jane_w

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I just read my blog and noticed what my vitamin regime was when I first had the DS.  It's changed quite a bit since then, partly as a result of bloodwork and partly as a result of reading more and becoming more knowledgable about vitamins in general.  I'm no expert by any means, just sometimes I'll read some useful info and decide to add it to my regime. 

It seems like a lot of pills, I take about 30 a day I think, but I have a system and I'm so used to it now I don't even notice.  My biggest fear pre-op was complying with the supplementation and I've managed it.  It's now such a part of my life I don't even think about it.  If I can do it anyone can.
My daily regime is

Calcium Citrate + Vit D   2400mg                            (12 tablets)
Complete Multi              x2                                     (2 tablets)
Dry Vit E                       800mg                              (2 tablets)
Acidophilus (probiotic)    6 billion CFU                      (3 tablets)
Dry D3                          50,000 IU*                         (1 tablet)
Dry A                            25,000 IU                          (1 tablet)
Dry K                            1000 mcg                          (1 tablet)
Iron (Ferrous sulfate)     130mg                              (2 tablets)
Vit C                             500mg                              (1 tablet)
Zinc                              50mg                                (1 tablet)
Magnesium Oxide           2000mg                            (5 tablets)  

* NOTE This dose would be toxic to a non DSer.

I'm not sure what the total cost per month is, I should really work it out.  I think it's around $40 a month, it can be more it depends what you want to spend on probiotics.  Unfortunately with probiotics it does seem to be that you get what you pay for, the more you spend the better they are.  Probiotics are a must have, they are a real viable alternative to Flagyl for gas control, they seem to work pretty well for the DSers who have tried them.  

I've changed my photo albums on OH, I've added some pre-op photos and organized them into pre and post op to make them a little easier to view, not that many people are looking but what the heck.
I really struggled to find pre-op shots; I was usually the one behind the camera I HATED having my photo taken.  Anyway I've found some, not very clear but they are the best I can do.  I was stunned at how I look on the photos, I knew I was heavy obviously but I had anorexia in reverse I really didn't think I looked as big as I did.  When I look at those photos now I don't think ugh, I look horrid I just think wow, was that me? 
It's like looking at a different person for me my changes since surgery have been far more internal than external.  My physical appearance is different but that reflects only a fraction of the internal changes that have taken place.
I feel so different, my marriage is much closer.  I laugh more, I love more, I go out more, and I meet more people.  Happy.  That's how I feel.  So much happier.  I don't think I was unhappy before but now life seems so much fuller, so filled with possibilities.  I was always on the outside of life to some extent looking in; I was waiting for the day when I was thinner.  Everything I planned or wanted to do always started with the phrase "when I lose weight, then I'll ...."  Not any more.  Now I do it today.
Love and hugs to everyone on the journey. 

The DS seems to get easier as time goes by.  The only thing I would say that is different is that eating is a real chore.  I just don't get hungry, or it's very rare when I do.  This would have been the answer to my prayers pre-DS but trying to eat 120-150 gms of protein a day when you're not hungry is SOOOOO hard.
Even when I want to eat something it definately isn't protein that I fancy, after living on practically nothing but protein for the last 4 months I am so sick of the taste and texture, it gets really boring.  I'm not one of thse post-ops who can eat protein and carbs, I just don't want that much to eat so I am struggling a little with that although I imagine it's just another phase and that this too will pass.  Maybe I will be really hungry and eating everything in sight in a few weeks/months, who knows.
The strange thing is that pre-DS I could eat even if I wasn't hungry, but this is different.  There is no way I can force food down when I'm not ready, it doesn't taste bad, it just doesn't taste great either, it's just ....nothing.  Food no longer plays any real role in my life, I don't really enjoy eating, I certainly dont eat for pleasure any more, yet I don't hate eating either I just eat to live.  I swear they operated on my head and not my stomach!   
I still hate sugar and sweet things in general, I'm still eating very low carb, I'm still exercising (swimming) at least 3 times a week, and enjoying it (!!!) and I now like water again which is a huge relief.