DS v. RNY and PA doctors?

Let me address the gas and diarrhea question. Malabsorption lends itself to a change in the odor and amount of gas, but the real culprit for most of us is---simple carbs. With either the RNY or the DS, you're going to need to limit your intake of simple carbs. Ultimately, gas production is going to be directly related to what you choose to eat. And don't think that RNYers don't have some paint-peeling gas---go to the RNY board and do a search of old posts.

As for diarrhea---again, mostly linked to what you eat. It can happen with either surgery, and so can constipation. I see a LOT of RNYers talking about constipation. Most DSers, when they get constipated, just up their fat intake---problem solved. With either surgery, you are also more prone to bacterial overgrowth in the gut. This can often be avoided by taking a probiotic daily, or, in severe cases, a round of antibiotics to kill off the bad bacteria, followed by a round of heavy-duty probiotics to repopulate the good bacteria. At 9 years post-DS, I personally have never had any issues with this.

As for acid reflux---I had it pretty bad pre-op, but since my DS---no reflux, even though I eat a lot of really spicy foods.

Oh, and about supplements---there are some RNYers who take more supplements than some DSers. Ultimately, how much YOU will need to take will depend on YOUR labwork. Every body is different, and that's why you need to be diligent about keeping up with your lab results, spotting trends, tweaking your intake to match YOUR needs.

What Ms Batts said on supplements. I had RNY and I take more than Ms. Batts does.

Your labs will dictate what supplements you need to take.

Also on the gas and diarrah concerns it can happen with either surgery. I personally have very little gas and tend to be constipated mostly. Now saying this there have been a few times that I do experience horrible gas and when I have diarrah I feel blessed because the bloating I feel from not going is relieved.

The DS does have the best long term results for maintaining weight loss although there are many RNYers that have lost and not regained. I'm almost 8 years post-op and below goal with no struggles keeping the weight off. But let's be honest I don't know what tomorrow will bring, I do stay diligent on weighing myself and when the scale goes up a few lbs I adjust my eating style and it doesn't take much to lose those few lbs.

I eat low carb cause I WAS an insulin pump dependent diabetic prior to my DS. I now keep it in check with just diet and (some) exercise. Not on ANY other meds for my diabetes.

BUT I also watch my carbs cause they WILL give me gas. Esp processed ones. I can make my own bread and do just fine, but if I eat what is made for the markets, I bloat.

Diarrhea was an issue in the first couple of weeks...I was on liquids and my guts were still healing so yeah, it happens. But I tend toward constipation now...which I resolve by eating more fat.

My acid reflux was bad pre-op, now it's gone.

I supplement according to my lab work which is what I would be doing regardless of what WLS I had had.

The "bad" side effects of the DS are usually exacerbated by those who don't live with the surgery or the surgeon's who don't know it. They usually confuse it with the OLD BPD which is a distal RNY, not the DS (also called by some surgeons the BPD/DS).

Liz

 

 

 

I had my RNY done at Temple and it went perfectly, so I cannot recommend them highly enough. 

Briefly, what you must understand is that no bariatric surgery is a CURE . You will learn a new way of eating that is NOT BAD at all if you accept and embrace it.  Trust me when I tell you the joy of seeing the weight go away is better than any food tastes.

For me, post-RNY was surprisingly painless. My stomach to this day has no idea anything even happened. There was some discomfort related to the gas they use with the laproscope and some pain in the left side where they tunneled through a muscle. But that came and went in "stiches".  After less than two weeks, I hardly felt any pain at all.

The psychological fear is what grabs you as you slowly work your way through the process of healing and adding food.  That gets less and less as you advance, and then one day you will experience one of the side-effects you hear about on this forum. Let's just say those can be "interesting", but you learn! :-)

I'm now dealing with some weight gain that I know is entirely due to me breaking the rules, and I am determined to get back on track because my RNY saved my life and I am having a pretty good time.

 

 

dsfacts.com is your friend.

Resolution of Diabetes is best achieved with the DS.  Your BMI is NOT too low for the DS.  Don't let that be a factor in your decision.  Studies are showing the resolution of diabetes is only temporary with the RNY, but permanent with the DS.  Think twice and cut once!  You don't want to have to be considering a highly complicated RNY to DS revision in three years.  This is a very important decision.  If you are second guessing the RNY, the BEST thing you can do is postpone things.  You want to get what is going to be best for you.  Make sure that you really think on it.  Like I said, you don't want to be regretting anything.  Good luck!

Before making a decision, you need to watch this video and read this transcript on why the RNY (and LapBand) can fail and need to be revised.  Weight regain is a real possibility with the RNY, and contrary to popular belief is not always the fault of the patient.  There are real mechanics of the surgery that can lead to the regain.

If you qualify for WLS, you qualify for the DS.  A good DS surgeon can customize limb lengths for you to balance your lower BMI.  The reason why your surgeon is not recommending it is because he doesnt perform it.  The DS is a more complex surgery and not all surgeons know how to do it.

 

 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4416773/quotDoes-the- Patient-Fail-the-Procedure-or-Does-the/

You can regain after any surgery.  It is totally possible to eat around any procedure...all the surgery really does is give you a window in which it is not possible to NOT loose weight and then later some tools to make it easier to prevent regain. However, you are still responsible for making decent choices long term. 

If you are still in the deciding mode...look at the surgery options and consider what you can live with long term in terms of eating patterns, required supplements, and possible side effects.  Think about what your personal triggers are and compare that to the surgery you are considering. 

The DS is a surgery that appeals to folks with high BMIs and is also the most liberal in terms of how much one can eat after...it also causes the most malabsorption so you must be super vigilant with your supplements and  labs to monitor your nutritional status.  There are many folks with lower BMIs that have chosen the DS and are happy with that choice.

As others have said, weight re-gain is possible after any surgery, although it is much less frequent with the DS.  I had an RNY and, though I have not re-gained a terrible amount of weight (20 pounds from my lowest), I have developed a fairly rare complication.  I have reactive and fasting hypoglycemia so bad that I cannot eat much in the way of carbs, short of a few berries and lots of salad.  I'd give almost anything to have my duodenum back, which you would retain in both the DS and the Sleeve surgery.  Just so you know, when they say you may get dumping syndrome . . . it can be terribly bad!

Linda, you're sorta right, and sorta wrong. With the Sleeve, yes, the duodenum is untouched, but in the DS, only part of the duodenum remains in the alimentary tract. What you're thinking of is the pyloric sphincter, the valve that controls how food leaves the stomach and which is bypassed in the RNY.