Postop

35 minutes ago, NancyNewYork said:

Yes, my liver enzymes have been up and down for years but this time it's just up up up and trending up. I will have an elastography scan to check for fibrosis. Better to be safe than sorry.

Good idea.

Almost 19 years out: have your liver numbers always been up and down? Mine have.

I had a liver ultrasound a few years ago to double-check. It was negative.

11 minutes ago, Breaking notsobad said:

Hi all. I have been on bariatric pal since last June. I was scheduled for a Loop DS September but had a complication with AFib. This has been addressed and I am scheduled for Monday 1/29/24. I just wanted to say this topic for me has been most helpful. I see many posts about Protein, eating often and low carbs. I think for me this is very helpful. The nutritionist I'll be working with works in the bariatric department. I expect I'll be utilizing her often. Just as an aside I have been on Atkins type diets often including the original Atkins in 1971.

Great information, thank you.

Best of luck, Monday.

I only know of Mexicali in Mexicali.

Sent you a PM.

I don’t eat many, but the roughage can make me visit the bathroom more.

On 6/3/2023 at 6:39 AM, catwoman7 said:

I don't know how willing you are to travel, but there are two nationally-known ones in California - Dr. Rabkin in San Francisco and Dr. Keshishian in Pasadena. They both do traditional DS.

Those are the 2 I thought of.

TDS 2005.

On 10/24/2022 at 11:49 AM, jvktt64@gmail.com said:

I am 19 years post op DS with DR Rabkin . I need help with issues I am having at present . Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. Do I need to have a endocrinologist to handle this?

My hematologist suggested this since he follows my Iron and gives me the IV Iron which works great.

Also what is the best osteoporosis med to take?? I am on Prolia which is expensive and my primary care Dr ordered it.

I was 264lbs pre DS and am 156 now.

I do have dental issues, and autoimmunine issues (may not be DS related)

Is there any other long term DS patients out there????

I'm almost 18 years out. I've used Reclast since 2013. But it hasn't helped my Dexa much. We're trying Forteo (the co. offers a very inexpensive price if you speak with them). You might want to reach out.

I had tooth issues early on. Then last year, I needed 2 root canals. But I doubt those are DS related.

As for the Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, I believe an endocrinologist and nephrologist would be helpful.

I haven’t really had any shakes for many years; the exception being this summer when I had to have a few. Then I went back to what I used my first 2 years which was chocolate Muscle Milk. I liked it bc it was premade and came in small bottles. I don’t think it had sugar alcohols but I’m not 100% sure.

On 11/30/2021 at 2:43 PM, Uniquely Me said:

The only things I’ve eaten are yogurt, eggs Protein Shakes and I had 2 string cheese for the first time yesterday. I will definitely buy that spray. Thank you!

Double check what is in the shakes. See if there are sugar alcohols.

12 hours ago, Uniquely Me said:

Hey! I’ve seen it’s been a few years now. Have your gas and stool smell subsided? I had DS 3 weeks ago and I can’t stand the smell never mind my family!

What are you eating? Simple carbs? They tend to make stool and gas smell much worse. I use this for the bathroom. It's great.

I carry a spray vial of perfume in my back pants pocket to spray my butt, so if I have gas the smell doesn't linger in my pants. But I almost never have it in public bc I don't eat simple carbs during the day as I don't eat them till I get home. If your family doesn't like the smell, I hope they knew what they were signing up for.

TDS 2005

One of the beauties of the TDS is you can eat anything. Just not as much. And if you eat things like too much sugar or simple carbs, you’ll most likely have foul smelling gas and/or stool.

Of course, you can have caffeine.

You’re also able to take NSAIDs & all other medications - which was important to me, in case I ever needed them.

TDS 2005.

Has your Dr. discussed Creon with you?

I wanted the TDS bc I felt it gave me the best chance to lose the most & to keep it off.

I eat often. I just ensure it's mostly Protein.

TDS 2005

I had no liquid phase. Straight to pureed.

11 hours ago, HulaBula said:

Definitely talk to your dr. I’m only 3 days out and my nausea is getting better. I hope this doesn’t last too long for you!

Agreed

Dr. Esquerra or Dr. Wilhelmy. They're in Mexicali but that's the only place in MX I'd go for DS.

Did they give you something like Urso to help with GB issues post WLS? Unfortunately, I was given that medication and still needed my GB removed 3 years later.

It took me about 2 years postop till I decided it had been the right thing for me.

When you have a distal bypass more of the intestine is bypassed than a Proximal Gastric Bypass. If more of the intestine is bypassed then more weight is lost through the process of malabsorption. So it's kind of in-between a proximal bypass and duodenal switch.

2 hours ago, sassfordays said:

...Did you go with the first surgeon you consulted with? Or did you end up looking around? The first surgeon I consulted with a few years ago does not still have a practice open where I went, so for insurance I will have to find another one anyways.

i went with the second. The first was an intro to what types of WLS there were but then only wanted me to have 1 type and I didn’t want to be boxed in. The second was more open-minded and had a good aftercare program which was incredibly important to me.

I spent over a year researching and working through the fact that I didn't want WLS. My Dr. had recommended it and I was angry about that. It finally came down to me going to different hospitals and attending the presentations concerning WLS. Then some more time writing up a pros/cons list to see what I could live with and what I could not live with regarding having WLS and not having WLS.

Are there any tele support groups you could go to? Is your practice's nutritionist offering telemed? Perhaps either or both of these could help you get back to your "weight-loss mindset".

The fact that you lost that 5 pounds says to me that you have nothing to be ashamed of. But something to be proud about. You know what you're doing. You could just use a bit of encouragement.

I have heard of other practices giving them to those who want them, too.