Sheanie

I wish I had purchased a boat load of Protein samples from Vitalady pre op. That way I could have had a selection. What I did was the yucky ones I threw out the empty packet. The ones I liked, I taped to the inside of my cupboard so I could order the larger container. Don't waste your money on a big tub of one flavor, your taste buds go on strike after surgery. I just went thru my pantry and tossed out 3 tubs of expired Protein powder I bought 3 years ago. Wish I had that money back. Good luck on the 6th!

I have a dear friend who had your Iron condition as well as Lyme Disease. Yes, I believe DS would be a better choice for you because many of us end up needing iron infusions. Not ALL, but many. But if you speak with a hematologist, they will tell you they really aren't sure where iron is absorbed in the body. They suspect all the way through, but I have my doubts. In any event, my iron absorption always sucked pre op. Had one infusion post DS, at the 3 year mark when my ferritin bottomed out at 9. Since then, however, I am suddenly able to absorb Proferrin Heme iron marvelously. If you are having weight loss surgery, it sounds like the DS is your best choice. Definitely research all your options, but you've already got a handle on the fact that a "blind stomach" (left with the RNY) is a bad idea. Keep reading. There are other problems with the RNY, like not being able to take Ibuprofen. DSers can take all meds, sometimes the extended release ones are a problem, but not for me.

Since following the Vitalady DS regimen (tweaking according to my lab values) my Vitamins are stellar. I have yearly labs done, no need for 6 months unless you have an issue. For me, a two part surgery wasn't an option. I knew as a lightweight (starting at 231) that I'd most likely lose all my excess weight with the surgeon I chose. I have a tiny, tight sleeve, so restriction is still excellent at 4+ years out. The malabsorption is what keeps my weight off. I love the combination, I have no problems with any food except flour. Typical for the DS, flour causes bloating and gas. If I want to eat bread, I simply time it so that 3-4 hours later I do not offend anyone. I would highly recommend doing your research and thoroughly researching your surgeon. You want an experienced DS surgeon, not someone who does only 10 per year.

DS Switcher: I do not know your surgery type. And like I already stated, how much we supplement is based upon our own individual lab results. So without knowing your labs, I could not possibly dream of commenting. I don't give personal Vitamin advice. I refer you to Vitalady, who has print-outs of the recommended STARTING points for supplementation for each surgery type. Of course, if you are working to raise any level, your amount will vary. And frequent labs to follow your progress are not only suggested, but vitally important. When supplementing with fat soluble vites, you don't want to over-shoot your goal.

Yes, Elisabeth, and it's also scary when you consider that the labels are directed to "normies", or non-DS people. Our needs are not addressed on the backs of any bottles anywhere. Our needs are dictated by the results of our labs.

No Beans for me, either. Too many carbs along with the Protein for my tastes. Ditto on stuff like oatmeal as well. I prefer cheese, bacon, eggs and heavier Proteins.

Lily, he took exception (I think) to me calling Carly's DOCTOR an idiot. Which is hilarious when taken in context, because I'm married to one. My husband readily admits he knows absolutely nothing about Vitamins. They don't teach that in dental school, or medical school. So I think what Arts was upset about was my calling an idiot an idiot. It's all relative. Once I realized I couldn't depend on my surgeon and family doctor for Vitamin help, I moved on to the ones who could really help me: Vitalady and the DS forums and veterans on those sites. People who get offended usually haven't had their eyes opened yet by having their vitamin levels tank from following bad advice. I have. So I recognize idiots when I see them. A surgeon who recommends Flintstone vitamins is an IDIOT, unless he's a pediatrician, that is. My Vitamin A tanked while taking Celebrate DS Essentials, which contained absolutely NO Vitamin A whatsoever. I took those because my surgeons office sold them to me as an all-inclusive ADEK that was everything I would need. I learned the hard way that my surgeon gave bad advice. I hope to help other DSers with my experience, so that they do not have to learn the way I did.

I couldn't read the article, but I can respond as someone who suffers from depression. The DS did not improve my symptoms whatsoever. In fact, during the active weight loss phase, when hormones are released from the fat cells that are being metabolized, my depression became much worse. I think that this concept of the DS improving depression is a dangerous one. The surgeon operates on our guts, not our brains. Expecting the DS and resultant weight loss to improve our mental state is unrealistic and sets a person up for even deeper depression. In fact, I believe that the psychological evaluation is designed to weed out just this type of unrealistic expectations. At least that's one topic that was touched upon during my psych eval.

Yes, Lily, I agree with you that most dieticians and NUTs are clueless as to the dietary needs of the DS. Out of the 2 NUTs in my surgeons' practice, one was very good, the other was downright dangerous. When I was lactose intolerant immediately post op, the bad one almost killed me with bad advice. The good one, however, called me back and gave me correct information and then went the extra mile of reading the labels on all of the in-office products she had sold me to consume. Wouldn't it be refreshing, though, to run into all "good" dieticians? It's a hard concept to grasp, though, that FAT is our friend now. Eating low fat causes us to GAIN weight. Eating high fat allows us to eat more calories and feel more satisfied. It's very hard for people to wrap their brains around.

Holy shit, Elisabeth! Pardon my French, but is your Ferritin 7? As in SEVEN? I do hope I misread that. Mine was 9, and I was blacking out at work when I stood up. I can't imagine how horrible you feel at 7. My hematologist infuses at a Ferritin of 50. He is very young and says he prefers not to let patients become symptomatic before infusions. Love that man. I do hope you get in soon for your infusions. My hematologist wrote my Rx for Proferrin Forte, but a regular doctor can write it as well. I was unable to absorb oral Iron pre-DS. One time while pregnant I actually got my iron up by taking dessicated calves liver capsules and liquid chloryphyl (sp) on the advice of my midwife. Now, because of mad cow disease, calves liver capsules are very difficult to obtain. Proferrin works for me. I hope you have the same good luck that I did after infusions with it. I really think that since most DSers stop taking oral iron after needing infusions that it's quite possible that we might be able to absorb iron orally once our levels are up again with infusions. But, apparently, most of the older hematologists advised patients to not bother with oral iron after infusions. So we just didn't know.

I, too, needed Iron infusions. Funny thing, though, after infusions I can now absorb iron orally. My ferritin is actually coming up nicely on Proferrin Forte, which I now am getting by prescription, so that's a savings for us. At $50 per bottle, that's the most expensive Vitamin I take. But it's cheaper than infusions, so I'm not complaining. B12 is Water soluble, mine is very high as well, and I'm not concerned. I also follow the Vitalady DS regimen, but I tweak how much I take of my A and D according to my lab results.

Arts: despite your insistence that I am not "playing nice", Carly is now charting her own lab values on a spreadsheet and most likely will be spotting her own deficiencies. Now, if that occurred because of me, perhaps, not "playing nice", then I will be the one throwing sand in the sandbox at recess. I have also (gasp!) been known to run with scissors. As for my "credentials", I don't owe you any such explanation. But, for anyone wondering, I am not a doctor nor do I hold any medical degree. I do have a medical background and have extensive knowledge of medical information. I have learned about my DS and Vitamins and I chart my own lab results on a spreadsheet. I follow my own Vitamin trends, spotting deficiencies before they happen. If I had truly been offensive, I would hope that a moderator or the forum owner would have sent me a PM to that effect. As I have not received any such notice, I am confident that my advice was welcome. If "nannying" is allowed to run rampant on this forum, it will certainly be scaring away other "vets".

I did not call Carly an idiot. I called her doctor an idiot for telling her to take Flintstones childrens Vitamins. That was an important message: that her doctor is giving her dangerous information concerning vitamins. We go to our surgeons for cutting. They know next to nothing about vitamins. There is a glitch in this forum. My profile does not show my surgery type even after I updated it twice. I was replying to someone whose surgery type was not shown, but since this is a DS thread, I replied as such. Regardless, her Vitamin regimen is dangerously deficient for RNY or gastric bypass as well. Carly is very smart for questioning her surgeon's idiotic Flintstone advice. Arts137: If you wish to keep "vets" on this site, stop nannying. It's annoying when you don't follow the details.

Elizabethsew, do I read correctly that you are an RN? If so, I am very confused about your statement that Type 2 Diabetics still need insulin until they reach a "healthy weight". This is simply not true. Most do not need insulin any longer IN THE HOSPITAL. Second, I think that your initial opening statement leads newbies to think that it's routine and acceptable to perform the Duodenal Switch in two parts, that is, two separate surgeries. It is not desirable. The best metabolic advantage to the Duodenal Switch is attained when it is done in one operation all at once. Also, the DS is not rare or selectively done only on patients with a higher Body Mass Index, or BMI. It is frequently done on much smaller obese people and has been for several years now. I would visit as many sites as possible if I were researching weight loss surgery today.

She said children's Flintstones was FINE? What were the rest of your labs? Do you think a children's Vitamin makes sense for an adults needs? What does your common sense tell you? Good for you that you went to your regular doctor. Are you tracking your own lab values on a spreadsheet? What was your D level? Your ferritin?

So did you ever post on OH? What's your screen name? Mine is the same. I'm also on Facebook, on several different forums. I started at 445 pounds, had the sleeve first, and then had the rest of the DS procedure about a year later at 375 pounds. I am currently at 245 pounds and the lowest I got to was 199 pounds. The final phase of my surgery was in 2009 so I'm a little over 4 years out.

Carly: Your doctor is an idiot. You will certainly die taking Flintstones, b12 and viactive. What are your labs showing for deficiencies? How far out are you? With NO additional Vitamin D in your supplements, your parathyroid hormone is probably through the roof.

Since I only get weighed when forced to at my doctor's office, I go by the way my jeans fit. If they start falling off (again) I up my carbs. If they start getting snug, I cut out the carbs (usually just my Nutella at night). Of course, I always keep my Protein at 120 grams per day. I drink chocolate protein in my coffee in the morning and also once again at night so I'm usually above 120 grams in addition to food.

I too am curious to know how far out Elisabeth is and how she can live on 3 meals a day. If I only ate 3 times per day I'd be in the hospital. I can only eat afew ounces at a time. I eat at least 6 times per day, almost always high fat Protein such as bacon or dark meat turkey & chicken. When I eat protein first, I almost never have room for carbs, so watching my carb intake isn't a concern for me 4+ years out.

DS with James Foote August 2009. HW 250+, surgery weight 219. Current weight between 110-121, IDK, I don't own a scale. I belong to many DS forums on Proboards, OH and Facebook. Hi Ricky.

Yes, you are correct. The sleeve is now done as a stand-alone for people who don't want or need the malabsorption of the switch part. Regain is a problem with the sleeve, however. Dieting will be necessary once the sleeve stretches out, which is inevitable. Re-sleeving is dangerous, because after the stomach is stretched, the resulting wall is thinner. A rupture after re-sleeving can happen, or a leak. Some surgeons actually started doing the sleeve and getting it paid for by insurance by getting the DS approved and then only doing the sleeve. And while the second half of the DS can follow later, the weight loss results are vastly different from a virgin DS done all at once. The metabolic advantage of the complete surgery is far superior to a two-stage DS. There are many people who revise from all other weight loss surgeries to the DS because their WLS has failed them. I have heard of only 2 DS people who have revised to another WLS, in contrast. The DS is certainly the platinum of the WLS world.

I eat every 2 hours. There are no "meals" with the DS. Since 85% of my stomach was removed (the sleeve), amputated, gone, along with it the part that produces the hunger hormone ghrelin; I have to eat more frequently. The key to weight loss with the DS is the sleeve. That's the restrictive part. The magic of the DS is the switch part: the malabsorption is what keeps the weight off by malabsorbing 80% of the fats I eat. For me, there is no diarrhea with the DS. Quite the opposite, I am now constipated. I take Magnesium Oxide and eat prunes with my Calcium citrate to combat this issue. I also increased my fat intake to a ridiculous point. I eat real butter on everything, heavy whipping cream in my coffee, and so on. I take high Protein high fat Snacks with me everywhere. I do not watch my carbs. Because I eat protein first, for me the carbs don't matter. Bacon is a health food now for me. Crab Alfredo, hold the Pasta, at Red Lobster is a health food. Full-fat sour cream and butter on my baked potato. Rib eye steak smothered in blue cheese. OMG, I made myself hungry, I gotta go eat!

Please don't take someone's word on any on-line forum as to whether you qualify for the DS or not. You need to see a qualified surgeon who actually DOES the Duodenal Switch in order to see if you are a candidate. BMI is not the only qualifier. You can also qualify with additional co-morbidities, as far as your insurance goes. Make sure before you choose a surgeon that yours actually has DONE the Duodenal Switch. Because if they don't, you're not going to hear anything good about it. Even my own surgeon bad-mouthed the DS. You do have to be proactive about your labs and Vitamins with the DS. Most surgeons do not understand our needs, and it is frustratingly common for surgeons to give bad advice post-op to DSers. They historically hand us RNY data to follow.

The duodenal switch is commonly done on "lightweights" for the purpose of getting rid of Type 2 diabetes, among other problems. It also resolves PCOS, high BP, high cholesterol and other health concerns. It is the only WLS that CURES Type 2 diabetes. Sleeve, band, RNY and the others do not permanently cure T2D. A "lightweight" is someone whose BMI is not as high as 40. Look at my pre-op weight. I was a lightweight. I now hover around 110-120 with no effort whatsoever.