I met with the surgeon yesterday and told him I was interested in the DS. He recommended the Gastric Bypass Roux en y because of the long term effects of various deficiencies especially A. He said that they are having problems with them. Any one else aware of that.

Shawn Mc

Yes, I'm aware of them. If you have a DS, you need to be compulsive with taking your vits/minerals. I take 40+ a day. While not everyone takes as many; we all take a lot. You also need to have blood tests (1x or 2x per year as your bariatric team recommends). You may need a Dexa bone scan every year or two (many women have it over 40 anyway, but many DS surgeons want their patients to have it to check how the Calcium is being absorbed).

While I wouldn't say Vit. A is the main culprit, some people who don't supplement enough have had night blindness issues. Generally, they go away with proper supplementation, but that's why the blood tests are so impt. as you usually need to tweak your vits/minerals each time you have the blood tests.

More DSers I know have Vit. D issues and need to often increase their supplements. Remember, DSers take much higher doses than the avg. person. For example, I began on ADEK as my supplementation (you can look it up). Then went to 5,000 iu Vit. D/day, then 10,000 iu, etc. I'm now at 150,000 iu/day. That's pretty much the high for DSers I know.

So, while deficiencies can occur even if you supplement regularly, it's most impt. to stay on top of everything. That's how you catch it early and can get to work on it.

If your surgeon doesn't do or recommend the DS, you might want to speak to one who does like it better and see if you can speak to any of his/her postops. I see you're in CA. Have you thought of the Rabkins or Keshishian? DSfacts.com has also vetted Jossart.

Oh, and regarding your Vit. A question, I've took 40,000 iu/per day (palmitate; as palmitate and retinol are the ones DSers absorb best) for many years and about a year ago pushed it to 50,000 iu/per day as my numbers were still normal; however, they had trended down a bit.

Edited April 19, 201412 yr by Postop

I met with the surgeon yesterday and told him I was interested in the DS. He recommended the Gastric Bypass Roux en y because of the long term effects of various deficiencies especially A. He said that they are having problems with them. Any one else aware of that.

Shawn Mc

I am pre-op but after the DS you have to supplement with Vitamins. Most of the nutritionist give RNY or sleeve advice. So you will have to be very vigilant to make sure you don't have deficiencies. You have to do blood labs at least yearly if not more often. You will also have to get plenty of Protein and liquids in. As a DS you will not absorb but about 60% of these and only about 20% of fat, so you have to eat extra butter, catsup, sour cream and such. You would have to watch carbs because those are absorbed 100% and can bloating a gas. I am very rarely on this site anymore as I have found one that is very active with many people who have had or going to have the DS. They know pretty much everything that there is to know about the DS. It is called bariatricfacts.org You should check it out. Also read dsfacts.com it is very informative.