lovemybody

Thank you all for the welcome!! I have 1 more meeting with my dietitian and endoscopy next month. Then im told i will receive a surgery date. Looking like it maybe around the middle of June. I will keep you all updated as i go along.! Thanks again!

Good afternoon everyone! My name is Mike, I am having the Duondenal switch
I have been reading through these forums for a few weeks now, and have finally have found the courage to finally post. I am 32 and currently 6'4 530lbs with a BMI of 64.5. I come from a large bodied family, and have been battling my my weight since i was little. I am married with 2 awesome kids. Thank you all, in advance for your knowledge and advice.

I am so happy I decided to have this surgery! No regrets at all. You will have foul smelling poop and gas, however, that's just the small part. I was a size 24 now down to a 12. I am 11 months out.

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.

I struggle watching that show because they are made to feel bad about a 5 pound loss in one week. Most of us would kill for that 5 pound loss. But they are expected to bring in 10 pounds or more a week to feel like they were successful. They exercise 6-8 hours a day to get those big losses and there is no way they can go home and maintain those unrealistic exercise hours. I have seen images of some of their past participants and many have gained weight. Some have gained about 20-30 pounds and some have gained all their weight back. Than at the finale the last of the participants are under such pressure to win they do extreme things to lose the remaining weight. Such as the gal from that one season that looked anorexic that it even shocked the coaches and the audience when she walked out. This is a horrible way to win a weight loss show.

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.

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.

For the OP,
If I had it to do over & the single-anastomosis duodenal switch had been available when I had my sleeve in 2013, I probably would have done that rather than the sleeve. The amount of malabsorption with the classic DS scared me then & still does. I did loose close to 100 pounds after the sleeve & then a panniculectomy but regained about 20 pounds. I had a revision of the sleeve & then the SA-DS on December 29, 2015, & am no down 115 pounds from my pre-sleeve starting weight.

I agree about the portal on their site. I would like to see it broke down a little bit more. I would like to see specifics like when my labs arrive or if they got my medical records. This way I can track down the necessary information accordingly. I love my Dr. Knowing that he is one of the top bariatric doctors in the country is comforting. As of yesterday all of my information has been received and now is in the review process before it gets sent to the insurance. I am nervous of course that insurance will say I am missing something or get denied. Plus I am worried about how I can live on Clear liquids for 2 weeks when I struggle doing it for a day. How do people get through that process? I can go all day long doing very well at having broth, and Protein shakes but come 5:00 I am famished. I am hoping that I can get the surgery by the middle of March. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

So glad to hear you've made it home. Sorry you're in pain. Hope you're taking something they gave you for it.

Here you go!
Link
I can also email you the documents my surgeons and DS nutrits. give us. They include sample meal plans, what to eat when, vits/minerals, etc. If you're interested, PM me with your email addy.

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!

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 watched biggest loser when it first came out years ago but I haven't watched it in a long time. The way they do things on that show are just not realistic to maintain when the people return to their real life. A few years ago they did a follow up show to check in on former contestants and many had regained their weight. It was the only time I've seen them do a follow up episode. I found one former contestant on you tube who had regained her weight then went on to have great success with getting the sleeve done.

Even the regain stories are just another angle on fat shaming. I hate that show.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I use to watch that show years ago but I got so sick of the closeup (cry for the camera) fake scene. I have quit watching most of the REALITY show type stuff because they aren't reality. There is no reality TV if you have a camera with someone standing behind it following you around. Even scene is choreographed. Then its cut and pieced together for more drama.
Gag

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.

I struggle watching that show because they are made to feel bad about a 5 pound loss in one week. Most of us would kill for that 5 pound loss. But they are expected to bring in 10 pounds or more a week to feel like they were successful. They exercise 6-8 hours a day to get those big losses and there is no way they can go home and maintain those unrealistic exercise hours. I have seen images of some of their past participants and many have gained weight. Some have gained about 20-30 pounds and some have gained all their weight back. Than at the finale the last of the participants are under such pressure to win they do extreme things to lose the remaining weight. Such as the gal from that one season that looked anorexic that it even shocked the coaches and the audience when she walked out. This is a horrible way to win a weight loss show.

I struggle watching that show because they are made to feel bad about a 5 pound loss in one week. Most of us would kill for that 5 pound loss. But they are expected to bring in 10 pounds or more a week to feel like they were successful. They exercise 6-8 hours a day to get those big losses and there is no way they can go home and maintain those unrealistic exercise hours. I have seen images of some of their past participants and many have gained weight. Some have gained about 20-30 pounds and some have gained all their weight back. Than at the finale the last of the participants are under such pressure to win they do extreme things to lose the remaining weight. Such as the gal from that one season that looked anorexic that it even shocked the coaches and the audience when she walked out. This is a horrible way to win a weight loss show.

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.

Just wanted to share a great review on our line of BariatricPal Protein Soups available in the BariatricPal Store by our good friend The Bariatric Foodie.

Did anyone watch The Biggest Loser Finale the other day? Is it just me or do the twins and the other guy (forgot his name) look sick? They looked way too thin. I understand losing weight for the competition but wow they looked sick! The only one at the end that looked good was Colby.

"...So, I am a little worried about making the right choice the first time, as opposed to having to potentially gain weight back and have a revision surgery...."
You know what they say, "Think twice, cut once." So it's good you're thinking.
As for vits/minerals: I take 40+ each day. Most of us leave ADEK's behind after a year or so and supplement with individual pills/capsules. Many DSers never even start with them. It depends on your surgical and nutritional team.
The DS is many more supplements, blood tests, Protein, etc., than GB. They're constantly tweaked/added/subtracted after your bloods are done. It's something you must commit to for life.
BTW, start keeping your bloods and all other test results now. It's important to have the pre-op test results so you can compare them to your postop ones. Get a big binder.

Standard Restaurant Supply off of 3500 South and West Temple has an entire wall of syrups. They have tons of different flavors in large bottles for the same price you pay for small bottles at the grocery store. They have both regular and sugar free so be careful when reading the labels because the bottles look alike. They are open on Saturday's too. MD Diet 3655 South State has a small store inside their office building where you can buy bariatric supplies such as Protein puddings, Protein Drinks, flavored Fruit Drinks with protein, Soups and various powdered protein. They are typically open Monday-Friday 8-5 but I am not sure about Saturday's.
As for calling about medical records I did the same thing. They kept saying that they faxed it but BMI never said if it had come in and the site didn't update that information. Finally they received them yesterday along with my labs so now its in the criteria review stage. I certainly understand the frustration to get moving on the paperwork.