Help I went in for my initial consultation and wanted the Gastric Sleeve the doctor suggested the Duodenal switch surgery. I'm 6ft2 450lbs and it took me a lot to take this first step and I was confused and disappointed. My bmi was like 60 and I was wondering what your thoughts are. I read the pros and cons and I know the DS has more risk but he seemed to push it. I have mild diabetes and sleep apnea and major knee problems and blood pressure otherwise healthy. Age is 58.

I'm a newbie just joined tonight and read lots of encouraging stories.

Thanks in advance for any input.

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Edited October 21, 20169 yr by BigJohn58

The land of Snooki and Springsteen, ah yes, and to me Meadowlands, the Golden Grail of Harness Racing. Got TVG on tonight, but they switched to coins, phoooy, couldn't sleep so maybe to HSN,better than fridge raiding.

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Yes this is the time of night the meatballs in the fridge are calling me they know my name lol

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Come Christmas there will be canolli going Yo at me. I can't eat chocolate (che triste) so I convinced my friend Theresa to make mine with cinnamon dusting. Alas my Italian connection moved home to the Bronx to be with Nonna Katherine. No Tiramisu for my birthday December 26; she sprinkled mine with ground hazelnuts instead, (blasphemy) but she loved me. Ummm Meatballs, they snuggle so well into a sandwich, don't they? Do you eat eel for Christmas? That I don't think I'd like but.....

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@@BigJohn58 a few guys here you should make friends with.... Tell them i sent you... They all have done amazing jobs with the sleeve

Dub, BigViffer, & KindaFamiliar

These and others are truly inspirational

@@BigJohn58 a few guys here you should make friends with.... Tell them i sent you... They all have done amazing jobs with the sleeve

Dub, BigViffer, & KindaFamiliar

These and others are truly inspirational

I really Appreciate that thanks..

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From my research the DS is like a cross between the VSG and the RNY. Best of both worlds.

You will lost the most weight with that surgery. Really research it though. I read a lot of medical journals and the studies show that you lose more weight with the RNY compared to the VSG. Just my two cents. Talk to more doctors before you make a decision. I'll be having the RNY Dec. 14th. After learning about the DS I kind of wish I went with that but I know the RNY will be good.

If you were 28, I would say get the sleeve and get another surgery in five years. At 58 you need to get the surgery that will do the most for you. You don't have years to waste.

Hi Bigjohn58. Here we have both surgeries done. I had my RNY on July2, 2013. I lost 132#'s in 6 months. I did have an 8# gain so now I weigh 125#'s. I have maintained my weight loss for 2 and 1/2 years. I did have some problems with Strictures ( kind of like scar tissue) I needed 5 endoscopes with 4 dilations. But if you ask me if I would do it again I would have to say with everything in me IN A HEARTBEAT. Personally, I wouldn't go into a weight loss surgery thinking I could get a revision later. It is really hard to get your insurance to pay for it sometimes. Plus how many peeps want to go thru surgery 2 times. Now, my hubby, had his Sleeve done June 2, 2015, we went to Mexico and paid cash. Due to the fact that he is diabetic and the OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY wanted him to lose 25#'s and get his A1C to a 8. Well if you know anything about diabetes....when he lost weight his blood sugars were up and when his blood sugars were down his weight was up. That is one reason we went to Mexico. Now I need to fill in the process of the last 16 years!!

His first WKLS was the Lap Band he had it for 13 years, they had messed up his port trying to do a fill so back into surgery he went. Now fast forward to 2013 it malfunctioned so he was scheduled for a revision to an RNY. Well, when they got in there the band had eroded into his liver. They couldn't finish the surgery due to bleeding and the scar tissue so they backed out and told him that in 3 months they would do the RNY. He got abscesses and was so deathly sick for 9 months 3 of those he doesn't even remember!! It was so traumatic. But he needed to have WLS because he has Cancer on his Kidney and he weighs too much for them to do anything. ( BTW he did lose 100#'s with his band) He is a large man and weighed in at 420#'s when we went to Mexico!! Ok, now his weight loss has been so very slow with his Sleeve!! He has lost 60#s since June. Better than nothing I guess. In Mexico we still had hopes of him getting the RNY but due to scar tissue being solid on his right side he had to have the Sleeve. I'm not trying to push either surgery on you but...if you had the choice of doing one surgery and losing the weight you need to. Instead of going into something with the hopes of having another surgery if needed. I understand that you really don't want to have your tummy rerouted but....just do lots of research and if you need to get the second opinion then, by all means, do this!! All surgeries are just a tool the real work comes from YOU!! It is to help us reach the goals we have never been able to. BTW I'm 60 so I was 57 when I had my RNY. My hubby is 66 years old. Plus, remember any of the weight loss surgeries do not FIX our brain!! It is still there to tempt us every single day, but there is nothing that says you can't overcome them!! There are unlimited resources online so go into them and check out which surgery is the best for you because only you and your DR can make that decision. Good Luck Sorry for the book. lol

Hi Bigjohn58. Here we have both surgeries done. I had my RNY on July2, 2013. I lost 132#'s in 6 months. I did have an 8# gain so now I weigh 125#'s. I have maintained my weight loss for 2 and 1/2 years. I did have some problems with Strictures ( kind of like scar tissue) I needed 5 endoscopes with 4 dilations. But if you ask me if I would do it again I would have to say with everything in me IN A HEARTBEAT. Personally, I wouldn't go into a weight loss surgery thinking I could get a revision later. It is really hard to get your insurance to pay for it sometimes. Plus how many peeps want to go thru surgery 2 times. Now, my hubby, had his Sleeve done June 2, 2015, we went to Mexico and paid cash. Due to the fact that he is diabetic and the OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY wanted him to lose 25#'s and get his A1C to a 8. Well if you know anything about diabetes....when he lost weight his blood sugars were up and when his blood sugars were down his weight was up. That is one reason we went to Mexico. Now I need to fill in the process of the last 16 years!!

His first WKLS was the Lap Band he had it for 13 years, they had messed up his port trying to do a fill so back into surgery he went. Now fast forward to 2013 it malfunctioned so he was scheduled for a revision to an RNY. Well, when they got in there the band had eroded into his liver. They couldn't finish the surgery due to bleeding and the scar tissue so they backed out and told him that in 3 months they would do the RNY. He got abscesses and was so deathly sick for 9 months 3 of those he doesn't even remember!! It was so traumatic. But he needed to have WLS because he has Cancer on his Kidney and he weighs too much for them to do anything. ( BTW he did lose 100#'s with his band) He is a large man and weighed in at 420#'s when we went to Mexico!! Ok, now his weight loss has been so very slow with his Sleeve!! He has lost 60#s since June. Better than nothing I guess. In Mexico we still had hopes of him getting the RNY but due to scar tissue being solid on his right side he had to have the Sleeve. I'm not trying to push either surgery on you but...if you had the choice of doing one surgery and losing the weight you need to. Instead of going into something with the hopes of having another surgery if needed. I understand that you really don't want to have your tummy rerouted but....just do lots of research and if you need to get the second opinion then, by all means, do this!! All surgeries are just a tool the real work comes from YOU!! It is to help us reach the goals we have never been able to. BTW I'm 60 so I was 57 when I had my RNY. My hubby is 66 years old. Plus, remember any of the weight loss surgeries do not FIX our brain!! It is still there to tempt us every single day, but there is nothing that says you can't overcome them!! There are unlimited resources online so go into them and check out which surgery is the best for you because only you and your DR can make that decision. Good Luck Sorry for the book. lol

Wow thanks so much for sharing that incredible story.

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From my research the DS is like a cross between the VSG and the RNY. Best of both worlds.

You will lost the most weight with that surgery. Really research it though. I read a lot of medical journals and the studies show that you lose more weight with the RNY compared to the VSG. Just my two cents. Talk to more doctors before you make a decision. I'll be having the RNY Dec. 14th. After learning about the DS I kind of wish I went with that but I know the RNY will be good.

Very good point but I just have this bad feeling about rerouting my intestines I hope I can make the right decision I really thought the vsg would be enough for me. Thanks for the input

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@@BigJohn58

Hi John,

I have a friend who had the DS 4 years ago who was your size. He initially wanted the bypass, but like you, the surgeon thought because of his size, he would do better with the DS. He did very well with weight loss initially, but feels the side effects weren't worth it. He lost 200 pounds in a little over a year, and continued to lose until he was around 180.

He insists his surgeon botched his surgery, and I'm not sure how exactly, but he throws up all the time and and has constant diarrhea. He had a second surgery ( I honestly don't know, but I think it was some sort of partial reversal), and has since put on 100 pounds. He still has the vomiting and diarrhea and really regrets it.

Now I don't know if those are 'normal' side effects of the surgery or not, but I do know it's one of the most drastic of all the surgeries, and is as a rule used for larger patients. I agree with everyone above that said to get a second opinion and weigh your options from there.

Me PERSONALLY? I don't feel the sleeve is appropriate for the amount of weight you need to lose. I think you would do really well with the RNY bypass. My hubby had a bypass 10 years ago at 300 pounds and lost all his excess weight and has kept it off for 9 years. He has almost no side effects.

Take that with a grain of salt. Ultimately only you and your surgeon know what's best. Good luck and keep us posted on what you decided!

From what I understand once you have a DS you will have diarrhea if you eat any carbs. They malabsorb fat for life. With RNY malabsorption pretty much is gone by two years.

I had RNY and worried about my intestines being rerouted. When I woke up from surgery I realized that I never knew how my intestines were arranged before and did not feel any different.

But even the sleeve results in problems with diarrhea, constipation and flatulence.

From my research the DS is like a cross between the VSG and the RNY. Best of both worlds.

You will lost the most weight with that surgery. Really research it though. I read a lot of medical journals and the studies show that you lose more weight with the RNY compared to the VSG. Just my two cents. Talk to more doctors before you make a decision. I'll be having the RNY Dec. 14th. After learning about the DS I kind of wish I went with that but I know the RNY will be good.

Very good point but I just have this bad feeling about rerouting my intestines I hope I can make the right decision I really thought the vsg would be enough for me. Thanks for the input

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I feel like fixation on the re-route may be blinding you from really taking a look at the best option. I researched this 5 years ago and would have gone with the lap band (which they typically no longer preform due to complications) in opposition of the surgeons recommendation. I am SO glad I didn't disregard and go through with it.

I agree that you need a second opinion, but not to confirm your opinion of wanting it l, but to see what another medical professional thinks is best for your individual situation.

Best of luck! This site is great and most people are willing to give you very helpful advice

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@@BigJohn58

I started with a BMI of 60 but I was 20 years younger than you and relatively active. The sleeve worked for me. However if I was older or if my sleeve stops working for me int he future. I would go with the DS.

At your age and with your issues you need the weight off ASAP. I would go with the DS.

@@BigJohn58

I started with a BMI of 60 but I was 20 years younger than you and relatively active. The sleeve worked for me. However if I was older or if my sleeve stops working for me int he future. I would go with the DS.

At your age and with your issues you need the weight off ASAP. I would go with the DS.

Point well taken I'm glad to here from people that started off with a high bmi it's definitely incentive. You make me feel old lol

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I usually tend to go with the surgeon's advice. Your BMI puts you in the "superobese" category and at that weight, surgeons are all probably going to go with the one that will result in the most weight loss, most quickly. You are young, so you will probably recover well and it's a good time to hit the "reset" button - now that I've done it, at 45 years of age, I'm sure I'm going to wish I'd had surgery 15+ years ago.

Discuss the pros and cons with him, express your concerns and go forward with whatever you agree is the best option. The results are what you're after, and at this weight your health is of primary importance...so my feeling is, go with what will get you the best result, the fastest. I initially intended to do the gastric bypass, however they had to convert to sleeve due to scar tissue from a prior abdominal surgery. At this point though, I'm just happy to have had a correction made so that I can be successful now