To Band or not to Band?

From the neck up I'm holding my own.. the rest of me.. meh for now!~

DS actually is approved but VGS is not.  RNY and Lap band are approved.  My biggest concern with intestinal rerouting is the bad gas I've heard people can have and foul smelling BMs.  I didn't know that it was even a possibility that I wouldn't have these problems.  At the support group I attend they had talked about it and to me it was worse than even having to deal with dumping.  If I had my choice I'd have VGS, because it's safer than the DS and I've read DS is safer when done in two parts.  You all are great thanks for the responses.  I really appreciate it.  My BMI is 58.5 and I know for lap band that puts me in a hard position.  Also my boyfriend is really against me having my intestines rerouted.  I am concerned with a procedure that has Malabsorption that I'll have a problem getting the calcium I need.  I'm still very young and worry it could lead to osteoporosis.  I know maybe I'm thinking and questioning things much.  I just want to make the right choice.  I know it’s my choice.  Very difficult one.

Almost forgot the DS is approved...but there are no in network surgeons that do this procedure.  I'm actually pretty close to approval right now.  All that has to happen is for my PCP to sign the documentation and I'll be good.

 

Get thee to the DS forum!

The very vast majority of people can totally control their gas by what they eat and by the use of probiotic therapy.

If the DS is covered, that's the ONLY procedure I'd consider at your size unless there is a MAJOR medical reason for not having it.

I would absolutely do nothing rather than have a band. They are the worst possible choice for WLS, and that gets even worse the heavier you are.

You know one of the most painful things for me is to hear the constant mis-selling and mis-information in relation to the DS.  Having said that most is based on truth!  My **** ******g stinks but guess what so does yours how bad is purely up to me.  I choose to have days where I'll eat donuts and crisps and then I fart and have diarrhea.  That is my bad behavior but I don't want to diet so instead I chose to have a day once and a while where I eat what ever I want in what ever amount I want.  So I pay for it with terrible gas.

The other 99% of the time I have one to two bowel motions a day of formed stool.  I don't **** my pants or fart in public (unless I want to cause I'm evil).  My crap smells worse than before but not by much.  I have great air fresheners so who can tell?

You need to be well informed and aware of supplementation for all the surgeries you mentioned.  The amount of vitamins you take for the Ds is much greater than the VSG or the RNY but you'll still have the same regime regardless of your surgery.

Best you get over to the DS board and get some information honey.  Try DS facts via google.  As for your boyfriend...well mine was mortified until he educated himself on the surgery and what the life long expectations are.  Seeing me morbidly obese and struggling to wipe my own bum pretty much was the clincher in my opinion.

Learn learn learn and don't believe the bull**** you're told without first checking alllllll the facts.


I wish you the greatest health honey.  Go forth and prosper!

Jennifer,

If you are that turned off by bad gas then that is good for you because if you eat correctly you will never have bad gas.......:-)  You only get bad gas when you eat high fat foods.

The VSG probably *is* safer than the DS---takes less time, lesser surgical skills (sewing the duodenum is rather like sewing wet tissue paper), and requires less (read LESS, not NO) attention to vitamins and supplements, lab work, etc. as a post-op.

Is the DS safer when done it two parts? Meh---depends on the patient's health going into surgery. If the patient has medical issues that prevent extended time under anesthesia, or if complications develop during surgery---certainly, close up and come back later. BUT---in a young, healthy patient, isn't having ONE surgery always safer than having TWO??? (My BMI was 75 the day of surgery, and by surgeon was in and out in less than 2.5 hours.)

Please, read the Revisions forum and see how many people are now facing a second or even a third surgery because they get the right one the first time.

Malabsorption IS a serious issue, and you're very right to think long and hard before you get a malabsorptive procedure. BUT---you say you're VERY young, but you've managed to get to a BMI of 58.5 already in life. To me, that sounds VERY MUCH like you have metabolic issues.

Check out www.dsfacts.com You can find a list of vetted DS surgeons there. Consult with one, even if you have to pay for the initial visit yourself. This is the REST OF YOUR LIFE, after all. A surgeon who actually DOES all the procedures is the one best suited to advise YOU---not your insurance company, not your boyfriend, not your priest, not your PCP---not even US. (*grin*)

 AWESOME... AWESOME... AWESOME... just AWESOME my beautiful and skinny sista Kirmy... sending this as inpiration to my friend and former classmate back home.... AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL... 

Oh **** I hijacked!!! Sorry petal!  Love you my fiesty sista!