Strivingforbetter

Pretty much the case the first year, then things change but never back to what things were pre-op. Those days are gone forever.

Yeah, you just wait.....:)

This has been widely discussed on this site, and you'll find that people have strong opinions for either keeping it a secret or telling all. I personally have kept my surgery private. Only my husband and children know. I don't feel obligated to tell anyone my personal medical history. I wouldn't expect someone to tell me they had a vasectomy. It's none of my business. I've changed my eating habits, so I tell them what my diet consists of but leave it at that. Too many people want to criticize another person for his/her life decisions, and I don't have time for that. I'm focusing on being positive and healthy and don't need the drama, especially at work.

Every morning, first thing after I wake up, I have to use the bathroom for a BM. Typically, this is the major one of the day with 2-3 other smaller ones throughout the day. But every once in a while I have a day where that's all my body wants to do and I have 4-5 that day. Those days I'm thinking, "What's going on?" It's nothing to be concerned about, just the body taking care of business.

Congratulations on getting your DS! You're in for some amazing changes in your health. The DS is hands down the best thing I could have done for myself. This will be a year of big changes for you. Enjoy the journey.

I started out weighing almost exactly where you started, and we seem to have lost the same amount. i'm also 5'4". I've had a few people ask me how much I've lost total, but I never tell them because I don't want them getting suspicious about how I lost it. Most people don't lose 80 pounds on their own. I've never had anyone tell me to stop losing, and I've maintained for the past 6 months. I think my inherited thicker legs must be the reason no one tells me to stop losing. They're a family heirloom (not one I cherish). I wear a size 8 pants and a medium top. Since losing the weight, my skin has tightened up considerably on my arms, butt, and under my chin. I feel I look normal and healthy now, not too skinny, so maybe that's why no one is alarmed I've lost 80 pounds. I don't look underweight, just normal. However, I do plan on losing another 10-15 before my tummy tuck this summer.

@deltagirl93 I like how you said you know your crowd. That's exactly the reason why I didn't tell anyone either. People at my work are dog eat dog, meaning they will throw you under the bus given the chance. There's no way I'd give them personal information so they can gossip. I also revised from the band to the DS. I lost maybe 8 pounds on the band and then started gaining. So glad I never told anyone about that surgery either. I don't feel obligated to share my personal medical history with people. Everyone knows weight loss surgery is an option, so it's not like I have the corner on the market. If they really want to be proactive, they can go after it like I did. I like keeping my world private.

And I rarely hear of other DS patients, which is the surgery I chose. It's always a good feeling to know you made a good decision and it's working for you.

I have a very supportive husband, but I agree with @Jingle123423. I would still do it if he hadn't been. Sometimes people just don't understand, due to ignorance, how much this improves a person's overall well-being. If they knew, they would be more supportive. Education is key. I wish you the best. I've lost 80 pounds and having this surgery was the best thing I've done for my health. I didn't give up. I had the courage to do something about the problem.

@@disco stu 250 cm seems way too long. I confirmed with my surgeon at my one year appt that mine was 150 cm. Anything shorter seems like you wouldn't have the malabsorption component. That's interesting. So are you saying instead of the DS, what you got was just the sleeve?

My common channel is 150 cm. A traditional one is usually 100 cm. I would recommend going with 100 cm because you'll lose weight faster and your body will find its lower set point closer to your goal. I worried I would lose too much weight, but now I wish I didn't have the extra length in my channel so my set point was lower.

You're going to rock that swimming suit and make your sister green with envy. Embrace the positive changes that are coming your way. You'll be a much slimmer you and you'll feel more confident. Loose skin is part of the weight loss journey, but that's something that can be addressed at a later time and is much less of an issue than being obese.

@Kat11929 I had the traditional full DS in June 2017 and have lost 80 pounds. I started with a BMI of 40 and have decreased it to a low 26. Another three pounds and I'll have a BMI of 25. Because of my lower starting BMI, my doctor made my common channel a little longer than most normal DS patients. I wear a size 8 pants and medium top. I only take 2 chewable calciums, two ADEK vitamins, and one B12 a day. I don't feel that's unreasonable and my blood levels are excellent. I have opted to include an additional vitamin D3 because we don't get a whole lot of sun year round here in Utah due to the inversion. I've never had a problem with constipation. I do get gas in the evening sometimes if I eat the wrong things. My health has improved significantly. While I didn't have any co-morbidities except being overweight, my quality of life is much improved. As Discostu stated, tying my shoes used to be a breath holding experience, and now it's no big deal. I'm no longer embarrassed to have my picture taken, which is huge for me. My double chin is gone, something that has haunted me for the past 20 years. Would I have the DS surgery again? In a heartbeat.

@Rosang3 You're starting at almost exactly where I started with my stats. I'm excited for you. You'll be amazed at how much you'll change over this coming year.

The doctor who did my lapband did not give me any painkillers when I woke up, so I was in agony. I didn't get anything for the first 45 minutes and was in tears on the way home. He performed my lapband as outpatient surgery. I also experienced a lot of tugging from my port area for the first three weeks while it healed under my skin. My duodenal switch was a breeze compared to that. I only stayed on painkillers a few days and was up and going a week later running errands. I was tired, but I felt pretty darn good. Day three was the hardest, for some reason, but after that my body picked up and moved forward with recovery. I think I just plain had a better doctor with my second surgery, hands down.

I was revised from the lapband to the duodenal switch a year ago. I think driving three days after surgery is a little too soon. I would wait at least a week. You might still be on painkillers and still feel rather sore.

I'm 14 months post op DS and still have loose stools. sometimes diarrhea if I've consumed too much sugar. I've never had an issue with constipation. My bowel movements have changed forever since the DS, just very soft but I guess that's the new normal. Welcome to the world of the DSer. Frequently I have to go in the middle of the night when I'm only 20% awake----which I'm not a fan of, but that's life now.

Did you have your surgery? How are you doing?

I'm 55 years old and also had a revision from a lap band to the duodenal switch. It's been the best decision I've ever made for my health. I spent one day in the hospital and within two weeks I was running around doing errands. I've got my confidence back too. It's a great feeling to reach for the size in the middle or front of the rack instead of at the very back or at the bottom of the pile. Sometimes when I look in the mirror it's hard to believe it's really me. But it is!

@Screwballski: I've also had four c-sections, but my third one caused my muscle to rip and that's when my hernia occurred. I'm happy to hear that muscle reconstruction isn't required for everyone. Removing the extra skin is all I need to make me happy.

@George OG Check out "SmilinsShrinking" on You Tube. She had a total body lift in Mexico with Dr. Sauceda and sings his praises. She even video taped an interview with him a few days after her surgery. She's very open with her before and after pics, so there is a ton of information about the kind of surgery you're looking for if you watch her videos. Her name is Joni.

@Scamp Wow, you look fantastic! Thank you so much for the information. I love that we can get on this site and get such good support. I was feeling so down when I left the first surgeon's office a few weeks ago. Now I can see that there's hope after all! I plan on getting my second opinion next month (September) and then getting my surgery done next summer. I'm squirreling away my money right now. Thanks again, Scamp.

@Matt Z I'm a planner, so I wouldn't get this done until next summer. I also want to try and lose another 10-15 pounds before then, but I want to know my options and pricing. I've considered going to Mexico to save costs, but it scares me to death. My luck, I'd be one of those patients who ends up on a TV show of plastics gone wrong. Anyway, thank you for replying. Glad to see I'm not the only one considering this option. By the way, there is a surgeon in Texas who feels that the muscle reconstruction is actually not really necessary and unduly painful for the patient. He always does tummy tucks with the repair. I thought that was interesting.

Wow, Matt, you were really quick on your reply! You even grabbed my typos before I could correct them. I think I was really surprised that the first surgeon I went to didn't even suggest the abdominoplasty without muscle repair. I left his office feeling so deflated, but the next morning I started rethinking things and searched for other options. I'm interested to see what this second surgeon says. One thing is for sure, I didn't feel confident in the first surgeon. This other option should have at least been discussed.

Has anyone had a tummy tuck without muscle reconstruction? Due to an incisional hernia repair I had 22 years ago, I'm not a candidate for muscle repair. One surgeon said that in pulling the muscles tight, it would make the mesh covering my hernia repair act like an accordion and cause chronic pain. However, I desperately want to rid myself of my abdominal overhang for a slimmer look in my clothes. I realize I might not have as tight of a stomach without the muscle repair, but I think it will make a world of difference to remove "the blob." I'm going in for a second consultation with a different surgeon next month. Anyone have this same issue?