If you have known me for a while you may have noticed that I am not as big as I used to be. On September 30, 2005 I had a weight loss surgery called Duodenal Switch or DS. This surgery is not a gastric bypass or a lapband. It is a more complex surgery but it best longterm results of all weight loss surgeries currently available and allows for a great quality of life post-op.
I had my surgery in San Francisco with Pacific Laparoscopy. Because of the complexity of DS surgery it is important to go to a surgeon who has plenty of experience in doing the DS so I decided to travel in order to have the surgery with the best surgeon available. I am very glad I did because my DS has been a literal lifesaver.
Before my DS, I was on the verge of type 2 diabetes, my cholesterol was through the roof and I couldn’t walk without orthotics. All of these issues have completely resolved as a result of my DS. There is nothing I can’t eat, I just eat less of it than I would have before and I only absorb part of what I do eat. I do have to take vitamins and supplements but that is a good idea anyway.
In 2006 I began to organize a regular monthly Seattle area DS support meetup. Dr. Rabkin from Pacific Laparoscopy flies up several times a year to give presentations to our group. We meet on the 2nd Saturday of the month at the Sizzler in Southcenter (in the meeting room at the back of the restaurant).
Here are some DS links: