Postop

Definitely keep it up w/the pictures. I took them every 3 months for the first year and now I do it every year on the anniversary of my surgery. Really interesting to look back all those years.

@TXDS I had the traditional DS. At 3 mos, I’d lost about 45 lbs. Looks like we’re just about the same. 😁

😀

Here's the list. Best bet is probably CA. Keshishian or Rabkin.

@asmith74150 is good but I’m glad you’re seeing your surgeon. I also Sent you a PM.

Glad you're having bloods done. Could be iron issue. It was with me about 3 years ago.

2005 here.

Traditional DS. Took about 4.5 hours.

@Rose57As things come to me...If you need to supplement calcium, only citrate will do. No carbonate. But warehouse store brands are certainly acceptable.

Agreed. I’d speak with Dr. Keshishian regarding a revision to the DS. He’d give you a fair opinion.

@Rose57I can give you some advice regarding specific pills, though. If you find yourself needing Vitamin A supplements, it must be Palmitate or Retinol. No beta-carotene. It also can’t be one which is A and D together as many are. It must be separate. If you find you need Vit. D supplements, it must be D3/cholecalciferol. No gel caps. Only dry pills or capsules. Hope that helps.

@Rose57Always a good idea. I like the Thursday meetings 🙂

@Rose57Dr. Roslin is one of the foremost surgeon regarding Sips. He's been doing it for quite a while. Regarding supplementation, it's somewhere between a RNY and traditional DS. The nutritionist should give you documentation regarding what to eat and what to take. I've been to their support groups In Manhattan and she seems to have a good handle on it.

@Rose57I had the traditional DS almost 15 years ago and the answer is yes regarding help. I had my mother stay for about a week. I was too tired and weak to do much. She made my meals (which was a tsp. of scrambled egg for breakfast 😁), kept track of what pills I started on and crushed some into a tsp. of yogurt as I recall. She also pushed me to get up and walk outside several times a day. I needed her to clean myself as well.

@Rose57 Who is doing your DS? Is it a traditional DS or Sadi/Sips? I need to know before I can then give you some advice regarding supplementation. 🙂

I speak the truth!😁

Congratulations. Excellent idea. I only weighed at my doctor's appointments that first year. I saw no highs/lows/plateaus. Just steady weight loss and my body and clothes changing.

It's hard as there isn't that much info. on long term Sadi yet. Are you doing high protein, liquids and low carb?

@bm6230 Hi. Did you have the traditional DS or the Sadi, Sips, single anastomosis?

Yes. It can cause fatigue if low. Iron, too. Maybe you want to post what you’re taking. 80k probably isn’t enough for you. You’ll need to let it build up. If I didn’t take 100k/day I’d be well under the 50-60 number on my bloods. I even know one who does 200k/day but that’s rare. Most are 100-150k/day. How much A are you taking? Many take 25-50k/day of A. Finally, do you know what your common channel length is: 250, 100, 75 or something else? That can affect your absorption .

Yes, gel or chewable isn't good for us either. I take 100k/day of the dry Vit. D3. Others take 150k/day. Have you gone that high? I do my bloods every 6 months, but the numbers stay pretty consistent with the 100k/day I take. Yours tank?

For a traditional DSer, the patches aren't nearly enough. How much of the supplements do you take each day? I know you said they're not working for you, but perhaps you need more? Also, are you taking them in the dry form only, no gel caps? And are you taking them alone? By that I mean not a combo Vitamin A & D pill but each separately. Also, are you taking only palmitate or retinol for Vitamin A and cholecalciferol (D3) for Vitamin D? As for injections, there are ones for D3 as well. I haven't heard of any for A & E but perhaps there are. I'd post this on another site, too, where there are more vets. I'll PM you the url.

If you find your weight loss isn’t stopping, speak with your doctor about the enzyme Creon.

I'm almost 15 years out from a traditional DS. I lost about 140-145 lbs. and have kept it off. I eat a ton of protein everyday and have never missed a day of my vits/minerals. I've had some health issues (especially relating to my bones), but have been able to find the help I've needed (even though it took a while). I'll always be a WLS patient, but it's just a part of my life; like breathing. No one knows I was ever big except my family and doctors.

@HamHockSkyeI was in the hospital with morphine for 5 days so there it was not bad. When I got home I took pain pills for a couple of days and then was able to switch to ibuprofen. I hope it's a similar transition for you.