Strivingforbetter

Congratulations, CalGuy!! That's a wonderful feeling, almost like turning the clock back.

Is it possible that the trauma of going through WLS triggered menopause? Maybe it's coincidental, but It kicked me into a period that lasted two weeks post-op starting the day of surgery, but I haven't had one since. Yes, I'm in my early 50s and due to be finished with periods, but the timing hit right when I had my surgery in June. It changes things in ways I hadn't anticipated. Somethings just aren't as comfortable as they used to be. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

I had the traditional duodenal switch surgery. It was done in a one-step revision from a lapband. My surgeon said he might have to do it in two stages if there was too much scar tissue from the lapband, but that didn't happen and I was relieved. I didn't have my gallbladder removed, and I've been fine. I love my DS. My feet feel a whole lot better carrying less weight around.

I still sip Coke but very little of it. I waited until I was four months post-op, however.

I had what I thought was a stall at three weeks too. The scale didn't budge until the end of the week, and I was weighing daily. So, it's pretty normal for the body to take a little breather at three weeks post-op. I'm seven months post-op and just broke a stall I've had since Christmas. It feels so good to see the scale moving again. It's interesting to see how the brain and stomach work together, i.e., the effects of stress.

You're going to love your DS. As long as you stay away from high carb meals, you'll do fine. Right now you're in the recovery process, but once your stomach starts allowing normal foods it can be easy to stray a little from the path. The DS reminds you that you can't do that. Otherwise you'll get horrible gas; bread won't be your friend. I'm excited for you. It's a new life and you're on your way of getting your health back.

If you scroll down through this forum, you will see others who have had these same questions. You might get your questions answered through their posts.

On 12/11/2017 at 6:51 PM, pattivalvo said:

I had a revision done on November 14 from the sleeve to the loop DS. I haven’t really lost anything. How much have you lost? Starting to get concerned

I was revised from the Lap-Band to the traditional DS on June 9, 2017, and so far I've lost 57 pounds. As long as I keep my calories to around 1100 a day and make Protein a priority, I lose. So far, I haven't had a stall, although my weight loss has been slow at about 1.5 pounds a week. I know other DS patients have lost up to 3-4 pounds a week, but that hasn't been my story. You are only a few weeks post-op, so your body is getting used to all of the changes. Give it time. Log your food. Drink lots of Water. The malabsorption component of the DS is very powerful, so I am confident in time your losing will pick up. I log my food on My Fitness Pal and it helps me to keep my eating in check.

Yes, I have this same issue and I'm a DS patient. I was in the salon getting my hair done the other day, and I could smell everyone's hair that was getting blow dried. It should have smelled nice and clean, but to me it smelled like week old hair stench. Gag.

On 11/29/2017 at 7:42 PM, doxaholic said:

Wow im a year out in december and just started having this problem. Fluffy chix a carolina reaper is claimed to be one of the hottest peppers. Lots of you tube challenges surrounding it.

Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I thought you were referring to farm equipment like a thrasher or something. Sounds harsh, no matter what.

On 11/26/2017 at 8:02 PM, SheLand said:

I had the lap band back in 2011 lost close to 70-75 pounds
But I have regained it all back
No restriction except I get choked on grilled chicken looking to have band removed and sleeve done in jan

I hated getting that choked, stabbing feeling when I ate chicken with the band. So glad that useless monster is gone.

On 11/26/2017 at 9:26 AM, FluffyChix said:

Congrats girlie! I'm afraid "we" must "insist" you offer piccys. You know how we feel about piccys, especially the before and "during" or "afters."

Loved hearing about your thoughts/feelings!!!

@Strivingforbetter Congrats to you too! (hint: see above re: piccys)

I'm going about this journey incognito, so no pics coming from me. You'll have to admire my ticker graphic instead.

Man, take two inches off my height, and give or take a month, and I feel like I'm your surgery twin. I'm also a little over half way to goal. I, too, was a doubter this would work for me because I failed so miserably on the lap-band. I'm going at a snail's pace at about a pound and a half a week, but I haven't had a stall yet. Everything you expressed is exactly how I feel. I eat much less than I used to, but I'm not starving and I know this is a new lifestyle I can live with. I'm so very happy I did this for myself.

17 hours ago, Postop said:

That's interesting. I began losing hair at about 4 months out and it went on for a good year.

I better change my stats. I haven't weighed 140 since about 14 months out. I seem to hold around 120. When I'm ill or not hungry (I still try to get down my Protein but not much else) it can go to 114. When I'm good, though, it's between 120-123.

Oh, I see. My stats say I lost around 140, lol.

I read your stats wrong. Whoops. I took a look at your photo timeline link; you're tiny! Good news: I got the results of my blood work this morning and all levels are normal. That's comforting. I'm a little lightheaded every now and again because I have low blood pressure (a family trait), but other than that, I feel great. I even managed to lose a pound this week, despite the big turkey day meal. I love my DS.

My sister has stage 4 cancer (not colon), so I've sat with her while she's had her chemo and listened to the many stories by the patients around her who have colon cancer. No symptoms, just a stomach ache one day and then the diagnosis from the doctor. Their lives were turned upside down. No thank you. I'll take a colonoscopy any day over sitting in one of the hospital's recliners with an IV of chemo dripping in my veins every week. My heart ached for them.

I had my colonoscopy four years ago. The worst part is the prep. The procedure itself is a breeze. You go to sleep and before you know it, you're finished.

5 hours ago, Postop said:

As long as the two of you are watching your bloods carefully, that's all you can ask.

Agreed. I want to stay healthy through this experience, so my levels are a big priority for me. I have noticed I haven't had any Hair loss like most wls patients. In fact, my hair seems extra healthy since the first of last month. This could be due to my loss being slower than others. I've averaged 10 pounds a month, a little over half way to goal. I see you weigh around 140. That would be perfect for me, too.

2 hours ago, Dkae2719 said:

Hi everyone. I am lost. I have full Medicaid and found out it pays for the weight loss surgery. What do I need to do to get started? Any advice or suggestions to get me in the right direction? Thanks in advance.

I started by researching doctors in the area who did the surgery and narrowed it down to one. His office guided me to a choice of two different hospitals. I met with him individually to decide on which surgery would be best for me. Then I went to a few group meetings at his office to discuss the surgery and met with a nutritionist. He also required a psych eval before surgery (most do). The last hoop was an endoscopy for him to scope my stomach pre-op.

11 hours ago, Postop said:

That’s interesting. Now you’re about 6 mos. out, right? Does your surgeon recommend that as the years go by or just for the first year or so?

It will stay this way unless my blood levels show I'm deficient in something. I'm 22 weeks post-op, so about 5 1/2 months out. So far, I'm feeling great. I was surprised that I didn't have to take more and mentioned the great quantities other patients are required to take. He's performed the DS on over 500 patients, so I'm trusting him. I'm having my blood draw this weekend, so we will see.

I'm a DS patient and I take two 500 mg of chewable Calcium, two chewable Multivitamins of ADEK (Bariatric Advantage), and one sublingual B12 (3000 mcg). That's it per my doctor's orders. Not too bad at all.

Check out SmilinsShrinking's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbizZSc7-3ib0lsK4NyBvqg . She just got back from Mexico after having her plastics done with Dr. Sauceda, and she looks fantastic. While she was there, she did a daily video blog you might find helpful.

I had the DS this past June and was in the hospital one day. Day 3 my energy was the most zapped, but then I started feeling a lot better. It took me about a week to start getting my energy back. After two weeks, I felt great. For me, the DS was a much easier recovery than the lap-band.

9 hours ago, GotProlactinoma said:

So I lost slowly. It took 3 months and 30 lbs down

I don't think losing 10 pounds a month is losing slowly. You're doing great.

I was three months out and 30 pounds when a few people noticed. Then the next two months no one said anything. Now at 50 pounds down, I'm having people comment all of the time. They tell me it's really noticeable in my face. My husband says it's my whole frame; I'm just a lot smaller of a person overall.

On 12/27/2016 at 4:33 PM, Kaylamh said:

In my opinion, the DS is the best surgery out there. I had mine a few weeks ago, and I already couldn't be happier. I feel great, I'm lighter on my feet, and I've already lost 25 pounds. It could really be a game changer if the sleeve isn't working for you. The sleeve typically has a lower success rate and a really high weight regain rate. The switch does not.

I had my DS this past June and love it! No regrets. I would do it again in a heartbeat. If you look at the stats, very few have regain with the DS. In fact, I have't read any posts on this site where a DS patient complains about regain. Not one.