Newbie, Getting The DS? Count The Costs Ahead Of Time
It's been a long time since I've posted. Some of you old vets know of the recent events in my life. We've had two tragic deaths in my family (one completely unexpected). They happened within three weeks of each other, and I lost a pregnancy. My boyfriend of the last four years and I ended as well, while my grandmother was in the midst of dying and
I was carrying his child at the same time,
I held my grandmother for three days straight while she died in hospice. This all happened within a three month period. And so, as I rest here in bed
(my body finally caught up with me), trying to gather my thoughts, I've been perusing these threads. And some of what I'm reading is pure delusion and fantasy. Other threads are beautiful to read and rocksteady to you, but erm. some of you newbies need to check reality.
Most of you, well at least half of you don't know who the hell I am. I weighed 391 right after surgery and 18 months later, I've dropped almost 200 pounds and still losing. I will say though, that as glorious as the weight loss has been and the fact that my PCOS cleared up along with the diabetes, I paid a dear price. As there are other DS'ers and vets who have paid a dear price. Please see Renfairewench's story, Chad and Colene as good examples.
Would we do it all over again? In a ******g heartbeat, but I can tell you that I can pretty much only eat chicken and fish. I have insane GERD (which can happen after having the DS). Some people have GERD prior to surgery and are fine after surgery, others are not. To this day, my vitamins have to be tiny or I can't swallow. I can only drink two protein powders out of the hundreds that exist, because most contain a whey and solid milk that activates my GERD and places me back in the hospital on prednisone and large amount of prokinetic meds to force the dairy out of my system, all the while I'm not able to swallow even water, until the chaos subsides.
So let me repeat this, I eat chicken and some fish and I drink two different kinds of protein shakes to get the bare minimum in of 100 grams. I can't even eat 100 grams of food, because my esophagus looks and feels like a cobblestone street. This phenomenon kicked in literally three months after my surgery. So, most of the wonderful and delicious foods and receipts that are posted I've never been able to partake.
I've had to lose this weight living primarily off of shakes. Do you understand that? I didn't realize the possibilities that can happen after the DS. Some come out sunny shiny rainbows and unicorns and some of us have to work like a ***** and figure out our new system and more importantly, our new life. And don't let me get into the psychiatric/psychological aftermath that many of us undergo. I see a therapist twice a week, granted part is grief counseling, but the other part is because when I look in the mirror, I see a heifer. I can't see the size 16 almost in a 14 girl. Btw. I'm 6'1" and started out a size 32/34. I'll have panic attacks over the way my ass looks or even my thighs. I fight demons more now, psychologically then I had prior to surgery.
Did I lose weight? Hell yes, but there was and remains a price that I pay. I always think about my meds, my vitamins, the gerd, getting down shakes that literally have made me hit a brick wall and forced me to work some magic and find new ways to reinvent the protein shake and make it taste bud worthy. Without these shakes I will be a DS failure and eventually die. These shakes are my sustenance.
The DS continues to consume my life and so, when I read these stories of wonderment and some of y'all thinking that this is easy breezy and you can eat some ramen noodles, not two days after surgery, or that you can shove steak down your gob not a week out of surgery (some of us can get away with us, many can't and shouldn't), well.. it makes me shake my head and think that you aren't ready for the DS.
Some of you have cheated on the liquid diet (I get it, the **** is rough). Some of you are alcoholics and haven't addressed why the **** you're swigging it up in the bar literally BINGE DRINKING and trying to ready yourself for surgery in less than two weeks. Some of y'all have addictive behaviour in general that will not serve you well after surgery. TRUST ME! You can kill yourself if you continue this insane behaviour post surgery.
There are a few of you, that I'm quite sure this board has already ratted you out to your surgeons, showed your posts to the surgeons and warned them about you. This has happened in the past and I don't doubt for a second that it happens now. Why? Because when you **** up, you will ultimately blame a good surgeon, because you didn't educate yourself enough, from inquiring the vets and also from sitting your ass down and going back into the threads for months if not years and learning what the hell you're stepping into.
THE DS IS A TOOL! YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO DO THE WORK TO LOSE THE WEIGHT. You think the process just for surgery approval is a tough road? No. The work truly begins the minute you're out of surgery and you're having to walk and blow into a machine to make sure your lungs are clear. You'll have to sip water as if (and in reality), your life depends on it.
I just want some of you to think about the other side of the grass. PREPARE yourself. ASK questions, but more importantly, sit down and ******g read this board like it is your bible. YOU
WILL NEED this board to get by. You will need this board to keep you sane and maybe save your life.
One of the most brilliant posts that was recorded was by Maddie (Renfairewench). You should/shouldn't get the DS if.... I'm reposting this, because some of you need it.
This is said with love, not bitterness and no angst. It's just truth. Be well.
P.S.: I'm doing the grief process, but I'm seriously in a better place, when I look at my life as a whole. The miscarriage was a blessing and the ending of my relationship was a greater blessing. I just wanted you guys to understand why my absence has been so long. No need to feel sorry for me. I'm really good, I just wanted to address some of this madness and ignorance.
You should not get a DS or had a DS if...........
...you cannot afford to buy vitamins for the rest of your life.
...you are unwilling to change how you eat and what you eat.
...you have no plans to be compliant with regards to taking enough vitamins to keep you healthy.
...you say "I can't change because I'm a sugar addict, carb addict, night time eater, boredom eater." etc., or admit that you have an eating disorder that you are unwilling to address before surgery.
...you find that you can't get enough protein in with food, yet refuse to find a protein drink that you can tolerate.
...you have no plans to follow through with seeing your surgeon or another doctor after a year.
...you "cannot" lose weight before surgery because it's oh so hard that you just won't try, but yet you will whine about it.
...you are high risk and 4 doctors have told you NO, yet you persist and when you have serious complications it's everyone elses fault but your own.
...you refuse to take responsibility for your own eating habits and you refuse to change or you won't even try.
...you are given great advice by vets and others on the forum yet you refuse to listen to or take any advice to heart or even give it a go.
...you complain that you are not losing weight after your DS because you are not following the rules.
...you refuse to address body dysmorphic disorders about your body yet you still continue to whine about it citing that you are STILL HUGE even though you lost 150 pounds, wear a size 10 and look fabulous, but you can't see it because you psychologically need help.
...you don't do the research that is necessary to know what the DS (or ANY weight loss surgery for that matter) is all about and how it will effect you.
...you expect others post ops to educate you completely on the DS
...you are asked "what kind of surgery did you have?" and you have NO idea.
...you don't minimally understand how your new configuration will be.
...you think that WLS is a MAGIC PILL and that you don't have to work at it.
...you just pick a surgeon without finding out if he is a vetted DS or Revision specialist then you complain and have buyers remorse because your insides are all screwed up (not pointing fingers at anyone.)
...you don't listen to your surgeons advice and do your own thing.
...your labs are tanking and you are given sage advice on things to try and you just blow it off.
...you think that the DS is a quick fix
...you get scared hearing about complications that can happen if you if you have WLS instead of looking at it as education and accepting that not everything is always text book.
...you think that WLS will fix all your problems or relationships.
I was carrying his child at the same time,
I held my grandmother for three days straight while she died in hospice. This all happened within a three month period. And so, as I rest here in bed
(my body finally caught up with me), trying to gather my thoughts, I've been perusing these threads. And some of what I'm reading is pure delusion and fantasy. Other threads are beautiful to read and rocksteady to you, but erm. some of you newbies need to check reality.
Most of you, well at least half of you don't know who the hell I am. I weighed 391 right after surgery and 18 months later, I've dropped almost 200 pounds and still losing. I will say though, that as glorious as the weight loss has been and the fact that my PCOS cleared up along with the diabetes, I paid a dear price. As there are other DS'ers and vets who have paid a dear price. Please see Renfairewench's story, Chad and Colene as good examples.
Would we do it all over again? In a ******g heartbeat, but I can tell you that I can pretty much only eat chicken and fish. I have insane GERD (which can happen after having the DS). Some people have GERD prior to surgery and are fine after surgery, others are not. To this day, my vitamins have to be tiny or I can't swallow. I can only drink two protein powders out of the hundreds that exist, because most contain a whey and solid milk that activates my GERD and places me back in the hospital on prednisone and large amount of prokinetic meds to force the dairy out of my system, all the while I'm not able to swallow even water, until the chaos subsides.
So let me repeat this, I eat chicken and some fish and I drink two different kinds of protein shakes to get the bare minimum in of 100 grams. I can't even eat 100 grams of food, because my esophagus looks and feels like a cobblestone street. This phenomenon kicked in literally three months after my surgery. So, most of the wonderful and delicious foods and receipts that are posted I've never been able to partake.
I've had to lose this weight living primarily off of shakes. Do you understand that? I didn't realize the possibilities that can happen after the DS. Some come out sunny shiny rainbows and unicorns and some of us have to work like a ***** and figure out our new system and more importantly, our new life. And don't let me get into the psychiatric/psychological aftermath that many of us undergo. I see a therapist twice a week, granted part is grief counseling, but the other part is because when I look in the mirror, I see a heifer. I can't see the size 16 almost in a 14 girl. Btw. I'm 6'1" and started out a size 32/34. I'll have panic attacks over the way my ass looks or even my thighs. I fight demons more now, psychologically then I had prior to surgery.
Did I lose weight? Hell yes, but there was and remains a price that I pay. I always think about my meds, my vitamins, the gerd, getting down shakes that literally have made me hit a brick wall and forced me to work some magic and find new ways to reinvent the protein shake and make it taste bud worthy. Without these shakes I will be a DS failure and eventually die. These shakes are my sustenance.
The DS continues to consume my life and so, when I read these stories of wonderment and some of y'all thinking that this is easy breezy and you can eat some ramen noodles, not two days after surgery, or that you can shove steak down your gob not a week out of surgery (some of us can get away with us, many can't and shouldn't), well.. it makes me shake my head and think that you aren't ready for the DS.
Some of you have cheated on the liquid diet (I get it, the **** is rough). Some of you are alcoholics and haven't addressed why the **** you're swigging it up in the bar literally BINGE DRINKING and trying to ready yourself for surgery in less than two weeks. Some of y'all have addictive behaviour in general that will not serve you well after surgery. TRUST ME! You can kill yourself if you continue this insane behaviour post surgery.
There are a few of you, that I'm quite sure this board has already ratted you out to your surgeons, showed your posts to the surgeons and warned them about you. This has happened in the past and I don't doubt for a second that it happens now. Why? Because when you **** up, you will ultimately blame a good surgeon, because you didn't educate yourself enough, from inquiring the vets and also from sitting your ass down and going back into the threads for months if not years and learning what the hell you're stepping into.
THE DS IS A TOOL! YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO DO THE WORK TO LOSE THE WEIGHT. You think the process just for surgery approval is a tough road? No. The work truly begins the minute you're out of surgery and you're having to walk and blow into a machine to make sure your lungs are clear. You'll have to sip water as if (and in reality), your life depends on it.
I just want some of you to think about the other side of the grass. PREPARE yourself. ASK questions, but more importantly, sit down and ******g read this board like it is your bible. YOU
WILL NEED this board to get by. You will need this board to keep you sane and maybe save your life.
One of the most brilliant posts that was recorded was by Maddie (Renfairewench). You should/shouldn't get the DS if.... I'm reposting this, because some of you need it.
This is said with love, not bitterness and no angst. It's just truth. Be well.
P.S.: I'm doing the grief process, but I'm seriously in a better place, when I look at my life as a whole. The miscarriage was a blessing and the ending of my relationship was a greater blessing. I just wanted you guys to understand why my absence has been so long. No need to feel sorry for me. I'm really good, I just wanted to address some of this madness and ignorance.
You should not get a DS or had a DS if...........
...you cannot afford to buy vitamins for the rest of your life.
...you are unwilling to change how you eat and what you eat.
...you have no plans to be compliant with regards to taking enough vitamins to keep you healthy.
...you say "I can't change because I'm a sugar addict, carb addict, night time eater, boredom eater." etc., or admit that you have an eating disorder that you are unwilling to address before surgery.
...you find that you can't get enough protein in with food, yet refuse to find a protein drink that you can tolerate.
...you have no plans to follow through with seeing your surgeon or another doctor after a year.
...you "cannot" lose weight before surgery because it's oh so hard that you just won't try, but yet you will whine about it.
...you are high risk and 4 doctors have told you NO, yet you persist and when you have serious complications it's everyone elses fault but your own.
...you refuse to take responsibility for your own eating habits and you refuse to change or you won't even try.
...you are given great advice by vets and others on the forum yet you refuse to listen to or take any advice to heart or even give it a go.
...you complain that you are not losing weight after your DS because you are not following the rules.
...you refuse to address body dysmorphic disorders about your body yet you still continue to whine about it citing that you are STILL HUGE even though you lost 150 pounds, wear a size 10 and look fabulous, but you can't see it because you psychologically need help.
...you don't do the research that is necessary to know what the DS (or ANY weight loss surgery for that matter) is all about and how it will effect you.
...you expect others post ops to educate you completely on the DS
...you are asked "what kind of surgery did you have?" and you have NO idea.
...you don't minimally understand how your new configuration will be.
...you think that WLS is a MAGIC PILL and that you don't have to work at it.
...you just pick a surgeon without finding out if he is a vetted DS or Revision specialist then you complain and have buyers remorse because your insides are all screwed up (not pointing fingers at anyone.)
...you don't listen to your surgeons advice and do your own thing.
...your labs are tanking and you are given sage advice on things to try and you just blow it off.
...you think that the DS is a quick fix
...you get scared hearing about complications that can happen if you if you have WLS instead of looking at it as education and accepting that not everything is always text book.
...you think that WLS will fix all your problems or relationships.
We Are A Fever. We Are A Fever. We ain't born typical. ~ The Kills
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
Thank you for this. Yes, as a pre-op Newbie, I definitely feel some gut checks are in order. It's easy to read the stories like Kerry's (love you, man) and think that this is all going to be cake. But, there's the stories we don't hear and, while we shouldn't overly dwell on the horror stories, we shouldn't ignore all the good pre-op advice and think we're going to be the one exception that makes this look easy.
You know, this post wasn't meant to scare anyone as much as just to be aware of what you're signing up for good, bad or indifferent. Once you have the surgery, there is no going back and you get what you get. Adaptability is your greatest asset!! Good luck to you!
We Are A Fever. We Are A Fever. We ain't born typical. ~ The Kills
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
K- mom, you're just rocking the sexy. Thank you for the good thoughts! You look amazing!!!!!
We Are A Fever. We Are A Fever. We ain't born typical. ~ The Kills
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
Sia! I'm so glad to see you posting, but boy am I sorry to hear what's been going on with you. Really, truly sorry.
Thank you for posting this! I have taken to avoiding a lot of the repetitive threads, but I think I'm going to have to weigh in a bit more often.
Hugs to you mamacita. Big ol' batwing hugs, but they are hugs nonetheless.
Thank you for posting this! I have taken to avoiding a lot of the repetitive threads, but I think I'm going to have to weigh in a bit more often.
Hugs to you mamacita. Big ol' batwing hugs, but they are hugs nonetheless.
Jenn
Type 1 diabetic, 26 years
With great power (the DS!) comes great responsibility.
You know I love some batwing hugs, more hugs to cover my stretchies! 
Thanks for the love, Mami!
Thanks for the love, Mami! We Are A Fever. We Are A Fever. We ain't born typical. ~ The Kills
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
I'm glad to see you're still out there Sia, I've missed you. What a tough row (or rows!) you've had to hoe recently. I hope you have a gradual, peaceful resolution to the traumas of recent history. Keep posting, and shine on, switch sister.
Julie R - Ludington, Michigan
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
I'm trucking, Julie. Life is ever-evolving and change is beautiful. You've just got to lean into the pain. And feel everything. Thanks for the love.
We Are A Fever. We Are A Fever. We ain't born typical. ~ The Kills
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
If you have any g-ddamn sense and want WLS, think about the DS.www.dsfacts.com
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