Newbie, Getting The DS? Count The Costs Ahead Of Time

I adore you.

There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said... But i wanted you to know that i have always and will always admire you. I value your friendship and your ability to say things so honestly and bluntly.

Sia, I have thought about you and wondered how you were. I was not aware of all of your DS issues or of the awful things you have been through. I'm so sorry for your losses. I have missed you around here. I hope things are better for you soon and I hope you will be able to be around here more. {{{{{Sia}}}}}}

Sia it is so very good to see you back. I'm sorry that you have had such a rough time...but you seem to be dealing well and for that I am proud. Prayers and good thoughts sweety. Remember we are always here for you.

Hey Kiddo!

Great to hear from you and well said! So glad you are doing well given the hard cards you were dealt. I am truly sorry to hear what you have been dealing with.

Just goes to further show your dedication & commitment to your health from day 1 and now even through your personal struggles & tragedies as it remains your priority. You def got what it takes  and we can all learn from that. 

I remember when you were struggling with your own health newly out and you still reached out to me when I was in the hospital with my DS. I just luv ya gal! You are A-1 in my book!

Best,
Laurie

Sia,

I'm so sorry for your sorrows and health issues.  Hopefully, you are back on your way to being healthy in mind and spirit.  Research, research, research!  It's amazing what you can learn when you put in the effort to learn about how your life will change after the DS.

I always hated to post that some of us didn't have that 1 or 2 little trips in the morning and were done for the day.  My normal routine is 4-6 trips before I leave the house, then a few more at work, somedays more, other days less.  I had had issues before my DS, and it continued.  I had constant diarrhea for over 5mo, discovered all my chewables had sorbitol in them, SA are killers for my system.  Also, I was lactose intolerant going into surgery and lactose & whey intolerant coming out.  All my protein shakes were whey based and causing gas, bloating and yep, more diarrhea.  I switched to eggwhite protein and things slowly got better.  Chia seeds also helped to firm me up.

The bell curve works both ways.  Those of us with several BMs daily, the other end of the spectrum has constipation issues.  Personally, I'd rather have my problem. 

We all had the DS, but every "body" seems to treat it a bit differently. 

WOW I had an ah ha moment reading your response. My normal routine is 4-6 trips before I leave the house, then a few more at work, somedays more, other days less.  I had had issues before my DS, and it continued.  I had constant diarrhea for over... It has been oh a year for me. Like you I would rather has this problem than the other, but now I think I know why. I never thought about my being whey inolerant. You could be describing me, I have gas that moves across my belly like fetus limbs. Me and my husband joke about it... "the baby is talking to you, or the baby is kicking." Do the chia seeds help with the gas? What protein did you change to? 

Love and Hugs
Kim

Sia? As always, you rock darling. Huge hugs.

Sia, first I want to say Thank You for this thread.  I would also say how sorry I am for the grief, physical, mental, and emotional hardships you have been experiencing.
I am one of these pre-newbies.  I am a nurse, and as a nurse, I want to gobble up and absorb any and ALL the info I can on anything!!
I wish more of the vets would be more informative about their post DS complications and issues.
Of course through research you read of what "could" happen, but for the most part, it is the same as with any major surgery with the exceptions of the labs, protein, vite...etc deficiensies.

It takes all of you vets to give us the "low down" and to let us know what your complications and problems were and have been or still are!  So much of this we don't get from research.
That's why I dearly love and appreciate Maddie so much.  She has given us a different look at this dream world we have pictured in our heads, but her positive attitude lets us know that no matter what, it's doable.

You vets need to realize we are just like you when you were in our positions.  We are sick and tired of being in these bodies we so hate, the feeling you can't stand to be in you own skin. 

So no matter how drastic of a surgery the DS is and knowing there is a risk for complications, it seems like anything has to be better than living like this (even though that's not true), and we have to believe that we will be complication free, that that just happens to someone else! 

It's just human nature to believe this way!

Sorry this is so long, just had to get on my soapbox, which I rarely do.  I'm normally pretty laid back.

BTW, if you vets don't get on here and inform us of your situations, how are we to know all these things.  Research just is lacking in real life experiences!