catwoman7

I'm not a DS'er, I had the RNY, but if the DS had been an option for me, I would have seriously considered it. I had over 200 lbs to lose. It's really difficult to lose that much weight and, more importantly, keep it off. Of all the surgeries, the DS has the most success when you're talking that much weight. It's easier to get the weight off, and easier to maintain it. I managed to get it all off with the RNY, but those last 50 lbs or so were really hard work - and I know keeping it all off is going to be a lifetime struggle. But I wanted to lose 100% of my excess weight, and now that I'm there, I want to keep it off. I'm sure it would be easier had I had the DS (but my insurance doesn't cover them - just RNY and sleeve).

I take Centrum chewables (or the generic equivalent like CVS's) and they're fine. For calcium, I mix Upcal D (a powder) into my morning yogurt. Later in the day I usually have a couple of Bariatric Advantage calcium chews which are pretty good (they come in several flavors) - or occasionally I'll have a Calcet Creamy Bite - also very good but 40 calories each, so they're just an occasional treat.

you might want to let your surgeon's office know just in case something is going on. It may be that your system just isn't ready to progress yet, or there could be something like a stricture. I'd just let them know and see what they say.

What is stricture? Sorry I prob should know this. hw - 444 ~ surgery date 11/23 ~ sw - 363 ~ cw 351 Hope all is well, plz update. hw - 444 ~ surgery date 11/23 ~ sw - 363 ~ cw 351 a stricture is just overgrown scar tissue. Sometimes it ends up blocking the entrance to the small intestine, so you have some pain when you eat and/or you have a hard time keeping food down. It's an easy fix - they just do an upper endoscopy and stretch it out a bit so the food can go through again. They're a fairly common problem with RNY - my surgeon's office said up to 8% of RNY patients get them. They almost always occur within the first three months after surgery, though. I had one week 4 and another week 8. Haven't had one since (I'm 18 months out now)

yes

@@LibrarianBecky - I'm a librarian, too!

some of the sugar in yogurt is lactose - i.e., milk sugar. Even plain yogurt has that. So i wouldn't worry about it if it's a small amount - it may just be the lactose (I think at some point companies are supposed to separate out added sugar on those nutrition labels so people know. also, not everyone dumps (in fact, most people don't), and for those who do, the amount of sugar that it takes for them to dump varies quite a bit. Some really can't eat much at all - others can eat a moderate amount before it sets them off.

the number that gets thrown around a lot is that about 30% of RNY patients dump. I don't know if there's any research data behind that, but I do know that not everyone dumps. I don't.

check with your surgeon. Could be a stricture. I had two of them. Easy fix.

get some samples of Syntrax nectar Protein or unjury protein. I'm really hate the taste of whey protein (I can taste it in Premier shakes), but I can't smell or taste it in either Syntrax or Unjury products. Unjury products you have to buy directly from them via their Web site. Syntrax Nectar products are available in a lot of places - through them directly, through amazon.com, here at the Bariatric Pal Store, through Vitamin Shoppe (online and in their stores), etc.

I'm over at the clinic a lot because I'm one of the people who talks to the pre-op classes about my experience. Although I don't see my surgeon very often - but everyone else I do (dietitians, psychologists, nurse, and the insurance person). We're all on a first name basis.

my family and close friends know - plus a handful of others. So not many. I just tell others I've been working with a dietitian the last two years and exercising like crazy. Which is technically true - I just omitted the part about the surgery. Skinny people probably believe this schlock - I doubt many people who have struggled with their weight do (although I tend to be more open about my surgery with other obese people). and yes - people will definitely notice a 100 lb loss.

I've been hanging around on these boards for awhile, and I would say the majority of people lose 15-25 lbs the first month (a few more, a few less - but I'd say that's the average range). I lost 16 lbs my first month, and I've lost over 200 lbs total. So you are exactly where you should be!

people say all the time you can do it without surgery. Well, I tried for 50 years. Over and over again. The weight just came back on. The hard way didn't work for me.

hummus, refried Beans - I also used to take whatever I was making for dinner (or whatever meal) and pureed my part of it in the blender (omelet, ricotta bake, spanakopita (made without the phyllo), chili. If you're carb sensitive, I'd be careful with potatoes.

unrealistic. You'll see drops like that the first month or two, then it's going to taper off quite a bit. I don't know what your starting weight was (because heavier people tend to lose faster (but not always...)), but after the first month, my loss dropped off to 10-12 lbs a month. Then at about six months out, it further dropped to about 8-10 lbs a month. Then at a year, about five pounds a month. and so on...

same here - 5'6" and recently after years of assuming I had a large frame I discovered it was actually medium!

some people do that for a few days to get it jump started again. Then they go back to eating according to whatever their plan is (I know you guys can eat more than the rest of us, and your plan is a little different. I'm pretty much at goal, but I still eat protein-forward, vegetables, no simple carbs, limited complex carbs (fruit and whole grains). I stick to around 1200 calories a day (I measure and log everything - and probably will have to for the rest of my life because I know myself too well!!!). Although your plan and calorie level might be different since you're a DS'er. I think you guys are able to eat more because you have a lot more malabsorption than we RNY'ers do)

being cold all the time is common with all weight loss surgeries - not just the DS. Not sure why - loss of insulation (i.e., fat) is probably part of it, but it's more than that because many people are cold all the time even before they drop much weight. as for your stall - 4-5 months sounds like you might be in maintenance rather than a stall. Are you happy where you are, or would you like to lose more? if the latter, you may need to drop your calories a bit. Are you weighing and/or measuring and logging everything you eat? I have to or I get "portion creep" over time.

I've heard a lot of people mention high B12. I don't think it's dangerous, though. When mine got up above 2000, the PA at my surgeon's office had me do half doses. I think mostly because it was a waste of money taking them when it was already sky high. Usually high B12 isn't a problem, though. There are some people on another forum I'm on who like it when theirs is 1000 or higher because they claim they feel better. Mine has always been above 1000 (or at least since I started testing), so I have no clue how I would feel if it were less than that.

I was a foodie then and I'm a foodie now. First few months you're pretty limited as to what you can eat, but after about the first six months, you can eat pretty much anything. I still cook and go out to eat, but I stick to bariatric-friendly fare - (non-fried) protein, veggies, some complex carbs. I really haven't had much trouble. I just stay away from fried stuff and simple carbs (sugary and starchy things). I don't drink at all anymore, though. I was never a huge drinker, but I enjoyed a glass of wine now and then. But that's my choice - most people are able to drink occasionally once they're a few months out.

the YMCA should have a pool, so you can swim year 'round. They'll probably have other water-based exercises as well. I love water aerobics and especially Aqua Zumba!

you could also just wait it out. I did. I just stuck to my plan, and it eventually broke. They always do. I've never wanted to increase my calories as I felt like I was on the high side as it was.

I had GERD pre-surgery. The first few months I had to take Prilosec every day (most patients do - not just those with GERD. They want to keep your acid level down so you'll fully heal, evidently). Once I came off Prilosec, I've had reflux maybe five times, and it pretty mild. I used to have it every day. So yes - it's very effective. Many patients never have GERD again at all after bypass.

mine lasted two weeks