Wellington4321

I have been using this multi vitamain for several years as a supplement to the regular Vitamins I take anyway. This one is really expensive (over $40 for 1 month supply). I take normal less expensive vitamins and add 1 of these as extra coverage.

17 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Congratulations on your loss and thanks for your input (I love your comparison to driving instructors who have never actually drove). If you don’t mind me asking does that amount of fruit cause bathroom issues? I think it was the Fiber that I read if you have too much after SADI it causes malodorous gas. Also, can you please give me an example of a day for you (in terms of food)?

You're correct to be aware of bathroom issues but it's not a serious consideration for having the surgery. Consider yourself more lactose intolerant among a few other things and just eat around certain foods. The heavy consumption of fruit is important for me for hydration and feeling satisfied with food. The only gas triggers are grapes (red & green). I still eat them at home but not if I'm going to be in an office or public area like the gym. No issue eating berries, oranges, pinneapple, peaches, mango, grapefruit and most others. I'm not kidding about eating at least 20lbs a week of fruit, often way more. It's great for supplementing hydration and satisfies a sweet craving.

A few thoughts from my Sadi experience after nearly 10 years:

- Nutritionists are like driving instructors who read a book about driving but never drove themselves. The same can be said for many doctors since only weight loss specialists understand the procedures.

- Eat the basics everyday (protein, fruit, fiber), then mostly anything else.

- Hydration is vital, I get mine from fruits, tea and Water. I eat between 20 to 30 lbs of fruit per week (not kidding). It doesn't add weight.

- Get exercise everyday, even just steps are fine.

I'm a 6'1 male, 63 yrs old, weigh about 166lbs today. I lost about 152 lbs in year 1, gained back 25lbs after 3 years. Recently gained about 5lbs but working out a lot. I prioritize eating the basics daily, taking the Vitamins (less than a DS'er), then eat whatever I want. I get exercise everyday by walking my dog, hikes, biking and going to the gym. It took me about 4 years to get in decent shape after surgery. Now workouts are just a thing I do everyday like any other activity.

Your information on the SADi is mostly inaccurate. I had it in 2014 and can eat a horse every day and not gain weight (caveat that you'll need to poop out a horse everyday). There is virtually nothing off limits if I am willing to put up with gas and bloating that eating in excess will cause. I lost about 152lbs over a year or so, and after an initial regain of 25 to 30lbs, I stabilized a few years out. I eat a lot of good quality foods including potatoes but also plenty of ice cream and chocolate. The ice cream, onions, and carbonated drinks all cause gas. I've probably developed some level of tolerance after eating so much of it.

The Sadi is an awesome option from my experience so I would highly recommend you seriously consider it. Also fewer Vitamins and malabsorption issues.

2 minutes ago, Wellington4321 said:

I had the SADi DS not quite 10 years ago. I eat throughout the day because I like to, and I can easily eat a footlong Subways Stake & cheese or anything else. The stomach restriction wore off after about 2 years. The weight stays off due to malabsorption & daily exercise. The downside of eating so much is gas and more frequent #2's. Generally, 2 to 3 times a day is normal but no issue and seldom an emergency. Also, when I have a morning bowel movement, I feel fantastic afterwards and happy to shed all toxic waste out of my body. I never get constipated but I do eat a lot of fat everyday in the form of cheese and Ice Cream.

Also, I forgot to mention I do not doubt as I grow older I will have to continue to overeat every day or lose weight, muscle mass, bone density, etc. This is the real downside for me with the SADi DS or any other wls. I get 30 years of thin and healthy with a trade-off of the final 5 years or so being frail and breakable.

I had the SADi DS not quite 10 years ago. I eat throughout the day because I like to, and I can easily eat a footlong Subways Stake & cheese or anything else. The stomach restriction wore off after about 2 years. The weight stays off due to malabsorption & daily exercise. The downside of eating so much is gas and more frequent #2's. Generally, 2 to 3 times a day is normal but no issue and seldom an emergency. Also, when I have a morning bowel movement, I feel fantastic afterwards and happy to shed all toxic waste out of my body. I never get constipated but I do eat a lot of fat everyday in the form of cheese and Ice Cream.

I don't think you fully understood what you signed up for. I work out 6 to 7 days a week and do not have any bulk muscle. I had the Sadi DS 10 years ago and I can eat a horse without weight gain but also no bulk muscle. Instead, I have excellent muscle definition and can work out at a level not possible before wls. The DS fortunately keeps the weight off, so you will never bulk up. You signed up for this, and it's a fantastic thing for you to be able to work out, eat what you want, and be healthy, especially given you previously weighed over 400 lbs.

Hi and welcome to post SADi Life. I had it in Nov 2014 and understand where you're coming from. Before you stress over the list below, I eat all of the items on the list, and some are daily must eat for me. The gas for many SADi and Hess DS patients is triggered by:

1) Dairy (cheeses, milk, sauces with cream), 2) Onions, 3) Sorbitol and certain sugar substitutes but not all, 4) Some Fiber 5) Fruits like grapes. 6) Anything Carbonated.

Strategy => after your morning major bowel movement which should happen if you have a good nights sleep, you won't have any gas.

Morning => Start every morning eating healthy (Banana, Chobanni Greek Yogurt, eggs, oatmeal). fruit (no grapes but any berries, mandarins, peaches, oranges, etc., and chocolate during the morning.

lunch => Sandwich, chocolate, fruit (but no grapes), and min trigger foods, so no gas likely

dinner and later => Anything you want which may cause gas but less concern at night. I eat Ice Cream, cheeses and chocolate every day.

On 1/3/2024 at 10:15 AM, Sahira27 said:

@wellington4321

Can i ask you what vits your on? Im cluless and my dr is no help.

Everyone's needs vary but in general, a Sadi patient requires the same type of Vitamins as a Hess DS patient, only far fewer. Also, I adjust each year based on annual lab results. It's important to note you should take dry pills, not gels, and also no slow-release pills throughout the day. Over time, I dropped Iron supplements and added K & Zinc.

After 9+ years, I take the following in the morning and repeat the calcium citrate, Vit K & D, and a Multivitamin at night.

Calcium Citrate (the standard 2 pills = 600 units), Basic doses of 1 Vitamin E, Vit A, Vit K, and Zinc with heavier Vitamin D-10k unit pill (increased this a lot from where I started), and 1 multivitamin.

I don't take iron but do drink a 5-hour energy drink (lots of B6 & B12) before I work out.

@DanM I can eat like a horse. The only consequence is bloating and gas if I eat too much fat or carbonated beverages. Since I love Ice Cream, I eat it every day and also have a small bottle of Coke. It does cause gas which is eliminated every morning with the usual major morning bowel movement. I also eat a lot of chocolate but otherwise I'm mostly a heathy eater including tons of fruits and Protein.

@Allen, I had no choice once the weight loss started. I lost slowly but steadily and had an initial goal of getting down to 185 lbs. I was concerned about the traditional Hess DS being too extreme so I opted for the SADi due to the much longer common channel (mine is about 300 cm). When I hit 135 lbs my Dr and I were concerned but not panicked. Over the next 2 years I gaind back 27 pounds to reach 162 where I have been very steady. I feel like my body knew the right weight and I needed to let it get there over time.

I'm very happy with the Sadi and would not change a thing.

I had the Sadi DS in Nov 2014 with a 40 bmi, just under 300lbs as a 6'1 male, age 54 at the time. I had your concerns so I'll summarize: I had too much weight loss initially and did look like a cancer patient for about a year. I gained back 27 lbs and have stabilized at 162lbs, still thin. I can eat anything now and get gas and bloating. A VSG would have worked initially for me but I would have gained most of the weight back long ago. I still often eat like **** but get nutrition and exercise every day. At 63 I can do things that I couldn't do decades ago, look good for my age, and pay the price for poor eating decisions with gas and bloating until the next am. All in all most people would take this deal in a second.

Below is a relative size and fitness before and after:

Hi, I had the Sadi DS in Nov 2014 with a 40 bmi. My common channel is 300cm and I have no issues with malnutrition as long as I take Vitamins albeit less than a Hess DS patient (non-Sadi). The less is more theory has worked for me, meaning a longer common channel gave me 100% weight loss and kept it off while keeping me from being malnourished. I can eat a horse and not gain weight, although eating poorly will cause gas and bloating.

A number of people from another support site I've been using for years have been patients @ Mexico Bariatric Center in Tijuana. I've heard very positive results. I've traveled overseas for loose skin removal and dental work, and it's work out both times as high quality at substantially lower prices. My strongest recommendation is to know who your doctor will be and confirm their reviews and experience. Also the medical hotels in my experience are a way better option than family care, at least for me.

Good luck!

Don't take advice from a Dietician. They advise you about things they read in books.

The Sadi is a fantastic option but creates an imbalance like all WLS's do. My bowel movements defineately smell worse, which is a result of undigested food passing through your colon. Your other option that you have in place now is to keep it and get fat(ter). The gas is a direct result of what you eat. I eat the wrong foods every day and lots of them. It causes gas and multiple bowel movements. The other other for me is for the food is be digested and stay on my body.

The bottom line is I'm thin and extremely fit in my 60's vs Obese and inactive in my 40's prior to the Sadi. I take a moderate amount of Vitamins (far less than normal DS patients), and if I eat too much food (which I do daily), I have gas and extra bowel movements to pass the food out. It's a tradeoff most people would live with.

I can eat virtually anything or any amount of calories. The downside of overeating is pooping it out multiple times in a day, along with gas and sometimes bloating when I eat too much fat or dairy. To be fair, as absolutely fantastic and awesome as I look for an old fart, I have the downside that anyone who loses weight has:

1) You look anorexic and cancer like for at least awhile, maybe forever. I'm in the middle somewhere.

2) Loose skin - anything north of 100lbs is a guarantee of wrinkly loose skin in many places. I have it but it's not as bad as many others experience. PLastic surgery to remove it is always a possibility if it bothers you.

3) I take Vitamins daily, but no where near as much as any Hess DS patient.

There's no BMI requirement for any specific wls procedure. The type of surgery is a medical decision made between the Dr and patient, not the insurance company. Most insurance won't cover wls unless you have a 40 bmi or other medical issues like pre diabetes etc.

I had a 39 to 40 BMI at 287 lbs. I choose the Sadi DS over the traditional Hess DS, RNY, VSG or Lapband after disucssing my goals with my doctor. My criteria was to lose all the weight, keep it off and be able to eat normally eventually. All of them are true for me today (9 years later) but I also do my part with at least trying to mostly eat well, and getting daily exercise.

It's important to note that wls creates an imbalance in your body and you have to make adjustments including the Vitamins, eating, accepting loose skin, bloating and gas issues with bad food choices, etc.

FYI - It's not an easy journey and takes time. If you make the commitment, it's worth it. Below is my journey and my almost 63 year old body 9 years post Sadi.

I had the Sadi done in 2014. It's been a godsend. I lost 152 lbs over a year and stabilized at down 125lbs. The Sadi is a much better option then the traditional Hess DS since there are less issues with malabsortion, far fewer Vitamins needed and it's a simple loop compared to Hess DS. You will find your issues in general to be similar to most other DS patients.

Regarding your back pain, it has nothing to do with the Sadi procedure. You have probably been lying in a bed too long and needed to start walking. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

4 years out from SIPS, lost 100% of excess weight, it's still off and I can eat anything I want. My only issue is gas if I eat too many of the wrong carbs. Vitamins are minimal and help prevent me from getting basic illnesses such as colds in the winter. I pretty much never get sick and the small amount of daily vitamins I think helps make that happen.

You can think of the modified DS as a "DS light". It's called the SADi or SIPS or Single Loop DS. It's performed due to less complications, lower surgery risks and less risk of malabsorption (aka fewer vitamins). I had it done in 2014 knowing I'd gain the weight back with a VSG. The VSG portion of the SADi DS takes the weight off and the intestinal bypass portion keeps it off.

I don't recommend starting with a VSG than adding the bypass. It means 2 surgeries instead of 1.

SADi / SIPS / Single Loop DS are all the same procedure. Think of it as a DS "lite". You end up with a much longer common channel than a standard DS procedure but so far it has appeared weight loss is roughly the same. The benefit of the longer common channel is less malabsorption and in turn less Vitamins than a typical DS patient.

Cigna

I had SIPs in Nov 2014 and insurance covered it. The doctors admin should handle this, not your worry. My insurance carrier denied it the first time but after the doctor (not me) appealed it was denied a second time and then immediately approved. The entire process from denial to approval was only about 30 days.

I had the SIPS in Nov 2014 and lost about 150 lbs, then gained a little back. Still very thin, no medical issues.

600 to 800 calories the first few months, then gradually up. I was around 1600 after a year and now in year 4 I'm at 3k calories per day. I get in a fair amount of exercise but nothing crazy, and I eat a lot of good stuff mixed in with poor decisions (fat and sugar). My focus today is more on ingredients then calories.

My biggest challenge is finding the discipline to eliminate foods I love that cause gas. If I eat the right foods, I'm fine. If not, my gas could choke horses in a barn.