It is not hard at all. To find companies that will do this in your area just google how to order your own bloodwork. I know others who do this and we all use different companies. Some of them require a doctor's order. Some don't. And there are others who will have their doctor issue the order.

If you have insurance verify if and what they will pay before you go this route. Don't give yourself a huge bill to pay unless you have no choice! I learned how to do this because I had no insurance for about 10 years!

This just shows how different we all are. I've got a 100 cm CC and I've always had issues with certain levels and staying in the normal range (iron/ferritin, D, calcium/PTH). I take lots of vitamins 3 times a day.

Most people on the planet are D deficient. It's just a fact.

I had surgery almost 20 years ago now and I have never had an infusion or been low on anything. I take a small handful of supplements twice a day. Morning and evening. It's not a big deal at all. I do my labs myself and make my own decisions on what to take and how much. I stay active and informed. I learn from others.

Are you talking about a standard 2 anastomosis DS? Your CC will be about 100cm? You might have to work at it a bit but it's doable. If you are talking about a hybrid procedure like SADI/SIPS, the CC is longer so it is easier to manage the malabsorbtion. But... You need to know you are sacrificing some of the power of the procedure for easier maintenance.

Me personally, standard DS and my CC is 75cm. I wi**** was shorter.

My doctor wants me to try Prolia. Glad to hear about the little side effects.

With the DS you WILL have to take vitamins. Whether you develop deficiencies is another story. Everyone is different. Every surgery is different because every surgeon is different. Some of us have more issues than others. The key having the DS in my opinion is being proactive. You need to understand how your new insides work. You have to start with a good list of supplements. Make sure you're monitoring the right labs - when I get labs done once a year they take anywhere from 15-20 tubes of blood. Over the years my surgeon has developed a great set of labs and I have a wonderful primary doctor that works with me to make sure I stay healthy.

I had my DS 17 years ago. I'm now 63 so I am dealing with osteoporosis. Combination of heredity, age and the DS. I have always had issues with my iron and ferritin levels (I simply don't absorb oral iron) so I have managed that with infusions (and having a great hematologist). I take large doses of D3 (150k per day) so my levels are in the normal (low) range. All my other labs are good because I manage them - I take my vitamins religiously. Get them checked every year and adjust accordingly.

With all of this, the DS was the best decision I ever made.