21 Months Post Op Duodenal Switch

[Guest guest]

I joined this group pre-op but have waited nearly 2 years to voice my

opinion on this procedure. I have no interest in the politics of the

weight loss debate, and I have absolutely nothing to lose or gain by

supporting either side. I only wish to relate my personal experience

so others can judge which direction to take. I underwent open

Duodenal Switch surgery in Delano California on March 29th, 2002

weighing 555 lbs.

First of all, understand that I have broken nearly all the rules.

(this is not a recommendation, it's my own personal failing) I ate

too much too fast, I didn't exercize, and I almost never take my

vitamin pills. I try, but basically ignore most dietary restrictions

and had half a chicken whopper on the way home from the hospital 10

days after surgery. The claims that you can eat whatever you want

with DS were confirmed, and I eat anything and everything. My

stomach has returned to its pre-op size and is functioning Perfectly.

The result is I've lost 230 lbs to date, am continuing to lose about

1/2 lb. every week, and all my health problems are gone. I've had no

complications even with my huge starting weight. My cholesterol is

118 (a positive effect not often discussed) even though I eat pizza

and fast food on a daily basis, and I feel great with lots of

energy. My 1.5 year blood tests were all great even with the poor

vitamin adherence. Side effects: I've probably vomited 5 times in

21 months, I have frequent loose stools, and my heartburn has

returned (although less severe then before)

Conclusion: DS is the gold standard in weight loss surgery. There

is currently no substitute and that includes RnY. I have one close

friend and several associates who have undergone RnY and the severe

diet restrictions are/will affect their lives forever. They are all

at risk of regaining the weight if their eating habits change, and

frankly they worry all the time.

I am not impressed by the claims that DS is more dangerous than the

other options. My belief is that the choice of doctor is far more

important than the type of surgery when discussing complications and

deaths, and when statistics were presented, I found that these rates

were often based on 1 or 2 individual cases out of hundreds.

I will advocate DS over RnY and Lap to anyone. I have no

reservations. If you're going to roll the dice, you might as well be

betting on a normal post-op life with all the pleasures of eating,

and without the worries of weight regain and a non-functional

stomach. You cannot have this with RnY. Email me if you have

further questions.

[Guest guest]

assuming this was meant for the list......

> I want to thank all of you who predicted my future failure on this

> surgery. It's inspired me to start taking my vitamins.

>

> DS is a vastly superior surgery to RnY. This hurts the feelings of

> those who have already had RnY and I'm sorry about that, but the

> differences between the two MUST be shown. Mine is just one

> experience, but it's a COMMON outcome from the DS proceedure while

> RnY often causes misery. We are talking quality of life, are we not?

>

> I'll be happy to post again in 2 more years. I hope I'll be just as

> happy then.

>

>