DO YOU REGRET YOUR DUODENAL SWITCH??

No complications here and not one regret! Gina

Violey, in a word NO!! I have not regretted my surgery once. My only regret is that I waited so long to have it. I met a lady about12 or 15 yrs ago who was one of Dr L's patient's here in Michigan. After seeing her progress I knew this procedure was for me. However I was a single mom and my kids begged me no tto have surgery for fear of my dying . At that time there was a lot of negative press about WLS.. So I waited. Like others who have posted I had no real health issues but was getting closer all the time as my weight continued to go up & down. Each time I lost I would regain it and more. By the time I had my surgery I was on high BP meds but nothing else.  I hated how I looked and also wanted to be active again.  By then my insurance would not cover it and I was so ready to have it that I would (to steal someone else's statement..) " have crawled over glass to get it done."  SO I went to Dr. M in Brazil.. Are there hassles at times? Yes. I am not as compliant at times and over due the carbs which causes bathroom issues. Since I live alone it is only an issue when I go somewhere.  Taking the supplements can get tiresome but all I need to do is come here and read about the issues others who don't take them have (but sometimes they do and still have issues. .Why?? Each of us is different) it helps me stay on track. Plus like it was all ready said, I knew and committed to this before I had the surgery. I think I have forgotten to take my vits etc only twice..In these post op years all my labs have been normal. (I I am close to being 3 yrs post-op)  Do I get bored trying to hit to 90 gms of protient every day? You bet. But cooking for one was a challenge even before the surgery so that is no change.   I would urge you to get connected and STAY connected with a local DS support group.  That for me is a tremedous help. I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which is a completely different type of arthritis from osteo.. Osteo can be a a side effect of non-compliance and low D vitamin or even for those who are compliant it can be an issue. . So is my RA a side affect of my DS??? So far no one seems to think so. Stress triggers it and I have had a chock full of stress this past year with changing jobs twice and taking a huge pay cut while trying to keep my house in this awful Michigan economy.   Good luck in your decision. Learn all you can about all the procedures and physicians. Also visit the memorial page. This and ALL surgical procedures have their possible complications. It is up to you to decide which you are willing to live with. Are you wanting to have a lifetime of knowing your co-morbidities will eventially catch up to you, deal with discrimination against fat people (yes it exists even if it isn't spoken about freely by most) and that self loathing that comes with looking or not looking in the mirror??? Or do you want to for once not stand out in the crowd? Be able to no longer shop at Omar the tent maker for all your clothes, fit in all chairs, be able to do any physical activity your heart desires? Have people treat you with dignity?? For me,  after years of diets and excuses.. I finally choose the latter. But it is indeed a process and not one to rush into.   We are all here for you and will support you in whatever you choose to do.

Hjack - Patt - what a great post! Sorry to hear about your RA though.    What's the plan of action for you?

Hi Julie, You go girl! Enjoy  the attention you are receiving from all the guys!! This RA has really been an eye opener for me.  I was without health insurance when it first hit (Beginning of April) and it hit me suddenly & hard; It moved all over the place, fingers, wrists, feet, neck & shoulders Felt like I was being invaded by space aliens in my body..  LOL Due to the lack on health insurance I had to wait until after May 1st to see a doc.  Had to go to my PC first, have blood work etc and then be referred to the specialist so it took nearly 7 weeks to get some relief. Thus my treatment is in it's infancy To get  the inflammation under control the rheumtologist put me on prednisone 5mgs twice a day for a week and now in the 2nd week I cut back to one per day. It has helped tremendously with the inlfamation. I can again do those little things such as open the refrigerator, start my car with one hand, make a fist, walk pain free etc. After the prednisone I guess the doc will prescribe something for the long term but I have to wait and see what he says when I call him later this week. All I can say is after one week I am thankful for prednisone. And yes I know all its side effects etc  (for those of you who are about to tell me such info..) but for now my life is again just that, my life and not being given to sleepless nights and pain. So I'll take it.. and 800 mgs Ibuprofen every 3 to 4 hours) which is also my new best friend (wink)

I was 33 and didn't have any comorbids. My PCP knew how bad I wanted the surgery so he and sat down and brainstormed and re-worded some of the things I'd visited him for in the past so they'd look like comorbids. That was fun.  My BMI was 45. My BMI now is 23.7. I feel great and don't have any major issues. I had a gas problem for a while, but now I take Flagyl 3x a week and everything is fine. I don't have any regrets at all.

No regrets here.  I had the surgery so I could be normal and I am.  I take the supplements seriously and I've probably missed 10 doses in 5 years.  I get all my protein in 19 days out of 20.  I run, fly, and play just like everyone else. If someone was to give me a do over, I would have had it done much sooner.  Like when I was 18 or so.  I probably would have had a lot less loose skin too.  I haven't had any real problems other than I keep on trying to lose more weight.  But most women are always trying to lose weight so I came out normal in that department too. Good luck!

I actually get this question a lot.  I'm one of the few that has had to deal with complications, and while I don't like the fact that I've had an ongoing leak, I don't regret my DS.  I was 37 when I had my surgery, and I was about the healthiest fat person with a 56 BMI that you'd ever meet.  I didn't have diabetes or high blood pressure, but at 376 pounds, and pushing 40, I knew it was only a matter of time.  I'm 17 months out, and I've lost 160 pounds.  I've lost about 84% of my extra weight so far, and I hope to lose at least another 17-35 pounds before I call goal.  If you're interested, read my profile for all of the gory details.  And I guess to make up for the fact that I have had a drain all this time, I have NO issues with anything else.  I poop 2 or 3 times in the morning and sometimes 1 time at night.  I don't think it smells any worse than it did before, but I keep air freshener in the bathroom anyway.  I can eat just about anything, including carbs (not a good thing), without any gas or diarrhea issues.  My labs are really pretty good, though I'm adding more D to my vitamins.  I tended towards anemia as a pre-op, and now my iron is great.  I'm having a pretty easy time of it.  :) I will tell you something that I don't bring up very often.   Many times when I post about my ongoing issues with my leak, people comment on how positive I am or how strong I am.  I don't know how strong I am, but I am pretty much a total Pollyanna.  I am very much a glass half full person, and I just keep plugging along because I don't know what else I would do.  I suppose I could sit in a chair and bemoan the fact that I still have a drain and everyone else doesn't, but what would that accomplish?  Even with my complication and drain, I go to work every day (well, not now because I'm on summer vacation), I take my vitamins, I eat fantastically well, I go places, I do things, I'm living so much more than I was before because now I CAN.  So I suppose what I'm saying is that if you believe you will have regrets about this surgery, you probably will.  You'll probably find things to hate about it.  If you believe this is a great chance to help you change your life, that's probably what you'll find. 

Stacie- I just have to say that I love your last paragraph!!  I totally agree that attitude will make or break people's experiences with this surgery  (or anything else in life for that matter!).

You are an inspiration, Stacie!  Great post.

my only regret is that I didn't do this sooner