For all you DS'ers....any of you have a problem with???

I have been doing my reading on some of the posts and have been sticking around here because I WANT so much to be a DS'er too....My question is if any of you have any problem with keeping weight on? My hubby has stuck by me for 5.5 years of a failed band and educating him with this procedure he is scared that I will shrivel down to nothing. I have a BMI of 40. Also, I'm reading about oil slicks....exactly what is this? And do you ever have "accidents"?

Hi. I'm 5 years post-op and started with a 36.8BMI. No issues keeping weight on but now I have to watch carbs to keep weight off. I'm a healthy 23.2BMI now. I haven't had an accident since the first month post-op and that was cause I didn't wake up fast enough and it wasn't terrible. No oil slicks except in the toilet.  All in all a good experience. I have to find ways to control gas in the evenings such as taking probiotics or antibiotics but that's as tough as it's gotten.  I follow Vitalady's DS plan for vitamins and drink whey isolate protein shakes, and have awesome labs...couldn't ask for better.  If you haven't already, check out www.dsfacts.com.

--gina
 

Nearly 8 weeks out and no accidents here. No real gas issues to deal with (breaded chicken wasn't good, but the gas wasn't stinky).

I'm not at goal yet, so I can't speak to that.

While you may LOOK like you shrivel to "nothing", esp in the eyes of friends and family...you don't actually as long as you "play by the rules" of hydration, vitamins, protein and watch carb intake..

I got as low as 121 (last ten lbs was due to jaw surgery) but have stabilized at 130 for the last month. That's a BMI of 22 which suits me and my pcp just fine.

I've had two accidents...one very early on, didn't get to the bathroom fast enough. And one a few months ago (was still dealing with a wonky gut due to antibiotics I was taking) and that was also not going to the bathroom soon enough. Neither was a big issue but it did happen.

Liz

I am 6 weeks and 3 days Post Op.  I have to wear Poise pads.  I think it is very individual based.  I have been nothing but sick.  In the hospital twice with pancreatitis.  I am dealing with this as best as I can.  The oil slicks are in the stool.  A lot of people cannot trust that their flatulence will not cause a move. 

This is an encouraging forum.  Everyone is SOOOOOOOOOOO nice!  I think everyone but me has had a good experience. 

Although I have lost a lot of weight, I would never have this done again in a lifetime.  It is not worth what I have gone through and what I am going through.  I don't want to be negative.  It's my reality.

I have been researching Dr's who will undo the DS part of the surgery.  Just have the sleeve will be left, which I can deal with.

I am going to a Gastro Dr in a few weeks who knows this surgery.  It's wreaked havoc on my colon (without going into too many details). 

The veterans can tell you more than me.  I too thought it was for me.   It is not.

I would think about just the sleeve.  I've had several friends who have done really well with just that.

Hi,

I just wanted to tell you I am 6 months out and have so many complications. You are not the only one. I developed a hole in my stomach and was attached to IVs to suction out the leak and provide me nutrition via a feeding tube for many months. I am still very weak and though I got rid of the wheelchair I still have a walker (if I don't know how far I will have to walk) and ordered a scooter for an upcoming trip to Disneyland. I would not undo it but it is major surgery and I should have listened more closely to the risks.

I wish you the best but did not want you to feel "alone". It does not go perfectly for everyone.

Best of luck to you, Terri

 I'm 7 years post op and no problems either.  One thing about the DS is that you really need to take the upper hand to keep yourself well nourished.  It takes some diligence for this.  Those who become underweight usually are able to stop with the help of digestive enzymes to increase absorption, then problem solved.  I went as low as as a size 6/8, and now float comfortably in a size 10/12 and like it here.

Oil slicks are just a strange phenomena of something you notice in the toilet the first couple of years when you poo.  It's nothing uncontrollable or uncomfortable, it's just there, and it stops happening after a while.  

Valerie G, thank you for sharing. I'm almost a year out and am so thankful for this second chance to live again! I'm especially curious to ask  you about the gas smell and oily stools. You saiy that some happening after a while? YEAH! I'm frustrated with the gas and smell, any suggestions? Thanks, Melinda

 The main contributors of gas are:
-simple carbs (Duh!)
-artificial sweeteners (especially any that end with 'tol', like malitol, sorbitol, etc)
-lactose intolerance (may be some dairy, but not all - and may include whey protein)
-bacterial imbalance in your intestines 

First try elimination of these items, either all at once or a grouping at a time to see if you see a change.  The bacterial imbalance can be prevented by a regular does of probiotics, be it a pill or just a daily cup of yogurt.

6 years post-op, no regrets. Very few people need to have revision surgery for excessive weight loss.

In contrast, many people don't lose enough weight (sometimes none) with lap band, and many are dissatisfied with gastric bypass, which has a failure rate of 30%. When you consider that "success" in the world of bariatric surgery is defined as losing just 50% of your excess weight, that's a mighty high failure rate.

I'm sorry that butterflyhope is having a rough go of it during her immediate post-op period. She may well find that thing settle down in a couple months and be very happy with the DS. I hope so for her sake. From over 6 years on this forum and elsewhere, I can say that very, very few people regret their decision to have the DS, and a whole lot of people are not so happy with other operations.

Larra