|
Post by abright0 on Jan 6, 2012 23:48:32 GMT -5
Before my DS, I would have had the RNY as a last resort. Knowing what I know now, if I couldn't have the DS, I think I would just stay huge and die sooner.
|
|
|
Post by Happy DSr on Jan 7, 2012 0:18:39 GMT -5
I would have gone for the VSG and hoped that at some future point I could get the other half of the DS
|
|
|
Post by califsleevin on Jan 8, 2012 1:48:19 GMT -5
My wife is a successful DSer, former long term type II diabetic (20 or so years since diagnosis, just short of insulin therapy) but I opted for the VSG since I was a relative lightweight (42ish BMI) without any diabetic issues and had long term pre-op worked out most of the lifestyle issues regarding weight maintenance (just couldn't get it to go down any farther on any sustainable basis - no fad diets for me..)
Most insurance that covers WLS covers the DS these days, but VSG coverage is spotty since it doesn't yet have the Medicare seal of approval, though coverage is better than it was with the DS when my wife had hers selfpaid; my VSG was covered by the same company that denied her DS (Aetna).
Supplementation is less intense with the VSG - Rabkin's VSG baseline recommendation for Calcium is 1000mg per day for the VSG, but I believe is still 2000mg for the DS (at least it was for my wife,) which is appropriate given the mineral malabsorption. Iron within the multi is fine, and b12, which is common for most WLS procedures. So, that's three sets of supplements/drugs for the day instead of 5-6 with additional calcium and iron that's typically needed for the DS (or RNY). Of course, no ADEKs are normally required with the VSG as typical multis are usually sufficient. This isn't a real big deal unless one has compiance issues, and shouldn't be a major deciding factor if other attributes of the DS are needed.
From what I am seeing in the VSG world, they are getting a reasonable rate of diabetes resolution from it - certainly not at the DS rate, and maybe not at the RNY rate, but there are some metabolic changes happening that promote it - many reports of resolution from surgery forward just as is seen with the DS and RNY, and even some from insulin dependent patients. If the OP's brother is a relatively recent diabetic diagnosis, or not overly medicated for control, there is a good chance that the VSG will resolve it, however if he is a longer term diabetic, the DS would certainly provide better odds.
|
|