Hi There!  I was a BMI of 41 (considered a lightweight) but had other co-morbitities; diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and high BP (all of whch have been resolved!)

You probably will have a hard time finding a surgeon to operate with no co-morbities, because this is a very involved surgery. The surgery and recovery were really rough, but having said that I am grateful that I was able to have have it.

Good luck!

 Many do not work for me either!  I now take Digestive Advantage Gas Formula (they are cheap too, $7 for 30) and have had good luck.

Where do you get the Flagyl?  Has you Dr. suggested you take it once a week?  I have read about antibiotic resistance with too much Flagyl, how long have you been doing this?  And it works at such a low dosage?

Thanks for the info!  :)

 It didn't make me sick pre-op, but post-op they make me very gassy, TMI I know.

Most of us have to do a liquid diet before surgery so you should investigate one that agrees with you.  For my 2 week liquid diet I used the Champion chocolate, it was pretty good.  Now I eat my protein and don't drink protein drinks.

Good luck to you!

I am 2 1/2 years out and I can tell you I don't regret my DS for a minute!  In fact my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.  My greatest fear was to go through surgery only to gain it all back, as I have seen so many before me.  I know myself and that would be me.  I had already endured an failed Lap (or should I say Crap) Band, so I was really worried.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years...  The recovery SUCKED!!!  I had an open procedure and it took me a good 5 weeks to really start feeling like myself again, but it was so worth it!  I lost almost 100 lbs in less than a year, and have kept it off.  After the initial weight-loss phase its not uncommon to gain some back, but I only gained about 7 lbs and have stayed steady at 147 for over a year!  When I'm hungry, I eat.  No need to count calories, or fat grams I can have a snack when ever I want.

Of course there are a few rules...  Protein, protein, protein!  I eat at least 100mgs a day, which sounds like a lot, but when you get into the swing of things its really not.  Everyone is different and can tolerate different foods so it may take a few months to see what bothers you and what doesn't (usually you can tolerate more as you go along.)  I can not eat flour of any kind.  So no bread for me, and that's tough!  No pasta, etc.  I can eat potatoes and rice in small quantities, but I try and stay away from the starch, that keeps my weight down, although I do love oreos and wind up eating them more than I should, and it does give me gas, but hey, ya gotta live.

OK Diabetes... I also had type 2 preop.  My A1C was 9, now it's 4!  It also cleared up my high blood pressure, sleep apnea and high cholesterol. This surgery saved my life.  Yes, there are limitations and nothing in life is perfect, but like I said I would do it again, only this time sooner!

Good luck to you, PM me if you have any other questions and I'll try and answer them for you.  

 Yes it will get better, but not overnight.  It took me 5 weeks to be able to say "I feel better to today!"  Food is not as important as water right now.  I didn't feel like eating at all and was full of gas.  I would walk around the house and try to "expel" it!

It will get better.  You had major surgery and your body needs time to heal.  My best advice is drink and sleep.  Do the best you can and don't force it, your body will let you know when its ready for more.  Protein shakes gave me lots of gas post-op so that may be an issue, but soon you should be moving on to soft foods and you'll figure out what you can and can not eat.  Don't pu****  You are at the point where you should start to feel better.  The recovery really sucks, but the results are so worth it!  Soon you'll be the one on this end giving advice.

Good luck!

 I agree with Patti, lose the weight as long as you can because it does stop.  But you can along the way try a little of this or that to see what bothers you.

I drink regular coffee everyday.  Starbuck lattes are my fav!!!  I do use regular sugar, moderation is the key.  I put it in my coffee, tea, etc.  I can eat small amounts of candy, but a candy bar will make me fart all day!  I drink regular coffee, no issues.  Now cake?  I can not eat white cake or bread of ANY type -- if I do, WATCH OUT!!!  I can eat potatoes in moderation, and sometimes I can eat a chocolate cookie or brownie and for some reason it still bothers me but not nearly as much as a piece of bread or white cake.

Worst for me... Bread of any type or Wendy's Frosty, or shakes -- AWFUL!!!   Good ice cream in moderation is OK if I take a Lactaid pill.  Cold frosted stuff does not agree with me.

We are all different so test a little here and there to see what bothers you.

 I found something good at my local Shoprite in the Gluten-free aisle...  its called Guiltless Gourmet Crunches, they are just nuts with a little sweetness to keep it together in chunks.  Its really good when you need something to crunch.  A lot of gluten-free stuff still bothers me, but not these!

http://www.guiltlessgourmet.com/

Yum!  Sometimes ya gotta crunch!

 I'm more worried about the smell!!!

By that point, I can't worry about it, when I go I go at least I lived!

I am 21/2 years out and I have regained about 7 lbs.  I am not very compliant with my eating and I eat alot of food that I shouldn't, and I stay around the same weight.  I can go up so when I get a little heavier I cut down carbs, focus on protein and I'll drop it, all while eating all I want (that part is great!) I have seemed to level off at a weight that my body is comfortable with.

It is possible to regain all of it I guess, but I have never heard of anyone doing so.  I would think that if you ate that poorly the gas would kill you before you gained it all back!  That is the thing that keeps me in line many days!  

If you focus on protein and keep carbs and sugar low, you'll be fine, that's the big advantage over RNY.

Good luck!

As a former "Crap-Bander" (there are LOTS of us here) we collectively yell...

DO NOT DO THE LAP BAND!!! 

I wasted years on that piece of crap!  I am 21/2 years out of DS surgery and I have to say I would do it again in a minute!  Don't get me wrong the surgery and recovery weren't easy, and it took some time for me to figure our what I can and can not eat, but it's soooooooo worth it!  Its nice to live life again and not spend my days worried about my what I am putting in my mouth and my weight.  I follow a few rules, take my vits, and life is pretty good around here!

With the band I spent 2 years of vomiting, pain and self-blame as to why it didn't work for me and "worked for everyone else! " Thank God I found this board and learned I was not alone.  Not by a long shot!

I wish I had done the DS sooner.  Nothing is perfect and I have my issues, but I am such a happier, healthier person now.  I am grateful everyday! 

IM me with questions and I'll do my best to answer.  I too was not sure, but I am so glad I too the leap to the Dark Side!  :)

 Watch the sugar-free stuff, sometimes that can bother us depending on what its made with, usually aspartame, stevia or Agave is OK, but any sweetener ending in "tol" (like Manitol, Sobitol or Xylitol) or anything high in sugar alcohols causes BIG TROUBLE for us!  Bloating, diarrhea, gas and all around unpleasantness.  I found this out the hard way!

Things are different from the RNY. I find a little sugar sits better with me than the artificial stuff.  We are all different and you have to see what works best for you!

Had that done last year.  I have a scar from hip to hip and up to my breast bone, but I look FANTASTIC in clothes!!!  I have never had a flat tummy and now I do.  Any abdonminal surgery sucks, but it was much easier than the DS.  The only weird thing is that I am still numb in that area.  That is supposedly normal and may or may not return.  I've had 2 C-sections and I was numb from them as well, but feeling did return in a few years, I am hoping the same thing to happen here.  In any case its a small price to pay.

Good luck!  :)

 I didn't know you could take it as maintenance!  I thought it was a drug you could become resistant to?  Do you get it from your Doc or the internet?