GreasyRicky

I had the traditional DS.

Hello. I am about four months out from my DS surgery with sleeve and I can answer some of your questions -- but as always, your experience may vary. Avoided Foods - I prioritize protein over everything else, and that will be the rest of your life. As a DS patient, you'll need to get in at least 130g of protein in every day, which is no small amount. Fats are not as big a deal to avoid as carbs are. Carbs should be a no-no for you, with no more than 40-50g per day. You will get all of that just from yogurt and the foods with protein. It is definitely a diet-restrictive procedure. Be prepared for it. I can tolerate these foods, but every ounce of food I can stomach HAS to be protein or I miss my goals for the day. Diarrhea - Not in any way. Prepare for constipation due to your diet. There are days I wish I had diarrhea. Vitamins - I take one Bariatric multivitamin with iron per day. Be sure to use bariatric vitamins and not regular vitamins. Weight loss - Since I am only four months post-op, I can't answer long term, but in the short term, I've lost over 100 pounds in four months. It will come off as long as you exercise and get your fluids and protein in. My friend is 18 months post-op and is at maintenance weight. He has had no issues with regain. Anything else - I wish I had known how difficult getting protein in every day is. I can do it with shakes alone, but since you can't drink anything for 30 minutes prior to or an hour after eating solid food, you're limited in your options. Also, I can only eat 3 ounces of solid food at a time, so you can imagine how tough it is to get the protein in. All in all, I am thrilled I got the surgery. I was immediately cured of diabetes and am feeling better than I have in 20 years. My non-scale victories are even better than the scale losses and I couldn't be happier. All my focus on food is gone and I eat only to accomplish a goal. If you're considering it, really be prepared for the challenges. Watch videos of people who have gone through it on Youtube. Those help.