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Will the DS fix my reflux and weight gain following the vsg?



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Hi sleeved 2/3/14, dealing with reflux and regain of 20lbs (never got under 200 lbs with the sleeve) Surgeon predicted my goal weight as 222 SW: 297. I've never felt my sleeve was done correctly. Looking to revise due to reflux and regain. Being directed toward roux en y, but I do not have a gallbladder, so wouldn't it make more sense (since I'm already sleeved) to go with the DS? HELP, I need some input.

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Clearly this is something to discuss with your surgeon and get a second opinion, if needed, from another surgeon/medical professional. However, it is my understanding that the DS will not help with reflux (you keep your sleeved stomach and the sleeved stomach is what causes some people to experience reflux). However, bypass is 95% effective in curing reflux.

As far as weight loss goes, both are great surgeries but DS does, according to statistics, result in more weight loss and less likelihood of regain than bypass -- but you would want to look at actual statistics and contemplate whether the difference in stats is worth it in terms of reflux.

And of course you know this but you would also want to address why you regained -- there is no surgery in the world that will prevent regain (or weight loss failure) if you are not 100% committed to healthy eating habits for life. Good luck!

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I would think if it were an option to fix the reflux, more people would be getting DS. There are a lot of people revising to RNY (Gastric Bypass) because it does cure the reflux.

The only person who can answer that question for you is a surgeon.

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I've posted my story several times in other threads which you can find by clicking my name. To make the long story short(er), I had my sleeve 8/22/2013 & then on 12/29/2015 a revision of the (dilated) sleeve & the single-anastomosis duodenal switch. I also had my hiatal hernia repaired at the second surgery. A hiatal hernia can certainly be a cause of reflux symptoms.

Personally, I would not have a gastric bypass. I don't like the artificial opening from the stomach pouch to the intestine. The duodenal switch (classic or SA-DS) has the sleeve gastrectomy that leaves you with a fully-functional stomach, just much smaller.

I chose not to have a DS at the time of my original sleeve because the amount of malabsorption scared me. But 2 years later I was still at a BMI of just over 35, on 4 insulin injections a day, Metformin, atorvastatin (Lipitor) & 3 blood pressure meds so I decided something more had to be done. I am now 2½ months post-op & am off all insulin & the atorvastatin. One blood pressure med is discontinued & the other (a combo) is half what it was & I will probably be off of it by the end of the month. We did try decreasing the Metformin, but that didn't work - yet.

And - drum roll - as of today, my BMI is below 30! I am no longer obese.

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As others have all said if you have reflux DS will not cure it. Your stomach stays the same the only thing that changes is the re-routing of your intestines. Personally I went from VSG to GB in September 2015 and haven't looked back. I had also considered DS but am so glad I revised to the GB. I have had no issues with dumping at all. I beleive I needed the smaller stomach created with the GB and the malabsorptive part in the bypass. As said definitely ask your surgeon what he suggests but if you have reflux only answer is GB.

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I'm confused, I had the sleeve in 2012 and have bad reflux, I'm having DS in Mexico on the 5th, why wouldn't they do the bypass instead? My reason for the surgery is for reflux, not weight loss. I made it clear to my coordinator, but she said the Dr knows what he's talking about.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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