Dudenal Switch

Hi Barbara, I agree with Dani on this issue. Along with her suggestions see if you can talk to the patients this surgeon has done the DS procedure on. My surgeon does RNY and DS. He's done more of the RNY because the insurance companies that do cover WLS usually approve the RNY more easily than the DS. I was his 21st DS patient and other than a few bathroom issues everything has turned out fine for me. In five months I have lost 125 lbs. Gather as much information as you can about this surgeon. If you still feel uncomfortable after your research than by all means find a surgeon you feel comfortable with. I understand the other side of it that people don't want to be the one the surgeon is practicing on. On the other hand how are we ever going to have more experienced DS surgeons in this country if nobody wants to be the first few that a surgeon performs the surgery on? They went through the extensive training that's required to perform the DS. All the surgeons I've heard mentioned on this forum that have alot of DS procedures behind them had to start somewhere. Whatever you decide I wish you the best.

I am one of the people of whom Dani speaks. I was Crystal Schlosser's first DS patient in her own practice. She had just completed a fellowship with Dr. Buckwald at the U of M. I had orginially had my surgery scheduled with Dr. B (who is one of the DS pioneers), but when I heard about Crystal and talked with her, I decided to change surgeons. Was I neverous? No, not as bad as when I walked out on an RNY dr. in the pre-op room. Crystal took good care of me and I have had zero complications, not even vomiting at all. (Yes, I am knocking on wood!) I have lost 85 pounds since the surgery. What made me decide to go with her in stead of Dr B? Her compassion, her knowledge as a surgeon (she was previously an Oncologist prior to a bariatric surgeon). So, even though she did not have 100's of DS surgeries, she was still an experienced surgeon. Only you can decide, but as was said before, research your surgeon and then make a decision. If you feel more comfortable going with an experienced surgeon, than that is great too Good luck on what ever decision you made! Pat Dr. Crystal Schlosser 300/215/140

Hi Barb. This would be a hard decision for me and I don't really know what I would do. I tend to go for experience (which they had to get somewhere!) and am always willing to travel to get what I think is best. In the case of the DS I was fortunate because some of the best surgeons in the country were right in my back yard. So I felt very confident having surgery with that practice and that confidence was important to me on an emotional level since this surgery is such a drastic change to your anatomy. I am in Southern Ohio, which might not be a huge trip for you, and I invite you to check out the surgical group I went with at newlifesurgery.com. People do travel long distances to use them, so they are good at handling that situation. Best wishes on making a tough decision. Starr

I would personally want to have my surgery done by one who has had a little more experience. You are going to have so many different emotions and thoughts running through your head from the day you get your date until they moment you fall asleep on that table. It wasn't until the night before my surgery that I thought of the possibility that I may not wake up and the only thing that kept me optimistic was that I knew Dr. E's track record with having done 100's of DS surgeries and no fatalities. The fact of the matter is nothing is guaranteed no matter how long the doctor has been doing the DS but it is one less thing to keep you from going out of your mind. It is a very personal decision to have WLS and you may even feel extremely comfortable and confident with your surgeon after speaking to him or her no matter how many they have done. NO matter what you have a community here supporting you. Good luck and take care!