BPD-DS instead of Roux-en-Y??!!

I met with the surgeon yesterday!! I walked into the appointment ready to talk surgery date and purchase my Optifast!! Shortly into my appointment he told me he felt very strongly I am better suited having the BPD-DS (Biliopancreatic Diversion - Duodenal Switch) opposed to the Roux-en-Y procedure!! I had spent the last year studying nothing, but the Roux-en-Y procedure so it took me completely by surprise that he would suggest an alternative!! He continued to tell me based on the amount of weight I have to lose and also my young age that it would be more beneficial to have this surgery!! I am still uncertain at the moment which route to take here!! He tells me I have a very good chance of meeting my goal weight with the BPD-DS whereas with the Roux-en-Y I will most likely not go lower than the mid 200's!! Anyway I am having a scope in January and meeting back up with the surgeon end of January to discuss the results of the scope and as long as the scope went well I need to give him my decision to either move forward with the BPD-DS surgery or take my chances with the Roux-en-Y!! At the moment he has added me into his surgery schedule I am awaiting a call from his office to confirm my surgery date which he said (is written in pencil and can easily be changed if need be) it will most likely be in February!! Does anyone know of any good books that go into greater detail on the BPD-DS surgery!! Also I would love to hear from anyone who has had this surgery!! I really need some help making this decision!! Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

Hmm... weird.

Try the DS Forum.

Who is your surgeon?  Hong?

The DS is an excellent surgery.  Please go to www.dsfacts.com and learn as much as you can.  Also, go to the DS board here on OH and read, read, read, and then read some more!

Keep us posted! 

Dr. Reed Guelph

Really!  Well, do go to dsfacts.com and read all about it.  I think you'll be pleased!

I know it might be surprising and intimidating, but what the doctor is telling you is very good news! The Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (or DS as we like to call it), is a fantastic surgery. It has the best weight-loss results in the short term and long term (15+ years out) and the best results for resolving comorbidities of all the weight loss surgeries. For people who are over a 50BMI, it is absolutely the best surgery.

It gives you the same stomach as a VSG (a sleeve) and it creates an intestinal bypass that causes you to permanently malabsorb 80% of your fat calories and 50% of your protein calories. The surgery keeps in place the natural closing of the stomach, the pyloric valve, so you have virtually no risk of 'dumping' or reactive hypoglycaemia.

The downsides to this surgery is that you will need to do a lot of learning on your own, as it is not very common and you are likely to have a lot of health professionals confuse it for the RNY. You will have unique nutritional and supplementation needs as well. Due to the protein malabsorption, you will need to regularly get 150+ grams of protein a day (through food and shakes/protein water, etc). Also, as you still absorb 100% of your simple carbs, you will need to be commited to eating a low carb lifestle. Most DSers keep to under 50g a day while losing, and 100g/day to maintain (but keep in mind that you can eat vitually all the meat and cheese you want, so it really doesn't seem so bad)

You will also have to heavily supplement vitamins and minerals, particularly the ADEK vitamins and iron and calcium. Some DSers find themselves taking as many as 25 pills a day over 2-4 sessions to get everything in. The regimen I'm starting after my DS will have me taking about 15/day over three sessions to start and adjust from there. Taking your supplements is not optional and can be deadly if you neglect to take them as you are supposed to and get labs drawn regularly and adjust as needed.

I've been fighting for a DS for the past several months and have done an awful lot of research. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help. I also highly recommend the website: www.dsfact.com

PS - Did Dr. Reed say if he would be sending you to Dr. Hong or to Dr. Gagner if you decide to have DS?

No sorry he didn't mention who would be performing it!! He just told me that it would be a two part surgery!! The first part would be the sleeve gastrectomy which according to his bio he does!! I am assuming he will be sending me elsewhere for the second half of the surgery which he said would be about a year and a half from now!!

Dr. Hong can do it all in one go at St. Joe's Hamilton, you might ask about being sent to him for surgery so you only have to have one surgery instead of two.

Good luck with the DS.  I have been reading about it and was very interested in this surgery.  As far as I know, Dr. Reed does DSs.  I am now hopefull that he will be able to offer me this surgery.  A friend in our support group got a rny then Dr. Reed said that he will be doing a DS for her in a year.
All of the info that I have read so far is very positive.

Lu