Larissa P.

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I'm still "obese" at 5'2", 171 lbs, BMI 31.1.

I'm a size 14, not a goal for a lot of people.

But honestly, I can buy clothes in the "normies" department. I'm fairly proportioned. I'm not so fat I'd get looks, whispers or even a second glance. I FEEL healthy and strong, can cross my legs, bend over easily to give myself a pedicure now. My second chin is gone, and I have cheekbones again. 

Honestly, if I never lost another pound I'd still be able to feel normal in this world, and happy and fairly attractive as a "curvy" girl and that's so totally ok.

The only wish I would still have is plastic surgery to get rid of the loose skin, improve the jowlyness of my neck and face, and to bring my boobs back on track. So, I guess that would naturally take out, what, about 15 pounds? Bring me to 155ish as the ultimate stopping point. That would make me just "overweight" at a BMI of 28ish.

I could live with that.

Of course, I'm only 10 months into this journey, and have no idea where it may still go. I understand I should wait until at least 2 years post-op and 6 months of stable weight before even thinking about plastics.

But as I was contemplating my future I realized I'm happy already. I've acheived 90% of the reasons I wanted a Duodenal Switch in the first place. And that is so wonderful.

I stare at the tracker I put in my profile at the beginning, and I'm not so sure that 125 pounds (the weight the usual "charts" say I should be for my height and build) is really my goal. My goals really have nothing to do with a scale number. It is all about the quality of life!

...SALAD.

Damn, so like I had a carb thing last week where I indugled in some cake and chocolate and had no side affects.

Today, I had a chef salad in which I normally just eat the toppings off but it was sooooo crunchy and good and full of Italian dressing I ate half the lettuce (romaine and iceburg) and SHAT that stuff out in exactly the same form it went in for the next 6 hours.

I can't digest greens apparently. Very disapointing to not be able to enjoy what is usually a dieter's "free" food. *sigh*

*sniff*

In my reseach I have learned while yes, probiotics such as Primal Ultra Defence can help with extreme gas and smelly stools, the fact is if we have an overgrowth of bad bacteria in our biliopancreatic limb (the one bypassed and never carries food, only bile juices) the probiotics CAN'T get into that limb. It's bypassed like our food is. So, the natural means isn't going to cut it, you need some powerful antibiotics to kill and keep killed the colony in that limb. Then populate the good stuff, and hope things keep in an equilibrium. Some people never have to do another round of flagyl. Some people do. Some people take a minute dose (250 mg a couple to three times a week) to maintain. I don't know what category I'll fall in to.

There are some really anti-flagyl people on the board, but you know, they are just like the anti-WLS people, they just don't see it. It's all the same, the arguments - either telling people 1) it's your own fault, you aren't eating right or 2) you are taking the 'easy' way out and 3) medical intervention has serious risks! (well, no duh)

I don't say all that on the board because I get flamed enough.

So after one week on 500 mg of flagyl/fish zole 3x a day my gas and smell issues are resolved. As of yesterday I'm stepping it down to 500 mg 2x a day.

At first I had the gurgles bad and water diarrhea. After a few days the gurgles stopped, and the stools slowly turned to oatmeal texture, but still frequent.

Now, after a week my stools are getting a bit more firm and less frequent.

Almost no gas. Yes, even when I indulge in a carb or two.

No smell. I feel FREE and less ashamed. I'm so glad I did this.

Next week I'm going to step it down to 250 mg 2x day. Then continue to step it down each week.

People, before you emulate me be sure to read all my blog, and any warnings in this and other threads. I think there are some valid concerns out there about the possible down sides to taking flagyl.

She had some kind of weird mad moment with a sweet tooth or something.

Anyway, I come home tonight and there is a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting on the counter and chocolate eclairs (mini ones) in the fridge.

WTF?

So, I'm casually going into the kitchen on my way for a bowl of buttery popcorn when I'm side swiped by this and the fact that my son just got done making Kraft Mac and Cheese.

So, I have a spoonful of the mac and cheese, and say "fark it" and grab a thin slice of cake, soak it in half and half (I'm a weird one that always like milk on my cake), and grab an eclair and head for my bedroom! I start eating it like a criminal, wondering if this is the night I will finally dump (hey, I lost my pylorous in my second surgery you know). I enjoy every freaking bite.

I am sitting here an hour later with no dumping symptoms. No tummy issues that I can tell at all.

I still feel like a criminal. Ooohhh.

Well first off I have to say - no gas. Nada. Zip. Zero.

No smell. Nada. Zip. Zero. Ok, if I stuck my head in the toilet and took a whiff, I'm sure I won't get the aroma of roses. But you can't smell it up where my head is several feet above. And the person in the next stall wouldn't be able to smell anything.

HOWEVER, I do have horrible diarrhea. Pure liquid. Gurgly, unhappy insides. Gurgle gurgle, run to the bathroom. Rinse, repeat. OK, there is a tiny amount of gas being expelled with this, but only with this, not gassy all day like before. And no smell.

I'm going to persevere, they say it gets better.

I've been through 2 surgeries, 6 hospitalizations and several round of anti-biotics and it's wrecked my innards.  I've been through severe water diarrhea, horrifying gas, living in the bathroom. I've tried avoiding dairy, avoiding carbs of all kinds (esp. simple sugars), avoiding whey protein, you name it. I've tried strong, recommended probiotics such as Primal Defense Ultra and Digestive Advantage. I've downed tons of Beano, Gas-X and Devrom. All to no avail.

As it stand right now, I have 6-8 bowel movements a day. Extremely smelly ones. The kind of smell that lingers for hours. And they burn my butthole coming out. Like I've been eating jalepenos at every meal. They are soft-solid, thank heavens. However, I get gas if I eat. Anything. Plain chicken breast. Plain eggs. Plain lunchmeat. GAS, maybe not a lot, but one small toot and my fellow employees go on and on about it for HOURS about how it smells. I don't think they've clued in it's me yet, but I can't be sure. And I work at a call center, on the phone. I cannot just leave my desk every time I have to toot because I may be on a long call.

So, I bring out the big guns, Flagyl, otherwise known as metronidazole. It is an anti-biotic known to specifically help with the bad bacteria overgrowth that causes loose stools, gas, and extreme smell associated with both. I do not do this lightly, and only after trying everything else first.

This is what I ordered, two bottles:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YFA0E/ref=oss_product

For further information, here is a list of links I used in my research:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/3461601/LeaAnn-and-Flagyl-how-long-have-you-been-using-Flagyl

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4182843/How-much-fish-zole-or-flagyl-do-you-take/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4264307/A-warning-about-flagyl-and-other-drug-interactions/

http://www.medicinenet.com/metronidazole/article.htm

AND A WARNING NOT TO DRINK ALCHOHOL WHEN TAKING THIS DRUG! I mean it, seriously, bad things can happen:'

http://www.brighthub.com/science/medical/articles/33423.aspx

After research, this is the regimen I am going to do:

500 mg 3x day for 2 weeks, then
500 mg 2x day for 2 weeks, then
250 mg 2x day for 2 weeks, then
250 mg 1x day for 2 weeks, then
maintenance dose of 250 mg 3x a week

I will be back to report the effects. Pray that it makes my life much better, I cannot continue like this at work!
 

So, here I am, 8 months later, down to 185 pounds and a size 14. To put this in perspective, I'm 5'2".

Here's my before pic, at 311 pounds and a size 28:



Here is my 8 months post-op pic, at 185 pounds a a size 14:



And a close up of my face:

I have been loving my new found recipes I'd made up and wanted to share. You need a toaster oven.

First, you start off with the tortilla directly on the rack, placed in the middle. Turn your oven to the highest setting, or toast, whatever gets the top and bottom burners raging hot. Leave the tortilla in about a minute, until it starts to puff and slightly brown.

Then:

For Mexican Quesadilla, add shredded cheddar, jack, or colby cheese or the mixture of your choice. Toast for a few more minutes until all the cheese is melted and bubbly and starting to brown. Take out, use a pizza cutter to cut it into triangles. Serve with salsa, refried beans, sour cream, whatever you like. They are crispy and firm and yummy!

For Pizza, after starting to toast the tortilla add a few tablespoons of the sauce of your choice, then the mozzarella (and parmesan if you like) cheese, then toppings of your choice (I like chopped onions, green peppers, and both black and green olives). Continue to toast until all the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the tortilla are toasty brown. Remove, cut with a pizza cutter. It's just like a crispy, thin crust pizza!

I'm eating these daily, it's so good.

From the DS board: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4285511/Cheap-lab-work-for-the-uninsured/

This is the website you can use to order them, then go to any LabCorp site to get them done. They will email the results to you, and fax the results to your doctor:

http://summitcountymedicalsociety.prepaidlab.com/vmchk/View-all-products-in-shop.html?category=