Anxiety about malnutrition from DS

[Sewtcase 1]

Hey all, first time posting here and I've been dealing with this for months now. I got the duodenal switch about 7 or 8 years ago when I was about 16. Crazy young I know, and to this day I still question that decision and probably always will because of my age. I've had a great experience as far as weight loss goes, but as I've gotten older I've gotten increasingly worried about malnutrition/deficiencies developing over time. I'm religious about my supplements, and I literally got my bloodwork done earlier this week so I'm good about that. However, the anxiety about potential deficiencies that I feel like might go undetected in bloodwork (for instance I know B12 tests can be inaccurate in detecting deficiencies) or that there might be a time that supplements become ineffective for me is becoming extremely difficult to bear, keeping me awake at night, causing anxiety attacks, making my life miserable, etc. All to the point where despite not technically being diagnosed with any deficiencies, it makes me regret the surgery and feel like I'm going to get severe side effects or die an early death because of this decision. My entire family has had the procedure and I'm the only one who really deals with this to this extent so it's difficult for me to cope. I have appointments with my primary care physician and plan on contacting my surgeon to discuss these risks more with him, but I have the feeling that this anxiety will persist as my anxiety causes me to have doubts about the ability of modern medical science to adequately monitor the effects of a procedure this radical. I realize that all of these concerns are likely what should have deterred me from the surgery in the first place, but at the time my family, medical team and myself thought it was a good decision.

Tl;dr: having extreme health anxiety about longterm nutritional complications despite doing everything by the book and don't know what to do about it.

[Hellie1028 20]

Anxiety is an illness... just like a Vitamin deficiency. You are going to have to go to a dr and / or therapist to get it treated. You say you are following your plan and have had confirmatory blood results. It is silly to ruminate on it. Make an appt today!

[catwoman7 11,212]

I would think as long as you get your blood work done regularly (at least once a year) and adjust your supplement dosage if necessary, you should be OK. Those yearly (or more often) blood tests should pick up any potential issue so you can make an adjustment to "fix" the problem before it gets bad.

[NovaLuna 710]

7 hours ago, Sewtcase said:

Hey all, first time posting here and I've been dealing with this for months now. I got the duodenal switch about 7 or 8 years ago when I was about 16. Crazy young I know, and to this day I still question that decision and probably always will because of my age. I've had a great experience as far as weight loss goes, but as I've gotten older I've gotten increasingly worried about malnutrition/deficiencies developing over time. I'm religious about my supplements, and I literally got my bloodwork done earlier this week so I'm good about that. However, the anxiety about potential deficiencies that I feel like might go undetected in bloodwork (for instance I know B12 tests can be inaccurate in detecting deficiencies) or that there might be a time that supplements become ineffective for me is becoming extremely difficult to bear, keeping me awake at night, causing anxiety attacks, making my life miserable, etc. All to the point where despite not technically being diagnosed with any deficiencies, it makes me regret the surgery and feel like I'm going to get severe side effects or die an early death because of this decision. My entire family has had the procedure and I'm the only one who really deals with this to this extent so it's difficult for me to cope. I have appointments with my primary care physician and plan on contacting my surgeon to discuss these risks more with him, but I have the feeling that this anxiety will persist as my anxiety causes me to have doubts about the ability of modern medical science to adequately monitor the effects of a procedure this radical. I realize that all of these concerns are likely what should have deterred me from the surgery in the first place, but at the time my family, medical team and myself thought it was a good decision.

Tl;dr: having extreme health anxiety about longterm nutritional complications despite doing everything by the book and don't know what to do about it.

If it helps I know someone who had the DS and lost too much weight and they just went back in and fixed her intestinal bypass portion so she was essentially just left with the sleeved stomach part. I know someone else who had malnutrition issues and had his intestinal portion reversed and was also just left with the sleeved stomach part. If the surgeon notices abnomalities and they can't get them under control you can always have the intestinal portion reversed. Just keep up with your labs and see a therapist about the anxiety if it continues to bother you, but rest assured that they can always reverse the intestinal bit (that's the bit that causes the malnutrition as it's your malabsorbative aspect of the surgery).

Edited November 13, 2020 by NovaLuna

[Grace55 16]

Sewtcase, I realize it’s easier said than done...do not create anxiety over something you have no control, it least not until you see your physician & gather all the science. You cannot rescind your decision from 8 years in the past...move on as an informed consumer & patient. Your concerns are valid and you are wise to be alert, do not be alarmed. You stated this procedure was 7-8 years ago? Is this a self diagnosis, it certainly is something which you are capable of diagnosing or is it a clinical determination? If you have maintained a diet of nutrient rich foods, lean Protein & avoiding empty calorie foods, this typically prevents or mitigates the concern for malnutrition. However, each person responds differently. Protein is key & it’s imperative you provide your body with ample protein. I understand you were very young when this procedure was performed. Maybe your diet at such a young age could have been deficient in some areas? Regardless, if you are suffering from malnutrition, it is urgent you see your Provider. There are different types of malnutrition, some can be very extreme and place you at significant risk. Please contact your M.D. today. I am not a physician, but very concerned about the health & safety of others, especially the noble members on this site. Each person has persevered what could be impossible for others. Please let me know how you are doing. “Hellie1028” gave you great advice...contact your Dr. I wish you well -

[Grace55 16]

Sewtcase,

I apologize...I misread most of your commentary. I will do better. As a layperson, your comments impress me as someone who maybe overwhelmed. You refer to anxiety & I agree, you seem to have your share, like many of us. You had a CBC, along with other diagnostics...correct? Granted, laboratories can & do make mistakes with analyticals, but this is more uncommon than common. Do you know what is creating your high level of foreboding & dread? Apparently you are young, there is much going on in our world, there is circumstance which is foreign and unfamiliar to each of us. Our Country is going thru alien & strange times, just as the people of our great Country. People are separated, divided, and angry. We just completed an election. Current times, are at best bizarre. Could this be contributing to your growing apprehension? There is no shame being human & all the emotions which accompany us. Your tests all came back within normal parameters, you stated there is nothing “ technically” wrong? yet you inflict significant consternation onto yourself. Have you tried deep techniques? Kabuki breathing is very effective to bring down stress levels, anxiety ...it is calming. I enjoy meditating, there is a type of meditation for each personality. Give it a shot...you may enjoy it. You do impress me as a person in emotional knots, this can release cortisol into your bloodstream. Anxiety, stress, worry, uncertainty, nervousness & unease can create organic issues. Do you exercise? Chat with friends? Distract yourself, meditate. Each of us has been forced to deal with a global crisis; no one has been trained to respond to such a monumental threat or event. Maybe this is contributing? You have no control over this towering development, none of us do. All you can do is take care of yourself, be gracious, many have no family, no friends. They are alone & truly frightened. You have family, support, friends. I do not pretend to know your circumstance. Be grateful & release those unworthy tensions which will have a negative impact. Just let it go. Visualize it, place it an Iron clad box, massively chained securing & forever rendering it to remain confined & entombed. Toss it into the depths of a deep dark repository, it’s location unknown to all...especially you. Google “kabuki” breathing. Google types of “meditation.” All your worry & anxiety is creating more of the same. Please let me know how you are doing. Whatever worry has you on a freefall into desperation...now is the time to open that parachute! Life is difficult enough at this impasse, unburden yourself. I simply want to help -