Hoping to have DS
I posted on the main forum but was advised to repost here. I am hoping to have DS surgery in June. I wanted to talk with some people who have had the surgery. I know people who have had Gastric Bypass but no one who has had DS. I wanted to know what the surgery was like, what to expect afterwards and if you were happy with the decision to have it. My husband does not want me to have the procedure but the rest of my family does. I am confused and just need some help in my journey.
Thanks,
Amanda
Thanks,
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Best place to start is dsfacts.com Also in my signature line I linked a thread for a DS sticky to help you understand the possibilities of your first year with the DS, along with a ton of great links that a lot of DS'ers contributed to. Read, read and read some more until you feel confident about this process and then post your questions if you don't understand something you're reading. I'm very happy with my decision to have the DS-it has literally changed my life and given it back to me. My hubby was leary too, but once I educated him he was all for it-as was most of my family. I live in a rural area and I think it's safe to say there isn't another DS'er within 100 miles of me. OH is my go-to support. I am hoping to meet with some DS'ers in May when I go to Ohio, which is where I had my DS. Good luck to you!
Best place to start is dsfacts.com Also in my signature line I linked a thread for a DS sticky to help you understand the possibilities of your first year with the DS, along with a ton of great links that a lot of DS'ers contributed to. Read, read and read some more until you feel confident about this process and then post your questions if you don't understand something you're reading. I'm very happy with my decision to have the DS-it has literally changed my life and given it back to me. My hubby was leary too, but once I educated him he was all for it-as was most of my family. I live in a rural area and I think it's safe to say there isn't another DS'er within 100 miles of me. OH is my go-to support. I am hoping to meet with some DS'ers in May when I go to Ohio, which is where I had my DS. Good luck to you!
(deactivated member)
on 3/28/11 12:38 am
on 3/28/11 12:38 am
Welcome Amanda!
I have concerns about your surgeon. There is a list of vetted DS surgeons on www.dsfacts.com .
You might want to start a new thread asking about your surgeon with his name in the topic.
Your husband may still come around but at the end of the day, this is your life and your body, your choice.
Michele
I have concerns about your surgeon. There is a list of vetted DS surgeons on www.dsfacts.com .
You might want to start a new thread asking about your surgeon with his name in the topic.
Your husband may still come around but at the end of the day, this is your life and your body, your choice.
Michele
I approached WLS very reluctantly. If I had never heard of the DS, I probably would have gone through with RNY (gastric bypass), and I very much believe I would have regretted it.
Luckily, I found out about the DS, I knew after researching it that it was for me, and I do not regret my decision at all. In fact it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself.
One thing that really helped convince me that it was the right choice for me was to hang out with other DS'ers in real life. To see how they eat, if they were running off to the bathroom every five minutes, etc. Try to do the same if you can find a local support group. Travel a bit if you have to.
Luckily, I found out about the DS, I knew after researching it that it was for me, and I do not regret my decision at all. In fact it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself.
One thing that really helped convince me that it was the right choice for me was to hang out with other DS'ers in real life. To see how they eat, if they were running off to the bathroom every five minutes, etc. Try to do the same if you can find a local support group. Travel a bit if you have to.
I am right there with Chad...on everything except I didn't get to hang out with DS'ers in real life until about 2 weeks before my surgery. After reading this forum and learning about the DS, there was no turning back for me. Meeting and hanging out with real life DS'ers actually helped my then bf (now fiancee) feel better and more comfy about my decision to have the DS.
I have no support group for 4.5 hours that have DS'ers in it...so OH and now all my friends that I've met b/c of my DS and OH are my support system.
Please make your way to www.dsfacts.com and to a local support group if you can.
I have zero regrets about having the DS - it is honestly the best thing I have ever done for myself.
I have no support group for 4.5 hours that have DS'ers in it...so OH and now all my friends that I've met b/c of my DS and OH are my support system.
Please make your way to www.dsfacts.com and to a local support group if you can.
I have zero regrets about having the DS - it is honestly the best thing I have ever done for myself.
Marci
If you are contacting Dr. Barker, I assume you are in or near the Dallas area. Dr. Barker is not a surgeon that does the DS very often. Dr. Daryl Stewart, who is in Denton, has done the DS on many patients here. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you do not go talk to him. He has far more experince at this rather complex surgery.
Dr Barker has done very few DS's. I know one of Barker's patients personally and her surgical experience was a nightmare and the after care is laughable. She had several complications in hospital. His cost is also much higher, I understand. Barker has a great advertising budget but not a hell of a lot of experience with the DS. I wouldn't subject my worst enemy to that ferrari driving cutter. (He does drive a Red Ferrari, he parks it directly at the entrance of the hospital he partially owns, so patients have to walk AROUND it, but it is safely under the awning.) Neither his hospital nor his staff have a clue about the DS.
Dr Stewart, on the other hand, did over 80 DS surgeries last year alone and has several years of experience. Here in my town, we have 14 people who willingly drive the 300 miles to see Stewart. The only complications we have seen have been the result of patient non-compliance. Dr Stewart is a marvelous surgeon and a wonderful human being. He stays up on the current studies on DS. If my mother ever decides she wants to do this, I will fly her from Ohio here to have Stewart be her surgeon. His office staff is good too, though their educational materials are mystifyingly still RNY dominated. (Just to be fair, Stewart drives a Porsche that is an odd shade of yellow and parks in an actual parking spot) Oh, Stewart does use one of the same hospitals as Barker but Stewart's staff knows enough to tell you NOT to listen to the hospital NUT.
ETA: The patient of Barker's I know said she felt confident because Barker and his office regularly contact Dr Stewart's office with questions when they feel out of their depth. Why go to the folks with questions, when you can go to the folks with the answers?
Dr Stewart, on the other hand, did over 80 DS surgeries last year alone and has several years of experience. Here in my town, we have 14 people who willingly drive the 300 miles to see Stewart. The only complications we have seen have been the result of patient non-compliance. Dr Stewart is a marvelous surgeon and a wonderful human being. He stays up on the current studies on DS. If my mother ever decides she wants to do this, I will fly her from Ohio here to have Stewart be her surgeon. His office staff is good too, though their educational materials are mystifyingly still RNY dominated. (Just to be fair, Stewart drives a Porsche that is an odd shade of yellow and parks in an actual parking spot) Oh, Stewart does use one of the same hospitals as Barker but Stewart's staff knows enough to tell you NOT to listen to the hospital NUT.
ETA: The patient of Barker's I know said she felt confident because Barker and his office regularly contact Dr Stewart's office with questions when they feel out of their depth. Why go to the folks with questions, when you can go to the folks with the answers?
Theoretically/hypothetically speaking:
Dr. A has fewer than 10 DS's under his belt ever, but runs a monthly six-figure advertising campaign that draws patients in left and right.
Dr. B (who lives and practices just 30 miles away) routinely does 80-100 DS's laparoscopically annually. He doesn't advertise nearly as much because his experience speaks volumes all on its own.
Regardless of how charismatic Dr. A is, I'd choose experience any day of the week. You don't even have to drive the extra 30 miles because he also has privileges at the same hospital Dr. A practices in. Now that's a win-win situation. But then, Dr. B is my theoretical/hypothetical surgeon and I'm theoretically/hypothetically biased.
Good luck on your journey regardless of whom you choose. I know theoretical/hypothetical patients both have operated on and all are losing significant amounts of weight. All surgeons have to start somewhere. I'm just not sure I would want to subject myself to the practice arena when there's such an experienced option so close to home.
You'll learn a lot here. Stick around and absorb it all in. Research. Research. Research.
Dr. A has fewer than 10 DS's under his belt ever, but runs a monthly six-figure advertising campaign that draws patients in left and right.
Dr. B (who lives and practices just 30 miles away) routinely does 80-100 DS's laparoscopically annually. He doesn't advertise nearly as much because his experience speaks volumes all on its own.
Regardless of how charismatic Dr. A is, I'd choose experience any day of the week. You don't even have to drive the extra 30 miles because he also has privileges at the same hospital Dr. A practices in. Now that's a win-win situation. But then, Dr. B is my theoretical/hypothetical surgeon and I'm theoretically/hypothetically biased.
Good luck on your journey regardless of whom you choose. I know theoretical/hypothetical patients both have operated on and all are losing significant amounts of weight. All surgeons have to start somewhere. I'm just not sure I would want to subject myself to the practice arena when there's such an experienced option so close to home.
You'll learn a lot here. Stick around and absorb it all in. Research. Research. Research.
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