Postop

Agreed

Dr. Esquerra or Dr. Wilhelmy. They're in Mexicali but that's the only place in MX I'd go for DS.

Did they give you something like Urso to help with GB issues post WLS? Unfortunately, I was given that medication and still needed my GB removed 3 years later.

It took me about 2 years postop till I decided it had been the right thing for me.

When you have a distal bypass more of the intestine is bypassed than a Proximal Gastric Bypass. If more of the intestine is bypassed then more weight is lost through the process of malabsorption. So it's kind of in-between a proximal bypass and duodenal switch.

i went with the second. The first was an intro to what types of WLS there were but then only wanted me to have 1 type and I didn’t want to be boxed in. The second was more open-minded and had a good aftercare program which was incredibly important to me.

I spent over a year researching and working through the fact that I didn't want WLS. My Dr. had recommended it and I was angry about that. It finally came down to me going to different hospitals and attending the presentations concerning WLS. Then some more time writing up a pros/cons list to see what I could live with and what I could not live with regarding having WLS and not having WLS.

Are there any tele support groups you could go to? Is your practice's nutritionist offering telemed? Perhaps either or both of these could help you get back to your "weight-loss mindset". The fact that you lost that 5 pounds says to me that you have nothing to be ashamed of. But something to be proud about. You know what you're doing. You could just use a bit of encouragement.

I have heard of other practices giving them to those who want them, too.

Don't beat yourself up too badly. We all have food issues. That's why we had surgery. I'm not sure which surgery you had, but can you eat protein instead of what you're eating? When I had cravings I would just eat and eat and eat protein. Now, your insides are still healing so I doubt a steak or hamburgers would sit that well, but I'd have to recommend it over what you're eating now.

Sent you a DM.

Every 2-3 months.

@GlamgirlYou haven't failed yourself. You've just had a small setback. The beauty of the DS is you can still eat and eat and lose weight. Eat steak, burgers, nuts, cold cuts, cheeses...don't deny yourself.

@Glamgirl If you're a traditional DSer, the best thing to do is eat lots of protein, low carbs and fluids. That should get your weight going in the right direction.

@Believe2021Traditional DS in 2005: I lost about 45lbs. in the first 3 mos.

I never had one.

I know she’s done the DS for a long time and has a decent reputation.

It can be distressing. I had the traditional DS 15 1/2 years ago and had all those concerns and still sometimes do. I, too, am religious about my supplements which will stand you in very good stead. If there are changes in your blood work you can tweak things with your supplements and head off issues before they become more serious. I am a good deal older than you and sometimes worry about what might be. What I did before the surgery was make a list of the pros/cons of having it. It wasn't a snap decision for me. I waited and researched for 2 years before having any type of WLS. Do you have any of your initial meeting notes that can show you why you picked the DS and why your health is likely to be better now and in the future than if you kept gaining? I think besides going over this with your PCP and surgeon (which I think is a great idea to really get the factual science behind your body and the DS); it's time to speak to a therapist to help lessen your anxiety. I remember the first year postop, I was extremely worried about pooping so much and was that bad for my body? My therapist and I went over the actual benefits of eliminating waste more quickly than holding it so I was able to focus in on that. That's just one example of things I needed to discuss those first few years.

@AllThatGlittersIsntGold Hi. Are you having the SADI-S or traditional DS?

Not uncommon. I was exhausted for a long time. And while my tastes never changed (except that everything either needed salt or tasted too salty) I'm now as I was salt-wise before the DS. As for protein, the rule of thumb is 30 grams at 30 days, 60 at 60, etc. Honestly, I couldn't do it. It took me 6 months to get to 60 grams. I had to do a shake 1x/day for about the first year, though, to try and get in protein as I just couldn't eat enough. At your stage, hydration is much more important than protein. You don't want to get dehydrated.

I didn't have a SADI, but I'd contact my surgical team/nutritionist and ask them what type of weight loss you should be expecting.

Whatever I'm wearing. I try and match it so if I need to spray my butt it won't conflict with what I'm wearing that day. I use something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Refillable-Atomizer-Traveling-Outgoing/dp/B07KS49CHM

@Camry Hi. I'd call my doctor to see what they think is going on. I remember I had to go to the surgeon several months after my surgery. I was having issues and they wanted to run some tests. 🌻

Sure thing. Nothing is really too personal as we talk about food, poop and gas a lot. 😁 I do experience a good deal of gas if I eat certain things . But after 15 years I pretty much know what I can eat and where I can eat it and not feel very concerned about gas and stool smells. However, if I do have a bit of gas, I always have a small vial of perfume in my back pant pocket. That way I can spray my butt as the smell will linger in my pants. I also have perfected the wall lean. If I feel a fart coming on I'll press up against the wall so it's as small as possible. The wall lean is similar to the chair squelch. I'll quickly sit down to squelch a fart if I feel one coming on in public. However, if I'm in a supermarket or the subway, etc., I'll pretty much let it go and just look around like everyone else, lol. Believe me, I was a wreck in the beginning. Now I take it much more in stride.🤣 Oh, and for gas, never ingest charcoal supplements. You can wear charcoal pads if you like, but DSers can't ingest charcoal. It has something to do w/absorption and impeding it. And we don't need more of that. Gas is mainly associated w/sugar/simple carbs. But once in a while I'll have it from something like tuna fish. But that's minor and I use the above methods to deal with it. My DS nutritionist once told me it was natural to have more gas in the evening as that's when the food settles down. I used to have more than I do now (at home in the evening). If you're worried about a partner, you'd need to let h/she know it's going to happen and is it a deal breaker? It wasn't for my husband. I use this for stool at work. I find it covers everything beautifully. Lots of trial and error and it's my favorite. Some like this, but it didn't do much for me. Others just say the heck with it and that everyone's poop smells. 😁

@SAsurgery Hi. I'm 15 1/2 years out from a traditional DS. - What foods do you avoid? (Fatty foods? Carbs? Can you tolerate small amounts?) I eat fatty foods. It helps to "grease the wheels" so to speak. For instance, I buy 80% chopped ground beef as I need the fat. It does generally takes me 2 sittings to finish a meal. - Do you have diarrhea? Sometimes. My doctors classify diarrhea as going too much and/or going liquid. I'm more in the too much area. This will occur if I eat junk and/or too many simple carbs. That's why I eat them pretty much only at home. If you have diarrhea and you're not sure why, it can signify it's time for a dose of Flagyl. Many DSers I know take it yearly and I probably should, too. Just to keep things even. - How many Vitamins do you take? Have you experienced Vitamin deficiencies? Have you had to get infusions? I take over 40 a day. It's second nature. As a matter of fact, when I wasn't permitted to take them while going through gb surgery, I went a little nutty. I'm just so used to it after so long. I've had some issues with my bloods. Sometimes the numbers are too high, other times too low. My surgical group has me do them every 6 mos. so tweaks can be made to what I take. The only infusion I take is Reclast. But I know a good many DSers who need iron infusions. That's never been an issue for me. - Do you struggle to maintain your weight loss? Do you feel like you are constantly on a diet? No and no (and we don't count calories). I kept a food log for the first 6 mos., now I have a protein ticker in the back of my head that just checks off protein grams. I eat 125-150gr/day so I'm constantly eating protein. Just had my mid-morning snack which was cheese and nuts. I also keep it low on the simple carbs. I don't want the weight gain or the gas/stool issues. I'll probably grab a triple cheeseburger w/catsup from McD later if I'm hungry in the afternoon. I just eat the meat. First, bc the bun is too filling and I always eat protein first. Second, bc I don't want what will come with the carbs. - Anything else you wish you had known before surgery? Do a Dexa scan preop. So you can have a baseline. Keep all your blood work. I have it since preop. It allows me to look for trends (esp. the last 3 draws) and also can help out if there's an issue. Some DSers I know have made a spread sheet for their blood work. I've never missed a day of supplements. I expect as a Dr. you won't either. 😊