..in a hotel room.

Sorry about the delay in posting. Post-op, it's so easy to read the boards, but it just feels like a jumbo hassle to post, especailly if it's more than one board.

So, it was not only textbook, it went better than that. Doctor had scheduled his first surgery (me) for 7:00 a.m. and the second surgeryat 10:30. Only, by 9:15, Dr. K was all tidied up and talking to my husband. He later razzed me, saying that I had screwed up his schedule for the entire day.

Also, my last two anesthesia debacles were overblown. At my post-op meet with the anesthesiologist, I was told that I was a "Class Three Intubation," and should mention that at my next surgery. At my next surgery, I did mention it, but that forewarned-is-fore-armed thing didn't work. That surgery was almost cancelled...a second surgeon and fiberoptics--and some good timing--became necessary.

But here, they peeked in and said, "Oh, there it is," and they were done.

After entering the OR and being tied down, I have zero recall until I awakened in my room. There's a shadow of a memory of being moved somewhere, but you wouldn't want me testifying in court on the subject.

However, I DO remember Carmen. What a kick. There is Carmen and there are rules and the two have become one, haven't they? She was very kind to me and I felt safe in her hands.

First night was fine. Second night was from hell. Everyone who needed to take something out of or add something into my body, plus those whose job it was to keep my body in motion, timed their visits at thirty minute intervals. And then everything that works fine in the daytime, malfuntions--and beeps--at night. So we got battey low warnings from machines which were not being operated on battery.

Doctor arrived the next morning and dared to say, "Good morning." I responded, "Says who?" And he started to back away cautiously.

The third night went better, and when doctor came by the next morning, before he could say anything, I said, "Why good morning, Sweet Cheeks!" He replied, "Well somebody had a BM." I said, "Not fair! You peeked at my chart." He said, "I didn't need to peek. I've been doing this long enough to have learned that a patient's personality is directly tied to how long it has been since his or her last bowel movement."

I was released Thursday. We've been at a local hotel. I'm TRYING to get 80g of Protein in...the first 40-50 g goes pretty well, but after that, it's a real challenge. I went protein supplement shopping this morning.

I've slept a lot, but I feel excellent. My "new best friend" has not figured from my voice or other clues that I've had the surgery. She's probably figuring that I went out of town to a pre-op exam...because I did that without telling her. So when I get home and she finally figures that I'm post-op, I think she'll scream. (She also does this to me. We both HATE pop-in visits and people who want to feed our husbands.)

For the record, Dr. Roberto Rumbaut Diaz in Monterrey, Mexico, implanted this band, almost exactly as he did in the pre-FDA trials and as he has for several years now. Dr. Keshishian, my DS surgeon, can do a DS in 1.5 hours, but revisions almost always add to the time. My entire surgery took around two hours...maybe less. So a well-placed band and little scar tissue (that was my contribution) and not having erosion (pure luck) all contributed to a good game.

Last night, my husband and I went to dinner at the coffee shop adjacent to the hotel. One of the waitresses used to work at the hospital. She kept asking when I'd be having my surgery and when it finally sunk in that I was four days post-op she was kind of in shock, claiming that I simply did not look like someone who had already HAD surgery. So, I guess I'm doing okay.

Sue

Good to see you !!! HUGS

I feel retarded - what is this DS??

Just thinking about you Sue.

Already a week later... How are you feeling?

Great you are back Sue..

Glad things went well for you! Keep us posted, and good luck healing up!

As I retired nurse I have heard a lot about duodenal switch being done in European countries for years before it was done here. It is much, much safer as it doesn't mess with the intestinies, but still is major surgery.

Sue, if you had the choice at the beginning would you have chose DS over the band. I can see that the DS revision is not going to require the constant and unending fills and work that the band does, so in your honest opinion what would you have chosen, and did your esophageal problems exsist before banding or did it come along with the banding and continue to get worse. I've heart this to be true with lots of people. They never had esophageal problems before.

I'm so glad you switched over and are doing well. I think Gastric Bypass will become a thing of the past with DS on the horizon.

Best of everything to you. Sounds like you have been through a lot.

Hugs

Dody

Whoo Hooo!!

Sue is back and doing great!!!

I couldn't be happier! xxoo Keep us posted, OK?????

Glad your doing good!!! Keep us posted !

As I retired nurse I have heard a lot about duodenal switch being done in European countries for years before it was done here. It is much, much safer as it doesn't mess with the intestinies, but still is major surgery.

I think Gastric Bypass will become a thing of the past with DS on the horizon.

Dody

Sue is having her one week check up today, so by now she may be making the trek home. I was unbanded and switched on Nov. 17, I was very influenced by Sue in my decision. She is a very intelligent woman.

The surgery actually isn't any safer, it's still considered a bypass also, and our intestines are rerouted. Maybe with the original DS, I'm not sure, but what I have, and I think Sue has as well is a DS/BPD. I'm not sure if I can put a link here or I could show you a comparison between Rny and DS.

Ds'ers don't have a pouch. Instead of a small pouch (as Sue would say "a pouch smaller than your mouth") we have a banana shaped tummy. Normally it is kidney bean shaped but the outer side is cut away. This side is also responsible for alot of stomach acid and the hunger hormone Grenlin (sp?).

Our pyloric valve is left intact, so there is no dumping. When healed, we will be able to eat more than a bandster or a RNY patient. The intestine is disected, and a portion is rerouted to the pancreas. food goes one way, digestive juices go another and they meet in the usually 100 cm common channel which is where we absorb (the only place we absorb). So instead of absorbing fat all the way through our small intestine, we only absorb in the common channel. This empties into the Large Intestine.

The DS has the best record of excess weight lost, and a low instance of regain. Thats because we malabsorb 80% of fat, and 30% of Protein. DS'ers intestines don't learn to reabsorb fat near as much as RNY. This is why we have to supplement Vitamins and nutrients forever. I take Iron, Calcium, a Multivitamin, and a special Water soluble pill for vitamins A, D, E, and K. Usually those would only be absorbed in fat, but since we don't absorb much fat, we have to use vitamins that absorb in water. Any excess fat we eat we pay for in the bathroom, not the scale. We are still directed to eat lower fat, lower sugar and lower carbs. We still absorb carbs.

So it does have its drawbacks. But it was worth it for me. I would rather live my life this way than fat.

Now if Sue would check in, I'd be happy!

:bump:

Hey Sue... we need an update from you! please?

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing! How are you feeling Sue?