I have my SIPS procedure coming up soon. Has anyone gotten the same procedure?

Yep. I had the Loop Duodenal Switch (a.k.a SIPS a.k.a SADI-S) on January 23 2020. My stats: HT: 5'7 HW: 389 SW: 321 CW: 203. I went into the hospital wearing a 6xl (34-36) in tops and a size 32 in womens pants and right now I'm a large (12-14) in shirts and a 14 in womens pants. I'm currently irritated by a two week stall but... it happens. I technically AM still losing (I lost 0.2 pounds in the last week and 0.2 pounds the week before, so I don't really know whether to call this a stall or not, but I still count it personally. Two weeks ago I was 203.6 and I'm currently 203.2).

My biggest advice is to stay on top of your vitamins and your protein and you'll be fine. Well, and hydrate yourself (I'm generally bad at that, but I try). Constipation can happen with SIPS, just be aware of that. Also the opposite happens. SIPS does interesting things to your bowel system... your body may take a while to adjust to a 'routine' but it'll likely level itself out (mine did). Vitamin deficiencies DO happen. Maybe not to everyone, but it's fairly common with this surgery. I had a potassium deficiency appear in my 3 month labs then disappear in my six month labs only to reappear in my 9 month labs and next week I take my 12 month labs so we'll see how that goes. I also had a Vitamin A deficiency in my 6 month labs and have been taking extra Vitamin A ever since. I take less iron then I started with as my iron levels are elevated (I only take 1 iron bariatric multi a day and two bariatric NON-iron multi's) and since my calcium levels are also elevated I take only 2 calcium citrate as opposed to the 3-4 that most take.

I'm not sure what other advice to give you, but if you have any questions then don't hesitate to ask and I'll try my best to answer any questions that you have.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery, and I wish you the best in your journey!

I had this done on 12/3/2020. First 3 weeks were great. Then came the pain. Let me preface this by saying my surgeon has done hundreds, if not thousands of these procedures. 2 days ago I had an office follow up with him. He had mentioned that he had never seen anything like my situation before.

Christmas eve, I was hanging out with my family and I had taken a small sip of some liquid, then doubled over in pain. I ended up in the hospital from 12/24 - 12/26. I was getting better, then suddenly on 1/1/2021, it happened again. I was released the second time on 1/6.2021. Basically they found 2 pockets of fluid collection near some of the surgical sites and they were infected. At this time, I still have a tube coming out of my abdomen to allow the fluid to come out. Even after several days of IV antibiotics, and now on pill forms of these as well as an anti-fungal, I still have traces of infection. I guess I'm just special that way. [insert sarcasm here]

The first trip to the hospital, I 100% stood by my decision on having this procedure done. The second trip, I'd be lying if I didn't start wondering if in fact I had made the right choice. Deep down I know that dropping the excess weight (and more importantly keeping it off) is much better long term. I'm just traveling down a bumpy road at the moment.

Again, I want to emphasize that my situation is VERY unique and also VERY uncommon.

I'm excited for you and wish the best. I just thought I would share my personal story.

6 hours ago, NovaLuna said:

Yep. I had the Loop Duodenal Switch (a.k.a SIPS a.k.a SADI-S) on January 23 2020. My stats: HT: 5'7 HW: 389 SW: 321 CW: 203. I went into the hospital wearing a 6xl (34-36) in tops and a size 32 in womens pants and right now I'm a large (12-14) in shirts and a 14 in womens pants. I'm currently irritated by a two week stall but... it happens. I technically AM still losing (I lost 0.2 pounds in the last week and 0.2 pounds the week before, so I don't really know whether to call this a stall or not, but I still count it personally. Two weeks ago I was 203.6 and I'm currently 203.2).

My biggest advice is to stay on top of your Vitamins and your Protein and you'll be fine. Well, and hydrate yourself (I'm generally bad at that, but I try). constipation can happen with SIPS, just be aware of that. Also the opposite happens. SIPS does interesting things to your bowel system... your body may take a while to adjust to a 'routine' but it'll likely level itself out (mine did). Vitamin deficiencies DO happen. Maybe not to everyone, but it's fairly common with this surgery. I had a potassium deficiency appear in my 3 month labs then disappear in my six month labs only to reappear in my 9 month labs and next week I take my 12 month labs so we'll see how that goes. I also had a Vitamin A deficiency in my 6 month labs and have been taking extra Vitamin A ever since. I take less Iron then I started with as my iron levels are elevated (I only take 1 iron bariatric multi a day and two bariatric NON-iron multi's) and since my Calcium levels are also elevated I take only 2 calcium citrate as opposed to the 3-4 that most take.

I'm not sure what other advice to give you, but if you have any questions then don't hesitate to ask and I'll try my best to answer any questions that you have.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery, and I wish you the best in your journey!

Thank you for sharing your experience and giving advice. Can you share with me your post op experience? How was it adjusting after surgery? Was it painful? When do you start to notice weight loss?

can you share a before and after?

2 hours ago, David_L said:

I had this done on 12/3/2020. First 3 weeks were great. Then came the pain. Let me preface this by saying my surgeon has done hundreds, if not thousands of these procedures. 2 days ago I had an office follow up with him. He had mentioned that he had never seen anything like my situation before.

Christmas eve, I was hanging out with my family and I had taken a small sip of some liquid, then doubled over in pain. I ended up in the hospital from 12/24 - 12/26. I was getting better, then suddenly on 1/1/2021, it happened again. I was released the second time on 1/6.2021. Basically they found 2 pockets of Fluid collection near some of the surgical sites and they were infected. At this time, I still have a tube coming out of my abdomen to allow the fluid to come out. Even after several days of IV antibiotics, and now on pill forms of these as well as an anti-fungal, I still have traces of infection. I guess I'm just special that way. [insert sarcasm here]

The first trip to the hospital, I 100% stood by my decision on having this procedure done. The second trip, I'd be lying if I didn't start wondering if in fact I had made the right choice. Deep down I know that dropping the excess weight (and more importantly keeping it off) is much better long term. I'm just traveling down a bumpy road at the moment.

Again, I want to emphasize that my situation is VERY unique and also VERY uncommon.

I'm excited for you and wish the best. I just thought I would share my personal story.

Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you will be fully recovered soon. Keep in touch and let me know how your weight loss journey goes. Here for moral support as I will be embarking on the same journey

Post surgical pain was minimal. I've lost too much weight too fast. I'm always hesitant posting pics (or anything) online really.

I was 345 at the end of October. I went on my liquid diet around Thanksgiving and dropped 20lbs right before surgery. As of yesterday, I'm down to 272.

12 minutes ago, David_L said:

Post surgical pain was minimal. I've lost too much weight too fast. I'm always hesitant posting pics (or anything) online really.

I was 345 at the end of October. I went on my liquid diet around Thanksgiving and dropped 20lbs right before surgery. As of yesterday, I'm down to 272.

Appreciate the feedback. How has your eating changed in terms of portion size?

Tiny. Because of my particular issue, I've been extra extra cautious of what I put down there. I just made 2 scrambled eggs, and I finished maybe 1/2 of it. So.. one egg

That and i'm still relying heavily on Premier Protein shakes for the extra protein.

I had a bowl of cream of wheat this morning and managed to get it all down.

15 hours ago, Cherubchub said:

Thank you for sharing your experience and giving advice. Can you share with me your post op experience? How was it adjusting after surgery? Was it painful? When do you start to notice weight loss?

can you share a before and after?

I was in the hospital for three days two nights. Umm, it doesn't happen to everyone, but it happened to me... don't be scared, because I'd do my surgery all over again, but I vomited blood for the first two days. It hurt worse than the gas pain, but in total it probably only happened four or five times. I had the full surgery so my stomach portion was removed too and my biggest issue post op was the stitch where my stomach came out of. I probably only took pain meds the first day and a half after being released from the hospital lol (I have a high pain tolerance and pain meds make me vomit so I don't like taking them). As to the weight loss... I didn't actually weigh myself at all until I saw the doctor on my first post op follow up visit. They give you fluids in the hospital so you'll be up a few pounds for a 5-10 days so I didn't even bother with weighing myself lol. As for before and after pics... I didn't like my picture taken so I had to go to my sisters facebook page to find an old picture of me lol.

Before is Christmas 2018 and After is early December 2020

In the before I was a 6xl (34-36) top and 32 pants and the After I'm a large (12-14) top and 14 pants.

Edited January 15, 20215 yr by NovaLuna

10 hours ago, NovaLuna said:

I was in the hospital for three days two nights. Umm, it doesn't happen to everyone, but it happened to me... don't be scared, because I'd do my surgery all over again, but I vomited blood for the first two days. It hurt worse than the gas pain, but in total it probably only happened four or five times. I had the full surgery so my stomach portion was removed too and my biggest issue post op was the stitch where my stomach came out of. I probably only took pain meds the first day and a half after being released from the hospital lol (I have a high pain tolerance and pain meds make me vomit so I don't like taking them). As to the weight loss... I didn't actually weigh myself at all until I saw the doctor on my first post op follow up visit. They give you fluids in the hospital so you'll be up a few pounds for a 5-10 days so I didn't even bother with weighing myself lol. As for before and after pics... I didn't like my picture taken so I had to go to my sisters Facebook page to find an old picture of me lol.

Before is Christmas 2018 and After is early December 2020

In the before I was a 6xl (34-36) top and 32 pants and the After I'm a large (12-14) top and 14 pants.

Wow, I must say, amazing weight loss from 2018 to 2020. You look great! Thanks again for sharing your experience. I was scared that SIPS might not work for me, hopefully I get the same results as you from this procedure.

I had my Loop DS on July 23, 2020. I am 5'3" and my high weight was 393. I was 368 the day of surgery and as of today I am 269 at a little over 6 months out. I stayed 3 nights in the hospital because I vomited the first few days (it was old blood). I really never had much pain, and after the nausea and vomiting was gone recovery was pretty easy. I feel amazing and I'm so glad I had the surgery. I had originally planned on the RNY but switched surgeons and the one I saw recommend Loop DS. I hadn't heard of it until he recommended it and he is the only one in my area who does it. I'm so glad I went to him!

On 2/19/2021 at 2:35 AM, STLoser said:

I had my Loop DS on July 23, 2020. I am 5'3" and my high weight was 393. I was 368 the day of surgery and as of today I am 269 at a little over 6 months out. I stayed 3 nights in the hospital because I vomited the first few days (it was old blood). I really never had much pain, and after the nausea and vomiting was gone recovery was pretty easy. I feel amazing and I'm so glad I had the surgery. I had originally planned on the RNY but switched surgeons and the one I saw recommend Loop DS. I hadn't heard of it until he recommended it and he is the only one in my area who does it. I'm so glad I went to him!

Hi there! I'm in St. Louis and taking steps to get the LoopDS. Your experience in this thread is encouraging. There's a lot online about how LoopDS isn't nearly as effective as DS and it's all very confusing. I'm curious what surgeon you ended up with? I'm seeing Dr. Minkin at STL Bariatric Specialists? Thanks in advance.

56 minutes ago, Somenelsons said:

Hi there! I'm in St. Louis and taking steps to get the LoopDS. Your experience in this thread is encouraging. There's a lot online about how LoopDS isn't nearly as effective as DS and it's all very confusing. I'm curious what surgeon you ended up with? I'm seeing Dr. Minkin at STL Bariatric Specialists? Thanks in advance.

Actually, my surgeon said that statistically the weight loss is about the same. At least in the surgeries he's performed and he's been doing those two surgeries for many years before I had mine. Also, just be aware if you have the DS, Loop DS, or Gastric Bypass they don't warn you that you can develop food allergies. I mean, I know they said you can develop a food 'intolerance' but I literally developed a wheat allergy after my surgery. It shows up in my blood work and everything. I didn't have that allergy before my surgery according to my gatroenterologist. You can also develop Celiac Disease. They never warned me about that. I mean, I would have done the surgery anyway, but I really wish they would have warned me.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery! Even with the wheat allergy I don't regret my surgery and am grateful every day that I made this choice for myself. Bright side of the wheat allergy is a lot of the foods I used to love I can't eat anymore because most of them contain wheat flour (which is in friggin' EVERYTHING because most flours... have wheat in them!) so I don't have to worry about straying off my diet because I literally can't eat that stuff or it'll make me sick... I see that as a plus and keeps me eating like I'm supposed to.

Hi there! I'm in St. Louis and taking steps to get the LoopDS. Your experience in this thread is encouraging. There's a lot online about how LoopDS isn't nearly as effective as DS and it's all very confusing. I'm curious what surgeon you ended up with? I'm seeing Dr. Minkin at STL Bariatric Specialists? Thanks in advance.

Hi! Dr. Minkin was my surgeon!! I can't recommend him enough!!! He was fantastic! I actually had a different surgeon at a different hospital originally and planned to get gastric bypass and because of covid that didn't work out and I went to Dr. Minkin and he recommended Loop DS and and I was really unsure at first but I am so glad I listened to him. I am feeling great!
I love Dr. Minkin and really thankful I ended up choosing him as my surgeon and I think you will be glad you did too!
It's cool to find someone else from St. Louis!
Let me know if you have any questions!