Testimonial
After a failed RNY in which I lost less than 30 pounds, I went to see Dr. Husted in Nashville about a revision to the DS. I'm from Alabama and there were no DS surgeons in Alabama at that time and I was unaware of the DS when I had the RNY originally.

Dr. Husted recommended I see a psychiatrist that specializes in eating disorders, and would not do surgery on me. He instinctively knew I was not ready. I left his office very disappointed and feeling hopeless, but after thinking about it for a few days I decided I was willing to do whatever it took to get the revision and have a successful outcome, so for the next year I commuted to Nashville and worked with Dr. Tom Scales to get a grip on my compulsive eating. After a year, Dr. Scales and I agreed I was ready and I went back to Dr. Husted. With a letter from Dr. Scales and after talking to me, Dr. Husted agreed to the revision, the catch... he was moving to San Francisco. Not to be deterred, and wanting a top revision surgeon, I made arrangements to travel to San Francisco for the surgery. I was one of Dr. Husted's first patients out in San Francisco.
The experience was all positive. The staff was used to working with patients that travel and was a huge help. They did everything they could to make the trip as easy as possible. The hotel had a special rate that was for hospital patients that wasn't bad for a downtown hotel and the hospital experience was wonderful. I stayed out there for 2 weeks. I'm fortunate to have a bariatric certified medical doctor following me here in Huntsville who is very supportive of my decision and follows Dr. Husted's post-op labs etc. very closely.

I'm now one year out. My total weight loss from my highest is 110 pounds, 80 pounds since the DS. My weight loss is slower than some and drops in bursts with periods of plateaus, but I've learned that I have to be patient. I started with a lower BMI so I didn't lose as fast as others and I just don't let go of fat easily. I've gone from a size 24 to a size 12. I have a hernia repair and panniculectomy coming up in a month and feel I will lose not only weight, but also another size.

My diabetes is gone, my sleep apnea is gone, my depression is in remission, I'm off disability and working 3 jobs. My life has improved 10 fold. I look forward to every day.

Update
It's been 2.5 years since my revision,  Last summer and early fall I did have a relapse with the major depression.  I went through a rough time and heve had to stop working and am back on disability.  This is a chronic condition that I guess I will have to deal with my whole life.  I was fortunate to have a lot of support and treatment by some excellent doctors and am doing really well now.  Losing weight doesn't necessarily fix everything, but having good physical health and regular exercise which I am now doing, definitely helps me to fight my way back  to good mental health and it definitely helps the self-esteem.  Losing weight and getting physically healthy helps to improve all aspects of your life and I think it helps you to come back from difficult times sooner.  I love my DS.
Beth Lewis