tomorrow to get in my protein than watch every little calorie I put in my mouth. The only thing we really have to worry about is sugar and carbs (some people, not all), and that's not even very difficult. Nor do our bodies punish us with severe pain and "dumping" if we do indulge now and then.

... I went off the supplements thinking they were causing my stomach problems and bathroom issues. But then I got really thin and weak, stopped getting a period and lost hair....  from your profile: .... I was off work for two months this fall due to malnutrition and depression. I didn't keep up with my vitamins nor eat properly. Hello there. I just wanted to say for anyone out there that with any WLS that has malabsorption and restricton, a MUST is not to abandon your vitamins and/or supplements. Also, you MUST focus on your protein intake and know which food has the most protein value. Another is having fluid intake to be at least 64 oz to prevent dehydration, constipation, fatigue and homeostatic imbalances. It is very important to be in compliance when you sign up to have the DS and even for the RNY. It is also crucial to have a good communication level with your DS surgeon and keep tabs with what is happening. If a postop has stomach and/or bathroom issues, it is the responsibilty of the postop to let their surgeon know, to be assess and diagnose to provide proper treatment, sometimes it take more than 1 solution. Also, there are certain food that can cause a DSer to have stomach problems and bathroom issues, such as simple carbs or food intolerance. The only way to determine what is happening is to have a medical doctor check you out throughly, test you out to rule out certain conditions and work out a solution. I had stomach problems during my 1st year and with my surgeon closely worked out the issues. You stated in your profile you have lots of gas and bowel issues. Asking about this here, you will get a lot of live testimonials feedback, input to what worked for them and even help you pinpoint and determine what is causing it for you by asking you certain questions. I personally know, I cannot have any carbonated drinks, sugar subsititutes that have asparatame, saccharine, neotame and can't tolerate sugar alcohols. I had a difficult time and experiemented with various brands of vitamins and supplements before I was able to settle with what worked with me. Iron pills, I had to sort to chewable carbonyl. Regarding protein, I could not get all my protein from food. I have to use protein supplements for life. I have gone through over 20 different protein powders, bar and other supplements, until I found what I can deal and tolerate on a daily basis.  One advice I tell anyone who considers having the DS (and this goes for any RnY as well)  * Do not take your vitamins/supplements daily or abandon it, you will get very sick, have organ issues (including intestinal) that may lead to organ failure.  * Do not take your protein, you will develop wasting, suffer from malnutrition, anemia, weakness, and other ailments.  * Do not have your bloodwork taken periodically, you will not know how you are actually doing within and the action needed to help improve your health. My best to you in your continued journey to better health and life.

I learned my lesson the hard way. I am in constant contact with my family doctor. My surgeon has retired and I did not feel comfortable with him anyway. But I do go for iron injections weekly now. I take my supplements and am slowly gaining strength. I appreciate all the advice I have received here. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret the surgery, but I wanted to be honest with newbies and say that sometimes the difficulties do not happen right away. My trouble didn't begin until four years post op. I did suffer from infection after the hernia repair and tummy tuck as well as infection and c-diff after the original surgery. But the weakness and depression came later. I am still trying to pin point which foods cause me trouble and what supplements work best. I now take chewable vitamins so they absorb better. I think I have another hernia and am going to a specialist on Thursday. I love my new body and the benefits that some with being thin. Please don't think I am a totally negative person. I am normally very positive. I am a high school teacher and preach positiveness to my students.

I for one, absolutely love my DS.    I just told my surgeon, after again going under the knife for a post-op complication of an internal hernia, that I'd STILL do it once a year just to be thin and have all my comorbidities gone. In reading the various responses to your post, I notice a big difference in perception and attitudes about the DS.    Where some respondees, like myself, consider it merely a responsibility or obligation to take a handful of vitamins every day, or to think about protein every day, others consider it to be a difficult thing.    To me, difficult would be having to live life in a wheelchair because I am an amputee from uncontrolled diabetes, or to be dealing with upcoming knee surgery because of osteoarthritis due to high weight.  That's difficult.  Taking your vitamins, keeping up on your labs, watching your white flours, to me, is not difficult.     I feel privileged to have been able to have this surgery - to have access to surgeons who perform the DS, and to have such excellent follow-up care available less than two hours from my home,    I have had a couple of issues - I am dealing with anemia and have had a reaction to my iron infusions.   I am scheduled to undergo another one under very cautious control tomorrow.   My D level is in the basement, but I am working to get it up.   The hernia - eh - it got me a new prescription for Lortab, LOL    All minor glitches in the road as far as I'm concerned. I love my DS life for sure.