I have been looking for information on him. Where does he perform surgery? What types of surgeries does h e specialize in? Please tell me everything. You are the only person that I found that has used him. I did call his office last week and receptionist was really nice. 

Our next Support Group meeting are the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
 
North Atlanta Church of Christ
Room 109
5676 Roberts Drive
Atlanta, GA  30338

Not sure if this is close enough for you. But we would love for you to join us. 
 
Ginger

Well of course we all have to watch what we eat.  Even if you don't have WLS you have to watch what you eat.  But I only watch what I eat to the extent that I have to make sure I eat well over 120gms of protein every day and limit the carbs I eat, particularly simple carbs.  I don't have to worry about fat because I only absorb 20% of the fat I consume.  So whan I say I that my diet is normal, I mean that I just eat.  I live with my dad and he did not have surgery and has no special diet so I eat what he cooks.  Sometimes that's fried chicken and macaroni and cheese and some veggie.  I know that I will eat a piece of fried chicken, about a 1/4 cup of mac n cheese and about a 1/4 cup of the veggie.   That sounds like a normal meal to me, just smaller.  And I'll be hungry a couple of hours later and eat another piece of chicken.  I usually get the bulk of my protein in for breakfast.  Today I had 2 scrambled eggs, a smoked sausage, and a 1/3 cup of cottage cheese for breakfast.  All protein and a big chunk of what I need for the day.

The vitamins/supplements sounds like a lot but it really is no big deal.  But they are a deal breaker and if you can't do it then you should not get the DS.  I take my vits 3 times a day.  I am not perfect and I miss my mid day vitamins a lot but my labs are great so I don't stress it so much.  It is a small price to pay to wear a size 8 and for all the other amazing changes this 107 lb weigh loss has done to change my life and health for the better,.  This was truly the best decision I have ever made for myself.

Whatever you decide, make the best decision for you,  A good site to read more about the DS is dsfacts.com and duodenalswitch.com.  I also got a lot of great information on all of the surgeries by watching YouTube videos.  I watched videos from people who had RNY and VSG and seeing them and hearing their stories was more helpful than I can tell you.  If you click on my YouTube link and go to my page you can find some of them as channels that I subscribe to if you are interested.

KellaWanda is a very good one.  She had VSG and she is a counseler or psychologist so her vlogs always have a phsychological element that I found very helpful.

Ok, gotta run.

Lia

I know it can be overwhelming.  That is why it is so important to wade through the "noise" and sift through to the facts.  There are many veterans who have links to older posts with peer reviewed journals and statistics about the various surgery options. There are lots of websites you can check and never underestimate the power of a good google search.  But I took a good 3 months to do research and make my decision and I don't regret any of that time.  I know I made the best and right decision for me and I have absolutely no regrets other than not doing it 10 years ago.

You really have to take a good look at yourself, your BMI and how much you need and want to lose; what kind of eater you are now and how you want to eat as a lifestyle...that is very important because that is one of the major differences between the surgery types.

With the restriction only procedures (lap band and VSG) your diet will be very important because you only have the restriction of the size of your stomach to control your weight.

With RNY and the DS you have restriction in addition to malabsorbtion of nutrients to help you lose and maintain weight loss.

I have simplified that a bit but that is the general idea.  There are many more differences between the 4 surgery types and many pros and cons for all of them.

I started out wanting the band and then after research decided on the VSG. Then I learned about the DS and decided that after really analyzing myself and my eating habits and how I wanted to eat, the DS would be the best for me.  The DS had the best statistics for excess weight loss and keeping it off long term.  The DS had the best post-op diet...the most normal eating of all the surgery types.

I reached goal at 11 months out and I eat pretty much anything I want.  I am aware of the carbs I eat and I am diligent about eating more protein than carbs.  That is all I do when it comes to eating.  I don't count anything and I won't have to go on another diet ever again.  I don't deny myself anything that I want.  But I do work out and that allows me to feel that I can do that.  I am maintianing my weight fairly easily.  It fluctuates within a couple of pounds but I expect that.  And I still lose a pound about every 6 weeks or so.

So slow down, take a breath and don't let all the information overwhelm you.  Take control and get the facts.  Read everything you can.  If you go to information sessions, try to go to surgeons who perform all 4 of the surgeries, and there are precious few of them.  But realize that a surgeon is going to try to "sell" you on the surgery that he performs.  It is a business for him. And that may not necessarily be what's best for you.

Good luck!

Lia

Hey Cheryl,

I have been wondering the same thing.      " Where is everybody?"

I'm still here.  I have been doing a lot of traveling this summer and am in school full time.

I haven't bothered posting lately because the GA forum seems pretty much dead.  There were only 9 new topics for the entire month of May and of those 3 were announcing support meetings and meet and greets.

It is a shame because at one point this was a great place to find friends and support.  We used to celebrate approvals, surgiversaries new babies, post op romances. We'd get together for monthly outings, give pre- and post op care advice, recommend surgeons, psych, nutritionists, protein and vitamins, etc. None of that support is flowing anymore.

Granted, our bantering would get controversial at times, but at least somebody did give a hoot.

 I just don't have the energy or desire to drum up any enthusiasm for GA forum anymore.   For example, members  post they are having serious complications and you get 150 lurkers and only a couple of folks have the decorum to share an encouraging word??? 

                                                              
                                           What's up with that?

Does becoming a post op make you self centered or an introvert? Or a snob that doesn't have time for the fat girls left behind waiting for their wls dates?

     
         Why do people disappear when they start losing weight?



But...you get 100's of people arguing on MB about why DS is better than rny is better than the band,  yada yada yada. 


                                                            
                                 Am I being over critical?

I do pray people are finding good support from their surgeon's groups and face-book, because this is a difficult journey to travel alone.



Regards,

LaShelle