DS vs RNY

Suzanne,

I am in a mixed WLS family. My wife had lap RNY in September of 2006 and I had open DS in January of 2008. For insurance reasons she had the RNY(Medicare because of her blindness and no DS surgeon in TN was taking Medicare at that time). I had to fight my carrier (CIGNA) but finally won aproval for my DS. She is almost 3 years out, and has a constant struggle with carbs and getting to her goal weight. She is still on a diet. I am 17 months out and 20 lbs from my goal. I am losing without trying. I average around 2-5 lbs a month now. I could be losing more faster, but I eat whatever I want within reason. But with a 5 oz stomach (not a pouch) a Whopper Jr, and a small diet coke fill me up. I still don't have room for nor do I want the fries(but if I do it isn't the end of the world).

If my wife could do it over, she will tell you she would have the DS in a heartbeat. She has done fantastic with her RNY. SHe has lost over 240 lbs. But if she gets offtrack with her eating and takes in too many carbs, she begins to put the weight back on. I don't.

As far as the odors, I call tell you that her poop stinks too, and it is worse than mine if she eats the wrong thing. I really watch my white bread intake (limit it to burger buns at fast food restruants) and never eat bleached flour pasta. I can control the order by watching what I eat, but she has to also with her RNY.

Hope this helps. Please don't hesitate to ask me anything. I'll be glad to answer if I can.

Good luck with whichever WLS you choose.

Your brother and servant in HIm,

Doug aka Preacherman

Fiction!!! I poop once or twice a day (way less than I did before my DS). They are soft poops that are easy to do, not diarrhea. I fart maybe once a day. I don't care who you are, from Pope to pauper, poops and farts smell bad anyway.

The DS rocks!

Even if half of what people say were true about the DS, I would STILL get it. It's THAT good.

Now, it does come with responsibilities. You MUST take your vitamins. You MUST get regular labs. You MUST be aggressive about your medical care in the non-bariatric world.I would say that is true about the RNY too, but not every RNY doc seems to feel that way (having their patients on crap vitamins or not requiring follow-ups).

Nicolle

There is a group specifically for "highly malabsorptive" WLs in Phoenix. We were just there. I can hook you up if you'd like. Then you can ask, ERNY (distal), DS and regular RNY.

Would that help? Stats are one thing, people are another!

Hi Suzanne,

I lived with RNY for 28 years; I had a gastric bypass in 1980 you can read all about it on my profile if you want the details. Life with RNY is the pits compared to life with the DS, there's no comparison. The bathroom and gas myths are pretty much just myths; most people have some issues for the first couple of weeks; a few have more problems, but it's the same with RNY. Any time you mess around with your stomach and small bowel, you can plan on having a few issues. But your body heals up and gets used to the new plumbing and for most it's a non-issue. I go once early in the morning and that's usually it, sometimes I'll go again during the day, but that's rare. I had gas if I ate certain things before I had the DS and I have gas now if I eat certain things, it's a little different, but no better or worse than before. What you have been told is most likely an exaggeration I wouldn't worry about it because no matter which WLS you choose you could have some issues. Most DS'ers are like me and have no real problems, the habits are a bit different, but like I said, no better no worse.

I'm about 9 months out; I've lost 83 pounds and have about 15 to go and I now eat like a normal person; I jus****ch the carbs and eat plenty of protein and fat and all is good. If I eat pasta or much sugar, I'll get gas, so I either avoid those foods or eat them when the gas won't be a problem. This is a very small price to pay for being able to eat like a normal person, have no dumping, no food sticking and not worry about eating fats and proteins. Not only that, but I can take NSAIDs if I need them and I have no worries about blind stomach ulcers.

The long and the short of it is that I've had both and IMO RNY sucks and DS rocks. If you have any specific questions about either, I would be happy to answer them here on the forum or you can PM me.

Kerry

Hi Suzanne, 

Nice to see another Dr. Simper potential patient-to-be here on OH.  He did my DS and my sister's DS, we are pretty early out, so do not have a lot to add, but other than the first week post-op, I have not had any diarreaha at all.  In fact, so far, I am a little on the constipated side, but again, I am only 6 weeks out so for the most part, I'll have to see how it goes.

Whatever decision you make, I wish you well.  

Maria

My poop really does stink, but it stunk before, and just like before, has a lot to do with what I eat.

Gas is also dependent on what you eat.  I can have totally gas free days, but bring around a plate of homemade cookies and all bets are off.  That being said, I'm a corporate trainer in a room - all eyes on me - for hours sometimes, and I've not missed a beat or had any embarrassing moments due to gas or poo.

Many of us have "loose stools", not diarrhea.  Loose stools are light and fluffy and come out easily, but totally under control, unlike diarrhea.  I have a huge poo first thing in the morning, and I'm usually done for the day.

Hello & Welcome!!  I haven't yet had my DS done (shooting for September 16th) but in my circle my mother had the RNY- 7 months later she was in the hospital for a ruptured bowel and sepsis as a "surgical complication".  On top of that, when they opened her up she had over 18  hernia's that needed to be repaired.  Lemme-tell-ya-sumthin'- to this day, 10 years later, she had some of the nastiest, stankiest gas & constipation issues I've ever known one to have; well, other than my friend  Tara, but she had her RNY 1 year 9 months ago now too...  Before RNY no much probs for either in that area...  But good god dear lord have mercy, when they let one off it makes the eyes water, throat close up & the nostril hair singe   +   =..  Hang around the boards here & dsfacts, etc you'll get a wealth of knowledge!! 

Suzanne-
I am three years out next month -- and I have no bowel issues.  I go in the morning and I am done for the day. 

Red

Wow, you guys are great.  You have helped me a lot.  I was pretty sure about doing the DS before but you all have helped push me over the edge.  I have done a lot of surfing on the websites so I have gotten a lot of info but this was my last concern.  I appreciate it, thanks.

I have been to my doc and they just needed to know which surgery I want so they can start the pre-approval with my insurance.  I will keep you posted.

Much thanks

Suzanne

I'm only 4 weeks out but I go every other day, very normal and I almost never have gas.  The only thing that's given me gas since surgery was a bean and cheese burrito, which would have done it before.  Truthfully, I have WAY less gas now than I did before surgery when I was binging and stuffing myself to bursting at every meal and then paying for it for hours afterward.  When I told my surgeon I wanted the DS he tried to 'truth-scare' me with all the stories about gas and incontinence, but what I don't think normal-weight people understand sometimes is how freaken miserable it is to be MO.  These 'side-effects' of DS even if they do effect me down the road still don't hold a candle to the misery I was in being 300 lbs.  I would so much rather let one rip and clear a room at 150 lbs than ever see that dissapointed or worse disgusted look on someone's face again because they've just noticed that I've gained another 20 lbs.  I wouldn't trade this surgery for anything.  It was the best decision I've ever made.

Laura