Weight Loss/Maintenance

At my highest, I weighed 359 lbs. I am down to, and maintaining about 155 - 160. I was considered heavy enough for a Duodenal Switch, and a sleeve was often considered a "first step" to make the DS safer.

By the time I started researching, many people had been having good results with the sleeve alone, and some insurance companies have started covering it as a stand alone procedure.

It has some advantages. There is no foreign body left inside, no need for "fills" and nothing that can break down. The plumbing, if you will, is not rearranged so there aren't some of the absorption/dumping issues that other procedures have. While there is a need for vitamin and mineral supplements, there is no requirement for a regimen of any other kind of maintenance meds.

One disadvantage is that there is no going back. (not that I can imagine wanting to).

ANY kind of bariatric surgery can be sabotaged. I I were to go back to constant grazing & snacking, I could put significant weight back on.

My biggest regret is that I didn't get it done when I was younger.