Lap band vs. the Switch

I never do anything 1/2 way.  I am known by my GP to be one of the most informed patient's he has.  :)  I always do extensive research whether it is surgery or just a medication.   RayJean thanks for your input as well.  I am very much leaning toward the DS, basically because of the amount of weight I need to lose as well as the fact that it seems more appropriate for my lifestyle and diet habbits   I'm thrilled that the band has worked for you all!  It just doesn't seem to be what will work for me.   But I do suggest that EVERYONE, read up on ALL forms of WLS BEFORE making their final decission,  I didn't even know that DS was out there until Dr. Sudan talked about it.   Laurie PS, Mona, Dr. Sudan does DS through lap surgery, so it really isn't any more risky via that way than the band.  The higher risks lay in the fact that most of those who have the DS surgery  are SMO rather than MO and that makes them high risk in and of itself. 

Hi Laurie,

I like you was "convinced" I had to have a band. I called a friend who I thought had a band but was told she actually had a DS and so my investigation started. Needless to say I am scheduled for DS surgery on October 3rd.

Since January I have been pouring over as much medical literature and people experience as possible to make a well informed decision. I created a list of pro's and con's and for me the DS outweighted the band or RNY.

The DS board is a wonderful source of information as is the band board and the RNY board. The DS is a more drastic surgery (the stomach is removed and the intestines are "rerouted" more than that of an RNY), but it also appears to have the least number of people looking for revisions and it has (by documented medical research) the highest percentage of weight loss AND the lowest amount of regain.

For myself, I did not get to where I am needing WLS due to my diciplined, structured eating habits, and I do not want to have more than one surgery, (I have a LOT of other reasons, but do not want to be crucified for them, so I will keep them to myself). Another reason I want a DS is so that I will be able to eat normal meals/portions with my family and not be on a "diet" for the rest of my life (been there done that, didn't work). Yes, the DS'ers have been criticized for "having their cake and eating it too".....is that really so bad? Mind you this is just my opinion, I have decided (and I am scheduled) to have a DS, for me it is the only way to go. I am also very glad to know that you will fully educate yourself and make a well informed decision prior to surgery. If you have any other questions please feel free to PM me and I will do the best I can to answer them or direct you to a long term DS'er.

I am going to Dr. Anthone, but I have heard Dr. Sudan is wonderful too. Good luck with your journey.

Hi Laurie, hey, lucky you that you live right near a surgeon who does the DS! Please feel free to look at my profile, where I've gone into quite a bit of detail about my procedure and how things have gone since then, and please do come pay us a visit on the DS board. There's a lot of misinformation and downright fiction floating around, so it's really important to do your research.  There's an OH member, Anne S. from WA, *****cently had the DS. If you look at her profile, she has a whole pile of bookmarks to various medical articles and studies about the DS. http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/zeebs/

Laurie, I'm pre op so I'm not an expert but I am going to my surgical consult next month.  I began wanting the lap band, then the RNY and finally by accident I learned of the DS.  It sounded too good to be true to me.   Some of the reasons I chose the DS are the ability to take anti-inflamatory drugs without fear of an ulcer; I will continue to have a fully functioning stomach although much smaller than I have now: the highest rate of complete elimination of comorbidities in most patients; & ability to eat most foods except carbs and sugar.  With that said, many people are able to eat carbs and sugar early on, some never and some after a while out from surgery.  Yes, you do have to take supplements for the rest of your life.  That doesn't seem like a bad trade off for all the expensive medication I take now.  Protien and plenty of water are the first orders of business with a DS.  I am a meat eater and just about all the people I have heard from enjoy steak and other goodies I like.  Not a lot of steak but there is no stoma for to get hung in. Please come on over to the DS forum and ask all the questions you like.  There are no stupid questions and we answer any question about flatulence and bowel movements.  By the way, the issues with gas and diarreha are highly exgerated.  If you know what causes you to have gas and loose stools then don't eat it.  It's just hat simple.  Or if you have to have that donut, just make sure you are at home.  LOL  It isn't as bad as it is stated in some medical literature and there are many internal deoderizers that take take of those problems.  I personally think the DS allows you to be very normal in your eating as long as you get your protien in first, take your supplements and drink plenty of water. I wish you the very best on your research.  This is going to be one of the most important decisions you make.   Betty

Laurie, I am one of Dr Sudans patients as well. I am still preop. For 10 more days anyway!! Betty said it all above these are the reasons I chose the DS and I think many others will agree. I also am not a big fan of surgery LOL so I only want to do this once. If you do some research you will find out there are a staggering number of revisions to the DS from other failed WLS. I am by no means saying that one WLS is better than the other but please do some research and don't listen to this mis information. Pm if you want to talk more about this. I can pm you my phone #

Good luck In your Journey you are in good hand's Dr Sudan is awesome and his nurse Charity Rocks!!

Jordan 

Hi Laurie.  Thank goodness someone pointed the DS board folks over here to help you out.  Yes, it really is less limiting than the other procedures on the whole "Can't eat this - can't eat that".  I'm nearly 2 years out, and have found post-op living to be very easy. Side effects are grossly over exaggerated, too.  Common side effects are: Loose stools -- NOT diarrhea (unless you eat a lot of greasy food) -- controllable, no straining...a couple each day Bad Gas -- but this comes from eating simple carbs, steer clear of those and it's a non-issue. It works with restriction and malabsorption, and is statistically rated as offering the highest percentage of weight loss and lowest rate of regain.  Complications are rare, but can very serious when they occur.  There are complications with any procedure, some more common than others.   Please come join us on the DS forum to ask us more questions.  We're here to help.

My-oh-my, what a garden of misinformation grows around the DS.  Thank heavens you're not getting your feet stuck in that mud.   I'm very glad you've found the DS board.  You might also take a peek at duodenalswitch.com.  You'll find a lot of peer-reviewed articles by DS surgeons.  Of further interest is the forum on insurance issues and resolutions. The DS is no longer considered experimental.  I'm 3+ years post-DS and I've never had any complications, nor any weight regain.  I kept air freshener in my bathroom before the DS.  I also took daily vitamins, and calcium as I was peri- to post-menopause.   You definitely don't have to be SMO to merit, or qualify, for the DS.   There's a lot of phallic narcissism involved in WLS advocates.   Be careful of hearsay.  Continue to do really indepth research.  With due diligence you'll make the wisest decision.   

Hi Laurie,  (great name, btw!)         I flew to OMAHA, yes Omaha, from Los Angeles to have  my DS with Dr. Anthone there in Omaha.  Had a really pleasant experience in Omaha ... the people there are great!  Since we came from out of town, several of Dr. Anthone's patients visited me at Omaha Methodist.  Midwestern hospitality at it's best.  So ... sounds like you want a less complicated life as a post op? I can testify that you will have the MOST NORMAL post op quality of life after the DS.  I can go out with others to a meal and they never have to know I've had wls.  With the DS, you can eat meat without chewing it to mush, never have to worry about food getting "stuck" in a lapband, stricture or narrowed stoma, and never have to worry about dumping.  I eat REAL food, just in smaller quantities.   Of course, because of the malabsorption, you must be diligent with your vitamin supplements and yearly follow ups (every couple months as a newbie post op).   Anthone prescribed me a prescription prenatal, plus calcium CITRATE and dry vitamin D daily.   That's it. Dr. Anthone ordered me "real food"  my last 3 days in the hospital.  Of course it was bland and tasteless, but I got ground meat patties nontheless (along with other soft type foods).  Stopped at Arby's (and ate some meat out of a junior beef sandwich) on the way to the airport 7 days after surgery.  I was eating chicken parmiagiana, shrimp and filet mignon within 2 weeks.  (Now I don't know if Sudan uses the valtrac ring - Anthone does NOT- so your diet early post op might be slightly different) Because of the malabsorption of the DS, I never have to diet again.  I lost just about 100 lbs and then bounced back up about 10 pounds.  No matter what I eat I bounce around the same 3-4 lbs.  You cannot break a DS.  No more diets, baby!!! If ya wanna see some So Calif DSers having fun EATING, email me and I'll send you links to photos of our gatherings ...   Best of luck, and come visit us over on the DS board. Laurie