DS or VSG

I had my first appointment at MMPC in Grand Rapids with Dr. Gawel.  I have a BMI of 40 along with Sleep apnea and possible GERD, due to constant heartburn.  I am a candidate for sugery.  My question is, when the doctor asked me what type of surgery I was interested in,  I told her I was interested in the DS.  She seem surprised.  I think she was thinking the  VSG would be best.  I did the research prior to going in there so I know all about the gas and the vitamins for life.  I already have to take vitamins for my bones so all that's left is the gas.  Seems like the doctor that host the orientation also talk the DS down.  Has anyone else experience this? The thing that sold me about the DS is the percentage of people that kept the weight off long term.  Has anyone had the DS with MMPC of Grand Rapids on this forum?

Tammi -

From my research the DS is usually done on folks who have a BMI of 50 or higher.  Many times (from my own person observation) when someone with a lower BMI they risk going to "underweight" status and struggle to keep enough weight on to be healthy.  And because you are being bypassed so much, the risk for malnutrition is much greater.  I have a friend who had the DS and saw her pill box once... holy cow! ... we're talking about 20-30 pills per day.  

The VSG is the first part of the DS ... just the stomach size reduction, not the bypass.  Did you want a restriction-only surgery?

As for GERD.  My understanding is that the best option for curing this is the RNY.  With both the DS and the VSG you will still have production of stomach acid, but with RNY the pouch no longer produced acid, therefore curing about 96% of people with GERD.

I'm not trying to talk you into or out of any one surgery.  It just sounds like you need to give it some more thought.  Have you bought the book "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies?"  It's a great book that gives an unbiased viewpoint of every type of surgery with it's pros and cons of each.   Plus it walks you through every other step you'll have to make in the whole process. it's a great resource.

Good luck with your decision.
Pam

There are boards here on OH specifially on those procedures that deal directly to your questions.
I understand that if one of the DS people recruits you then they get a toaster.
Be aware that any place outside of this board that you ask a question about one surgery over another or who's cutter is best there will probably be a fight.
There is also quixoticwls.org for info.
The best thing obviously, is no surgery at all if you can do that but that is your decision.

Good luck.
kp

Hi Tammi! At what point in the process are you? Do you still have to do a supervised diet? The reason I ask is that I had the DS 3 weeks ago. I am a lightweight w/no comorbities. I'm still early out, but thought that if you have a few weeks or months, you can follow me in my journey. I've been so weak & jittery since surgery. I've lost 30 lbs already but could care less if I lose anymore if I could just feel normal again. I think I'm going thru "buyers remorse" right now. Please remember that MMPC dieticians do NOT educate you on eating or the vitamin regime w/the DS, so you have to figure it out by what other DS'ers are doing. Dr Foote certainly knows, so I don't know why the dieticians aren't educated to help us. You can change your mind about which surgery you've chosen right up until you're wheeled into surgery. Dr Foote is my surgeon. He does the sleeve very tight-& that includes w/the DS. I just got out of the hospital because I needed mine stretched already. Dr Kemmeter doesn't make them so tight(I didn't know this before surgery).
They're both great surgeries just make sure you're 100%. You're more than welcome to pm me at any time. I'm not on much right now because I'm really weak & tired & just don't have the patience to sit at the computer but I will get back to you.

Lisa

  Thanks everyone for responding to my questions.  I did purchase the book,  Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies.  After reading the comments left,  I have doubts.  I plan on getting more educated about the surgeries before I have my mind set on DS.  You all have giving me something to think about.  THANK - YOU!

Hi Lisa,

I'm still in Guatemala for a few more days, and got the chance to get on the computer.  I was glad to see an update on you -- and IT IS COMPLETELY NORMAL considering where you are in the process.  Just trust, girl, it gets so much better you almost forget the first 2 months.  I was in the hospital for 7 days, had some minor but painful complications, and was so certain that I made the biggest mistake of my life for the first 2 months.  I was exhausted, couldn't eat and was still craving things -- and then before I knew it, life was completely back to normal.

I'll be back on the DS board more in a week or so, so please lean on your friends for support.  The beginning is so rough, and the tide turns at different times for different people, but it does turn.

I'm sitting in a gorgeous courtyard of a Spanish colonial mansion, enjoying the sun, greenery & flowers, and the sound of the fountain -- eating a four cheese pizza with mushrooms, and that is after a LARGE breakfast.  I'll have a great dinner later, also.  I have done things in the last month that I simply couldn't have at 370# -- kayaking for hours, riding a horse for 3 hours to a remote beach, hiking up steep volcanoes, and hiking through the tropical rain forest (yes, the heat & humidity of that area STILL sucks no matter what weight!).  I have more energy than I have had in over 20 years.  All this at only 8 months out!  Keep the faith!

Talk with you soon,
Kimberley

 Well I get no toaster nor do I take 20 pills a day and my gas issues are the same issues prior to WLS(none) and I have normal BM's once a day. You will more then likely though get more info on the DS forums or check out www.duodenalswitch.com 

I also had my DS with MMPC, Dr. Kemmeter. I couldn't be happier with my decision. Before he was a bariatric surgeon, Dr. Kemmeter was a trauma surgeon.. so he has seen it all. I started out with wanting Dr. Foote to do my surgery since that was who did my orientation, but his schedule did not work with mine as far as appointments, etc. I knew a couple people who had had surgery with Dr. Kemmeter, so I switched over to him.. and it's been great! Other posters have been correct about needing to educate yourself about the nutritional aspect of things. They are definitely geared more toward RNY since that is the majority of their practice. Also, their recommended vitamin regimen is not really as much as DSers need.. especially with vitamin D and calcium recommendations. They recommend only about 1,000 IU of D per day.. I take 50,000 DRY IU. I don't want to chance using a water soluble vitamin, so all of mine are dry. They also recommend 2 calcium pills twice a day - I take 2 pills 4 times a day and supplement every other day with UpCal D. I am due for my 3-month followup at the beginning of September, and I will get lab work done then so I can see how things are going. MMPC is a Center of Excellence.. so you are in good hands with all of the surgeons there. I am partial to Dr. Kemmeter, of course, but I know people who have had their surgeries with Dr. Foote and Dr. Baker who are equally as happy with their progress and outcomes. As far as being a lightweight, as you can see from my ticker, I don't have experience with that. There are quite a few people on the DS forum who are right around a BMI of 40 though who have been happy with the DS as well. Good luck with your choice... it definitely deserves a lot of thought!

I too struggled with that decision. Unfortunately my insurance company will not cover the VSG, so I will be going the route of the DS. Who is your actual surgeon at MMPC? I see Dr. Foote and he was fine with either one.