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Well there
is this....
I am just back from 8 days in Florida, eating right and biking twice a day. After 6.5 years I was OK with hovering around 220 but started working a little harder this year on exercise and diet. Truly I never thought I would see onederland. Not sure how long it will last now that I am post vacation but I'm thrilled I made it this far. Healthy, labs are good, Some left over issues from my pre-op diabetes days with my feet and my kidneys but not everything is reversable. No meds for diabetes, no BP meds, just thyroid medicine and a water pill ( for some reason I am prone to high potassium, hence the water pill). I started out my journey here and thought this was the best place to celebrate. So even after this long additional loss can happen of you want it to.
Pete
HW 552 CW 198 SW 464 4/15/13 - Lap DS by Dr. Philip Schauer - Cleveland Clinic.
Number one is funny to me because I still think that if I ate anything that day that would lead me to gas laying down always gets it started. Just ask my poor suffering dog. :)
I did have some thought about women knocking on my door but of course I wasn't outgoing before the surgery and didn't change after it but at 61 I'm OK with it.
These are all pretty good. I mostly just wanted to be healthier and be able to be more mobile and that worked out for me so I think I had very few misconceptions, mostly because my goals were pretty narrow.
HW 552 CW 198 SW 464 4/15/13 - Lap DS by Dr. Philip Schauer - Cleveland Clinic.
I get over 100 oz per day so I am peeing a lot. On a normal day 1 BM but always depends on volume of food and type of food but pretty rare for me to go 3 times a day.
HW 552 CW 198 SW 464 4/15/13 - Lap DS by Dr. Philip Schauer - Cleveland Clinic.
I just wanted to add a couple of things I have seen in posts. Your labs look good with a good PTH so you may be fighting genetics as opposed to a DS related vitamin deficiency issue.
How much calcium and magnesium are you taking and what kinds. You may want to add something like Jarrow or a different kind of calcium. I've seen people post that they up their vitamins and the mix with some good results but it seems to be a long process.
It's good you have the chance to react before things got really bad.
There really isn't a way that I am aware of to measure the K2 and its effect from blood work. Most people seem to work on their mix of calcium, mag, D, and K2 to make sure their PTH stays low.
Pete
HW 552 CW 198 SW 464 4/15/13 - Lap DS by Dr. Philip Schauer - Cleveland Clinic.
Do you still have as big an issue with any carbs as you did at the beginning? I would start to add more carbs in, baked regular and sweet potatoes, more vegetables, bread, etc. Add slowly to try and plateau the weight loss or at least gain a little more control.
More catbs doesn't mean more sugar but I think at a year your tolerances should be a little higher. You don't say how close you are to goal so depending on that is how much you want to start modifying your protein first diet.
At least that worked for me over time although it took me a year and a half before I thought about slowing things down. For me there was also some idea of wanting to get to the part of the DS where I could eat more regularly rather than a strict DS losing diet.
Pete
HW 552 CW 198 SW 464 4/15/13 - Lap DS by Dr. Philip Schauer - Cleveland Clinic.
Does your program have a nutritionist to help you make choices? I was asked this question by my WLS buddy - he's at goal and still losing. So I gave him the advice I've learned from my program and also echo'd here many times by other Vets - add small amounts of fats and good fruit (not banana's please) and even some good whole grains. My nut wants one portion of solid whole grains now - so I eat about 2/3 to a cup of oatmeal a day.... I also eat 2 pcs of good fruit - berries, apples, oranges a day. My minor cheat is mango with it's high sugar. But it is very nutritious. But the first step is to add good fat in 100 calorie increments. Add some good nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts, sunflower seeds) and/or a splash of olive oil in my salads... Do it slowly and in step by step increments a week or so at a time. You'll stop. I did. I went dead flat after adding these steps slowly.
HW 510 / SW 424/ GW 175 (stretch goal to get 10 under) / CW 160 (I'm near the charts ideal weight - wonder if I can stay here)
RNY November 2016
PS: L/R arm skin removal; belt panniculectomy - April, 2019
The DS surgery far exceeded my expectations, and I need some opinions.
It has only been a year and I have lost 170 lbs. I am eating right and in my opinion large amounts of food. I take my vitamins, and I add in extra protein drinks but it's always worse for my tummy. I was told to drink High calorie protein drinks but they are all high in sugar. As you know that makes your day miserable. Any suggestions? I seriously can't afford to lose anymore, and I do not want to have to get forced foods.
I eat eggs, meats, fish, veggies, and maybe a small amount of carb at night. Never where I am not home and in control of what can happen. I am monitored, blood work constantly i just cant find this new request that will work. I do not know how to get in more protein. Anyone else have this issue?
Thanks
Hey Julie,
Thank you very much for your reply.
Would you mind explaining why so many DSers see an endocrinologist? Is this a must? Are they familiar with the DS?
I've made an appointment to see a specialist Rheumatologist, who also deals with osteoporosis. Is this ok, or does it have to be an endocrinologist?
Thanks for the link - it'll be very handy. And i'll mention the Fotero with my Rheumatologist.
Just another question please? Should DS patients be treated for osteoporosis differently? Should we have a higher dosage because we malabsorp nutrition?
Thanks.
Hey catwoman7,
Thanks so much for your reply. I heard medication for osteoporosis can be unpredictable. Good luck with your future treatments.
I also thought that yoga was not going to help much. My pilates trainer is going to teach me weight bearing exercises using my body weight for now, cause to be honest, i just cannot move so much. I've lost so much strength after having 3 plastic surgeries to remove excess skin. And recovery took me a few years cause in the meantime I developed wheat intolerance, and my dairy intolerance got worse.
If you'd like to, please do let me know what treatment your endocrinologist recommends?
Thanks.
Please get a second opinion and do your research before you select a treatment. Once you go down a particular path or class of medicine a lot of the effects cannot be reversed.
I got my duodenal switch at 47. I went from a normal dexy scan to full blown osteoporosis in one year with all normal labs. I found out I had osteo process from a double fracture in my wrist from a very I found out I had osteo process from a double fracture in my wrist from a very slight fall.
I am so fortunate that I found an excellent endocrinologist who knew that many of the classes of osteoporosis meds would not grow new bone just harden the bones that I had which could then further cause higher risks of breaks.
At diagnosis I had severe osteo in my spine and my femur in fact I had lost a 1/2 an inch due to micro fractures in my spine.
I started on Fortero in May of 2018. I have provided a link that compares the different meds. With a year and a 1/2 on the meds I have gone back to a normal dexi in my spine and all expectation is that by will have a normal dexi on my femur next year. In fact I actually gained that half inch back meaning that the micro fractures healed and I grew new bone and gained back half inch.
Fotero is the only med that actually increases the number of bone-forming osteoblasts.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/osteoporosis-drugs-which-one-is-right-for-you
After 2 years on fortero the plan is for me to go on a med that your doctors recommanding like re clast that will harden and solidify the new bone growth I achieved. You need to try to have new bone growth and then solidify that improvement just my opinion make sure you're seeing an endrocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis.
Blessing
Julie
