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Dr Sudan at Duke.
HW322 SW296 GW150 LW196
RNY 8-29-11
Revision to Distal bypass 7-5-16
SW262 GW165
John 3:16
DesertHarvest.com makes a multivit without B6. It is $28 for 90 capsules and not sure if it meets 100% daily requirements. A couple of years ago when I was looking for a multi without B6, this wasn't available. I opted to use their B complex without B6 and a multi mineral. To meet the same requirements of Bs in my mulit vit, I only needed to take 3 B complex a week. The multi mineral I used was Country Life Total Mins-Iron Free 120 tablets. They do make one with iron, just make sure the serving size is 2 tablets.
HW322 SW296 GW150 LW196
RNY 8-29-11
Revision to Distal bypass 7-5-16
SW262 GW165
John 3:16
I had a co-worker who had the RNY just when I was starting my research. She lost about 100 pounds but never changed her eating habits so she slowly began to gain everything back. The more I learned about the DS the more I knew this was the right surgery for me (it was all about long-term). Any surgery with work as long as you are willing and able to make the appropriate lifestyle changes. The main thing with the DS is the LIFETIME commitment to vitamins, labs, eating right for the DS. You also have to understand the risks of the DS - iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, and other potential health issues related to malabsorption. Some people, no matter how compliant (me), still has to face anemia and osteoporosis. It's just the tradeoff I was willing to make. My primary pre-op co-morbidity was severe sleep apnea, which is now completely gone.
I'm 17 years post-op and I'm still at my goal weight. I had gained about 15 pounds a couple of years ago and with commitment, I was able to lose those 15 pounds and keep them off.
You have to make the right decision for you and your lifestyle.
Janet in Leesburg
DS 2/25/03
Hazem Elariny
-175
Dr. Hazem Elariny in Vienna, VA (DC suburb). Not the most sophisticated office but a gifted surgeon.
Janet in Leesburg
DS 2/25/03
Hazem Elariny
-175
The PatchAid is a knock off of the PatchMD vitamin patches. I have low iron and used these for a while but my levels were too low to see an increase and my dr told me to ditch them and go to iron by mouth after I had to have infusions to build the iron up. Any of the other patches by PatchMD are great but I never saw an increase in my iron on them.
I probably would have gone with the DS if my insurance covered it, but it didn't. It only covered bypass, sleeve, and band (that was five years ago, so I doubt it covers the band anymore)
I chose bypass over sleeve for a couple of reasons: 1) I had GERD, and surgeons usually recommend bypass for patients who have GERD. Sleeve can make it worse (certainly not always, but often enough that it's a pretty well-known risk), whereas bypass often improves if not outright cures it. Second reason is that at the time of my surgery, bypass was the gold standard and had more research behind it than the sleeve did. I was a little worried that the sleeve would end up being "Lapband 2". However, it's been around long enough at this point - and it's done enough - that it's proven itself. I don't think that would be a concern at this point. But because of my pre-op GERD, I'd still choose bypass if I had to make that choice today.
I worked in an office full of fat women. I was one of them. 10 of us had WLS over a 2 year period. 8 RNY, one band, and 1 DS(me). Fast forward about 20 years.
The band person never lost an ounce. Total fail. 7 of the RNY people are now as heavy or heavier than when they had surgery. Another fail. Today 1 of the RNY people and the one DS person(me) are still pretty normal looking.
I think the RNY is cruel. We adapt over time. The standard proximal RNY doesn't bypass much. Around the 2 year mark your body adapts to the bypass and many patients start gaining. The DS bypasses so much your body can't adapt completely. This is why DSers have the best long term results. The DS also has the most 'normal' post op life. There is nothing I can't eat but I still have to diet just like almost every other woman on the planet. I can gain weight.
But... There is a tradeoff. You have to be willing to take the supplements for life. I take a small handfull of pills twice a day. To me it's no big deal and it's a habit just like anything else I do every day. I took daily vitamins before surgery so it wasn't a huge adjustment for me.
Today I am 65 and still very healthy. I take no prescription meds and I can do anything I could when I was 25. I am happy with my decision. Now it's your turn. Choose wisely!
Hello there, I am scheduled for a VSG later this year, but I am interested in learning more about the DS.
My surgeon does not do the surgery, any recommendations for surgeons in the south east?
I live in South Carolina.
I am still preop and I am looking at all of my options... What was it that drew you to DS vs VSG or RNY? Any helpful info is greatly appreciated!
HW 372 SW 350 CW 185 GW 150 Lost 187 so far....
