Question:
DS Weightloss
I would like to hear from short and long term post-op DS to see how their weightloss is going (how much, how quickly, regain etc.) I am trying to research the difference between RNY vs DS. RNY seems to have a fairly quickly weightloss ( i know this varies per individual) but the information posted on DS doesn't really say if weightloss is about the same. Also, post-op DS how is your long term health? — drjakata (posted on November 20, 2003)
November 20, 2003
Hi Cynthia!
I'm 16.5 months post-op from the BPD/DS. I'll give you a quick idea of how
my weight loss progressed. I started out at 365 lbs, with a BMI of 64:
1st month: 34 lbs lost
2nd month: 64 lbs lost
3rd month: 80 lbs lost
6th month: 105 lbs lost
12th month: 170 lbs lost
now: 185 lbs lost
Have you been over to www.duodenalswitch.com? There's a link there for
"procedure" - if you choose that, then you can get a link once on
that page, for "rny vs ds" - where it gives a pretty good
description of the difference between the surgeries. Probably the key
thing would be this: with the RNY the surgery is primarily restrictive in
nature - with a certain degree of malabsorption. With the DS - it's
restrictive and very much malabsorptive. Of course, that means being
committed to taking vitamins for a lifetime - just as is true with the
RNY.
Probably the trippiest part of the DS is that there's just no way to mess
it up. Believe me, if it were possible, I would have done it by now! I am
experiencing a kind of freedom with food that I never dreamed possible
pre-op!
My health now is - stellar! No more diabetes, no more hypertension, no
more sleep apnea, no more congestive heart failure, no more acid reflux, no
more stress incontinence, no more wheelchair. I can walk several miles. I
can climb stairs without getting winded. I even walked to the top of a
lighthouse this summer - it was soooo tall! But it was so cool!
The best thing is that I just feel so wonderful all the way around. People
stop me all the time to comment on how healthy I look - that I just glow
with health. It's something that I've certainly hadn't had before surgery
- that glow of health. It's pretty cool.
Please let me know if I can answer any questions.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
November 20, 2003
Cynthia, I had the DS on Sept. 20, 2002. I had lost 100 pounds by 6.5
months out. I started at 322 and I'm 5'6". I am still losing but
very slowly now. I am at 125 pounds lost. I do eat a lot and haven't
exercised with any consistency unfortunately. My health is excellent. No
longer diabetic, no longer hypertensive and my cholosterol is right at 100.
I am so convinced that the DS is by far the superior surgery that when Dina
suggested on the DS message board that we come over and answer your
question I didn't hesitate. I have never had any nausea, never thrown up,
never gotten anything stuck, never dumped!! I do have more gas than preop
and a little smellier bms but then again I've heard that RNYs have that
too. I do take my vitamins, iron and calcium and make sure I get my
protein and keep up with my blood work results. I am proactive with my
health now because I do have a future that I didn't have before.
Best of luck and don't ask a strictly RNY doctor what he thinks about the
DS... only ask a doctor who does both to get an unbiased answer!! LaVerne
— LaVerne C.
November 20, 2003
Cynthia, I'm 13 weeks out from a DS and have lost 65 lbs to date. I started
in the very high 390's (I'm 6'1"). I eat whatever I want (had pancakes
mid-morning today) with no ill effects. Protein first and then whatever you
have room for. I can't think of anyone that has had significant regain
(more than 20 lbs) and I know of people 4+ years out. I haven't had any
problems to date, except clothes falling off my body - and that I can live
with.
— [Deactivated Member]
November 20, 2003
Congratz to everyone on a fabulous weight loss, and thank you all VERY much
for the information! I have been researching WLS (and fighting my insurance
co.)for about a year. I am currently 365lbs and 5'71/2".
I have thought of a couple more questions though.. 1) When the stomach is
restricted are staples used? If so, is there a risk of have a staple line
disruption similar to RNY? and 2)Did/Does your weightloss seem stabilize by
itself when you get to "your body's" weight, or do you continue
to lose until you pretty much want to stop and increase food intake to
"maintain". Main question being.. are you still somewhat
restricted to a certain "Window" of time for weightloss like RNY?
— drjakata
November 20, 2003
Hi Cynthia. My name is Ford, and I'm about 40 months post op with a DS. I
was Dr Elariny's first lap DS case in Northern Virginia.
I was 512 pounds, and loaded with health promblems: High blood pressure,
Atrial Fibrulation, Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure, Sleep apnea, and
Arthritis. I also had a congenitally deformed Mitral Heart valve, and
needed surgery badly, but they wouldn't touch me because of my weight.
I had the DS on July 5, 2000. I have lost 270 pounds, more or less since
then. I have had the heart surgery (replacement valve) and most of my other
co-morbidities have gone away. I'm far healthier than I have been in
decades, and my weight is stable at about 232 and has been for about a year
and a half.
I eat pretty much what I want, when I want, and as much as I want. I have
had very few peoblems with any nausea or ill stomach issues. I do get gassy
sometimes, especially after a lot of carbs, but that's about it for
negative effects. I would take the RnY only as a very poor second choice
compared to the DS. The DS is the Ferrari of WLS, in my very experienced
opinion.
Ford
— Ford I.
November 20, 2003
I'm just over four years post-op from my DS and easily maintaining my
weight. With the DS I have no adverse reactions or intolerances to any type
of food; I live and eat like a normal, never-been-fat person, indulging in
all variety of food on a regular basis. See my profile for more info and
links to my patient page on the DS website. Good luck to you!
— mmagruder
November 20, 2003
Hi there!
I had the DS on April 22, 2003. I'm nearly 7 months out, started at 273
lbs and am now around 183 (90 lbs lost). I am extremely satisfied with the
results of my surgery! I love my DS! I have gone from 24/26 pants to a
loose 14. It has been an incredible 7 months, with very little to complain
about. I had a beautiful, no-complications recovery. I just got results
from my 6 month labs and everything looks great. My blood pressure is very
good. My diabetes is completely gone since about 2 days post op. Other
more minor co-morbs are also gone (back pain, rashes, low endurance, etc).
I take all my suppliments daily (2 multis, 2 allergy D, 1 allergy A&D,
3 Calcium). I follow a protien first rule for the most part, but other
than that, eat just about anything. I had birthday cake on my birthday (no
problems with suguar for DSers).
There really are fewer restrictions for the DS and the dual properties of
restriction (stomach reduction) and malabsorption (intestine re-route) give
me such confidence that I will succeed in not only losing my excess weight,
but that I will also be able to keep it off without having a "diet
mentality" for the rest of my life.
Hope this helps. :)
-Candace
— Candace L.
November 20, 2003
I had my BPD 18 months ago, and have been maintaining a 100lbs weight loss
(80% off my excess body weight) since 6-7 months post-op. I did gain 1#
from over-indulging in my daughter's Halloween candy, though. : ) My health
is fine. I take one Flinstones chewable, three Viactiv calcium chews, and
two iron supplements chased w/vitamin C every day. Routine bloodwork is key
to staying healthy, since your body changes all the time. Keeping up the
protein is absolutely necessary with any WLS, and I'm supposed to eat AT
LEAST 60g/day with the BPD. Loosing that last 20lbs is hard, I've got to
work at it like any other person out there - eat healthy and EXERCISE (that
nasty 4-letter word). Good luck with your WLS decision. My support group
has both RNY and BPD patients, so I feel that I made an informed decision
on which procedure to do, and I am extremely happy. I wouldn't change a
thing!
— Beth M.
November 20, 2003
Hey Cynthia, saw your other questions, so thought I'd answer:
1) When the stomach is restricted are staples used? With the BPD/DS, the
stomach is reduced by cutting along the greater curvature of the stomach -
leaving a kind of banana shaped stomach - if you go to
www.duodenalswitch.com you can see a good picture of what it looks like.
Yes, staples are used - but the stomach isn't just divided, the excess is
removed, so no staple line distruption fears. Your stomach is designed to
stretch back out to a small normal size - so that you'll be able to benefit
from better nutrient consumption, as well as to help bring an end to the
rapid weight loss period.
If so, is there a risk of have a staple line disruption similar to RNY?
Nope.
and 2)Did/Does your weightloss seem stabilize by itself when you get to
"your body's" weight, or do you continue to lose until you pretty
much want to stop and increase food intake to "maintain".
With the DS, your body will eventually "adjust" somewhat - we
have what is referred to as a common channel - it's the area where the
majority of the absorption of nutrients happens in the digestive tract.
Over time - generally by about 2 years post-op - that common channel
actually lengthens somewhat (not hugely) and also becomes better at
absorbing fats/carbs. You will always have the malabsorption in your
corner to help maintain the weight loss, though.
Main question being.. are you still somewhat restricted to a certain
"Window" of time for weightloss like RNY?
Generally, most DS post-ops lose the majority of their weight during the
first two years post-op. I do know post-ops who have had weight loss
restart after major lifestyle changes - like one lady who started a very
physically demanding job - at about 3.5 yrs out, went from a size 11/12 to
a size 4. She did gain a lot of muscle, and the numbers on the scale
didn't change significantly, but the body make-up sure did! You should see
her - she's stunning! So yes, there is a window of opportunity, but it's a
little looser with the DS.
Hope that helps!
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
November 20, 2003
Cynthia, from my observations here, it seems like RNY do lose faster in the
beginning. Some of the results are really phenomenal. However, all of us
who've ever dieted know it's the long-term that's important, and RNY often
regain after a couple of years. You see the frantic posts here a LOT,
unless they've been run off by blame-the-victim comments. I chose DS for
two major reasons: I really hated the pouch, and I did not want to regain
my weight. I knew I would always have a problem with compulsive overeating,
and I needed a surgery that would protect me from that as much as possible.
So far, at 17 months out, the DS has worked just as I'd hoped. I've had two
major binge problems and continued to lose weight! At 5'8" I've so far
gone from 378 to 212, size 6X to 16/18, and still slowly losing. Now, if I
hadn't binged I'd probably be below 200, BUT--if I'd had RNY, who knows
where I'd be?
— Chris T.
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