catwoman7

if you stick to your program, it'll break. Plus at 228, you're pretty light for a weight loss surgery patient, so it's not going to come off as it would for someone who starts at over 300 lbs. But hang in there - it *will* break...

p.s. those are both over-the-counter

some iron versions are really hard on people's stomachs. I guess since he prescribed them, you may be stuck with them - but you could ask. I take carbonyl iron, and it's really easy on my stomach. A lot of people like heme iron, too, for that reason - but heme is pretty pricey.

I never counted fat grams at all. During the weight loss phase, I counted protein and, after the first 3 or 4 months (when I could eat more), I started watching overall calories. I do intentionally eat some fat now (like full-fat yogurts, avocado, etc) because it keeps me full. But again, I watch my calories.

some surgeons push low-carb plans, others don't. And some people whose surgeons *aren't* into carb limitations follow low-carb anyway, because they say it works better for them. My surgeon's office doesn't really push low-carb, although I followed a moderately low-carb plan - not ultra low-carb (I limited my carbs to 80 grams when I was in the losing phase). But then, I'm not particularly carb sensitive, so it worked for me. It might not for others. Some people say they do best when they limit carbs to like 30 or 40.

do a search on the "three week stall". Almost everyone has that. It's not always on week 3, but it usually is. But it can happen any time within the first 4-6 weeks of surgery. Like I said, pretty much everyone experiences that. Just stick to your program and it will break.

I was glad my husband was around to do things for me the first couple of days home, but other than that, I was fine on my own (and probably would have survived without hubby there the first couple of days). But as long as you know the first couple of days might be tricky (maybe...), you should be OK.

p.s. I do have some calcium citrate horse pills at home. When I'm having a fruity protein shake, I'll drop a couple in. The acid dissolves them - although it can take awhile.

my program recommended chewable multis the first few weeks (although I still take chewable multis at over 2 years out). I just use Centrum chewable, or the generic equivalent (the latter is super cheap at CVS, especially when they go on sale, which is often). Some of the other vitamins I take are really small, so they were never a problem. Calcium pills tend to be huge, so I used (and still do) Upcal D (a powder which I mix into my morning yogurt) and calcium chews. Calcium *citrate* chews can be hard to find (although Vitamin Shoppe sometimes has them), but you can find them online.

my first stall lasted two weeks. It was weeks 2 and 3 post surgery. It broke during week 4 and I dropped 6-8 lbs right away - like within a couple of days. I've heard of the "three-week stall" last as long as three weeks, actually. as for carbs, it depends on your program. Some surgeons recommend ultra-low-carb diets, some insist on something more moderate. Mine was one of the latter. While in the losing phase, I kept my carbs under 80 grams. But there are programs that limit carbs to more like 30 or 40. And there are some people whose programs are more moderate carb, but who do lower carb on their own because it works better for them. I doubt 35-45 carbs is going to de-rail you unless you are *super* carb sensitive. I think it's just the regular three-week stall. Just stick to your program, and it will eventually break.

People lose at all different rates for all different reasons. If you stick to your plan, the weight will come off. I lost 16 lbs the first month and 12 lbs the second, so at six weeks out, I'd lost less than 28 lbs. Note my total loss.

Not all bypass patients dump. I've never dumped. The statistics people throw around on these boards are that 30% dump. I don't know if there's any hardcore research behind that figure, but suffice it to say, most of us don't dump. There are times I wish I *did* dump, to be honest... Lots of people are successful with all the surgeries. It's easier to keep the weight off with the DS because of the additional malabsorption, but any of them will work great as long as you're compliant. I follow the rules at least 95% of the time - and I know I'll need to continue to do so to keep the weight off.

In the beginning, the health psychologist at my bariatric clinic asked me what my goal was, and I said I'd be elated to weigh 200 lbs again. He told me that was a pretty realistic goal. Once I got to about 220, I told the dietitian I was going to shoot for 170-180, and she said that seemed reasonable. Once I got down there, I told the dietitian I was now going to try for 150. She told me people have done it, but it wasn't very realistic - that most people who start out SMO end up "overweight" or "class I obese". That's all the incentive I needed - I was determined to make it to normal BMI - and I have. SOOOO - to answer your question, my goal was revised a few times as I lost weight. I'd start with something pretty realistic and go from there.

I was thinking that about the five-year thing, too. He may be thinking that if you get to your goal and can maintain it for a couple of years, there's be no reason to do phase 2 of the surgery.

the duodenal switch is sometimes done as two surgeries, so that's not too unusual. Odd he wants to wait five years between them, though. as far as losing weight, some surgeons have a BMI limit (for example, they won't operate on people with a BMI over 60 - or over 70 - or whatever). On someone with a really high BMI, the surgery is riskier, and some surgeons don't want to take the risk. So you'll either have to lose the weight, or find a surgeon who operates on people with high BMI's.

I kept losing during year 2, but it slowed *way* down (and I had a lot of stalls) after I was 10 months out or so. I was worried that my body was "done" in the 180s or 190s, but no, it kept going - just V-E-R-Y slowly....

most people take two weeks off, regardless of surgery. Some are OK going back after a week, some need three. I honestly don't think the type of surgery has anything to do with it - it's more the anesthesia, your body healing, and the very low intake of calories those first few weeks. Constipation is WAY more common than diarrhea with both surgeries.

I'd be very surprised if the fibro, depression, and borderline personality disorder have anything to do with her gastric bypass surgery. Dental problems might if she's not keeping on top of her supplements or has a lot of acid in her saliva (silent GERD, maybe?). Excessive drinking might as well since some patients do experience transfer addictions. Regardless, I hope she starts seeing a therapist. This sounds pretty bad....

if your insurance covers it and you meet all the requirements, you should be fine

not all surgeons require a pre-op diet. Consider yourself lucky - mine was hell!

I was SMO and had the gastric bypass. There are sleevers who've lost a ton of weight as well, though. Of all the surgeries, DS has the best stats for weight loss and maintenance. I would have considered that, too, if my insurance covered it (it doesn't - just sleeve and bypass)

p.s. I also agree that your doctor may be one of those old-school types that think the cholesterol in eggs is bad for you. That's pretty much been debunked, I believe.

most of us don't count fat. I try to get healthier types when I can, though (e.g. avocado, nuts). As far as carbs, surgeon's programs are all different. Some are ultra-low carb, some are more moderate (mine was one of the latter). But some people are super carb-sensitive and go ultra-low-carb even if their program doesn't require it.

I agree with everyone else - some will do it, some won't. I started out with a BMI of 60. I went to several orientations with different surgeons (I think 4 or 5). Only one specifically said he didn't operate on people with BMI's over 60. Although my insurance company, like many, required a six-month supervised diet, so I knew I'd be under his limit by the time surgery came around.

They say it won't, but one woman on another forum I'm on said she thinks it helped with her arms. Could be that she didn't have much loose skin on them, and the added muscle was able to fill it out (?) . Not sure. Most people will tell you no, though. I don't think it would be possible to build enough muscle in some places - like your abs - to fill much out there.