Is duodenal switch too drastic?

[Bon Bon Jovi 5]

48 minutes ago, Strivingforbetter said:

I had the DS and take 3 Vitamins a day,(calcium, ADEK, B12), and my blood panel is great. I'm three years post-op and have only regained 5 pounds. I've never been able to control my weight and not feel deprived, but the DS has solved that problem. My BMI was only 40 when I had my surgery.

That is VERY encouraging. I could definitely handle that. It's the 40 Vitamins a day stuff that terrifies me.

Edited September 17, 2020 by Bon Bon Jovi

[Postop 404]

10 hours ago, Bon Bon Jovi said:

That is VERY encouraging. I could definitely handle that. It's the 40 Vitamins a day stuff that terrifies me.

It's very personal to each individual. For instance, I have to take a good deal of zinc (and then copper to balance it out) bc I had terrible itching, colds that wouldn't leave, etc. Not everyone has malabsorption in that area, but I do.

Strivingforbetter is very fortunate. Many DSers I know can't take ADEK after the first year or so. It's just not enough. They have to separate A,D,E,K into separate pills. As Strivingforbetter references, it's all based on your bloods. 😎

Looking at your title again, yes, the DS is a drastic surgery. Probably the most in the WLS arsenal.

Edited September 17, 2020 by Postop

[Bon Bon Jovi 5]

8 hours ago, Postop said:

It's very personal to each individual. For instance, I have to take a good deal of zinc (and then copper to balance it out) bc I had terrible itching, colds that wouldn't leave, etc. Not everyone has malabsorption in that area, but I do.

Strivingforbetter is very fortunate. Many DSers I know can't take ADEK after the first year or so. It's just not enough. They have to separate A,D,E,K into separate pills. As Strivingforbetter references, it's all based on your bloods. 😎

Looking at your title again, yes, the DS is a drastic surgery. Probably the most in the WLS arsenal.

I guess it's a bit of a gamble that I really need to think long and hard about. I feel like I'm really rolling the dice with this surgery.

You have been very helpful! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. It's more valuable than you know!!

Edited September 17, 2020 by Bon Bon Jovi

[Manyloves 19]

On 9/13/2020 at 10:24 PM, Circlesis said:

Statistics show better long term results with DS. I’m revising from sleeve to DS for this reason.

In retrospect I wish I had the chance to do it all at once instead of sleeve only. I’m not a super high BMI.

Then again at the time I had sleeve done 6 years ago, I didn’t think there was any way that I would ever regain so there’s that. 🤷‍♂️

Same here- i believe my original surgeon was just comfortable with the sleeve and bypass, and even then he just felt because of my age i should do the sleeve I knew i needed something else based on my research. I would have done one surgery and been done.

[Lara in Arkansas 4]

I'm 5'7, 250 and am having the DS on the 26th. I decided on doing this (along with my physician) as the results are longer lasting and I have Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. Health wise, this is the best option.

[Circlesis 59]

Resolution rates per Research for both diabetes and hypertension are also best with it. These factored in for my decision as well.,

Another thing I learned in the process I asked almost this exact question of my surgeon the morning of at the hospital. Basically I said is this too much??

His reply made a lot of sense, he gave his reasons (partly due to this being a revision and therefore not going full deal right out the gate at my lower BMI. Etc

The main point I wanted to give is that he explained that he was going to titrate my DS to match my specific current goals and needs per my BMI. In the end I agreed and went ahead and had it done that day.

[Bon Bon Jovi 5]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I've decided to go ahead with the ds. I think. Maybe. Lol. Best case scenario i still have another month before i will have the surgery, so Ive still got time to change my mind.

My pre op weight loss has stalled a bit. I was 306 (down from 338) when I started this thread. I'm 299-301 for the last week or so. So only about 6 pounds in the last month. Not great, but better than gaining. I've been having quite a few food funerals, so I'm not completely surprised. Regardless, I still need to lose about 130 pounds to get to my fightin weight. That's a lot of weight to lose. And yeah, I might be able to do it with just the sleeve, but statistically, i think my chances are better with the ds. Everyone I've asked that has had the ds says it was the best decision theyve ever made. Hopefully I will be among them soon.

[Strivingforbetter 246]

On 10/17/2020 at 7:32 PM, Bon Bon Jovi said:

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I've decided to go ahead with the ds. I think. Maybe. Lol. Best case scenario i still have another month before i will have the surgery, so Ive still got time to change my mind.

My pre op weight loss has stalled a bit. I was 306 (down from 338) when I started this thread. I'm 299-301 for the last week or so. So only about 6 pounds in the last month. Not great, but better than gaining. I've been having quite a few food funerals, so I'm not completely surprised. Regardless, I still need to lose about 130 pounds to get to my fightin weight. That's a lot of weight to lose. And yeah, I might be able to do it with just the sleeve, but statistically, i think my chances are better with the ds. Everyone I've asked that has had the ds says it was the best decision theyve ever made. Hopefully I will be among them soon.

No need to have food funerals. You'll be able to eat your favorites after you heal, just in smaller portions. Just try to keep your sugar and carbs low and your Protein high.

[RLeaT 26]

I just had the SADI-s (single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy) done a week ago. This is the revised version of the traditional DS. I did so much research and chose this over the RNY (my surgeon didn't even suggest this for me) and the VSG. I am starting at a very high weight (420 at my pre-op appointmnent with the surgeon and 412 at day of surgery which was 2 weeks later).

In addition to my high weight and BMI (I hate using BMI because it's not a good indicator of healthy weight AT ALL) I have PCOS, sleep apnea, and hypertension. Knowing that this procedure will basically reverse all of my comorbidities AND help me lose a higher percentage of excess weight AND keep it off is why I chose the SADI-s.

I could have just chosen the VSG first and see how I did with that surgery, but I don't see the point in that. There's a higher chance I could just regain the weight I lost and need the revision surgery anyways. I'd much rather just get the surgery that I know will provide me better results the first go round.

I'm hoping to see some serious transformation in the next 18 months. I'm really looking forward to getting more mobility back and having more energy. It's the little things I'm excited for....being able to take a bath because I fit comfortably in the tub and can get out easily...taking my dogs for longer walks...being able to bend down and tie my shoes easily...going to a concert and being able to stand and dance for hours without pain or needing to sit down...not having to deal with the anxiety of flying and needing an extra seat....not using a seatbelt extender...sitting in booths at restaurants...having more clothing options...

Long story short...do the research, listen to your surgeon's advice, and make the best decision for yourself when considering the long term.

[ecugsplgrl 34]

I had the traditional DS in October. I went into my consult wanting a sleeve and my surgeon expressed that he didn't believe that I would get the results I wanted from the sleeve and advised that DS may be a better option. However, he ultimately left the decision to me. Even on the morning of surgery he verified that I was still on board with the procedure. Good luck.

[_Shane_ 63]

I weighed 305 pounds when I decided to look into weight-loss surgery. I lost about 50 pounds during the pre-op weight loss period, and had surgery around 255 pounds. I'm also about 5'9".

I wouldn't trade my DS for anything.

[Stephanie Newman 0]

On 9/13/2020 at 12:00 AM, Bon Bon Jovi said:

Hi everyone,

Just curious to hear what you all think: I'm on track to have my surgery in November. My starting weight in July was 338. This morning I was 306 (yay!) So I've lost a significant amount of weight already. I'm 5'9", so I definitely need to lose weight, and a lot of it.

But it does kind of seem like the place I chose is "selling" me on the duodenal switch a little bit hard. Maybe its because they know what I dont, but there's also part of me that thinks maybe it is too drastic and I'm being sold a more expensive procedure. I had never heard of the ds surgery before talking to the surgeon, so I was just thinking all wl surgery is the same. But it's clearly not, nor is the cost.

My family doctor seemed very surprised, almost shocked that the surgeon would advise any kind of surgery, especially a ds. But, then again, she is typically very conservative in treating anything.

Anyway, curious to hear what you all think. Have any of you had the same dilemma running through your mind?

Hope you decided on the ds. Had mine 8 years ago, same high weight and starting weight. I let the Dr. Pick the surgery and this was his recommended one based on my weight history, eating habits, etc. Thank GOD he did. I lost 175 lbs. with NO issues ever. Even now. I have known, seen and heard of so many people who have failed after the other surgeries. You must keep up with Vitamins and supplements and follow up with the office as required. I see mine each year to do bloodwork and talk to the dietician/nutritionist. I continue to basically follow the eating rules. If I don't then my body rebels, and because of the ds I can't gain the weight back. I am a female, 5'8" and 57 years old. Good Luck!!!

[seababe25 4]

Hi I spoke with several surgeons prior to my duodenal surgery and two of them swayed away from the sleeve bc they said most people that do the sleeve end up eventually coming back to get the bypass surgery because the sleeve doesn’t last. If you cheat which most of us do from tune to time, stretches it out. Then you end up getting two surgeries first the sleeve then the bypass, spending double the $ and increasing your odds of going under twice. So that’s why the sleeve is just a waste of time because eventually it wears off and you end up wanting a procedure that will last. So at first I planned on doing the bypass but then I heard although not that many people promote the DS bc they don’t do it, it’s better than the sleeve because it lasts the longest and gives the most weight loss. And...it was modified so it’s not as bad with absorption as it once were. So your doctor may have also asked you questions to see the pattern of your weight gain. For me I could lose 90 but then it always came back with additional gain. At the rate I was going I was afraid I would continue to gain and I was. The surgery adds years to our lives and eliminates diabetes etc...so for me adding years to my life so I can be there for my kids mattered most. I had surgery on May 12th, 2021 two weeks ago and I’m already down 17 pounds with no excercise. I’m feeling better already. My starting weight was 289 and for years I was 145-150 but then it kept creeping higher after every diet...You can’t go from a bikini and running 4 miles a day to being that heavy without becoming super depressed. I knew if I didn’t just go for it before I had really bad health issues than I may never get the chance. My only regret is I didn’t do this earlier. I’m still recovering but I know the sacrifice was the only choice I had left. Get the switch but get it from a reputable highly rated doctor not one who just wants more $. My doctor in Orlando was very confident and told me he had done thousands of the modified DS all with success. His confidence was key. Then I prayed and out my trust into God and my surgery went great. Good luck