ohclementine

Just wanted to check in and let you all know that I had my DS surgery early Tuesday morning, with the removal of my gallbladder. I feel really great, all things considered! I'm glad that part is over. But I've had very minimal pain and not even one episode (thus far) of vomitting or even nausea. I was in the hospital Tues - Friday and came home Friday evening. My biggest obstacles so far are just my own anxiety (which I struggled with prior to surgery) and getting fluids in. They recommend 64 ounces of clear liquid and something like 30 ounces of Protein drink while in the liquid phase and I have found that absolutely impossible so far. Even without the nausea it's just so much liquid! I'm going to browse the forum and see what other newbies are up to and try to find some suggestions. Overall, I'm really excited to be on this side of my journey and looking forward to each new phase. xo

I had to comment because I just had DS with Dr. Sudan on June 2! In fact, I'm going back to Duke tomorrow for my 2 week check up and then on Tuesday for the post-op dietary meeting. I was excited to see another patient of Sudan on here! Private message me if you would like to keep in touch and share some of this journey! (I live in SC)

Finally got word on insurance approval for my surgery. Yay! I'll be joining you all a week from tomorrow. I'm trying to make sure I'm prepared once I get home. I was told that while on the post-op liquid diet I would need a chewable, liquid or otherwise crushed multi-Vitamin and that once I move to the soft foods stage I'll start all the other vitamin and mineral supplements. Question 1: While on the liquid diet, would this be a good vitamin choice: http://www.amazon.com/Centrum-Chewable-Multivitamin-Flavored-Tablets/dp/B000RKVS5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432565917&sr=8-1&keywords=centrum+chewable Question 2: I'm trying to order a variety of Protein supplement samples, I know tastes can change after surgery, but what is a good supply to have on hand from the beginning? Is the variety pack from unjury the way to go or will I need more than that initially? Question 3: Just want some veterans to fact check the other information I was given by my surgeon: a) Take a Multivitamin that provides you with 200% of the daily value. (typically 2 multi-Vitamins daily, but check label) Once on soft foods add: calcium citrate, B vitamins (sublingual b12) Iron and ADEK (dry, Water soluable) c) Protein Goal = 60, they've noted "it is okay to have more" (though I seem to remember from here the goal is 30=30 days, 60=60, 90=90 and some even go to 100-120? What is your average daily protein intake?) Question 4: Is it okay to get the majority of your proten from supplements if you have an aversion to meat? I have gotten a lot better at eating meat but I feel like there's no way I'll ever be able to get 100g proten from meat in a day, ever. Laptop crapping out now, better end this here. Looking for any advice foir the first few weeks post-op! TIA!!

Quick question for anyone who might know: My insurance has a BMI requirement of 50 in order to meet approval for the DS surgery. I was at 50.5 at my first doctor visit and actually gained about 10 pounds because I was so afraid of dropping below 50. My question basically has two parts: 1) If I were to begin at 50.5 and then drop down below 50, would I automatically be disqualified? My surgeon's office seemed to almost be telling me to maintain my weight and not lose any and that it would not affect insurance approval if I did not lose weight. Which brings me to: 2) My insurance requires a 3 month doctor assisted "weight loss" program prior to surgery. January is my 3rd month and I'm honestly postponing the appointment until I get some feedback on this post! Will not losing (even gaining) weight during the doctor assisted weight loss negatively affect insurance approval? Again, my surgeon's office did not seem to think so but I'm wondering if anyone has any personal experience with this? If there's anything I need to do differently, I would love to know before my final appointment. And, of course, I realize this all varies from insurance company to insurance company. I'm just hoping to get a general idea of what to expect. I guess I'm getting nervous being so close! My surgeon's office keeps assuring me that my wonderful surgeon will do a peer-to-peer with insurance if necessary, but I would like to be as proactive as possible on my end too. Thank you in advance for any replies!

I just read in another post where someone's friend had major complications, following the DS procedure, which they discovered, "were caused by his lying about quitting smoking." Can someone explain this to me and give me an idea of how long a person will need to be free from smoking cigarettes until having this surgery is a "safe" option? I have just recently quit smoking and never considered that I may need to wait a certain amount of time after quitting to go through with surgery. Anyone have any advice?

Hello everyone! I've been reading this forum for a long time now but have never posted before. At my nutritional consult the psychologist really recommended I reach out to people who've had the surgery I am going to get (DS) to get some real life accounts of what life is like after surgery and to help me feel more prepared. I've had my initial consult, psych evaluation, nutrition consult, and am on month 2/3 of my doctor supervised weight loss program. I'm very excited that I'm getting close to (hopefully) being approved and getting my surgery date. I really feel like I'm ready (I've been reading everything I can on this particular surgery for over a year now, including many posts on this forum) and just very excited to become a healthier person who can really enjoy life. Anyway, I guess I'm looking for any stories of any kind that you feel might help me feel more prepared for surgery. I'm very concerned about what to expect in the pain department immediately following surgery, I would say that's my biggest fear at the moment. I am well acquainted with the diet and supplements and how different life will be in that regard. That will surely be a challenge for me, but it's one I am looking forward to at this point. What types of issues or complications did you guys have after surgery? How long will it be until I feel like myself and have energy again? I have 3 kids from infant to school age so that's another concern of mine too. Has anyone been disappointed with their weight loss following this surgery? I am looking to lose about 170 pounds to reach what is medically considered a "healthy" weight for me. My surgeon is Dr. Sudan at Duke, who I have all the confidence in the world in. I'd love to connect with anyone who has had him as a surgeon, but I'm mainly just excited to hear from anyone who might be able to help me get prepared! Thank you

The DS actually does provide restriction, the same as VSG. It just goes a step above that with malabsorption.

Toasted Ink, amazing weight loss! Sorry to hear you were ill. I would love to keep up with you and your progress!

Gail, I've started my own post inquiring about this, but may I ask what exactly contributed to your friend being in a coma? Was it a result of smoking after he had surgery or before? I have recently quit smoking myself and am curious now how long I should wait to have the surgery. Good luck with yours!

Wow, thank you for the many amazing responses! It's wonderful to hear from people who've already embarked on this journey. Thank you so so much. Toastedink, would love to hear how you're feeling and doing now!

I absolutely agree! Thank you.

Thank you for the reply. I also wanted to say that I feel very confident in the DS as the surgical choice for me (although I am at 50.5 BMI, barely meeting my insurance company's requirement of 50) but when I read too many posts on this website I get really anxious thinking I'm making too drastic a decision and should maybe be pursuing something without the malabsorption. However, I think I need that aspect to get to and maintain a healthy weight. My surgeron didn't hesitate for a moment on telling me he recommends the DS for me. How did you know it was the "right" surgery for you?

Oops! Ignore this because I have no idea how to delete it. Sorry!

Hey everyone. This my very first post about weight loss surgery ever, anywhere. I've looked into the option off and on for a few years and got really serious about it lately. I have my first appointment with the weight loss (Lap-Band) surgeon tomorrow evening. Most of the time I feel completely sure that this is what I want to do, but then after reading stories I become very discouraged and start to doubt myself. (I just spent 2 hours in the "Success Stories" section, and feel like I read about more failures, heartaches, and disappointments than anything.) I am 30 years old, about 5'10'' and weigh 340 pounds, so I have quite a bit to lose. I'd love to get to 185 as a personal goal. In 2008, I had been dieting on my own and dropped close to 100 pounds just by (drastically) restricting my calories and bad carbs. I started at over 350 (350 was as high as my scale went, so I honestly don't know how much over I was) and ended up getting to 255 or so. I felt like I was well on my way to reaching a weight I was happier with, even though I didn't know what that weight was. (The weird thing is I lost that much weight, but really only went down about 2 pant sizes, from an 18 to a 14, and only about 1 shirt size, from a 26/28 to a 22/24. I'm top heavy!) But it was good losing the weight because I felt SO much better and was able to go off of blood pressure meds and everything. I went from barely being able to walk 1/2 a mile to walking 3 miles most days of the week. All on my own! However, I found out I was pregnant and, naturally the weight loss had to stop. I was so thrilled to become pregnant (whole other story!) and tried to manage my weight during the pregnancy. I gained about 40 pounds during my pregnancy and have gained some since I had my daughter in 2009 - and now I'm back up to 340+, which is indescribably depressing. Losing the weight was so hard, and now I have it all to lose again. So, cutting to the chase, I'm wondering if this surgery is for me. I would love some honest feedback on this. Does the band really help with hunger? Does it help with anything other than restriction? I feel like I've proven (to myself) that I can lose weight on my own, if I am motivated. And from everything I've read, those who are doing well with losing weight after the Band, seem to be doing so by eating extremely healthy foods, cutting out everything bad, and exercising religiously. So where does the Band come in? Wouldn't we lose weight, with or without the band, if we only ate 800-1000 calories a day and exercised 3x (or more) a week? That being said, I have been significantly overweight since childhood. I've never been at a "healthy" weight that I can recall. I know I weighed in the 100's at some point in my life, I had to, but I can't remember it. No idea what that would feel like. My insurance has already told me they approve Lap Band surgery, I have an appointment with the Bariatric Surgeon tomorrow, so I have to get this figured out. Do I have a valid reason to question having this surgery, or am I just scared? I really need someone to explain to me why it's worth it, even if I have a history of being able to lose a significant amount on my own. I hope someone can help me make get things figured out. I am so conflicted about this!

I'm not sure what the statistics are or anything, but I think losing 100+ pounds is pretty incredible for most people. (In less than a year at that - took me about 10 months. Not cumulative after years of dieting - losing/gaining the same 20 lbs, etc...) 140 pounds is amazing! I'm hoping to have success without the band, but I know the option is there if I should need it.

They weighed me, did vitals, started my paperwork and that appointment counted as my first visit with the nutritionist

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I met with the surgeon who was very nice and informative. My insurance covers the procedure, but does require a 3 month diet in advance. So I will be going back to see the dietician and surgeon once a month. In the meantime, I do plan to try getting back on a diet myself to see if I can still do it. Talking to the surgeon actually made me feel even less that the surgery is for me. I told him I had lost close to 100 pounds on my own, and he said that is almost unheard of with "the obese and morbidly obese" - and that the band is purely restrictive. He said your appetite does decrease after a month or so, but only because you are teaching yourself to need less, just as you would if you just cut calories back on your own. I seem to have more questions than answers! But at least I know I have a backup plan. When I restricted my own calories, I was hungry for several weeks but then I adjusted and felt fine. I lost weight, went off blood pressure meds (still off them), and exercised daily. I feel pretty confident I would have gotten to my own personal goal weight if I hadn't become pregnant - I actually lost my last 20 pounds the month before I found out I was pregnant and had to stop losing. Anyway, it's definitely a personal choice everyone has to make for themselves. I'm so happy to have heard all of your perspectives, for sure. I have an appointment with the psychologist and dietician a month from now. I'm hoping to lose about 20 pounds by then, just to prove to myself I can still do it! Thanks again, and best wishes to everyone.

Thank you guys so much for the thoughtful replies. I think deep down I want to go forward with the surgery, and know it would benefit me, but I'm just freaked out. I've only had one other surgery, due to a ruptured fallopian tube last year, and it was a terribly painful and traumatic experience. They couldn't (or wouldn't?) control my pain properly and acted as if I was in much more pain that I "should" be. I want to cry just thinking of that experience, it was so terribly awful. My appointment is in about 3 hours, and I do feel more confident now than I did last night. Thanks again!

Thanks Vicky! And good luck to you on the rest of your journey

Thank you, that was more helpful. I realize it's a decision only I can make, but I can't very well do that without information. Toward the end you touched on the one thing that is keeping the Band in my sights - and that is the ability to KEEP the weight off long term. I do feel like that is where the Band might help me, so that may very well be my answer. I hope my original posting wasn't offensive. I definitely do not mean that people should be able to just lose weight on their own without the surgery, obviously that's not the case with everyone. I just meant for me, personally, since I have lost close to 100 pounds on my own in the past. I struggle with whether or not I should put my body through surgery if I don't absolutely need to. But I do like the thought of having the Lap Band as a tool to help me both lose the weight (again) and actually keep it off. I'm looking forward to getting more information at my appointment this evening.

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond, but that doesn't really address any of my concerns. I think it's pretty obvious that I'm serious about losing weight. And that I don't consider this band to be "magical" - otherwise I would have already gotten it and wouldn't be considering just trying to lose weight again on my own again. But thanks anyway.