Re: newbie&needing info on post-op problems

September 24, 2000

Bridged,

I am scheduled for a surgery 10-10-2000. I was scheduled in August for

the RNY, saw the truth for me, cancelled the operation & found a DS surgeon.

I heard all the same things you talked about & almost went with the RNY

because of all the " stinky " press I read about the DS. Then found a few DS

post-ps on the AMOS site & read every post those few had ever written ( thank

you , Fran & Heidi). From that informaion, I found the Duodenal

Switch site & did my own research. For me, the only choice is DS.

There are no gauranties as far as 20 years post op goes but I can tell

you where I will be in 10 shold I forgo the DS, dead. Also, I wouldn't trade

even 5 years of quality life for the 20 of misery.

Another thought, I asked my surgeon about long term complications and he said

the biggest thing they worry about is liver trouble due to protein

malabsorption. So, you must be willing to eat the prescribed amount of

protein daily for the rest of your life, I am willing to do that to save my

own life. Also he said that if I am doing the regular blood work that is

required for postop we coud catch the problem long before it gets to the pint

of liver damage.

Hope this helps a bit,

t

September 25, 2000

Brigid.... hi and welcome!

As we all know, this is a big and scary step. It does get confusing.

All I can say is that for me, it was the DS or nothing. This surgery has

enabled me to live a normal life and make normal food choices and has left

my body functioning as normally as possible.

For my mother (age 54) and daughter (age 17), the decision was the same. No

DS, no surgery.

I believe in this surgery so much, Birgid and I do hope you an find the

answers you are looking for. If you have any specific questions, just let

us know.

kris

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aniceto Baltasar, MD

Alcoy, SPAIN

July 23, 1999 - self pay

Open BPD/DS

60.35 inches gone

140+ lbs gone to the wind

La vita e bella!

See my pics: http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Kris/kris.html

newbie & needing info on post-op problems

>

> Hello Everyone,

> I have also been watching and reading from afar. I am having

> difficulty deciding betweeen the RNY and the " switch " . I feel like I

> need to know more about the bad things(Bruce if you're reading please

> respond to everyones cry for facts). I know it is thrilling to lose

> the weight. I know you can live a normal life again.

> What I don't know is the negative side. What about your

> health in 20- 30 years? what about getting enough nutrients to live

> and be healthy 20 years from now? What about everything I hear about

> gas/diarrhea or rectal problems?

> These are what I hear every where else..the DS gives you

> terrible gas/ diarrhea from that. Then when I am reading everyone's

> post no body has it or at least I haven't seen it yet. I know I

> probably sound negative, but I really truly am not I am just very

> frustrated with my resources for facts. Every sight I go to whether

> it's for RNY or DS claims to bethe best and no one ever has any of

> these problems. Then when I read the medical side it's beware of the

> gas, diarrhea, rectal problems. I am scared to do this one because of

> this alone.

> O.k. on a " lighter " side I really appreciate having this available

> to me. I really appreciate all of you who have put your selfs out

> there for us to learn and grow from. I can't tell you how happy I am

> that I have a choice. I just don't want to regret the choice to have

> the DS. I really want to have this procedure the most, but I am

> terrified I will end up with more problems than I started with.

> I hope someone who has had this procedure will respond. I am not

> as " crabby " as I probably came across here, but just getting a little

> desperate for info.

> Thanking you in anticipation!!

> Brigid

>

September 25, 2000