I didn't get a great DS so I have been dieting since I had it in 2003. I am a low carb person for life. I wanted the DS dream but that was not for me. I wanted to be one of those people wearing size 00 jeans posting about how to quit losing.

Most of the water I drink is in coke zero or coffee. I drink lots of those 2 things and I would never do without them. No carbs and almost all water anyway. Sometimes I drink SF flavored seltzer too.

I wanted to tell you about some things I found that make long term low carb doable for me. I use a lot of low carb wraps. They look like tortillas. And they are usually in the tortilla section at the store. These are my go to for sandwiches and even pizza crust. If I plan to bake them crispy I let them dehydrate a bit before baking. I just ordered some brand new ones online that only have 2 carbs! Maybe they will be good but who knows. Haven't received them yet. Next is ThinSlim products. Expensive for me but I buy them a couple times a year. The bread, buns, and bagels are very good. In some places you can buy them in the grocery store but not where I live.

I do make ice cream and I am excited about some of the new ones coming out with almost no carbs. The best one I have found so far is Rebel Creamery. But like most low carb wonders, it's not cheap. Duncan Hines has come out with some keto brownies and cakes in a cup. All you do is add water and microwave. I bought some but haven't tried them yet. I always keep some SF candy in the house. Hard candy is always in my desk drawer. I get a few Endulge bars every year. Once in a while some SF Russell Stovers. During cold weather you can also shop by phone at the RS Outlet and they will ship to you! The cheapest way I have found to get them is one of my local Dollar Stores. Some people have problems with sugar alcohols so portion control is sort of built in.

Fake pasta is an occasional thing. I use Banza and it is just LOWER carb. My go to is long skinny bamboo shoots. Not perfect but pretty good. I drain them and soak in water before cooking. You can find them in big cans at Asian grocery stores or order on Amazon. I get the ones that sort of look like noodles and are about 4 inches long.

I do give myself cheat days. I can't do the deprivation forever thing. Holidays and vacations out of town are my days to eat whatever I want. Sometimes I have lists made months in advance. My next one is Labor Day and I am thinking maybe it will be mostly desserts. That is what I have been missing the most. But that could change 10 times between now and then.

Hope you find some of this helpful. Best of luck!

I've been way too liberal with my diet. I had surgery in 2006 and wouldn't change my DS for any other type but.... the pounds are creeping back on... I've been faithful with my vitamins and blood work but the carbs are my Waterloo. I'm starting back tomorrow with low carbs, drinking water, not Coke Zero, etc etc. I want to lose 30 pounds by Christmas!
I needed to check in and say hi to anyone from OH *****members me...MaryC from NJ, and become active on the group again. Hi!

I have a gastro but he's in Reston (Shilen Lakhani). I've only seen him for colonoscopies over the years, but I had my DS in 2003 so he's familiar with the anatomy. I have a twisted colon, which is unrelated to the DS, so my situation is a bit of an anomaly. Not sure if your surgeon is involved at all in your situation.

I have a friend who had the DS and lives in Germantown - I'll reach out to him and ask if he knows anyone.

One suggestion would be to contact some of your local gastroenterologists in MoCo and speak to their physician's assistants. Interview them. Tell them specifically what your situation is and ask if they have any experience. I've done that before with many different kinds of specialists. Honestly that's how I found my hematologist.

Normal as in the old days before the DS - not in my experience. My normal is directly related to what I eat the day before. Low carbs closer to normal BMs. High carbs tend to give me runny BMs. For me, fat is also a huge influencer. That's how I know my malabsorption is still working

I've only experienced severe constipation once in my 17 years as a DSer. For me it was pain medication for a procedure I had a few days earlier.

Thank you, mine varies. I had a soft stool BM thinking I was constipated but It must've been something I ate because I'm back to my Loose bowels again.

Hugs,

Esther