Should You Consider a Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch?

Is weight loss surgery for you, and is this one in particular a good choice?

In a biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch procedure a portion of the stomach is removed to decrease its size.

The stomach remains connected to the duodenal, which is the beginning of the small intestines, but after that point much of the remaining small intestine is bypassed.

This procedure is successful for weight loss for two reasons:

• One is that your stomach size is smaller so you cannot eat as much food at one time.
• The second reason is that because much of your small intestine is bypassed your body absorbs fewer calories.

Similar to a biliopancreatic diversion, the surgery is performed either through:

• A large incision in your abdomen or
• Laparoscopically.

If performed through a larger incision you can expect a four to five day hospital stay, and with the laparoscopic approach your stay will be two to three days.

Your doctor will determine which approach is best for your individual situation.

Advantages to the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch over biliopancreatic diversion alone is that your body can absorb more nutrients, particularly:

• Calcium
• Iron and
• Vitamin B12.

In addition, by including the duodenal switch you can virtually eliminate dumping syndrome.

(This occurs when foods, particularly high calorie sweets, move too quickly through the stomach and intestinal system, resulting in:

• Nausea
• Weakness
• Sweating
• Faintness and
• possibly diarrhea soon after eating.)

Disadvantages to the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch include:

• An increased chance of experiencing chronic diarrhea.
• You also must watch for malnutrition.

Because your small intestine is mostly bypassed, it is important to ensure that your body is still receiving and absorbing the nutrients it needs.

As with biliopancreatic diversion, candidates for this surgery have a body mass index of 40 or higher.

Because weight loss surgeries can involve risk, be sure to discuss all expected outcomes and risks with your physician carefully before making the decision to have a biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch procedure performed.

Weight loss surgery can be an excellent choice for those who are:

• Morbidly obese.
• Facing high risks for weight-related diseases and conditions.

It may be the answer for you so that you can overcome obesity.

Be sure to read through all your options on this site, so you can discuss them with your physician.

Here are a few tips you can use to put you on the right path to losing weight.

• Avoid eating just before bed.
• Give up high calorie soft drinks and juices.
• Limit alcohol intake, which is high in calories.
• Watch how much cream and sugar you put in your coffee, or how many high calorie coffee drinks you consume.
• Don’t even keep high calorie snacks in the house.
• Stock the refrigerator and pantry with healthy snacks.
• Call a friend instead of comfort eating when you feel down.
• Don’t eat in front of the television.
• Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life.
• Enhance your nutritional program with a complete mutivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect.
• Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.
• Exercise at home with your own:
  Treadmill

  Stairstepper

  Exercise bike

  Elliptical trainer

  Hand weights or

  An aerobic video.

• See what kinds of weight loss aids your health insurance covers such as:
  Hypnotism

  Gym membership discounts

  Nutritional counseling.

Before you have a biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch procedure, try the advice within this website for one year.

As a registered nurse, I know you will lose weight within that time.

I have personally seen it happen.

Go ahead. Start losing weight right now.