Strivingforbetter

I agree with SIPS in Seattle and ZinNH. It was a torture device and I blamed myself for its failure. It was a relief to me also to discover that I wasn't the only one who had failed with the lapband. I think a lost a grand total of 8 pounds in two months on that thing. Then I gained 30. So glad that thing is out of me. I've lost 40 pounds so far with the DS, and I'm confident I'll reach my goal by May.

You have to create your ticker. Go to the top right corner of your screen. Click on your profile name. In your case, it would be LillieDuFran. A drop down menu will appear with the word "My Tickers" on the list. Click on that and follow the steps to create your personal ticker.

I'm having the same issue with my scale in that I have to take three or four readings to get an average. The pattern is the first reading is always devastating. The second reading is a little more encouraging. The third reading is good. If I get the third reading a second time, that's where is remains consistently and I take that as my weight for the week. I guess the reliability is that this pattern is repeated every single time I weigh myself......yeah, time for a new scale. Thank you for your suggestion.

That's such an awesome feeling when you no longer see a 2 in front of your weight! Congratulations!!

I've also had eczema flare ups since my 30s; I'm in my early 50s now. I had a flare up on my left lower abdomen right before surgery and sought treatment for it two months ago, just after my surgery. What resolved it was clobetasol propionate .05% cream. It only took a few applications and my skin was back to normal. You'll need a prescription for it.

I had the band for two years and lost very little weight. Just as the first person posted, I would be in terrible pain if I ate raw vegetables or any chicken that wasn't drenched in gravy. It was horribly painful when food got stuck. I would get a copious amount of saliva filling my mouth and I would have to spit or throw up. Eventually, I gained 30 pounds on the band and decided I'd had enough and had it removed. I'm very happy I went with a different WLS. The band was a complete waste of time and money. I also originally thought it would be the best procedure for me because it was the least invasive, but I needed a different procedure that gave me more restriction and curbed the hunger, two things the band did not deliver on. I'm very happy with my duodenal switch.

Wouldn't it be nice if the website actually supported the emojis people post the first time? I see it now looks like a real face, but when emojis are posted with a phone, it only posts as code.

To update your weight, go to the top of the screen by your profile photo. Click on the drop down menu and choose "My Surgery." Then choose "Progress" on the left side of the screen. You can then update your weight.

To update your weight, go to the top of the screen by your profile photo. Click on the drop down menu and choose "My Surgery." Then choose "Progress" on the left side of the screen. You can then update your weight. I tried using the app, but there wasn't a forum for the duodenal switch, only the other surgeries. I'm going to delete it from my phone.

When I had my band, the first bite of every meal was greeted by a stabbing pain. Once that was over, my stomach was wide open and I could eat just as much as before I had the band. It never worked for me. I couldn't eat chicken, broccoli, or carrots because they would get stuck and hurt like hell to eat. I didn't lose weight. I've never felt better since it was removed. Love my DS. Best decision ever.

I was banded two years ago and lost very little weight. Over time, I even gained 30 pounds with the band. Needless to say, I felt the surgery was a complete waste of time and money for me. I know many people have been successful, but I wasn't one of them. I revised to the DS this past June, and have been thrilled with the results. (I too had a lot of scar tissue from the band.) Revising to the DS was the best decision I've made for my health. Don't feel like a failure. The band just doesn't work for some people. I had about 8 fills and never felt a restriction.

Yay!! I was so excited when I dropped into onederland a week or so ago. Congratulations!!!

I'm so happy for you!! You look amazing.

(Pretty sure rembo69 is as a male. I guess we'll find out if he replies.) Rembo69: So happy for you and your journey you're about to begin. Please keep us posted.

I get the impression Rembo69 is a male, not a female. He stated, "My wife and I" when he posted, but I could be wrong. He probably won't have estrogen flooding his body. I like what you said about not comparing their weight loss to each other. Men and women do lose at different rates. I agree that I think they'll both be fine getting it on the same day.

Sipping water the first few weeks really hurts. I remember that very well. It does get better. Hang in there.

I went to Dr. Roderick McKinlay at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians next to St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake. It's on 3900 South. He is an expert at doing the DS and has trained other doctors around the country.

So excited for you! Let the losing begin.

Most people on this site list their surgery under their picture when they post. I would look there first for their information. I too had the DS and have no regrets. I revised from a lap-band and didn't want the risk of regain.

Welcome

I'm thinking that you've jump started your metabolism again, but I'm no expert. That could be why you're feeling so hungry.

I had a lot of food funerals before surgery. "This will be my last...." But what I've learned since having my surgery is that in time I can add a few "taboo" foods into my diet if I do so sparingly. I feel I'm eating with the rest of the world, only making different food choices during the weight loss stage, meaning that when someone eats with me who doesn't know I've had my surgery, they don't think I'm odd. If I crave a taco, I eat the inside and leave the tortilla. If I want a soda, I only drink two sips. I have to live with this diet plan for life, but I'm liking it. It's working for me. I really don't feel deprived. Steadily losing two to two and a half pounds a week is ok with me. I still keep my calories to 1000 a day. I wasn't required to do a pre-op diet.

I love my DS. The recovery wasn't bad at all. I was able to run errands and take care of my family about two weeks after surgery. I've been losing weight consistently. Couldn't do it on my own. I didn't do a pre-op diet. I keep my carbs to 70 gr a day and make protein my top priority when making food choices (90 gr a day). I also sip on water all day long. It's very important you stay on top of your daily vitamins, due to the malabsorption component of the DS. For me, I wanted a surgery that had the best long-term results statistically. I revised from a band originally because the band just didn't do it for me and I didn't want to fail again. I had the traditional DS with two anastomoses, but my common channel is one and a half times longer than the typical DS, due to my lower starting BMI. As a result, I do not have bathroom or gas issues like other DS patients.

This had me drooling, so I checked out your site and now I'm subscribed. Thank you! I'm going to do a lot of cooking and experimenting this weekend.

Well, I can relate to a lot of this. I had a period for two months last winter, which finally ended with a D & C. Then after my duodenal switch surgery, my period started in the hospital when they gave me the blood thinner shots and lasted for two weeks. However, I haven't had one since and that was back in June.