Where to Start??

Hello everyone, I am new here...and LOVING IT!  I have been considering WLS for a while now and have finally taken that first step by having my initial physical and surgery consult in August.

However, at my first informative meeting it was almost an overload of information.  I have ruled out having a LapBand or Realize band because I have A LOT of weight to lose.   My initial desire was to have the DS, because the long term weight loss percentage is higher.  My Husband is terrified about the DS he thinks it's too drastic.  He would rather I go for the routine Roux-en-Y.  It's been done more often and the side effects are less.

I am curious as to how you came to the decision to have what type of WLS you had.  Was it a choice that you made or did your physican steer you in specific direction based on your health or amount of weight you had to lose? 

All I know is I am excited and terrified, but I am so ready to make these changes to live a longer and healthier life for me as well as my Husband and 2 young children.

Thanks for any advice you have, I could use it!

The RNY is a form of butchery. Just because it's "routine" doesn't make it any less butchery. The DS is a more intelligent, anatomically superior procedure in every way. Time to study more about how the various procedures work.

If you go to www.dssurgery.com and click on the "procedures" button, you'll see that there is a graphical comparison of the various procedures that's very informative. I think it does a great job of showing what I'm saying here. Take a look at that and see what you think.

I started out thinking I'd either get the Sleeve or RNY.  I was doing the program at Beaumont, they also offer the band, but didn't even mention the DS at the informational meeting.  I also went to an informational meeting at a different place in Clarkston.  He also didn't mention the DS.  I didn't like him, so I moved on to Beaumont's program.   I ruled out the sleeve because there isn't any long term data to show how the maintenance is.  Scares me that the stomach could strech and then you would gain back the weight. 

Then while doing my 6 month weight loss program with Beaumont, I found this website.  I learned about the DS and changed my mind.  I had to switch to a different surgeon to get the DS, since the docs at Beaumont don't do it.  I changed my mind about 4 months into the 6 month period.  The people at Beaumont sent all my records over to Dr. Kemmetter's office, really wan't a big deal.  Once I got the initial insurance approval for the bariatric consultation, I was able to make my appointments with Dr. K.  I just met with him Monday.  I can't wait to get the DS. 

My main reasons for choosing the DS are that it's got the best stats for % weight loss & for maintaining that weight loss.  Plus you don't get the dumping that you get with RNY.  I found way to many people on here with an RNY that are now gaining their weight back, on a diet trying to loose the weight after regaining, or seeking revision to a DS.  I don't want to deal with that, my insurance will only pay for 1 WLS per lifetime.  Many insurance companies now have this policy.  So I choose the DS because I want the best option to loose & keep the weight off.  I'm only doing this once, so I want the best the first time. 

If you are interested in the DS, you should go to dsfacts.com.  That site has tons of great info

Please be aware that some of us are more passionate about our surgeries than are others;  however I must protest about the term "butchery" used by Elizabeth N.

That being said, there are good aspects about both the RNY and the DS.  I'm not certain, but I believe
that you can use NSAIDs when you are post-op after the DS, where you shouldn't use them with the
RNY.  Also, there is (and please DS'rs, correct me if I am wrong) the fact that the pyloric valve is left
intact so that most of your normal digestive activity is the same.

I'm an RNY, and very happy with my choice.  I had the RNY because it was all that was accepted by
my insurance, and I couldn't afford to do anything else, and I was dying and absolutely needed a sol-
ution to my Morbid Obesity.

Believe it or not, most close family members are weirded out about WLS surgeries, because they
don't understand why we can't just "diet and exercise" our problem away.

Well, if diets worked, there wouldn't be a 97% failure rate would there????

Do your research, take your hubby with you to talk to doctors and be at support group meetings;  let
him see that this is a lifesaving decision.

Then do what you have to do for your health.

Best wishes,

Please explain to me how you and/or your husband think the side effects of the RNY are less. That's certainly not what I've seen in reading these boards for the past eight years.

From the informative meeting, they really centered in on the malabsorption portion of the DS.  More complications with vitamin deficiency, low iron, etc.  They talked a bit about leaks and hernias.  I understand that these side effects are possible with the RNY procedure as well, but not as often.  This may be biased, I am not sure.

I will certainly do a lot more research, and hearing what things others have gone through is really helping me.  I trust the men and women who have gone through these surgeries themselves to give me more straight forward information (candid) then that of the Physisican's who haven't personally gone through the procedure.

Thanks to everyone for their information.

Did you go to a seminar hosted by a surgeon who actually performs the DS?  What happens frequently is that surgeons who dont actually do the DS (but might even say they do) try to talk people out of it. 

Have you been to www.dsfacts.com?  There is a list of qualified DS surgeons there.  In fact, one of the best is right in your state of Michigan - Dr Kemmeter in Grand Rapids.  I have met a number of his patients in person, and they rave about him. 

Actually, DSers are better able to absorb iron than RNYers are. Vitamin deficiency is a serious issue woth BOTH procedures, and RNYers who take good care of themselves often take more vites than DSers do. The biggest difference is that you can come to grief with decifiences FASTER with the DS. On the other hand, DSers tend to get more pre-op education about the importance of supplementation, and it seems to me that we actually see MORE problems in the less-wee-informed RNYers.