I didn’t go to medical school. This ain’t medical advice but my own personal experience and opinion
“The choice is yours.” said Dr. Srikanth, my surgeon. He explained to me there were were several bariatric procedures that I could choose to do. The most common procedure most of us have heard before entering into the world of bariatrics is Gastric Bypass. But wait, there’s like a bunch more to choose from!
Every Bariatric surgeon offers most procedures but some require an additional expertise.
Click on the link below to learn more about what my surgeon offers in his practice:
https://www.centerforweightlosssurgery.com/weight-loss-surgery/
I could choose from Vertical Sleeve Gastronomy (VSG), Gastric Bypass (RNY), and Duodenal Switch (DS). He shared the pros and cons with each one. He asked me which one I was leaning towards, which I could change my mind up until when I schedule my surgery. With all of this information, my initial and final decision was Duodenal Switch.
Out of the 3 options, it is the most extreme due to what was all involved along with more side effects that will stay with me the rest of my life. Altered intestinal tract and reduced stomach side aids in optimum weight loss through malabsorption and malnutrition. In simple terms, my body only absorbs about 75% of what I eat and I will need to take a lot of supplements for the rest of my life. From what I’ve heard, this procedure is usually reserved for those with BMI over 50 but since my surgeon said that it’s ultimately up to me since it’s my body and that he would tweak the procedure based off of my lower BMI number.
Nonetheless, I was overwhelmed over all of this. I’m guilty of getting sucked into the Google scroll reading anything and everything that I could find online about it. Dr. Google is scary AF. I read forums, other surgery clinics’ website, and blogs. THIS IS A LIFE CHANGING DECISION and there’s no going back but you can get a revision surgery but that’s when you’ve got major complications with your current one. Perhaps that’s why insurance companies require a mandatory waiting period. I’ll share what my monthly check in appointments were like later.
Until next time..