Why aren't more people getting the Loop DS?

[MomBee 6]

My surgeon recommended the Loop DS for me. He raved about it, saying it would eventually overtake the bypass. He's writing a paper on this method and I believe that he believes in the results. I'm just nervous going with a procedure that "nobody" seems to get or has even heard of. Why do you think more people aren't going this route? Why did you choose the Loop DS?

[john7535 0]

I actually had the Duoanal switch last Wed and I am in some pain but I have lost 12lbs in less than a week. I am extremely happy with the decision I made to better myself.

[NovaLuna 710]

1. It's a newer procedure, so some insurances don't approve it. 2. Not every surgeon does the Loop DS. 3. The surgeons who DO the Loop DS tend to have a guideline where you have to have a BMI of 50+ or two or more co-morbidities because there is a higher statistical weight loss at 70-100% verses the statistics for gastric bypass which is 60-80% (but this is just the statistical average. People can lose more or less then the average depending on if they work with the surgery or not).

I chose the Loop DS for my surgery because I have hypothyroidism and I'm disabled so I had to rely on statistical average for my weight loss and the DS and Loop DS have the highest statistical average for loss. I chose the Loop DS over the traditional DS because of the diarrhea issues associated with the traditional DS since the Loop DS fixes that issue. Mostly. Also the Vitamin requirements for both the DS and Loop DS are much higher. You have to take more Vitamins and thus it's more expensive and you also have a higher Protein requirement (80-100g protein a day for women or 100-120g for men) which, in my opinion, deters people away from the Loop DS or the traditional DS. I'm happy with my choice, personally. I was able to meet my weight loss goal and even went a little under it (I think I'm near maintenance, honestly. I lost 1 pound last month and only 1 pound the month before so... yep, very close to maintenance). My advice is to do your research, weigh the pro's and con's, and decide what YOU feel is the right surgery for YOU! You are the one who has to live with the surgery that you go with. Not your surgeon. Choose what makes YOU comfortable!

Also, I warn everyone of this... they don't tell you, but any surgery with malabsorption (Gastric Bypass, DS, Loop DS) has a 3% chance of giving you either a wheat allergy or Celiac's Disease. I mean, it's UNLIKELY to happen to you as it only happens to 3 out of every 100 people, BUT my luck is terrible and I ended up with a wheat allergy. I mean, it's a blessing in disguise because it ensures that I can't eat fast food even if I wanted to, and it really forces me to think about every little thing that I put in my mouth, so I, personally, am grateful for my new allergy, but I still would have liked to be WARNED. So yeah, just so you know. It's unlikely, but there's a chance it can happen to you.

Also, like most people will tell you, my only regret about my surgery.... is that I waited so long to have it done. I wish I'd done it years ago!

If you have any questions about my own experiences with the Loop DS, feel free to ask!

[catwoman7 10,939]

I agree with NovaLuna - most surgeons don't do it, and most insurance companies don't cover it. So that's the primary reason, I'm guessing. My surgeon (and my insurance company) only do/approve sleeve or bypass.

[lizonaplane 1,606]

My surgery center doesn't do it and my insurance doesn't cover it. My choices were sleeve or bypass. I don't know that I would have chosen it given the increased risk of complications/problems after surgery. But, if my BMI were higher, I might have. My starting BMI was just under 50. I went with sleeve but I seriously considered bypass.

[Smanky 743]

My surgeon offers the SADI-S, which I think is the same as the Loop DS, but it's not a procedure he offers on his inclusive fixed-price, so it's a more expensive option even with top hospital cover.