All about the Dark Side

Humorously dubbed the Dark Side by fellow forum users the DS can seem complicated to those who are new to WLS.  It is the most restrictive, and malnourishing surgery available.  I once thought this was reserved for the Severely Obese but I've seen quite a few people who are of the smaller variety use this surgery to it's full potential.

I am going to be stealing facts figures and wording from DS Facts .  This is One of the most informative and thorough website you'll find on my surgery. 

First the procedure.  This was the most important part for me to learn early on since this is what my innards will look like once everything is all said and done.

One of the key things for me is that your keeping your Pylorus Valve.  This is important for a number of reasons, mainly it prevents you from what is called Dumping Syndrome.  Imagine having a piece of candy only to be visited for the next few hours from nausea, vomiting, sweats and horrible gas.  That's what happens when your missing your pylorus valve. I want to keep mine. 

From the website:
"Approximately 70% of the stomach is removed along the greater curvature, also called a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). The remaining stomach is fully functioning, banana shaped and about 3 - 5 oz in size which restricts the amount you can consume. The pylorus continues to control the stomach emptying into the small intestine; as a result patients do not experience "dumping". The upper portion of the duodenum remains in use; food digests to an absorbable consistency in the stomach before moving into the small intestine. This allows for better absorption of nutrients like vitamin B12, calcium, iron and protein when compared to gastric bypass procedures."

"The intestines are switched so that food from the stomach and the digestive juices travel separate paths and don't mix until they meet up towards the end of the small intestine.
The alimentary limb carries the food.
The biliopancreatic limb carries the bile and digestive juices.
The common channel, also known as the common tract or common limb, is the point from where the alimentary and biliopancreatic limbs meet in the small intestine to where they move into the large intestine. The common channel is where a DS patient's food, bile and digestive juices mix and nutrients are absorbed. Since the common channel makes up such a small portion of the small intestine dietary starches, fats and complex carbohydrates are not fully absorbed."

When all is said and done, I will absorb only 20% of fats.  This of course comes at a price such as only absorbing 60% of proteins. 

Check out the website for more info.  I'm about to go and enjoy my stuffed peppers made from scratch and pop in a movie :)