Gayle S.

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I am 2 years and 11 months post DS surgery. I vary from 160-170 lbs. I am hungry most of the time. I eat meals rather than just snacking, and within an hour I am ususally  hungry again. My BMs are atrocious! My boyfriend refuses to go into the bathroom after I have been in there. He's had to brush his teeth at the kitchen sink a few times. I am still tired most of the time. I have taken to drinking coffee every morning & at times supplement that with either a 5 hour energy shot, MIO energy added to my water, or straight up Red Bull - just to feel awake & energized enough to work and conduct my life.

 

I am concerned about my eating habits as I know I eat more than I should. I eat too much salt. Pre surgery I was a sweets fanatic, post surgery I am a salt-aholic. The salt shaker is on the arm of my chair 24/7. It's more than just a craving - I sincerely hate the taste of most foods, especially if there is meat, without the additional salt.

 

I get bloated and my abdomen fills with gas most evenings. I can literally watch it enlarge. I have a bowel movement usually once or twice in the morning, and usually two to three times when I get home. Then I get up during the night at least twice to go to the bathroom - because I cant tell sometimes if its just gas, or something more. But even if it was "just gas" I would still go to the bathroom, because the smell is so bad, my boyfriend gags. Its embarassing.

 

I have my annual follow up with my surgeon's PA in November, and I am scared that I have gained weight since last November. I wear a size 10 jean, but because of my abdomen, sometimes I feel more comfortable in an XL shirt - there was a time when medium was wearable and large was comfortable.

 

I keep telling myself, my boyfriend and my family that I know my WLS was on my stomach & small intestines, not on my brain - but how do I get my brain to join in on the healthy lifestyle I want & need?

 

Lost. Scared. Ready to sincerely give up. Just tired - physically & mentally.

It's been a year & a half since my surgery. I have lost 140 lbs, and have gone from a size 28/30 to 12/14. There is some loose skin on my abdomen, hips, inner thighs, and upper arms - but I can life with it. It's nothing that is causing me to have skin rashes or sores, so...

I just had my labs done, so I am waiting to hear how they have done. but I have been feeling pretty well lately. Outside of still feeling pretty tired most days, I haven't had too much trouble. Today I have found myself complaining about how hungry I feel most of the time. Even an hour or so after a meal, I am ready to eat again!

Feeling pretty good about my weight loss surgery decision, and I haven't had too many complaints so far. So let's see how the six months go, and in November it will be my 2 year anniversary for this surgery.

It has been 4 months since my surgery. Things have gone pretty well in terms of weight loss - I have lost 76 lbs so far. Yesterday I went shopping and was able to try on and purchase a size 20 in jeans (Lee Riders) and a 2X 3/4 button up shirt. I haven't worn those sizes in over 10 years & it felt so good!!! 

Nutrition - still working on increasing my protein daily. I am going to start journaling my intake so that I can monitor what I actually eat better. I start my day with a single scoop protein coffee (~25g) and then try to get in as much protein from my food & snacks. I know I am not getting 100 grams in, so I need to really focus on that.

Vitamins - my labs have been coming back pretty normal. Have had to really increase my Vitamin D though. That has been down & hasn't improved in any of my labs. I am taking a lot of "horse pills", and have found that where I used to just pop everything in my mouth, I now can only take 2-3 pills at a time.

Wows:
1. Changes in clothing sizes
2. There is a favorite ring that I used to only wear on my pinky finger, that I can now wear on my ring finger.
3. My watch now slides halfway down my arm, I will have to take a link out soon so that it doesn't fall off my wrist all together.
4. I have received a number of compliments from co-workers. But it's funny, there are just as many people who don't acknowledge my weight loss at all.

There are many more, but at this time of the morning (6AM), those are the wows that stand out in my mind.

I have been doing "OK" on getting my protein in - I know I get 36 grams in just because of the protein coffee I have been making, a little more if I try to figure out how much I get when I eat.

Have been having a difficult time getting in all the fluids that I need though, I can tell by how dry my skin feels & how dry & chapped my lips have been.  Also been having a difficult time getting in calories - I know that I don't need much, but I have to eat so slow to avoid becoming sick that it doesn't take long before I get bored with what I am eating & give up.

I think my weight loss has been pretty good - 40 lbs in 1 month. But I worry about my labs. Got a note from the MD's office saying my Vit D was down - I have to up my calcium +D to  3 times a day, and start taking Vit D 1,000 IU twice a day. I haven't been able to get a copy of the rest of my labs, so don't know what end of the "normal" spectrum they fall.

My other fight has been my lack of energy. I haven't gotten in te 30 minutes a day of exercise the PA recommended at my last appt - mainly because I have barely managed to stay at work for 8 hours a day, much less do any exercise on top of that!

Still working on it all, still kind of in the "what have I done to myself" mind frame, but am happy about the 40 lbs, just wish I could see the loss when I look in the mirror.

Today is 11/17, and it was over a week ago that I had my surgery. Yesterday, I went for my 1 week post-op appt, the staples were removed from 6 sites, and the drain was removed as well. Getting the staples out were no problem, but I found the drain to be very painful! I was advanced from a full liquid diet to a pureed diet, which I was very excited about.

Today, I realized that while chicken is chicken, pureed chicken is very much like dog food!!  Ugh! I mixed some with cheddar cheese soup & loved it, but apparently my system has decided that I will now be full blown lactose intolerant - rather than just borderline as I was pre-op. So now I sit here almost midnight being serenaded by my intestinal orchestra. Joy.

Some other things I have discovered post-op:
- cold drinks make my stomach hurt;
- I feel thirsty all the time;
- I miss having bowel movements that have some consistency to them;
- I am shocked at how quickly I became sick of chocolaty protein drinks;

Now I am bracing myself for 4 weeks on a pureed diet - I am having a hard time getting excited about this advancement. I thought I would be so relieved to be off of fluids & onto a different consistency of food - but pureed food: still more liquid that chewable. Disappointed, but still ready to do everything I have to in order to make this the best first day of the rest of my life!!

And its Tuesday,
November 9th, 2010

Met with my surgeon on 9/16/10. Discussed my desire for the DS surgery & he explained the side effects that I may run into by having that surgery. Thank goodness for everyone on this site, you have helped me be prepared for those remarks as well as what I need to do in order to try and balance those scales - ie: night blindness, increased frequency in bowel movements & diarrhea, etc.

After talking with the surgeon, he walked me to his secretary's office where I assumed I would schedule another appt with him - but surprize, surprize...it was to schedule my surgery!!! 

She stated the his next opening was Oct 6 - less than a month away. I have been keeping my bosses at work updated on my progress withing this process, but I needed more time to schedule the time off of work, so I tentatively scheduled surgery for Nov. 1st.   I am also in the process of scheduling orientation at a local hospital to work per diem - which requires a minimum of 2 weekend shifts a month. So...

I am going to reschedule my surgery for the second week in November so that I can meet my commitment to the hospital by working the first weekend shift, then have my surgery, do the 4 week recovery time, and in December I will be able to meet my next 2 weekend shift requirement.  I hope. 

It sounds too easy. I am just waiting for that wrench to be thrown at me that messes up all these well laid plans.  But I am SO EXCITED!!!  I have researched, researched, researched...hemmed & hawed, did more research...an now I am looking at changing my life within the next 2 months....it's overwhelming!!

The NUT that I have been seeing FINALLY circled the DS for the type of surgery I want. Until now she has left "unsure" in the box because she does not agree with my decision. I feel like I was finally able to stand up for my decision - it felt really great to be able to answer her questions about what vitamins & supplements I am taking & why I have chosen to take them.

She wants me to see her one more time in a month (I believe this will make visit #4!) to ensure I am working on the meal planning...I do need to work on it better, so I don't mind the extra NUT visits. I just HATE the little red pen that she uses on my food journal. I am 35 years old & feel like I am sitting at the teacher's desk getting my homework torn apart! Oh, well. Apparently it is something I need, so I will suck it up & learn from it!

Anyway, she said that after our last appt in Sept, I can schedule my first appt with the surgeon, Dr. O'Malley, one week after that & surgery is anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks after that. So I will work harder on my meal planning, increasing my exercise goals, doing more research on my vitamins & supplements & keep my fingers crossed!

GJS 8/10/10

Well, I have completed my psych consult as well as 2 NUT appointments. Had to schedule a third NUT appointment because I gained 2 lbs at the second NUT appt.  Everything she told me to do - I didn't, and what she told me NOT to do - I did. It was a compulsion, I just couldn't talk myself out of eating those things that are my triggers: ice cream, pastas, dairy products, greasy fast foods, etc.

I have started to do 10 minutes most mornings on my eliptical - but I have to be better at making it routine, and not just a 1 to 2 times a week thing. I have purchased some more vitamins that are recommended to start early - not all of them are approved post-operatively, but since I am still "pre-op", they will do.

Prescribed Meds:
-Omeprazole 20mg 1cap Daily (GERD)
-Singulair 10mg 1 tab Daily (Allergies)
-Fexofenadine 180mg 1 tab Daily (Allergies)
-Paroxetine 20mg 1 tab Daily (Depression)

OTC Meds:
-Multivitamin 1 tab Daily
-Iron 27mg 1 tab Daily
-Vitamin B -12 Sublingual 2500mcg 1 tab Daily
-Vitamin C 1000mg 1 tab Daily
-Vitamin E 1000 IU 1 cap Daily
-Calcium  500mg + Vit D & K 1 soft chew BID

Outside of my frustration in myself & my ability to do what I need to do to make myself a healthier & ultimately happier person, I am also frustrated with my NUT.

She is a young lady, who doesn't appear to have had much difficulty in her life by dealing with food weakness or obesity. She "corrects" my food journal with a red pen, much like my teachers did when I was a child in school. I recognise that what I find irritating is just my perception & that she is actually giving me some valuable help to reach my goals. And I keep telling myself to listen to her, and to try my best to do as she asks - she really isn't asking me to do the impossible.

However, at both appts she has marked me down as "unsure" on what type of surgery I want, because she doesn't believe I should have the DS.  She has given me all the lame reasons that I have read on here & know that they are not viable arguments.  The last appt she actually told me that I would have diarrhea & very stinky gas if I had the DS, and that none of those who had the RNY ever complained about their bowel movements. After being on this site, I know this to be ridiculous, but she just keeps arguing with me, instead of listening to my reasons why I want the DS and do not want the RNY.

Occassionally, I do wonder if the RNY wouldn't be a better choice, merely based upon my love of carbs. But honestly I have to work on my weaknesses, eat healthier and recognise that I truly feel I would be happier and healthier with the DS and keeping an intact pyloric valve. That is, honestly, the one sticking point for me: the pyloric valve. 

On 3/25/10, I attended the Bariatric Weight Loss Seminar at Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY with Dr. William O'Malley. Very informational, Dr. O'Malley did not come off as standoffish, but he was very matter of fact, and answered all questions precisely and with clear answers.

The WL Seminar focused on 2 surgeries: the Lap Band and the RNY.  I am considering the Duodenal Switch at this time & Dr. O'Malley does do the surgery.  After the seminar I was able to ask him about the "average" common channel lenth that he uses - 100cm - which is what I was hoping for.

Next I need to call my insurance company and find out if I need a referral to Highland Hospital's Nutrition Service as well as to one of their recommended psychologists for the eval.  Then I schedule an appointment with the NUT, and with my choice of their recommended psychologist.  Once that is completed I schedule my first one - on - one appointment with Dr. O'Malley.

My insurance does require a 6 month record of diet attempts, they do not have to be consequtive, but I do need at least one month of medically monitored dieting, and also need to lose 5% to be eligible for surgery. I have all that except for the 5%, that is about 15 - 16 lbs. Dr. O'Malley does not require any weight loss prior to surgery, however the will take my weight at my first NUT appointment & that becomes my "official" pre-surgery weight for insurance purposes - Dr. O'Malley just requires that I do not gain any weight from that point.

It's starting to come together, but I am still questioning if I am doing the right thing.

I worry about being a reasonably healthy, albit morbidly obese woman, with no co-morbidities (at risk for them, yes, but do not currently have them.). ; to becoming a post weight loss surgical patient who has voluntarily chosen to put myself at further risk.
*sigh*