My 2 year surgiversary today, my journey and my thoughts

Wow, never thought I would get to this day, 2 years out! Hard to believe. For  those who don't know, I struggled long and hard to come up with the 4 grand to have Dr. Keshishian do  my revision to the DS after a failed RnY back in '05. After many failed attempts to just save the money, which for me was a hard thing to do, you know always something else came up like medical visits, medication, or what not. I finally cashed in an annuity that i was originally determined not to use, but I did use it. I had started looking for another surgeon to do the revision, one who did not require a program fee, but my family did not want me traveling too far away so I decided to go with Dr. K instead, AND AM I GLAD I DID! It was the best thing I did. I had no complications whatsoever from the beginning, no food intolerances, no nausea, not much pain. I was able to eat anything from the very beginning and get in all my liquids. Alas, as I moved along, i did develop some issues with regards to farting and pooping. I did go through a "why did I do this" but that was at one year out when my farting was at its highest and yes they did smell very bad and the poops too. My boss was irritated with me and giving me a hard time as I did work in  a very small office. She finally relagated me to work at home and i was extremely upset for a while, but that turned out well, though I still have been going into the office some days to type other reports from a different machine, but have to leave to use the bathroom facilities. Another board, another time.

Since New Years, I have not lost any weight, thought my time was done, and I was a bit depressed. I just want to lose another 20-25 pounds. I wasn't at goal yet. This past weekend we went to Reno for a getaway and the casino was so  huge, walked and walked and walked, and walked off 5 1/2 pounds in one week even though I ate well and had some desserts, etc. Ate a ton of protein at the huge buffet.

Two weeks ago had iron infusions again with the Feraheme 2 weeks in a row, 10 minutes to infuse, 1 hour to sit for the saline and to see if all is okay. Everything went well. Felt really good two days after as my ferritin had gone down to 27.9 the day before the first infusion, it was 55.2 end of January, so because it was going down my hematologist ordered the infusions. My hemoglobin was down a notch back end of Jan, but day before infusion it was up to normal. Feeling tired again today so don't know if that is something else going on or what. I had been taking 4-5 naps a day with the low ferritin and then only 1 nap a day, my usual, last week after infusions, but today feeling more tired.

My thoughts, I think it is true someone once said that if you in financial strain and hard to come up with "extra" money for vitamins, infusions, or what not, think again. I had some near misses with vitamins as I did not always have the money needed to buy them and I bought most of them online from VitaLady for the dry stuff and the D350  and Puritans Pride or Vitacost for other things, but I was never far off the path, maybe missed a week or so of vitamins, which is really very good. The shipping charges did not help, of course. For the most part, I am on track with vitamins, liquids and protein. I do need to exercise more, but due to my knee problem, i have not done much of that, i mostly love to walk and listen to my I-pod. This past weekend with all the walkiing, i really  put out my knee and back too, but heck I lost weight. Guess you can't have everything. Will go back in the water very soon for my own water aerobics.

I do hope to get this diastasis recti fixed so I can wear my jeans closer to my body and wear more fitted shirts, not a big deal, but it would be nice. Not sure I will be able to afford the co-pay, but after I get this next 20 pounds off i plan to check it out along with a tummy tuck and maybe a boob job.

PS: For those ordering dry D3, i just found out from another group I belong to that you can order those from Costco and save on shipping. I use 4 D350 a day (200,000 IU) and sure can use the savings on the shipping.

I would be happy tto answer anyones' questions about anything.
Karen

I'd like to just say... For any pre-ops out there, or any other lurkers... DO NOT WORRY about smelling after this surgery.,,, I am 9 months out and DO NOT SMELL AT ALL!!!! This can be completely controlled with diet (this is the case for me, and many other DS'ers I know personally, the only food I need to avoid in order to NOT have smelly poo is white flour)

So DO NOT think that you will be banned from work for smell issues by getting this surgery,... This is something I feared pre-op and seriously... It's a complete NON ISSUE right now... In fact,... I just had lunch with my friend yesterday... and seriously... If she hadn't known I had WLS... she would have never ever known.... I even ate two pieces of this marbled rye bread that they gave on the table and had no ill effects later that day from it!!

But now that is out of the way... Congrats on 2 years post op!!! I can not wait to say that!!!!! Isn't the DS amazing!!! Go on vacation, eat yourself happy, and lose weight!!!

 It's so funny how different we all are! Thus far carbs don't cause me any trouble but if I eat too much fat I stink from here to New York!!
Karen,
I'm so glad things are going so well for you! Congratulations!!!
~Laura

I agree, we all vary greatly on what makes us smell or not smell, but, from what I've noticed, we can all manage that through diet and probiotics, etc..

I'm glad to hear that you're doing well, Karen!  Vitamins can be tough to make sure you get them when you're strapped for $$, I can relate to that one.

Have you gotten checked for c-diff with a stool sample or done an elimination diet to determine if carbs &/ or fat cause smelly gas/ stool?

 Karen so glad all is well! Hope you will share some new pics soon. Hugs!

Karen,
Sounds like you are doing well. I agree, check for C-dif and watch your carbs.. try to figure out what is causing the gas an eliminate it. Focus on lactose, white flour elimation first. Those are the major items that cause it. I have a few things that set me off gas wise. If I stay away from them things are fine. 

Do keep vits at the top of the must need list.. They are super important in the long run. I know it is hard when finances are tight...but please keep them a priority for your health.

 well.. Happy Surgiversary. lol I cannot really tell if you are happy or not here but I hope you are!

Hi Karen, Thank you for the update. I know about money problems, unfortunately.  I read on this board very extensively pre-op and knew the warnings about the added costs, and still think I deserve the opportunity to get the DS and do my best with it (as I have done).  Where would people propose to draw the line at how well-off one should be to be able to have the DS?

I often kind of struggle with how much to promote this, since it isn't as good as VitaLady's, but Bariatric Advantage has a patient assistance program where one can get vites from them for free.  I would definitely supplement them with some other things, like more dry D from elsewhere.  One downside, though, is that it has to go through a doctor's office.  I'm sorry I don't have the link handy.  I have it bookmarked on a laptop that isn't working, and I'm at a public library computer at the moment.