ZetaStar

Not to scare anyone, I just want to report on my recent complication from surgery. I am 7 months post op from duodenal switch. I've had no complications until two weeks ago. I felt a little ill one afternoon, minor stomach pain. I attributed it to acid or gas.
I then ate dinner and immediately became violently ill. Severe abdominal pain and nausea. So bad my husband took me to the ER. I started vomiting and I needed pain medicine. A CT scan shoed some kind of blockage. They admitted me and my bariatric surgeon met with me in the morning. He said a had at least a partial blockage in the small intestine. He operated laproscopically that afternoon. I also needed an umbilical hernia repair (he had done one when he did my DS but it didn't hold, this time he used mesh).
I spent another night in the hospital. I was sent home with pain meds and I was in worse pain than the DS surgery or my c-section.
But it is two weeks later and I'm mostly healed. I think the hernia surgery was 90% of my pain. The blockage was easily fixed with surgery.
I'm still thrilled with my DS, I've lost 135 lbs. But I wanted to share in case anyone else had similar symptoms. Know that you could have a serious problem if you're feeling really ill, so please call your doctor or go to the ER. Also know that you can have a pretty quick recovery and get back to normal soon
Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I'm 3 months almost 4 months out and any my pooping experience is hilarious (not really). I was told and read that my bowel movements would increase and the smell would be foul. And for me, it's the absolute truth. I'm sure everyone experience is different but let me share (TMI) that I've pooped on myself in the middle of the night, I poop several times in the morning and yes have been late for work for it. When I think there is no more to come out...SURPRISE!, there's more. Im over the increase in bathroom breaks but its the smell that's the killer. Per my NUT, Im eating too much fat. Get that under control, I should begin to see a difference. That would be great, cause there are a couple of time, I just barely made it to the bathroom!

Thanks everybody!! I pray that we all are succuessful in this journey. I'm looking formward to being on the 'loser's bench"!!

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery whereas you had gastric sleeve. I take a lot of Vitamins and will do so for the rest of my life. But only one of my Vitamins was a chewable. I was also told do not use the gummy vitamins. So you may want to check with your nutritionist before you make that change.
After surgery, I lost the ability to swallow anything medium to large, so most of my vitamins either had to be split or crushed in order to swallow them. After about 2 months this problem went away and I regained my ability to swallow.
From my perspective all Protein shakes taste terrible. But after surgery I had to take them because the Protein that I consumed from food was so minuscule that my body would be damaged if I didn't. Your protein daily requirement is met by a combination of the protein obtained from protein supplements combined with the protein from meals. As my meal volume increased (over the next 1 1/2 years), I was able to decrease my reliance on Protein Shakes because I concentrated on consuming high protein meals. I went from 3 Protein Shakes a day, down to 2, then down to 1 and finally none. The important point here is you don't have to like your protein supplement; you just have to tolerate it. I used Muscle Milk Light (vanilla Creme) blended with Water and added a half a banana to give it better flavor.

Hello all!!!!
Yesterday I got my Surgery date!!! Needless to say, I'm excited and scared. I found out that my gall bladder will also be removed during the surgery. That surprised me. Of course, I looked up why they would have to remove it, and understand that it's a preventive measure, but I'm still not completely clear. Can someone give me the "why the gall bladder is removed during DS surgery for dummies" explanation? Thanks!!

@@Lexigurl82 first and foremost let me give ya a hearty Hells Yes for being a fellow Georgian. Much respect. You know heat & humidity and have endured.
On a bigger level, let me say that you have my further respect for getting your sleeve and making the changes you wanted to make.
I am saddened by your story. It is full of pain. You've endured a lot and that is evident. I am sorry that he didn't come around and instead chose to go a different route. He'll be reminded of how bad of a move that was after it dawns on him that it's too late.
You have your priorities right, though....being a mother and also getting her health under control. Both will be rewarding in ways that you'll see down the road. Now, however, you are just making an investment in something that will become more tangible and pay great future dividends.
He'll be left with whatever flames he can conjure up. You, however, will be a prize......a real treasure....that worthy dudes will come after in force.
Stay the course and keep your priorities in order. You are doing right. Right will be done by you and to you. Hang tough and stay true to yourself.

I don't have a lot of advice to give you, other than this: surgery had nothing to do with it. A person who loves you and values your health may struggle with these enormous changes, but would never use it as a way to hurt you. You deserve far, far better than that.
You're a strong woman. You've made it this far and come so, so far in the pursuit of health and happiness. I'm so sorry this is happening to you, and I'm so sorry he obviously doesn't value your strength and love and loyalty. You're going to make it through this. This cannot break you.
We're all here for you! Hang in there, and take care of yourself. <3

Surgery went better than expected. I had no nausea, or real pain, I did have problems with my oxygen levels so I came home with a machine. Its now 4 days post op and I have a pain under my rib cage that makes it difficult to breathe deep breaths. I am not running any fevers nor do I feel sick to my stomach just very uncomfortable. I walk a little bit each day and I am grateful I took two weeks off. Still wearing the support wrap because it helps with the mobility. Thanks for the link, I will check it out in the next day or two.

You're in for some ride.
Post DS life has been pretty good. I did have to have my gb removed (2008) and hernias done about a month ago. Right now I'm having some issues b/c I had to have an antibiotic shot with the hernia surgery and antibiotics are tough on DSers. I find it easier to keep the weight off post DS because I can eat as much Protein as I want. And I do. I eat every couple of hours; whenever I want.
When I put on a few, I just eat more Protein and drink liquids. The trick is to eat and eat and eat protein. It really helps you lose and keeps you satisfied. I always have nuts, cheeses, cold cuts in my home. Nuts are always in my bag, too. I will often go to McDonald's or some other ff place for a snack. I order a triple w/cheese & catsup. I just eat the insides and throw away the bun (too filling, don't want the carbs [usually], and the carbs give me gas & I don't want that at work, lol).
My advice is be most concerned about hydration for the first few weeks. Sip, sip, sip. That's so important. I got dehydrated at about 6 weeks out. It's not uncommon. food is less important. The week after surgery my Breakfast was 1 tsp. of scrambled eggs. That was it. Couldn't eat another bite. Nowadays, 3 eggs with cream cheese and salami (it takes 2 sittings to eat it, though).
Also, try to walk. I walked around the floor that first night in the hospital. I walked 4x a day in the small garden near my apt. It was tiring, but important.
Best of luck to you!

These are natural thoughts. You might be angry when people look at your differently and/or say you're too thin. I certainly get that. [Esp. since the DS kind of redistributes the fat around your body on many of us.] I never had much of a bust before so that hasn't changed for me. But I have no butt. And very think skin on my arms, etc. (It does make it easy to draw blood which is a good thing. They never have trouble seeing my veins, lol.) My face is also very thin. Little fat there anymore. We're all different, but many often have a different fat distribution on their bodies.
As for clothes, many use thrift shops or heavily discounted outlets during the heavy weight loss phase. It's true you won't be able to wear the clothes you have now (possibly some of the shoes -- I went down a full size and couldn't.)
Regarding recognizing yourself in the mirror: most don't. They still think they look big. I've found it often depends how long you've been big right before you have surgery. For instance, I'd lost a lot of weight in the mid-90s (ah, Fen-Phen ) and kept it off till the early 2000s. Then I got really big again. So it was only about 5 years that I had it back on before I had the DS. Therefore, when I had the DS and the weight came off, I saw it right away and knew what I looked like. Still do. Others I know were big for 10, 20 years. They seem to have a much harder time realizing what they look like now, post DS. Just a theory I've floated around, but often seems to fit.
Friends and family: it's hard to say. I told no one except my immediate family and physicians. Still haven't. It's a personal choice and certainly not one for everyone.

I am having my DS surgery on Monday February 29th, 2016 ( my birthday). I decided to go with the DS because I do not want to regain the weight. Usually when other weight loss surgeries fail, the surgery is revised to a DS. I just can't imagine myself going through the process again if I regain the weight or don't lose enough weight. Thus the DS made the most sense to me. I am on day 4 of my pre-op liquid diet. It does get easier as the days pass but I really would love to eat food right now.
I have so many thoughts running through my head as the day gets closer to my surgery. I look at the hundreds and hundreds of dollars in clothes that I purchased over the years that are hanging in my closet knowing that all of those clothes and shoes I won't be able to wear in the next few months. All while thinking to myself after I lose about 50 pounds I won't have anything to wear. Will I look in the mirror skinny and not recognize myself because I have been fat so long. However I look in the mirror now and wonder where I went and I don't recognize the person I became.
I wonder if my relationships with friends and family will change. Every time I would go on a diet in the past and lose 30 pounds people would start telling me that I am losing to much weight. REALLY??? I am obese, how can I be losing to much weight? I feel like I will be angry inside when people start to pay attention to me because they really never pay attention to me now. It's stupid things like this that I think about.

Love My Body,
I haven't gotten my surgery date yet as I'm waiting on insurance approval but like you, I will be getting a DS. My surgeon feels with my comorbidities (Diabetes, NASH) that even with a BMI of 35 that this is the best option for me. Like you, I have fears about the changes in my body,
how others will regard my choice of WLS etc. I dread the question "Did you try diet and exercise?". I am eager to have the surgery esp. as all my pre-op testing and counseling is completed. I pray my love for sweets is abated as that is my weakness.
You expressed your feelings so well and I felt you were inside my head reading my thoughts.
But remember it's important to surround yourself with the ones who lift you up and support you and the others will fade away. Be strong and proud of the choice you've made.
As my Father in Law told me, "you have made a courageous choice that won't be easy but
will change your life for the better"
Good Luck.
NHardy
(coldfred)
NHardy

I foresee you eating a lot of chicken. With maybe some turkey for variety
You may also find that your tastes change after surgery, so be open to that. I absolutely loathed eggs pre-surgery, for my entire life. Just the smell of them made me feel like I was on the verge of throwing up. But since surgery, I absolutely love them and eat them almost every day.

It's not that simple. Your body needs a certain amount of Protein for daily functioning . Too much will have adverse effects on your kidneys and too little can cause you to feel lethargic, fatigued, etc.
With weight loss surgery your two primary goals are Protein and Water.

I've posted my story several times in other threads which you can find by clicking my name. To make the long story short(er), I had my sleeve 8/22/2013 & then on 12/29/2015 a revision of the (dilated) sleeve & the single-anastomosis duodenal switch. I also had my hiatal hernia repaired at the second surgery. A hiatal hernia can certainly be a cause of reflux symptoms.
Personally, I would not have a gastric bypass. I don't like the artificial opening from the stomach pouch to the intestine. The duodenal switch (classic or SA-DS) has the sleeve gastrectomy that leaves you with a fully-functional stomach, just much smaller.
I chose not to have a DS at the time of my original sleeve because the amount of malabsorption scared me. But 2 years later I was still at a BMI of just over 35, on 4 insulin injections a day, Metformin, atorvastatin (Lipitor) & 3 blood pressure meds so I decided something more had to be done. I am now 2½ months post-op & am off all insulin & the atorvastatin. One blood pressure med is discontinued & the other (a combo) is half what it was & I will probably be off of it by the end of the month. We did try decreasing the Metformin, but that didn't work - yet.
And - drum roll - as of today, my BMI is below 30! I am no longer obese.

I would be surprised if every single person who had weight loss surgery didn't think about it. I can remember setting my goal and thinking there is no possible way I will ever lose 145 lbs and keep it off.
Then I realized that WLS is nothing but a tool and I am in control of that tool for the rest of my life. This is all about where your head and heart is and how bad you want it.
If you want it bad enough, you can see yourself getting to goal and maintaining that goal. Well I am down 142lbs very close to my ideal weight and now it about maintaining.
If you want it and your ready just remember you are in control.
The best of luck to you!

What phase is she on? Did her NUT provide a list of recommended foods for this phase? If so, what is on the list?
Early out I like ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates, premier Protein shakes, GNC lean shake 25, Syntrax nectar, ProtiDiet creamy chicken and Tomato basil Soups.
If she can have fish then: tuna, salmon, etc.

Oh boy, I hope you have LOTS of drugs to get you through this ! I'm so sorry you have to deal with the pain AND the hospital crap ! If this is any help , your story has been a strange coincidence for me, as I have been dealing with mild pain spreading around my back today, and feeling lousy etc. I did have a minor gallbladder problem 2 years ago, but your story has me keeping my mind open for other possibilities. I see my Dr, in a few days, hoping it's a small problem. Hope your problem gets taken care of SOON, and no more hospital run around ! Keep us posted ! And thanks for the detailed story, I honestly had no idea about kidney stones etc. Eye. Opening. Sending you lots of support !!

Not cool.

I am sorry you are dealing with this. I don't understand why ppl have to wait to see a urologist when they've been in the ED with painful kidney stones. Like why don't these specialists have urgent appointments in their daily schedule. Rhetorical. When I'm in charge this will change!
About the NSAIDs, I wonder if a Tordol injection would help you? That's the plan for me postop knee surgery. Any NSAIDs will still go to stomach mucosa regardless of administration, but route of administration does minimize risks.
The comment above about Carafate is interesting and maybe worth doing but that might be processed by the kidney and be contraindicated? Carafate and Protonix are my treatment.
I guess I'm suggesting you keep advocating for yourself. There are options. Sometimes we just have to make our physicians aware of the options

I'm so sorry you had to go through this - I hope it is completely resolved soon!

You've had a bad, unfair run lately. Nothing I say will change anything, but maybe I can shine a little light.
At a job of yore, when things turned difficult or glum, we'd cheer ourselves by recalling that "You can't fall off the floor."
Smash the stone to smithereens.

I knew what it was as soon as you described it. I had one then my wife did not even a year later. She took back everything she said about me being a wuss!
Get better soon!

Yup, my first impression was a kidney stone. I'm sooooo sorry, they hurt worse than anything imaginable. For anyone else reading this, the tipoff for a kidney stone is the "radiating around the back", along with severe pain and the vomiting. The vomiting is actually because of the degree of pain.
Feel better soon!