Hello from Felicity!

[Felicity]

Hi!
I was just told about this forum today, and I am excited to be here! I came from the ObesityHelp forums, which doesn't have much of a DS presence on it, so I am very glad to see so many DS'ers here!

I go by Felicity. I am 32 years old. I live in West Texas with my husband, 2 kitties and a puppy. My highest weight ever was around 380. Current weight is 315. I first became overweight as a child, escalating to super morbid obesity in adulthood.

I had a lap-band done in 2011 and lost (at most) about 40lb with the band. No major complications with it; no erosion, slippage... just never found the 'sweet spot' with restriction. Some days I would throw up water, some days I could even eat bread. I started my revision journey officially in June, and quickly went through the steps for approval. My surgery is scheduled for Monday, September 28th - the liquid diet starting this coming Monday the 21st. My surgeon is Brian Brewer, part of Barker Bariatric Center in Dallas.

I actually was originally going for a lap band to RNY revision, but had a 'change of heart' to a DS instead. I decided to 'switch to the switch' so to speak.

Because most of my surgery preparation was with RNY standards in mind, I am soaking in as much information as I can about the surgery, and look forward to having so much more to read!

So... Hello! I look forward to meeting everyone! If anyone wants to throw some sage words of wisdom my way, I would love to hear it!

 

[weaura]

So glad you found this site!! There are a lot of DSers here! You'll see there are people at most every stage in the journey. You'll fit right in
Your surgery is just around the corner. I imagine you're excited and perhaps nervous.
There is an abundance of information here so hopefully you'll find answers to many of your questions.

 

[JuliaDS]

Welcome! I'm just a little behind you - virgin DS scheduled for October7th. So much important information here and real support.

 

[Charris]

Well hello I'm glad you found us

 

[southernlady]

Welcome, @Felicity

 

[Jen-2]

Hello and welcome!

 

[DSRIGGS]

Welcome.

I haven't heard your Dr's name mentioned when it comes to Revision surgeries. Do you know under whom he trained and how many DS procedures and revisions he has done? I ask because revision surgeries can be quite complicated and require the best of the best. Dr's Keshishian and Rabkin are widely recognized as the two best DS/Revision specialists in the world. Dr K has done over 2,000 DS procedures and 500 of those have been revisions. Compare that to my Virgin DS surgeon who didn't make channels long enough, that is 10 times more DS procedures than he has performed.

Personally I wish I had known more about this going in than I did because I ended up having to have a revision with Dr K because I suffered bad malnutrition. That being said I like to highly encourage new DS patients to go into this fully aware.

I would ask the following questions of your surgeon:

1. What method do you intend to use to determine my Common Channel and Alimentary limb lengths (Hess method or do you do a standard lenght...my surgeon did 150 CM for AL and 100 CM for the CC....the Hess method should have had me at 300 and 100)
2. What size sleeve do you do?
3. Do you plan on doing my procedure open, lap or lap robotic?
4. How many DS procedures have you done and how many revisions have you performed?
5. I am getting a true DS and not a SADI, correct?

That is just my suggestion.

Welcome and best of luck to you on your journey. The DS in my mind is the best possible decision you could have made because frankly it works.

 

[aaa]

Welcome.

 

[Larra]

Hi again, Felicity! I'm so glad you found your way here. You can already see a very different level of knowledge and sophistication about the DS from what you will find anywhere else.
While DS and gastric bypass are both bariatric surgeries and have some elements in common, they are very different in many ways and your post-op diet will be different from the gastric bypass diet. A lot of surgeons and practices that offer both operations give the same nutritional advice to everyone (say but true) so this is a great place for you to learn about how to eat post-op and what vitamins and minerals in what doses will be needed. There are a lot of "sticky" posts and other threads with great info, so read everything that's already here and then ask questions if you need to. You won't find a group with more DS knowledge than this group.

 

[DianaCox]

I'm sorry to say this but (1) I've never heard of your surgeon, and (2) the Barker practice has had a lot of issues related to the DS - I invite you to research this on your own, as I don't have the particulars right at hand.

Another thing - a distressingly frequent new (mal)practice has been happening with far too many bariatric surgeons of giving patients a modified experimental procedure called variously the SADI, SIPS or LoopDS - IT IS NOT A DS, NO MATTER WHAT THE SURGEON SAYS. It is a different, EXPERIMENTAL procedure, with no long term results. Please make sure your surgeon is not planning to substitute one of these single-anastomosis procedures for a proper DS.

 

[Felicity]

I'm sorry to say this but (1) I've never heard of your surgeon, and (2) the Barker practice has had a lot of issues related to the DS - I invite you to research this on your own, as I don't have the particulars right at hand.

Another thing - a distressingly frequent new (mal)practice has been happening with far too many bariatric surgeons of giving patients a modified experimental procedure called variously the SADI, SIPS or LoopDS - IT IS NOT A DS, NO MATTER WHAT THE SURGEON SAYS. It is a different, EXPERIMENTAL procedure, with no long term results. Please make sure your surgeon is not planning to substitute one of these single-anastomosis procedures for a proper DS.

Thank you for the comment - I appreciate it. You advice, and that of DSRIGGS above I will definitely take to heart this week, and speak to the surgeon on Monday. I will also continue to research the DS issues that the Barker practice had that you mentioned. I am not averse to cancelling if it's looking bleak. Appreciate the blunt advice!

 

[Munchkin]

Welcome Felicity. I second what @DianaCox said. And I will just say it again, make sure you are getting a real DS! Best of luck!

 

[DianaCox]

Look into the Ayoola practice in Denton.

 

[Bagaof4]

Welcome, Felicity!
Please explore your options thoroughly. You sound like you have learned a lot in changing your surgery from the RNY to the DS. Now to find a qualified surgeon who will give you a proper DS. Hope you explore Ayoola's practice.
Please keep us updated!

 

[Larra]

@Felicity, I am so impressed with your willingness to ask the right questions and make tough decisions. You have more courage than you realize. Many people, having found a surgeon and set a date, would not be open to questioning their plans. This is a difficult process and you are facing it with openness and, as said, courage. Keep moving forward (or sideways, or whatever is best) and you will do great.