What if I Need my Tummy Back?

Esophageal cancer is treated in part by surgically replacing the diseased portion of the esophagus with part of the stomach.  If you have VSG, there would be no excess stomach to use.  Do you have frequent reflux (heartburn)? Do you have GERD?  Barrett's Esophagus?  History of cancer in your family?  If so, you might want to have an endoscopy done by a gastroenterologist to rule out any of these conditions before making a final decision.

Hi Kat1313,

Thanks! That's something else to consider. I don't have heartburn or any of the other aforementioned issues. My family does have a history of cancer though. There is colon cancer, pancreatic, lung (all smokers), and breast. I'll be sure to inform the surgeon of all of these issues.

Shanita

History of cancer in my family too...figured if I didn't get the weight off somehow, it wouldn't be cancer that killed me but something else. I had a Duodenal Switch (sleeve WITH the small intestine rerouting).

I also had GERD...don't any more. So while the VSG/DS is "contraindicated" for GERD, most of us that have it pre-op no longer have it post-op.

Aslo the RNY, the remaining stomach is pushed aside, totally unaccessible for nutrients anyway. AND you lose the use of pyloric valve.

Hi SouthernLady,

You're right about that. It's always something. I've been reading up on the DS but I don't hear it highly "promoted" within the hospital I worked for which made me think it was "special" or maybe more complicated. How are you doing with your vitamins? I wondered about the remaining portion of the stomach in RNY and what purposed it served being there. That's what made  me think that maybe it was easier to reverse than surgeons lead us to believe.

The DS is best done by a vetted surgeon (see list here) but there ARE others out there who do it. Mine is one who is not on the list but does the DS.

They tend to "pretend" you need to be SMO (50 BMI or more) to even be considered for the surgery but that is also FALSE. Those of us who are lightweights also do very well with the DS. Lightweight is defined as someone who typically has less than 100 lbs to lose or a BMI of about 35-45.

I'm doing VERY well on my vitamins, started with the list from Vitalady and then adjusted based on MY labs.

To be honest, the remnant stomach left behind during a RNY doesn't do much of anything. And if you ever get an ulcer in it, you HAVE to have surgery to even find it, much less fix it.

Another item to consider...what if you need NSAIDS in the future...if you do or have a family history of arthritis, go with the VSG or DS. NOT the RNY.

There is a LOT to consider in making a WLS decision and knowing about ALL your options and deciding on your surgery THEN your surgeon is the best way to do that. Many of us who have had the DS end up traveling and follow up care is handled locally by our PCP.

Thank you for sharing the VERY informative link. I learned a lot about DS just from your comment and the site. I did think that I didn't quite qualified for DS. My BMI is 48.7 so I was thinking RNY and VSG might be the only options available to me. Part of me wants the malabsorptive  effects of RNY and VSG but at the same time I'm afraid of the vitamin requirements. Did I tell you I'm a 31 yr. old that can't swallow pills? SMH @ myself. LOL

I have been having a lot of inflammation and have been taking Ibuprofen lately and can't imagine life not being able to take so many meds. I think DS does seem to offer the best of both worlds of RNY and VSG. I can't wait to talk to the surgeon. I really have a lot to consider.

Thanks!

Shanita

One thing you will need to learn REGARDLESS of what type of WLS surgery...swallowing pills. It is NOT optional. While the VSG has the least amount needed, it still requires some supplementation of vitamins.

And while there are chewables, you have to factor in the amount needed in each day...many need at least 2 multi's, vit D (NOT the prescription one but the dry D3).

Gummies are for kids NOT adults...so don't go there but it's better to use gummies than NONE at all.

If this was a disease like cancer than required you take pills to get well or stay well, you would find a way to swallow them...think of this the same way. It's NOT negotiable.

Yeah, the starting point for most of these is quite extensive but once you get past a year, you need to adjust to YOUR OWN labs. What one of us may need may not work for another.

What I take NOW:

3 Multi's, Proferrin ES, Calcium, 50K of Dry D 5 days a week, 100K two days, K1, 3 Fiber, a PPI.

My multi is the Costco brand equivalent to Centrum. I do NOT use an ADEK because I need to supplement each one differently. My A & E are very high normal on my last labs but my D & K were in the toilet. If I was taking an ADEK, I could not get the D up without going overboard on the A & E.

I started with the full vitalady DS list but based on MY labs, I have adjusted to my current list. Pre-op tho I was on 11 prescription meds...so it's really trading one for another. I'd rather take the vitamin/mineral supplements.

VSG vitamin list: http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramAGB&VSG2-2 010.pdf

DS & Distal RNY: http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramDRNY_ERNY_ BPDDS3-2010.pdf

Proximal RNY: http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramPRNY2-2010 .pdf

Liz

Wow... that's a lot. Whenever I have to take medicine, I chew it or break it into smaller pieces that I can get down with food. I have a bad gag reflex and no matter what I do, those pills never go down and stay there. I'm really bad because even the pills that I'm told not to break, I break. Otherwise, I can't take them. God forbid I ever need to swallow pills to survive because I won't. I tell my dr. that all the time when she asks why I won't fill the scripts for the pain meds. Who knows, maybe after I see all I survived after WLS, I'll be able to swallow the pills. Do you have to go to your PCP for labs or does the surgeon order them?

My surgeon orders them right now...I just call and ask when I need them.

Many of the ones I take could be chewed or broken and others are very small (think a benadryl). There are small sized multi's, etc.And some come in liquid form but not all.

Liz

VSG does not in any way, shape, or form malabsorb calories.  Not now, not ever.