Question:
I am not sure whick one to pick. Please help me.
I am considering wls, but I am not sure of which one to have. I do not want to have the dumping, but I do enjoy having shakes, ice cream, cake, & etc. I have looked into the VBG, but it looks like it is not long term. I have looked into the RNY, but this one causes dumping. Is there another one out there that I do not know about that you can eat sweets, and have no dumping. And if so which one, and if there is a web site so I can research it. Also, I live near Dallas, TX. Does anyone know of a good doctor that would do the surgery, and possibly lap-surgery. I have BCBS of TEXAS. I appriciate all of your help. Thank You and God Bless You All and America. My e-mail is [email protected] — Nora R. (posted on September 16, 2001)
September 16, 2001
Yes, it is called the BilioPancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch. You
can get all the most current, accurate, and scientifically substantiated
information at duodenalswitch.com
— Fran B.
September 16, 2001
Nora, I tried to look at your profile but I could not. If you would e-mail
me at [email protected] I will be able to help you a lot. I also live
in the Dallas area and was in your shoes a few months ago. I would even
call you if you wanted me too or e-mail you. I have information now that
it took me about 2 months to find out on my own. If you are interested in
my help, just e-mail me. Thanks,
— Melissa T.
September 17, 2001
One of the really nice side effects of the rny surgery is the way in which
your (my) appetites change. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my
food preferences have changed considerably in the 14 months since my
surgery. I no longer crave any of the high fat, high sugar foods I used to
crave. I was a complete chocoholic before wls. I have not had the desire
to eat chocolate once since the rny....not even in those few days right
before my period. No one seems to know why this happens, but it does
happen to quite a few of us. Every once in a while I do have a desire for
something sweet and find that a hard candy satisfies it. I eat much
healthier now than I ever have before...not because I have to...but because
I want to....because the foods that really appeal to me now are the
freshest, healthiest foods. Strange, isn't it? Go figure.
— Anne G.
September 17, 2001
Since sugar is so very bad for all of us, there is no surgery choice that
will allow you to consume those foods and still lose/maintain a weight
loss. The RNY (both lengths) and the BPD/DS absorb sugar completely. It's
also interesting to note that not all RNY procedures dump. If you are
having WLS in order to keep eating the things that got us here in the first
place then maybe you are looking for a miracle.
— [Anonymous]
September 17, 2001
You don't mention the Duodenalswitch in what you've researched. I had mine
about 8 weeks ago. i can eat pretty much anything but my appetite has
changed and I also can not eat very much. Check out
www.duodenalswitch.com. It has lots of info. This is a malabsorbtion
surgery and will aid you in 5 years when you need to keep this weight off.
I chose it because there is hardly ever weight regain, no blockages of the
stoma, statistically a larger percentage of loss and leaves my stomach
functioning like it was made to function!!
Good luck!
— amillman
September 17, 2001
While I think it is wise to explore the various types of WLS, to be honest
with you, it is often your insurance company who kind of 'dictates' which
surgeons that are in your network and which type of WLS they cover. I
realize that it is good to know your options, but my insurance only covered
open-RNY. Therefore, I found a surgeon nearby who was in the network. Good
luck in your journey.
— Molly S.
September 17, 2001
Others have already told you that the BPD/DS may be just what you're
looking for. It's also important to note that as another poster pointed
out, even with the RNY, you may not dump. More importantly, though, there's
evidence that dumping may be a self-correcting condition, often going away
within 6-12 months. No WLS limits absorption of sugar, but the BPD/DS and
distal RNY DO limit fat absorption from cakes, milkshakes and the like.
Bottom line - if dumping is your main concern, the RNY could still work for
you, but it sounds as though the BPD/DS might be better for you. I'd like
to add that I don't think you're nuts, just normal. Most people enjoy
sweets, cakes and other treats from time to time. I didn't presume you
wanted a steady diet of them, just didn't want to give them up altogether.
Good luck with your decision.
— Duffy H.
September 17, 2001
you don't say how much you need to loose. sometimes that can make a
difference, also, your doctor will advise you most likely on what is best
for you. I think you know
by now everyone is different. And when all is said and
done most people after 18 months can eat what they choose,
but in very small amounts, also your taste buds, will change. So you may no
longer want cake and shakes.
— Cindee A.
September 17, 2001
While many of the people who love the DS will shout praises about thier
surgery. One thing that doesn't get often mentioned is the horrible gas
you can get from any distal bypass. All the DS procedures are distal, as
are some rny's. But I've been in a room when a DS patient passed gas and I
wish I had been someplace else.
— Frank M.
September 17, 2001
Hi Nora,Just wanted to say that maybe wls is not for you. I dont want to
sound mean but the whole idea for wls is to use it as a tool to help you
start and maintain a long lasting healty lifestyle. Sweets in general
should not be a part of your life after wls. Im not saying you cant have a
bite of this or a bite of that but wls really requires a life style change.
On a happier note...They do make sugar free and fat free ice-creams that
are wonderful and you can enjoy there. I know the reccomend therapy before
this surgery to help deal with anxieties like yours maybe you should talk
to one. I know I did and she has helped me thru the changes I needed to
make to succeed at this. I really wish you all the best. PS: I had the
RouxNY and I am very happy so far...Take care...Melissa
— Melissa S.
September 17, 2001
THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP. AND TO CORRECT MYSELF ON THE SWEETS, I DO NOT
MEAN THAT I WANT TO EAT THEM ALL OF THE TIME, BUT WHEN I DO, I AM AFRAID OF
THE DUMPING. I KNOW SOME OF YOU TOOK IT WRONG. I AM ONLY NORMAL AND ENJOY A
SWEET ITEM ONCE IN AWHILE. SORRY FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING. THANK YOU AGAIN
AND GOD BLESS.
— Nora R.
September 18, 2001
Although the DS maybe a surgery for you to consider. BC/Bs does not as a
rule pay for it. I would talk to your surgeon and discuss the options and
the best procedure to meet your particular medical needs. If you do that
you have a reason to appeal if BC denies a particular procedure. They will
probably deny if your only reason for wanting a more radical procedure is
so you can eat sweets. good luck!
— [Anonymous]
September 18, 2001
OK, Here it is, I am not crazy about sweets, but once in awhile I would
like to eat alittle of it without having to DUMP. It does not necessary
have to be sweets, just DUMPING over-all scares me. IS THAT SO WRONG TO BE
SCARED OF DUMPING. INSTEAD OF SOME OF YOU JUMPING ON ME ABOUT THIS MAYBE
GIVE ME SOME WORD OF COMFORT. AND TO THE ONES THAT HAVE GIVEN ME WORDS OF
COMFORT AND E-MAILED ME, I REALLY APPRECIATE. ONCE AGAIN, THANKS AND GOD
BLESS
PS SORRY FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING AGAIN.
— Nora R.
September 18, 2001
I don't blame you for not wanting to dump! I have done it,
and I sure don't like it. I can only give you my experience:
I had open RNY because that is what my insurance and circumstances
allowed. I dumped at first, and don't now (20 months out).
I can't quite remember when I stopped dumping, but I enjoy
all foods now- sweets included. I don't eat many sweets
(we won't talk about PMS week, though:) but when I do,
I enjoy them without feeling guilty. I sure can't advise you what to do,
but I can advise you to do what YOU and your SURGEON
think is best for your situation. Good Luck!
— M B.
September 18, 2001
Nora, some of the other "post'ers" have jumped on you about the
sugar thing because all of us have had someone (family, friend, co-worker
or stranger) comment that we took the "easy way out" by getting
this surgery. Having you post a question about what type of surgery to get
so that you can eat cake, ice cream, and shakes without dumping is exactly
what perpetuates the nasty myth that WLS is a cop-out by fat people who
don't want to diet. It's like the woman at my support group meeting who
gained 60 pounds so she would qualify for this surgery, when she only had
35 pounds to lose to begin with. It's an irresponsible way to think about
WLS, and I find it difficult to offer you "comfort" when you post
a question to this message board that makes light of what, to some people,
is a life-saving operation. I wish you luck on your search, but I beg you
to reconsider your reasons for some of the decisions you will be making. I
realize that you posted your question with a real desire for help, but
there are a lot of people on here struggling very hard every day of their
lives to make WLS a success. It's hard to sympathize with your plight when
the rest of us battle every day for the health and happiness we've been
through hell to win.
— [Anonymous]
September 19, 2001
Hello, I must speak up. I am post op RNY and I eat the occasional sweet.
Ok, not cake, because I don't like breads, but I had a few sips off a
strawberry shake and it was incredible. I also splurge here and there with
a fugde covered wafer which has a pretty low calorie count even though it's
all sugar. I also put sugar in my coffee. I don't believe that these
things sabotage my weight loss or my surgery. These are occasional treats.
They have not yet made me dump. I only dump mildly on fats, not on sugar
yet. I don't think anything about this surgery is easy, but I will not put
myself on a life long "diet". I had this surgery so that I could
find realistic ways to LIVE with different food choices. Another myth
about WLS is that you can NEVER have certain foods again. Not true, they
just have to be kept in check. I think it's unrealistic to think that we
will never again have something "fattening". With normal diets,
we blame every failure on that time we slipped and ate the sweet or
whatever. It takes regular and consistent slipping to eat around WLS. I
believe we need good habits. But lets not beat up on people who are trying
to be realistic. Dumping is a real consideration for which surgery to
choose. We don't all have to be perfect post-ops to be a success.
— kcanges
October 20, 2001
I have had a Duodenal Switch and do not have dumping-this surgery is quite
different from the RNY.
I am able to eat a (small) but normal meal at 11 weeks out, including a
couple of scoops of sorbet or a small cookie if I wish. Actually I
**could**eat anything I wanted to but I didn't have this surgery to
sabotage it by making poor choices.
I am a total carb junkie and a vegetarian. I get my protein from protein
shakes and bars and from soy. I try to eat a healthy variety of vegetarian
food and have experiemented with cooking both pre and post surgery.
I chose the DS over the band or RNY because I wanted a more normal
lifestyle post op. My surgeon, Emma Patterson in Portland OR preforms all
3 types of surgeries and has many out of town patients. Please explore all
your options before making a decision, but also be aware that you have to
learn to make good choices post op. Surgery is a tool to use for health.
— Elle H.
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