Question from someone considering WLS

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm sure many of you have seen these same questions asked before, so please

forgive me if I ask the same questions everyone else has asked.

First, a little about me:

I am 6' 1 " and approx. 400 lbs. my BMI is 52.??

I am 32 years old, with a 4 month old son.

I have been overweight most of my life. I hit the 100+ extra lbs. in

college, and I really haven't looked back. I have lost 50 lbs here and

there, but I always gain the weight back plus some more weight for good

measure.

I have sleep apnea for which I have already had a couple of different

surgeries to try and fix, but at this time, only weight loss will fix the

rest of the problem.

I have arthritis in my upper back, which I don't know if this is weight

related or not, but I do know that the weight doesn't help it any.

If I do something, right now, I am leaning towards the duodenal switch surgery.

How bad are the side effects?

What about protein absorption, how often is this a problem?

Is vitamin absorption always a problem? or just with some?

How bad is the diarrhea and gas?

Do you really have to cut way back on food intake to lose weight? or can

you lose weight eating a *normal* amount?

How long was the recovery?

How long before I could go back to a desk job?

Has anyone had this surgery done laproscopically(sp)?

What else do I need to know to make an informed decision?

Does anyone know of a surgeon in the Atlanta area that performers this

surgery? anyone use this person? how was he?

Sorry for so many questions at once.

Thanks in advance for your responses.