Postop

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. 😊

It's very personal to each individual. For instance, I have to take a good deal of zinc (and then copper to balance it out) bc I had terrible itching, colds that wouldn't leave, etc. Not everyone has malabsorption in that area, but I do. Strivingforbetter is very fortunate. Many DSers I know can't take ADEK after the first year or so. It's just not enough. They have to separate A,D,E,K into separate pills. As Strivingforbetter references, it's all based on your bloods. 😎 Looking at your title again, yes, the DS is a drastic surgery. Probably the most in the WLS arsenal.

Definitely find out which DS it is. There is a difference in how much you could possibly lose, the side effects, the amount of supplements you'll need each day, etc. With the newer single DS you have fewer side effects, generally need fewer supplements, etc. I buy vitamins/supplements every 6 mos. after my bloods (in case I need to increase/decrease my order after the bloods are read and I tweak the amount I take). I buy them pretty much online at a variety of places. I'd say I've gotten it down to about $700/year. Considering what I spent on the junk I ate fulltime before WLS I'm saving a ton of money. 😀

I'd be curious who your doctor is and whether he is recommending the traditional DS or the modified one that is more commonly done today. I was smaller than you 15+ years ago when I had the traditional DS. A couple of doctors didn't feel I needed it. After doing the research and a lot of thought, I believed it was best for me. But it's a very personal decision. One factor in my decision making process was I wanted a procedure that was known for letting you lose the most weight and have the greatest chance to keep it off. I have done that. However, there are negatives you learn to deal with. Such as when to eat junk and/or complex carbs. I don't eat either in public or during the day. Those are done at night so if I have gas or stool I can deal with it at home. What I appreciate is I eat every couple of hours. As a binge eater, this appealed to me. I eat protein (as much as I want). For a snack I'll have a triple cheeseburger with catsup. I don't eat the bun bc: 1. I always have to get in my protein first and the bun is too filling; and 2. I wouldn't eat those carbs unless I was at home. What I like about being able to eat much and often is I don't feel deprived. I constantly snack on cheese, nuts, cold cuts, peanut butter, etc. There is no counting calories w/the DS. Only protein grams (I average 125-150 day) and complex carb grams. That is what was and is important to me. but everyone has their own deal breakers of what they can't live with or live without. It took 2 years postop for me to decide the DS had been right for me. I didn't want WLS, I wanted to do it on my own but I finally realized I couldn't. I stumbled onto the DS at the end of 2004, when I was going to seminars at different hospitals in Manhattan. I'd never heard of it, but realized if I had to have WLS this was the one I felt would work the best for me in the long term. I do take 40+ vits/minerals day and have my bloods done every 6 mos. Some doctors require them done yearly. It depends on the doctor. Often after the bloods are done, I have to tweak my vits/mineral intake up or down. I've never missed a day of supplements as this is something you must commit to for the rest of your life if you have a DS. I'd suggest a Pros/Cons list to figure out which (if any) of the WLS is the best for you. I found it very helpful when making my decision.

@sunseeker I had the traditional DS 15+ years ago, which if anything, is sometimes reputed to give more gas and diarrhea than the SIPS procedure. It's controllable by what you eat and when. For instance, I don't eat simple carbs like bread or cereal during the day bc I don't want the gas at work. I eat them at home. Same with ice cream or chocolate. For a snack or perhaps lunch, I'll eat a triple cheeseburger or two from McDonald's but I won't eat the bun. Mainly bc it's too filling and I need the protein first but also bc I don't want gas or stool issues. What happens is you learn what you can eat and what will cause problems and you adjust when you eat what accordingly. I also carry a small vial of this for when I go to the bathroom. It works wonders. And I carry a small vial of perfume in the rear pocket of my slacks in case I do have a bit of gas. I just spray the bottom of my pants to ensure no smell remains.

Have you had milk or cheese or something w/lactose?

@jackins12 Hi. Did your surgeons give you an eating plan? And don't panic. 🙂Feel free to call your surgical team if you're worried. I can also give you a copy of the plan for sleevers my team provides.

Agreed. I only weighed at the surgeon's office that first year so I never saw ups, downs, plateaus. That was what worked for me. But if you feel you need to weigh more often, then go for it.☺️

@WhatATool:-) I lost 19 lbs. the first month. I only weighed at the Doctor's office so I have no idea what I was earlier than that. While some might be disappointed by that number, I was thrilled. It was the most I'd ever lost in a month & I hadn't gained as I normally would have if I'd kept on as I was pre surgery. Now 15 years later, I am right where I want to be. I hope you will be, too.

Are you eating carbs during the day? Simple carbs. That might be part of the issue. I generally don't eat simple carbs till I'm home and free to be me...

Congratulations! I remember I wasn't prepared for possible lactose intolerance. I developed it the first week or two despite the fact I was eating so little (a tsp. of scrambled eggs was breakfast, lol). If you feel gas pains or things such as that, just remember to go with lactaid milk, cheese, etc., or lactaid OTC pills to use before eating real milk, cheese, etc. Thankfully, it doesn't last forever in almost all cases. Mine left after a year and I can eat anything.

Until you speak with him see if you can choke down a protein shake.

Glad you're on a new vitamin/supplement plan as it's crucial w/DSers. Have you spoken to Dr. K? I go through hungry and non-hungry periods. I also don't eat when I'm distressed so this Pandemic has caused a weight loss I'm trying to reverse. However, I don't recall going through something where nothing tastes good or sounds good. I presume you're still forcing yourself to eat the 100+ grams/protein per day to keep up your health (as I do when I'm upset), but I'd consider reaching out to Dr. K.

It's a great idea. I did pics every 3 mos. in the first year and now I do them annually. It really lets you see what you might've forgotten and how far you've come.😀

I’ve met her many times at the Lenox Hill support groups. She seems to be caring and I hope she can help you. Is she doing telemedicine?

I think her name is Sharon, right? She should be able to give you some guidance.

I'm so sorry to hear what you've gone through. I'm glad you're home. As for pooping a lot; sometimes yes, sometimes no. Let me say, I keep the plunger next to the bowl bc too often I fill it up and need to plunge. Other times it's less. It's interesting as you're not eating much, yet going a lot. I eat much more than you. I do go about 5x/day but that's how it's been for me since the DS. Do you take iron? That can make my poop much darker. Does your poop ever float? Have you spoken to your team? Seems as if you might need a dose of Flagyl to straighten things out. I needed it about 6 mos. postop bc I was having dreadful diarrhea. I know a good many DSers who use it at least yearly to keep things flowing well.

@TXDSI had a lot of issues the first 9 months. My surgical team was helpful. I’d give yours a call.

@TeRo Everyone is different. I do know a few people who were starving, postop. At 4 days out, I realize you're limited in what you can eat. If you're on pureed foods, I'd puree chicken, tuna, etc. Protein is OK.

My hair loss began at about 4 months and lasted till about a year, year and a half. In addition to what the other posters mentioned, with the DS you’re malabsorbing a good deal of protein. Protein helps hair grow but the body uses it in more vital areas first, especially in the first year. Thankfully, mine was most obvious in my hairbrush and shower drain.

@TXDS Good work.

If you’re a DSer this makes a good deal of sense. (I’m a traditional DSer who had my surgery in 2005). Carbs give us more gas and stool. That’s why I almost only eat them at home. As as we don’t count calories; fats and proteins are very important for us. A minimum of 100gr/day protein (I usually get over 125) and a good amount of fats to help ‘grease the wheels’, so to speak. Since we absorb much less than an average person or other WLS patient we have to eat it a bit differently.

@Riva_G.I do know other DSers who do it. From what I understand it’s low carb. As long as you get tons of protein and fats it seems to be DS friendly.

15 years later and only my immediate family and (of course) physicians know.