for new people researching weight loss surgery

With any malabsorptive procedure, gas and bathroom issues can be nasty!  Make sure your friend knows that there are a number of different things she can try if it's bad.  Primarily, restricting carbs helps, milk can be an issue too (especially for new pre-ops), adding in a daily pro-biotics helps and then, my favorite, Flagyl.  I take it 3 times a week and have virtually NO gas and hardly any smell.  WAY less than pre-op even.   Let your friend know she has options!  (Send her to the OH DS Forum if she has internet access.)  

Thanks Lola. My friend (like me) is a health care professional and she is well aware of the dietary restrictions of her procedure...as I am with mine. She also loves her DS....her Mom had a RNY...they are very supportive of each other ......each chose the surgery that made the most sense to her and her surgeon and both look and feel really great...I am proud of them both.

I have only seen Flagyl used to treat certain microbial infections. It works great for those things but has some potentially very serious side effects. I would be curious to know how it fights gas other than by eliminating the normal flora in the bowel. If you have any info on that I's love to see it just for my own knowledge.  

 

"She also loves her DS....her Mom had a RNY...they are very supportive of each other ......each chose the surgery that made the most sense to her and her surgeon and both look and feel really great...I am proud of them both." See...there is HOPE! We can all get along! :-)  I love my RnY friends and I think they like me too! :-) Dianne from FL

I do have some info on Flagyl... I'll find it and PM it to you.  Many DSers have found the Flagyl to be a god-send.  It virtually eliminated ALL my gas issues, no matter how many or what type carbs I eat.

In a perfect world, this statement would be true: The decision to have surgery, let alone which surgery should be between the person wanting it and their Dr.
I really wi**** were true. In my journey, the local doctors (that do not offer any other type of surgery) did not even want to discuss other types. They were "selling" what they had to offer. Then, in my experience, they slammed other procedures...not just the DS, which I was asking about. It almost seems like insurance companies are running this country! The doctors were not interested in what was best for me, the patient, but what was best for their bottom line. Dianne from FL

You're right, there are more options than lap band, RNY, and DS.  I'm curious why you only listed comparisons between RNY and DS, therefore.  Could have been a real interesting (albeit very long) posting otherwise.  Your post makes it appear there really are only 2 options where you start comparing.  I'm 9 months postop RNY, and couldn't be happier with the decision I made for myself.   I made the decision for myself after evaluating ALL options and my own lifestyle.  It's the only one that would suit ME.  Right for ME, not everyone. I dump -- thank goodness.   I have eaten too fast twice in 9 months -- and I was reminded both times that I need to eat slower because it made me vomit -- thank goodness.  I hate to vomit.  Hated it preop and hate it postop.  Fortunately, as I said, it's only happened to me twice in 9 months from being in a hurry and not taking time to enjoy my food. I need to chew my food -- thank goodness.  Wouldn't want to swallow whole broccoli. I can eat 2-3 ounces of food before I'm full -- thank goodness.  My surgeon says my pouch holds about that much.  How convenient. I eat protein first, then vegetables/fruits.  I stop eating when one or all of these options occur:  my 2 or 3 ounces is gone, my nose runs, or I feel full.  Sometimes all 3 happen simultaneously.  Sometimes the full feeling happens before the ounces are gone.  Sometimes the nose runs without the other two things happening.  But those are my signals, and I stop when I get one. My gas stinks -- thank goodness.  Okay ... maybe not thank goodness on this one.  But seriously, folks ... did your gas smell great before surgery?  I don't give a flying flip WHICH surgery you had, or even if you had surgery ... get a grip, your gas SMELLS BAD!   I drink approximately 60 ounces of water daily, but I don't "water load".  Not sure what that's about, as my surgeon and his partner don't promote it.   I take vitamin supplements.  I did preop.  I bet I would postop no matter which option I chose.  Even lap band, who doesn't have any malabsorptive issues.  Vitamins are good for you! And last, but not least, if I want or need to have a revision ... I still can.  I still have the "remnant" stomach in there, so parts are there to work with.  It's not something I want to do and hope I never have to contemplate it, but it's nice to know it's there if I need to go that route.  I'm not sure how reversible/revisable other surgery types are, but I know that I have options if I ever need them.  In my way of thinking, lap bands have the MOST option for revision since they still have the full list of options of surgeries available to them if they ever have their bands removed.  And DSers would have the LEAST option of revision since their "remnant" stomach is removed.  The options in between those two surgeries have some wiggle room for revisions.  I may be dead wrong here, but that's how I think it is.  And that was another thing that I thought about in making my decision.  "What if it doesn't work out, then what?" kind of thing, ya know?   Just my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

I havent gotten around to making a lapband chart yet (and i know there r more wls but rny and lb r the two most widely known).  The only reason. 

Glad you r happy with the RNY.  Glad you like dumping (personal choice - not judging).   " I don't give a flying flip WHICH surgery you had, or even if you had surgery ... get a grip, your gas SMELLS BAD!"    AMEN to that!! lol   "DSers would have the LEAST option of revision since their "remnant" stomach is removed." The stomach part is true - the stomach is removed and is not coming back. lol  Revisions for a DS person usually inslude lengthening the common channel to stop losing weight.  The stomach shouldnt need revising since it is still a whole working stomach (pyloric valve still intact).   You have a good night. Im off to bed!

"I'm 9 months postop RNY, and couldn't be happier with the decision I made for myself.   I made the decision for myself after evaluating ALL options and my own lifestyle.  It's the only one that would suit ME.  Right for ME, not everyone." I congratulate you on making an informed decision! The disease of obesity is horrible and I am glad there are choices. One of the saddest comments I heard at a WLS support group was "I didn't know there was another type of surgery". Wish everyone could be as well informed and make their decisions based on informed choice, rather than what insurance companies are willing to pay for. Congratulations on your success!! We should celebrate each other's! Happy New Year. Dianne from FL

I'm new here. This is my second post and therefore I am basically an outsider. Being such I think I can offer an objective opinion of what I've read here. I've already chosen my surgeon, I've already decided on the procedure I want. I appreciate seeing information about any of the procedures out there but I will medically verify any claims. Afterall this isn't like deciding if you want to tattoo or pierce a naughty bit and if you pick the wrong person to do it you're stuck with an ugly mess. I enjoy seeing posts of people *****cently had a procedure. I live vicariously through the nervous anticipation, hesitations, concerns and successes of many of you. I've stopped in on OH quite a while before I actually became a member. Ok, so I've rambled, what I'm getting at is how the bickering back and forth and accusations of who is doing what and etc. appears to others. It's sad. People come here to gain encouragement and information, to ask questions and to see how their life could possibly change as many of you have had yours change so much for the better. Although I'm new here I'm not new to the internet, or forums or flaming and this is flaming. What you write isn't just seen by all of you who are familiar with each other, its seen by those of us seeking your insight, your knowledge, your ups and downs. What all of you are going through or have gone through gives so much to those of us that are still hoping for, "one day..." I think everyone needs a hug and a nap. k thx

Well I should have posted this early in the day b/c ive run out of time.  Must go to bed so not to be rude but i wont be seeing anymore posts.  Night all.