Just for DS'ers #1
 

MsBatt's post was the one that tipped the scale, so to speak. As much as we love Dawnajoy, there's never been enough call for DS issues, until now.

soooo, all of you who have had it, are considering it, know something about it, this place is all yours!!!

and don't hesitate to jump in anywhere else as well or start up any other threads... we're really all in this together with only slight variations on what works and what doesn't.

glad to see so many of you!!!!!

Hey. I'm a DSer... anyone else here?

It's great to see another DSer here. I am 4+ years out from my DS and couldn't be happier.

dawna

Hey Dawna! Nice to see you too!

DS whats that?

Rea,
The DS is a type of weight loss surgery. A very effective surgery. You might try googling duodenal switch. There is a great site for information on it but I'm not allowed to post the url here. :?:

DSer here too... I'll be three years in august!

HI laurie!!

Hey guys!

This duedonel switch sounds familiar. I will look it up.

Hi Jiff, it's been a really long time. You were so helpful when I had questions about WLS. Still haven't gone for it. But the situation(health wise isn't improving) So I decided to come back to this WLS forum and start looking into options again. I don't know if it's even an option insurance wise.
Hope all is well with you.

Take care,
DonnaD

I'm a dser too. A BPD-DS... is that the same thing?

I am new to this site, but I am a DS'er as well. I had my surgery about 6 weeks ago and am doing great!

I feel very pround for all those people who did the weight loss surgery. You guys are very brave.

very personal questions so feel free not to answer....
did anyone selfpay?
how long is your common channel?
how many ounces was your stomach?
did you travel out of country for the surgery?

No posts here in over a year, eh? I'll change that! :p

I'm considering (well, more than considering--hoping for) DS. I am attending 2 information sessions early next month to compare 2 surgeons/practices. I have to start my 6 months supervised diet as soon as, well, my insurance verifies that it is a requirement :dizzy:

Good luck Jill :hug:

Hi all,

It's been forever since I've posted here. I really miss this place. I don't know why, but I get so many popups here that nothing seems to block, it just drives me crazy.

I just had my 7 year postop checkup at USC and all seems to be well. Won't get my lab results back for a few weeks, but last years' were fine and they aren't expecting any issues.

I will try to check back more often, and maybe check with site admin about the popups.

Dawna

DAWNA!!!!!!! so wonderful to see you - you're right - you DO need to come around more often! there are several folks who are looking at DS, and they need your wisdom.

7 years - and a fabulous success!!!!! congratulations. you're my idol.

Thanks for the welcome back Jif! I appreciate it. I think I (hopefully, maybe) solved my popup problem on the site, so I should be around more often.

I'd be happy to chat with anyone looking into WLS or the DS in particular.

Dawna

I'm a DSer - 3 months out and already lovin' my DS!!

:wave:
hey you! This is my 2nd account here - I forgot my old password etc...so I just started a new one ....

I should read here more often.... :cool:

Over 3 1/2 years out...

Awesome! What is an average menu for you?

Let's see. Well, I don't love breakfast. I find it the most difficult meal of the day so I eat just enough to take my vits/minerals.

Here's a typical day.

Breakfast:

Some nuts
2 slices American cheese

Lunch:

6 oz. tuna w/mayo & a hard-boiled egg mashed in it. (Very few carbs as I don't want the gas at work). Other days it's 1/2 sandwich with 2 kinds of meat, cheese and mayo. (I save the other 1/2 for another meal). If it's not enough protein I'll drink a protein bullet. However, with the 2 kinds of meat and cheese and what I eat the rest of the day it's usually ok.

Snacks throughout the day:

Nuts
Cheese (I cut it up and bring it usually)

Dinner:

2 turkey burgers w/catsup. I love catsup ;)
I don't love vegetables so you'll rarely see them. I've been that way my whole life.

Also, I've always been a picky eater (hard to believe, isn't it, with a MO person :D)

Snacks for the evening:

Fruit
SF candy
1/2 bagel with butter or cream cheese
Chips or pretzels (esp. when I'm trying to put on some weight)
SF fudicle

Since it takes me 2 sittings to eat lunch & dinner I don't always have room for a lot of snacks.

How 'bout you? What do you eat?

Thank you AAAA. I'm just learning about the DS. I hope awareness of it grows so that more people can be helped.

Don't get spooked by me (if it doesn't look like that much). As I said earlier, many DSers I know eat a lot more than I do.

Is there a reason that you don't eat as much? Are you at your goal?

I didn't have a goal, but as it happens I'm way below where I ever thought I'd be.

Honestly, though, that's all I can eat and sometimes I still hang over the sink if I eat too much. I just seem to have a very small stomach.

I had it! June 26, 2008. I'm down 66 lbs and I have never felt better. I just ate some bacon and cheese eggs for breakfast. (That is DIET FOOD for a DSer - we need protein and do not absorb 80% of the fat in our food).

:bravo:

Glad it's working for ya.:carrot:

Getting Switched on Jan 26th!!
 

Hi Everyone!
Back in 1999 I had a mini-gastri-loop and am scheduled for a revision to DS on Jan 26th with Dr Greenbaum in NJ. I am sooo excited and so glad to find another place where us DSers can get together!

I saw my my WLS surgeon (12-05-08) and talked to him, he says that unless I can lose 75 pounds by myself he will want to do the duodenal switch which he swears would be more effective at my size and which my insurance is more likely to pay for. I also found out that my insurance may demand three 6 month monitored diets, I am half way through the 1st 6 months. I have dieted before but never with monitoring and as far as my knees are concerned I dont have another 15 months before I end up in a chair at any size I can get to on my own.
I really seem hung up on the scar, which is weird cause just about every inch of my body from the neck down has stretch marks and some bad ones but no major scars. I think I am thinking about that because it is a less important issue and I can think about it and not the stuff that really matters.
People mention that I could die doing this, but at this size if I end up unable to walk I will only get bigger and for me that IS a death sentence, to some extent litterally.
A lot of this is stuff I really can't do anything about, I HAVE to have the surgery, there will be a scar, I will not look how I have pretty much looked for the last 25 years but if I keep going with the knee pain I will just get older and older looking from the pain anyway and not being able to walk is not all that hot either.
I believe honestly that i deserve respect and love at any size, I dont hate myself at this size now even though I am about 445, and it blows some people away to know I would not be interested in doing this if I was not being crippled by my weight.

I don't know about insurance being more likely to pay for the DS over a different surgery type--if they cover the DS, they cover the DS. I do agree that the DS is likely to be more effective than other procedures at a higher BMI (there are studies to support this). If you have any questions at all about the DS, please PM me. I am somewhat overzealous with research, so I can point in the right direction for just about any info about the DS :)

Oh, and to the people who say you could die doing this, you could die during ANY surgery. You could also die in a car accident on any given day. You could also die getting struck by lightning during a storm. You get the idea. You have to do what is best for you, and if WLS is what fits for you, then just weight the risks against the benefits. For me, the potential benefits far outweight the potential risks. I would rather have a shot at a longer, healthier life than just continue the way things are and die of obesity-related issues at a young age.

Jillybean!!! Good ta see ya :)

I have my first DS consult with my surgeon on Feb 18. I'm so excited. I had the VBG with sleeve gastrectomy in April 2004 and have maintained a 80+ lb loss, but am stuck at about 260 lbs. I lost 30 lbs on WW with strict adherence, but gained it back in 1.5 months during some stress eating.

Right now, I've only told my sisters, my 3FC sisters and my dad of my bypass decision. I'm debating whether to tell my Mom, who is very anti-surgery/anti-medical anything - if I do, will it be before the surgery or after? I'm also debating how quiet to keep this at work. It'll be obvious after several weeks.. right? hehe.

For the experienced DSers, I've heard cheese is ok (I love cheese), but how about other milk products? Plain yogurt? Does the fat percent contribute to oily poops?

As a VBGer, I've turned into a grazer. I mostly eat nuts, yogurt cheese, and crackers when I'm not stress eating.

Thanks in advance for any DS advice!

Luv,
Ratkitten

Hello Ratkitten,

As a DS 'old-timer' (it's so hard for me to believe) I can help you out with some of your questions:

I've heard cheese is ok (I love cheese), but how about other milk products? Plain yogurt? Does the fat percent contribute to oily poops?

Obviously, cheese is great. My refrig. is stocked with it, cold cuts, sf choc. pudding, etc.

Other milk products, no problem....now. The first year many (if not most) become lactose intolerant. Thankfully, it leaves after the first year for most of us -- as it did for me. However, during that first year I ate lactaid milk & cheese & took OTC lactaid pills whenever I had any real milk or cheese. Plain yogurt is fine. You can also have it low or full fat, if you like. You can also have flavored yogurt as we don't count fat grams or calories we count sugar (in the beginning things should be <5 grams) and protein grams. As for the oily poops, it's so individual it's hard to say. I'd say in the main, yes, the more fat, the more my poops are orange. It doesn't really bother me b/c I'm used to it.

As a DSer, it'll prob. be easier for you if you're a grazer. Many DSers I know eat every 3-4 hours (or more) and meats, cheese, nuts are, obviously, the best things to graze on.

Looking forward to welcoming you to the Dark Side.

Thanks for the info AAAA!

It's good to know that my fav healthy foods will still be favs. I've talked extensively to my PCP and she is very supportive of me going for the "2nd" part of the DS.

Your picts are amazing!!

Hugs and Luv,
Ratkitten

Thanks. http://i39.tinypic.com/f419as.gif

Well hello fellow DS'ers!

DS on February 22, 2008 in MI with a BMI of 43. Today one year later my BMI is 20 and I'm feeling FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to gabbing with you guys!

Welcome. Glad to meet you.