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Good luck on Monday! I would have preferred the Single/Loop versus the standard DS, but my health coverage does not cover that surgery yet. However, I think with a 200cm cc versus the usual 100-150, it'll definitely be beneficial. I've heard of people pushing to get as short as a 50cm cc....which IMHO is drastic. Best of luck on your journey!
on 7/8/22 4:24 am
Hi there!
I'm still pre op but will be getting the SADI/SIPS/loop switch in a week. My pre op appointment is Monday, and I'll get to ask more questions there.
However, my manual says this clinic measures out 300cm, so I'm assuming that means I'll have a common channel of that length. Since half the point of the loop switch is a longer common channel to stave off the deficiencies that were much more common with the traditional DS, this makes sense to me.
I'm with you - super worried about the possibility of deficiencies across the board. That, and the fewer complications, are a couple of the reasons I opted for the loop switch over the traditional DS.
Guess I'll know more on Monday. Happy to talk about this, though! Cheers!
So I had my lap-band removed in March 2022, after 14 years, and surgury went very well. Recovery was a little painful for about one week because they have to excise the band out from the encapsulation. Surgeon said that there was no injury to the esophagus or stomach. Followup was perfect with no complications.
As I was considering revision surgery with my doctor...who is very experienced in all WLS, he suggested a DS versus just VSG for long term success, and I agree. However my concerns were long term malnutrition of nutrients and proteins due to malabsorption and being a lightweight with only a 37BMI, and many loose bowel movements per day that would affect quality of life. (I do understand the importance of protein and the vitamin protocols....so that's not an issue fo me. I will adhere to it.)
After much research and discussion with my doctor we concluded a common channel off 200cm would be best for my particular situation. Less concern about malabsorption, less loose bowel movements, same maximum weight loss as a standard or Hess DS surgery, but with a bit more chance of regain, (which I'm ok with that risk. I'm confident I will still get better long term results than VSG).
For me....I think the trade off of a little possible regain versus the higher risks of malnutrition complications is worth it for me. Even standard DS has some regain according to studies. Plus the outcome will still be much better than VSG alone....which has even more regain. Its not discussed to often but the trend is to make the cc longer now because of all of the things I mentioned. So that's where I stand right now....
So I guess what this little rant is about.... is.... finding out if anyone has any first hand knowledge of having a longer cc......150, 200, I;ve even heard for 230. I'd love to hear your experience.
I too had the DS in 2007 and I was feeling so crappy, turns out my ferritin was at 4 when they tested, I now get infusions when it drops too low. The only advice I have is to get in and have the infusions. I tried Proferrin and Hemaplex (but they do slow the time between infusions).
CW~175
GW~135
93 pounds gone forever!
DS with Dr Marchesini 1/18/07 in Curitiba, Brazil
Revision from VBG
Set a goal of one pound per week for example
Set a goal of one pound per week for example
While I agree with your that we learn more than most PCPs about WLS and the DS in particular, choice of PCP can make a substantial difference as some can be anti-WLS while others are quite supportive. Our PCP was pushing my wife for quite some time to look into WLS as with a 665ish BMI she seriously needed intervention, she knew that the default of the day RNY wasn't going to do it for her; once she learned about and researched the DS, that made a lot more sense, and the doc was supportive of that decision, though his knowledge of it was even more marginal than of the RNY. And he continued to be supportive through all the many post op years with ordering the labs, etc.(gee, none of my other WLS patients get this kind of post op support!)
I would agree with checking with Roslin, as if you can find a PCP that has other DS patients, that is another positive toward getting referrals to other DS knowledgeable specialists down the road (like endocrinologists or gastros.)
1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)
Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin
I just found this, and I'm so happy! Did it work out for you? I'm going to try it with my doctor my Ferritin is at 5.
