Strivingforbetter

Hello. I recently had revision surgery from a band to the duodenal switch on June 9, 2017. Since surgery, I have lost 17 pounds, but I have hit a stall at three weeks post-op and it's got me wondering if my body won't respond to this surgery just as I failed with the band. Will I be the first person in DS history to actually maintain my weight eating under 1000 calories? For breakfast, I usually eat one scrambled egg with mushrooms and grated cheese. It goes down easily and fills me up. For lunch, I usually have something like bean and bacon soup or a few slices of deli meat. Sometimes I've had refried beans with melted cheese. In between meals, I'm drinking, drinking, drinking water. For dinner, I usually have fish, such as tilapia or soup with soft veggies and slow roasted chicken. My system cannot tolerate raw veggies yet or salads. As you know, since I'm a DSer, I only absorb 20 percent of the fat I intake. I have arthritis in my feet and knees, so walking or running is out for exercise; I ride my bike instead. I take my vitamins daily. Any encouragement you can offer would be greatly appreciated. What is wrong with my body???

Has anyone had their gallbladder removed after losing weight quickly? I just had mine removed after dealing with constant pain and gallstones. Any tips on what to eat? I had my gallbladder removed on Monday.

I've been a DS patient since 2017 and was wondering if other DS patients have noticed that salads are troublesome. I love salads of any kind, but leafy green salads can create unintentional surprises. Is this just me?

I'm 6 years out and trying to get back on track. I've regained about 12 pounds since 2017, enough for me to go from a size medium top to a large. This is my first attempt at self-restricing since my surgery. I lost 80 pounds through the DS, so now it's time for me to take charge on my own. So far, the smaller stomach is proving to be a big help with portion control. My weakness is sugar. It's daily challenge. Still, I'm so grateful for my surgery and feel it was a lifesaver. It has been over four years since I've posted on this site, so just admiting I need to take charge is huge for me.

No need to have food funerals. You'll be able to eat your favorites after you heal, just in smaller portions. Just try to keep your sugar and carbs low and your protein high.

I had the traditional DS and take 3 vitamins a day,(calcium, ADEK, B12), and my blood panel is great. I'm three years post-op and have only regained 5 pounds. I've never been able to control my weight and not feel deprived, but the DS has solved that problem. My BMI was only 40 when I had my surgery.

Pros: It works long term whereas the sleeve and lapband often fail over time. Cons: Gas every day starting at 3:00. This gets tiresome. Sometimes I have to get to a bathroom ASAP.

I worry with your current weight you will be too slim to be a candidate for bypass. Only your doctor would know. I had the band for a few years and also had issues with certain foods I couldn't eat. You were very successful with the band, and not everyone is. I wasn't. In fact, I gained 20 pounds with the band and had pain when eating foods like chicken, carrots, or anything firm. I had to revise to the duodenal switch for my body to respond in a healthy way. Now I can eat healthy foods without pain, and I've lost 82 pounds. I was revised in 2017.

Oh hell no! I'm 57 and just had a tummy tuck on December 11, 2019. I've had 4 c-sections, one incisional hernia after my third c-section, and lost 80 pounds. My stomach was a mess and a huge, hanging blob. I am absolutely loving my flat stomach. I've got a lot of living yet to do and when my children get married, I'm not going to have to shop for some frumpy mother of the bride dress to hide my hideous gut. Go for it!

I also received a tummy tuck with lipo suction to my flanks (love handles) on Dec. 11, 2019. I'm doing well. The first week was rough. So much pain! In the past, had four c-sections and by the third day I was off all pain meds. --Not with this surgery! However, I'm very satisfied with the results and feel after losing 80 pounds that this was very needed.

What catwoman7 above was what I was told also. I remember being extremely angry about all of the protein I had to eat and being shamed about eating fruit. I almost took the nurse's head off one day over that.

They only allowed me to stay one night in the hospital for my DS. I don't remember the pain being very bad. I think after three days it improved. The lapband surgery was much more painful for me. I wish you well.

I had my last period starting the day after I had my wls for my duodenal switch, and it lasted almost a week. That was the last period of my life. I was officially done and haven't had another one since. It's been two years. I think the surgery pushed my hormones over the edge.

@onmyway11I had the exact same experience with the band. Then I was revised to the traditional DS two years ago. No regain at this point. The doctor who did my DS is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

@HP62442I can't speak of the differences between the recovery of the MGD and the DS because I've only had the DS after a revision from a band. However, recovery wasn't bad at all for me. My BMI was about 39 when I received my DS. You might not be heavy enough for the DS with a BMI of 36, but your surgeon would know. Not many surgeons have been trained to do the DS, so that might be a factor for your doctor too.

This is pretty darn common, which are also the reasons I had mine removed and had a revision. You're right, very few people keep their lap band their entire life without having a revision. The band erodes into the stomach and causes a lot of problems. Regain is also an issue. My doctor said very few doctors will do the band anymore because of all of the side effects. It's just not the best decision for weight loss. It was a huge waste of money. I'm very happy with my revision, and excited for you to also have a better life without the band. Best wishes to you.

Don't get the lap band.

My common channel is 150 cm long, but I really wish I had gone shorter to 100 cm because those patients who had a shorter channel lost quicker and more than I did, and they started out heavier than I was. With a BMI of 40 at the time of surgery, I was worried I would get too thin. Ha! No worries there. I've regained 4 pounds since my surgery two years ago.

I had the duodenal switch two years ago. As far as my reaction to sugar, I would say it goes through me looser than other foods. For example, if I drink a soda, I can count on gas and very loose stools. It's not what I consider "dumping," as some people experience. Let's put it this way, if I want something sugary and it looks amazing, it's not enough of a deterrent to make me pass it up. Only my guilt would do that. @BoredCWGood job with explaining the duodenal switch. I have found that I can eat pretty normal portions two years out, which means it still prevents me from overeating and helps me maintain my weight. On the plus side, I don't feel deprived.

@Thunder ChickenI agree with @Chipwater and his recommendations. I had my DS done with Dr. McKinlay in 2017, If your heart surgeon recommended the DS, I would have Dr. McKinaly consult with your doctor on the best weight loss surgery for you. He also does the sleeve and gastric bypass. I would have the utmost confidence that they would do what is right for you. We haven't heard back from you since August. Could you update us on where you're at in your research?

Don't get a lapband. I had one for three years and it was miserable. I revised to a duodenal switch and lost 80 pounds. Don't waste your money on a band.

@disco stu yeah the gas part isn't fun. I experience that in the evening on a regular basis.-- Voluminous gas that's impressive, to say the least. It's the one drawback of this surgery.

@disco stu I wonder why you use the bathroom so much. I had the traditional DS and I only use the bathroom about 5 times a day. That include all types of bathroom visits. I do use the bathroom at least twice a night. I don't down a fistful of pills. My levels were so high for B12, that my doc said to cut way back on the dosage. It's interesting to see how different people can be with the same surgery or somewhat the same surgery.

I'm two years post-up from the traditional DS and have gained 5 pounds, but i was just diagnosed with a low thyroid. I'm not a perfect either, same as Disco Stu, and without a doubt I would be much heavier if it wasn't for my surgery. I still malabsorb and can't eat as much as I used to. I'm working on losing the 5 pounds I've gained. Hopefully with my thyroid medication it will help the process. I still feel my surgery was a success.

I revised from the Lapband to the DS two years ago. Since that time, I have lost 80 pounds. Besides there being a whole lot less of me, yes, I am happy and would do it again. I can eat pretty much what I want and have maintained my weight loss due to the malabsorption component of my surgery. You will find that many sleevers have regain issues. As far as the bathroom goes, no one's poop smells good. I have more gas in the evening and looser stool than I used to, but this is a small side effect and not a deal breaker to me. I went from a size 2x to a medium top. A size 18 pant to a size 8. No one eating next to me would know I had weight loss surgery because I can eat a normal portion. Protein first, veggies next. Drinking lots of water. My joints and feet don't hurt like they used to either. I wouldn't let a little more gas deter you from considering the DS. It's a good, solid, data-proven weight loss intervention. Out of all of the weight loss surgeries, the DS has the best proven track record for keeping the weight off, even over bypass surgery. Ask your surgeon. My short answer: Yes, I'm happy.