Recent Posts
Just goes to show that everyone is different. I've never had problems with any of my meds including my thyroid medication.
From past posts I've seen there are several classes of drugs that might require added attention to make sure they are delivering the effect your Doc wants. Extended release of anything can be hit or miss, and anti-depressants seem to be an issue for some people.
Bottom line, if it is new, warn your Doc that it may need to be checked. If it is something your Doc checks via a blood test you should ask for one sooner rather than later to double check. Some tests like that for me the Docs only check once a year but post DS they may want to schedule the first one sooner.
Pete
HW 552 CW 198 SW 464 4/15/13 - Lap DS by Dr. Philip Schauer - Cleveland Clinic.
Hiya Kate!
It's been a minute since my last check-in, as well. 6 years ago I logged in to post my plastic surgery dates (skin removal) but nothing else in years. Every once in a while, I remember this amazing community and am grateful that my weight loss journey, at least in the very beginning, is forever logged.
I am 17.5 years post DS - 240/127/24.0 (up about 5 pounds due to the COVID19 equivalent to Freshman weight gain ?)
I actually logged on today because I'm seeing a new primary care doc this week, and was looking for information to give her about the DS. I've repeatedly found that doctors - including gastroenterologist - have little to NO knowledge of the DS surgery. If I'm lucky enough that this new [to me] physician/practice has had experience monitoring and/or treating DS'ers, that's great. However, if experience has taught me anything, she won't understand the very real differences between our DS anatomy/needs and those of the RNY population.
Thanks for sharing your story with us and starting this thread so other old timers, like me, can jump on your bandwagon. ?
Good morning Bob and congrats on the initial weight loss. My guess from your various posts is that, believe it or not, you're probably not eating enough food. The DS is different than any other WLS and you have to treat it differently, especially in your head. Not sure how much more weight you want to lose but you're at a different stage now. Sometimes a plateau needs a kick start. Up your protein. How much are you getting? at least 100 grams? If your DS was done correctly, fat is your friend, not your foe. You should only be absorbing about 50% of the fat you consume. You say you normally eat less than 40 carbs per day. Are you including EVERYTHING you eat?
Personally I think you're not eating enough for the DS. Start writing down everything you eat to really see exactly what you're eating and what might be causing your stall.
Yes you need to change your eating habits - FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. This is not a diet - this is your life. I eat sweets, I eat bad carbs, but I also eat tons of protein, eat good carbs, drink lots of water. If I notice my weight is creeping up (and I'm talking a few pounds) I honestly look at what I'm eating and what's causing the weight gain - 99.99% of the time it's bad carbs, period - and that's 17 years post-op. My DS still works as long as I pay attention to it.
Janet in Leesburg
DS 2/25/03
Hazem Elariny
-175
HollyKim, I eat oatmeal 2 or 3 times a week, but i do make it decadently. i make it with half and half, butter, salt, and splenda.
A topic I have not seen posted but probably not be limited to just me - Septic Tank Grease Overload. My tank gets pumped about every year instead of every 2 years since my service provider says we are "heavy" users (aka Poop a lot). He also says my wife must be pouring gallons and gallons of cooking oil and grease down the kitchen sink, and I need to stop her. He can tell because of all the grease in the tank which is similar to a restaurant with grease fryers. So far, I'm letting my wife take the blame but one of these years I will fess up and tell him the grease is coming out of me thru the bathroom due to all the unprocessed fat I eat.
Has anyone else had any experience like this?
I am on city sewer so don't have this problem and I know it is a serious concern but I laughed out loud when I read it and the replies...
Good morning! For breakfast i drink a permafrost premier Protein shake. I drink a lot of coffee and add sugar free creamer. for lunch i eat chicken breast or ham or turkey slices with cheese as a roll up. i snack on pork rinds, almonds, cheese sticks, cottage cheese... for dinner i eat chicken, turkey, pork and have a salad or broccoli or some other vegetable. i end the night with a Quest protein bar to cure my snacking and sweet tooth. That's my normal day. my biggest "cheat" is overeating and if i go to the grocery store, i will sneak a cookie to eat. sometimes i do eat oatmeal as a snack if i'm hungry. I haven't gained weight, but i feel like my body has shifted and my clothes are tighter? Thanks for any suggestions!
your menu looks good. I hear you about the cookie and oatmeal. How often do you eat oatmeal for a snack? It is pure carbs and is absorbed 100% as calories.
When I found myself thinking about cheating with something like a cookie, I found low carb, high protein recipes and made my own cookies. I also had an ice cream machine and had sugar-free ice cream every single day for many years.
With the Keto diet craze, the internet is full of great recipes that are high in protein and low in carbs. It is soon going to be 13 years since my surgery. I do not believe in depriving myself or in not giving in to cravings. I have conquered cravings with my diet friendly substitutes.
I have accepted the fact that I will always have to track my food or I will regain the weight. I do weigh daily and also use the smart scale to track water, muscle, fat, and bone density. I have had several periods of regain and then losing that regain. I wear a fitness tracker and get daily exercise. I currently follow Weigh****chers.
There is a daily menu thread each day on the RNY forum. The people there have RNY, VSG, or DS. The food plans are very similar. It is a great place to interact with others who are in this struggle together. Please join us there. You do need a support group and Facebook is just not the best place to be these days. Way too much negativity.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
I'm an RNY'er, not DS, so things might be different for you - but weight does tend to shift around after the first year or two. I looked really drawn and skeletal at about 18 months out, but then things started shifting around and I looked better - fuller face, etc.
that said, a lot of people start gaining weight during year 2 or 3 - mostly for the reason you mentioned. Bad habits start to slip back in. I'm still fighting a 20-lb gain I had in year 3 (well, 10 of it I really needed to gain - but the second 10, no). It's REALLY hard to get it off. I've lost only three measly pounds since March. So do whatever you can to avoid gaining. Find some substitutes for overeating - whatever works for you - get out and do something, call a friend, work on a puzzle, keep your fridge stocked with things like raw vegetables, SF Jello, etc. Or drink something. One of the speakers at this year's Obesity Action Coalition conference said hot drinks, especially, will curb appetite in some people.
good luck - but yes - get on top of this. You may not be gaining weight NOW from it, but that luck may not last.
