Glamgirl

Good to hear.

Thank you, best decision I've ever made.

Hello, I had the D.S. procedure done 4 weeks ago tomorrow. Spent a few days in the hospital, had a great deal of discomfort which is to be expected. Once I got home, had an issue with lactose intolerance, my NUT had me switch to pureed foods which helped and now to date I've lost 41 lbs. Next weekend I will be allowed to start soft foods.
All in all, it's been a positive experience.

The DS was my first choice, I just wasn't able to make it happen with insurance (plus my doc has concerns about previous intestinal surgeries), etc. I've opted for the sleeve for now since I see a lot of people succeeding with it, and I'm going to work it as hard as I can but I still keep one eye on the DS world. It's comforting to know the "other half" of the surgery is still an option later if I need it. Best of luck to everyone who is getting switched!

You should also try Isopure Protien drink, has quite a few flavors. I prefer the grape and a 20oz bottle has 40 grams of protien. I get half my daily requirement and the taste isn't too bad.

@AbbarnesStaying hydrated is the most important thing right now. You have Protein stores in your body but you must sip. Concentrate on that. If you can only do 4 sips (I seem to recall that was me, too) then do them every 15 or 30 min., if you can.

Thanks for the response! I think I just wasn't as prepared as I should have been for how hard this was going to be. Did you drink any Protein Water when you were recovering? I think that may be the only way I'm going to be getting any protein in me for the next little while.

Let me start with some simple statements.

No, I don’t know the length of my comment channel, I used to, but that doesn’t define my surgery and therefore takes up ZERO brain capacity.

Yes, if given the choice to have the surgery or not have the surgery, I would do it again.

Yes, working out at a lower weight is easier, but it still sucks, and I still hate working out. 🏋️‍♀️

One day you’ll forget about your surgery until after you’ve eaten too much movie theatre popcorn. 🍿You will pay for this mistake for at least 24 hours and swear to never do it again, until the next time you go to the movies and do it again.

Men only: NO, this surgery does not make your penis bigger. It makes the perception of the size of your penis bigger because you can see more of it when your belly disappears. Don’t be fooled into thinking you are suddenly a porn star, you are still the same guy.

Yes, I love Kale… As a garnish. Kale was never meant to be eaten as a food, whoever decided this leafy weed should be consumed by people should be banished from civilization.

16-years post-op and not a day goes by where my surgery doesn’t impact my life in some way, shape, or form.

If I eat too much of the wrong foods one day, I pay for it the next. I always carry a can of Ozium with me. It’s better than killing the human in the stall next to me.

I have learned that no matter how many Vitamins, supplements, and shakes I consume, since my surgery I am prone to anemia. Around 10 years ago I started receiving Iron infusions. I initially had to go in for a fill up once every six months, now, I go in around once every 13 to 14 months. Why has this changed, you ask? Great question! Because as you get further and further away from your surgery, your body’s ability to absorb nutrients increases and therefore you have the ability to absorb more calories increases as well, that is why people can easily start gaining weight several years down the road. Though I am not a doctor, I do believe this is accurate information.

Only once since my surgery have I **** in my pants, I don’t remember it happening, I just know that I woke up and had this issue to deal with. It has not happened since that time, I think mostly because I try to eat what I’m supposed to eat and I avoid foods that lubricate my intestines to the point of them becoming a slip and slide.

No, I do not tell every person I meet that I’ve had surgery. In the beginning, it’s a little difficult because you can’t eat normal amounts of food and it’s apparent that you want to. Immediately after surgery, I avoided going out for dinner with friends, instead, I would meet them for a drink. Today I can go out for business meetings, dinners with friends and no one knows or can tell that I’ve had surgery. I can order a normal size meal and always do. Typically, when I go to dinner, I eat my Protein first, then I have a few carbs and a few vegetables. I eat what is considered by most Americans to be a normal portion, not a restaurant-sized portion.

Now let’s talk about Protein Shakes. I am sick and f**king tired of all of the Internet chatter about which shake is the best tasting, has the most Protein, is convenient, comes in rainbow colors. It’s a f**king Protein Shake. Almost all of them have some shitty aftertaste component to them. I have tried dozens over the years and thanks to my son, a football player, I have found the one Protein Powder that truly destroys all others. It is called Pro7ein: http://www.vitasport.net/vitasport/products/protein/pro7ein-synthesis

I prefer to mix one scoop to 8 ounces of unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Many mornings I will do two scoops to 12 ounces of unsweetened almond milk. I end my day with another two scoop Protein Shake before bed.

I will tell you that if you add this one thing to your daily regimen, you will not be pooping yellow sticky liquid. I’ve read a lot of comments in these forums about yellow smelly poops. The reason you have yellow smelly poop because you’re not eating the right stuff, if you start focusing on your protein first, your ass issues will clear up.

Final note for you post-op, surgical newbies. You’ve had weight-loss surgery, you don’t have cancer. Stop treating this like you have something terrible f**king disease when you are around your friends. They are really tired of hearing about it. Trust me. Eat what you need to, do your thing, don’t make a big deal about it.

In all, I’d say I am very happy 16 years post-op. Is having a duodenal switch right for everyone? No. Like any surgery of this type, it has life-changing implications. Some are good, summer bad, but ultimately it is to help those of us who struggle with losing weight.

***I originally placed this in Post-Op Q&A and relaized it belongs here.

Bicep and Tricep exercises will help with this to some extent.
Found this
https://www.myhealthtips.in/2015/10/exercises-to-lose-arm-fat.html
https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/arms/exercises/7-move-firm-arms-workout/

It took me a good 2 months to finally have energy back. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to ever get any exercise in, because I couldn't eat too much and didn't have any energy. I finally got my energy back around 2 months, and now at 6 months run 3+ miles 3-4 week, plus do Camp Gladiator (boot camp). I love how much energy I have. Definitely get your hydration and Vitamins in. I did notice that once I really started working out, I was able to eat more than a few bites. I also find that I eat small amounts throughout the day, a handful of peanuts or a piece of cheese, which keeps me energized. You will feel better, I promise, and it will all be worth it!!!

I will be 11 weeks out tomorrow post Bilopancreatic Deudonal Switch and I still have trouble somedays getting my fluid/protein in. There are days I have to make myself eat and some days I will be starving for one of my mini meals. I feel that my weight loss has been slower than what I would like however my surgeon says I'm in the range of what he wanted to see. He says some have lost more and some have lost less. As far as the taste I still don't feel that my taste buds are like they were before surgery. Also for the Vitamins Bariatric Advantage has a Vitamin that is specifically for DS patients (High ADEK Multi capsule) and I only have to take 2 a day with an added Iron and Calcium.

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Yes, it is normal as others have said. I had no desire for food and to add insult to my misery...I can no longer do ANY TYPE of artificial sugar after DS surgery. Protein shakes/water ran thru me like a freight train so I had to force feed myself to get my protein in. I started watching the Food Network and similar channels to make myself desire food again and it worked (very small amounts at a time). My DS (gallbladder removal too) surgery was 06/28/17 I’ve lost 126 pounds. Today, I can only get in about seven bites each time I eat so my protein/fat intake must be first. Don’t get me wrong some days I can eat thru a grocery store. You sound like you’re where I was; couple of bites and no appetite. Good luck!

I checked my Vitamin list at that time. It was less than what they require of newbies now, though:
Your Calcium (must be citrate) is about mine. I was taking ADEK. Since I don't think you are and most don't any more, I'd add A and D. The A must be palmitate, retinol or acetate. And the D must be cholecalciferol. They can't be mixed in one pill. Also no gel caps. Must be a pill or capsule; Many don't take E or K. I do as I had nosebleeds early on (hence the K) and lost most of my sense of taste in 2016 (hence the E). You can wait and see how those go if you like; I also took an Urso daily to prevent gb issues. Ha! Three years later it had to come out; And 1 iron pill each day (it's been 2 for years now but then it was 1). No food, pills, drink for 1 hour before/after. I recommend taking it with 1000 Vitamin C to increase the absorption; Most of use don't need B; Are you thinking about a probiotic?

I empathize with you big time. I am a month out and I have severe food aversion. Somethings I am okay with and others make me gag. I haven't had one shake since surgery - I lost my taste for anything sweet and I shudder at the thought of drinking another one. The nutritionist at my Dr's office told me that it's normal.
Have you tried bipro Protein Water? It's got 20g of protein and it comes in 2 flavors. It has saved me on the protein front for the days I'm not hungry.

You got this, girl.

Hi, my surgery was April 24 and all went well. I have had no problems whatsoever. No problems with eating drinking, pain or anything. Hope you all have had a successful surgery as well. Please let me know how you are doing. My weight loss is not what I expected but I am losing.

same here! ughhhh

I’ve always been heavy. Even as a kid I was the chubby kid, the funny class clown, the best friend. After high school I attempted different diets, all of which failed miserably. I was a Theater geek so it always hurt to not get cast into the characters I wanted to play. After various relationships and weight gain and loss I finally found the perfect person who I’m going to marry who is my partner in crime and hands down slightly funnier than I am. Slightly. When we started dating I knew our weight was a problem but it wasn’t until moving to Orlando that I really could tell that it had affected us. I was never a person to actually want to have kids but being with Holly has made me the happiest person in the world and I want nothing more than to start a family with her someday. So, I am excited to announce and pleased to share that we have a surgery date TOGETHER. That’s right we are doing this together and together we are both having the duodenal switch surgery. When I say that this went fast I am not exaggerating.
April 12th - Orientation
May - Various appointments (blood work, EKG, stress test etc)
May 21st - Final Appoinments (psych evaluation and nutrition class) & Insurance Approval
May 22nd - Call from surgeons office to schedule dates.
Holly’s Surgery - July 30th
My Surgery - August 2nd
IM. SO. EXCITED!

@GlamgirlAt 9 days out liquids are much more important than Protein. (I didn't get to 50 grams of protein till I was bout 6 months out). Don't worry about the protein that much right now. Concentrate on the liquids to stay hydrated.
Most people do the 30 days = 30 grams, 60 days = 60 grams, etc., model. If you can do that you're ahead of the game.

I had my surgery at UNC Rex Hospital

yes got mine approved surgery done and now I am on my way to recovery

Highest weight: 274lbs
Surgery weight:232lbs
Current weight 150lbs
Made my goal..yay so proud of myself..went from a size 22 pants now i am a size 9 and medium in shirts...life has been great.           
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I finally got a surgery date for May 22 for a duodenal switch. Any advice?

feeling like you...
ughhh im 5 weeks post op.. and eating is a task for me .. 2 bites and Im full and its not a nice sensation. i wonder when this will end too? Id rather not eat then deal with that hurting feeling i get. Doc says its normal and I take all my Vitamins, but the Protein and Water are still hard for me to get down... i hardly get any protein in.. maybe 30 grams but i know its still so early, so I hope i can get more protein in.. i don't like anything, nothing tastes good and shakes are gross to me. Its a struggle for sure even though i would not change it for anything , I just wish I could get my protein in without it tasting so awful. Good luck to you. It will get better so they say!

Surgery scheduled for June 4th! Doing all my pre-ops May 23rd! So excited and so nervous!
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I have a question for the long-termers: I see "eat to satisfaction" mentioned a lot, as in "you won't need to eat much, you'll be satisfied much faster" but I'm two months out and wondering if that term means the same I thought it meant?
When I used to eat to satisfaction, I would feel pleasantly full. Not overstuffed, just right on that verge of eating lots at Thanksgiving and it was all delicious and now I'm going to take a nap - that kind of satisfaction. But now I kind of eat to the point of restriction. I certainly don't WANT any more food, that's for sure, but I can't quite say that I'm "satisfied". More like I'm "done". I can't eat any more, I feel a little uncomfortably full, and while I guess I'm not technically hungry it's not the same feeling at all as finishing a good meal used to be.
To be clear, I don't mind this and have no regrets. But going in I think I got the impression that I would happily stop eating after 1/2 cup of food because my stomach would be satiated, like that sensation would just be moved up the timeline and now I'd get it five bites in, and that's not what I got. What I got was a stomach that feels either maxed out or right on the edge of maxed. There's very little space between "okay to keep eating" and "STOP EATING!" signals. So when people are saying "you'll be satisfied", is there some sensation further down the road where I'll hit that same sense of happy fullness, or is this just another way to say "you'll stop eating because there won't be any more room"?