Just had revision from Sleeve to SIPS

[disco stu 73]

Thought I'd post an update for anyone still interested in this thread:

I'm a about 5 weeks out and down 11 lbs, which when I step back, isn't bad at all.

On the other hand, it *feels* like the last 5 weeks have been more like 5 months. I've had number of really low moments, sitting on the toilet at 3am cramped up and pooping my brains out with a blown out o-ring, and thinking "Holy sh*t! What have I done? This will be for the rest of my life?" ...and that was after being banished to sleeping on the couch by my wife because I was carpet gassing the entire bedroom with deadly nerve toxin. I was really starting to think I had made the worst mistake of my life.... and it was irreversible.

I had no idea this part of it would be so bad. "My" nutritionist was a group class that focused almost exclusively on VSG patients. She must have forgotten to mention the gas or the cramps or the bloating or the hemorrhoids or the explosive diarrhea...

Luckily, I started paying more attention to posts on this forum, and the last week or so feel like I'm starting to get a handle on things. What seems to be working for me:

• Staying the hell away from Gluten. Man-o-man what a difference. I love love love bread and pizza and Pasta and ramen and steamed dumplings, but the reaction is so hard and so gross and so painful that I'm starting to be repelled by the very thought of those foods (which is probably a good thing for my weight loss goals anyway.)
• Surprisingly, I seem to be ok with other carbs, including corn chips and potatoes. I binged an entire bag of Cheetos the other night with no ill effects.
• Staying away from lactose. This one is a still a little speculation at this point, because I've been scared to really put it to an acid test, but based on the night I had a single piece of cheese pizza, i'm in no hurry to find out.
• "Metamucil" mixed in Water. I hate choking this stuff down, but it does seem to help smooth things out.
• "Prisolec"
• Greek Yogurt. Never been a huge fan, but I'm finding those little containers to be a great "cravings buster" right around 3:00. Or I'll eat one a half hour or so before dinner, and it helps prevent me from going full Ham at the table

Things that don't seem to work for me:

• Gas-ex. I went through half a bottle in a the course of a week, and it didn't do jack.
• pro-biotics (may be helping a little, but no magic bullet)
• Fiber pills ("Fiber Choice" brand)

Hope my experience helps others. If anyone has any additional tips or suggestions, send me a shout.

Edited May 18, 2018 by disco stu

[Strivingforbetter 247]

Your body will get better at processing carbs the further you get out. I was still having a lot of difficulty with bread at 5 months out, but now I can tolerate it at 11 months. I try to keep my intake of it to a minimum, however. Too much sugar also gives me diarrhea. I haven't had "an episode" (horrible smelling gas that just builds and builds and kills all earth life) for a few months. Your digestive system will continue to change and adapt as time goes on. Even though I occasionally have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, the DS was still the best thing I could have done for my health.

[disco stu 73]

Woot! Thanks for the advice. Crossing fingers.

[disco stu 73]

Update: It's been about 9 weeks.

This morning, I fit into a size 36 jeans for the first time since I got married 25 years ago. Woot! I was so excited I forgot to get on scale, but I figure I'm down around 20 since surgery.

The gastrointestinal issues are still there, but they don't seem to be as "explosive" and I'm getting better and better at managing them. Interesting note: I seem to be able to cheat at carbs much better in the AM. I've had a Breakfast sandwich or burger - including bun - a few time and got away with it. If I try the same thing in the evening... fart city.

I just started back up in the gym, which feels great. Shocking how much strength I've lost since stoping before surgery, but I expect that to come back pretty fast. This has been a difficult decision for me because the "great stall" I experienced after my VSG correlates to the time I started hitting the gym really hard. Basically, I stalled for a few months, then all the weight started to come back. I'm worried the same thing is going to happen a second time.

I attribute it to a few things: The most obvious answer is "muscle weighs more than fat", but I think that's an overstatement. I think what really happened was, after working out, my appetite goes through the roof. I start eating like a horse, and it's exaggerated because a little voice in my mind says, "It's okay. You can have that double cheeseburger! You just worked out!"

So I'm starting weights again tentatively, and if I start having appetite swings, I'm going to stop. I like being a muscular guy, but "abs are built in the kitchen." I might be better off just losing all the lbs without the weight training, then re-introducing once I'm in maintenance mode. Dunno.

[Strivingforbetter 247]

Disco Stu: I've been having a lot of gastrointestinal distress lately, too. My one year surgiversary was on Saturday, and on Sunday, the day after my one- year milestone, I had my very first feeling of regret over the surgery due to the gas issue. Some people experience those feelings in the hospital or their first week home, but for me realizing that I was going to have the worst smelling gas known to man for the rest of my life hit me after I hit my milestone. Some weeks are better than others and last week wasn't a good week for me. Every single day I struggled with what you call "fart city." It was like the fourth of July going off in your intestines.

The good news is that the doc said my blood work looked fantastic, so my Vitamins are doing what they need to do and I don't have any deficits. I'm happy about that because I only take two ADEK, two chewable Calcium, and one Vitamin B12 a day. I've heard of some DS patients taking handfuls of vitamins and, honestly, that was almost made me change my mind about getting the DS. My blood pressure is amazing and so is my cholesterol. Now if we could just get rid of the gas.....

Today has been much, much better so it must have been nerves. I'm in the process of organizing my closet and weeding out more clothes I am either no longer interested in wearing, despite that they can finally fit again, or clothes I should have eliminated months ago. Yes, it feels good to look in the mirror and see a healthy person. No better feeling. I'm getting ready to start up exercising again, just like you stated you were, so I hope I don't see a gain on the scale.

Edited June 11, 2018 by Strivingforbetter

[kimberlymi 113]

Have you tried not eating the “cheating carbs”? That is what is probably causing the pain, gas, massive diarrhea.

[disco stu 73]

@Strivingforbetter . My heart goes out. Keep up your spirit.

I piece of me is scared to do the closet thing.... a little sketch to throw away all those so-hard-to-come-by fat clothes that I've hoarded over the years. Suppose I just got to go for it.

Edited June 12, 2018 by disco stu

[disco stu 73]

I got my first round of labs back the other day. I was surprised that almost everything came back within range, seeing as how I'm only taking a non-bariatric Multi-Vitamin once a day. Especially surprised I didn't have low Calcium. I was a little low on Iron, but not anemic. The only thing that came in low was potassium, which kinda makes sense because of the frequent diarrhea. I've stocked up on white Beans and PowerAid Zero, and they are gonna re-test in a week.

Regardless, they spooked me enough that I went ahead and picked up the Bariatric Advantage multi (with Iron), and some calcium citrate. Will try to take doses both day and night, although they said something about taking the calcium two hours after the multi, which is gonna be difficult.

[Strivingforbetter 247]

@disco stu Loose stools are pretty normal. Did you know that raisins have more potassium in them than bananas? If you're experiencing muscle cramps, you can pick up some of those. It helps.

Edited June 19, 2018 by Strivingforbetter

[disco stu 73]

I did not know that. But I think raisins are one of the things that make me fart.....

The Googles did let me know bananas are kinda middle of the road for potassium compared to their reputation. The food that out shines them all is white Beans, and since I'm a "go big or go home" kinda guy, that's my strategy. They taste okay.... kinda salty and bland at the same time. What can you say? They're beans.

I'm gonna mix some chopped bacon with them tonight for dinner and make it a party.

[Suwade 25]

Just wanted to let you know how happy I am to find others in the same boat as me! I’ve had so many of the same issues and feelings as stated above. Makes me feel a bit normal!

[disco stu 73]

To quote the comedian John Mulaney, "Adult life is already so God damn weird."

[disco stu 73]

Ack!!!. Had a horrible bloat\gas attack last night and I'm racking my brain to figure out what triggered it. I had a simple grilled chicken Caesar salad with dressing on the side for dinner.... a dish I eat at least twice a week with no issues. I also picked at my wife's avocado salad, in particular I had two or three large avocado slices. Could that be it? Does anyone else have issues with Avo? Otherwise, I'm completely at a loss....

[Strivingforbetter 247]

10 hours ago, disco stu said:

Ack!!!. Had a horrible bloat\gas attack last night and I'm racking my brain to figure out what triggered it. I had a simple grilled chicken Caesar salad with dressing on the side for dinner.... a dish I eat at least twice a week with no issues. I also picked at my wife's avocado salad, in particular I had two or three large avocado slices. Could that be it? Does anyone else have issues with Avo? Otherwise, I'm completely at a loss....

Yes, it's the avocado. Ice-cream also does it to me. There's nothing worse than a DS gas attack. So uncomfortable.

[disco stu 73]

Update: 12.5 weeks. Down approx 25lbs.

For 3 or 4 week I was pretty much in a giant stall. Weighing myself every day, the scale never moved. Completely stuck. I chalked it up to getting a little lazy. I had started to eat things like double cheezy burgers and chicken wings, with the justification of, "It's Protein. I can eat all I want." I knuckled down for a week, including the use of some Intermittent Fasting techniques. And? The scale didn't move. Arg. Frustration. Plus, my GI issues seemed to be improving, which, while more comfortable, made me start to wonder if my SIPs was past the "honeymoon." Gotta be kidding me!

So then I got depressed and kinda gave up and stopped looking at the scale, but continued to eat reasonably smart. Protein first. No more chicken wings...etc.

Been a couple of weeks, and I finally got on the scale this AM expecting to be the same or probably a pound or two higher. Instead I was down 4lbs. huh.

Emotionally, I'm liking this. Gonna stay the course another 2 to 3 weeks before jumping on scale again and see if I hit the jackpot again.

...until next time.

- Your pal, Disco Stu.