Marianne W.
07/29/2008 I can't believe it's been so long since I added an update on here! Time has slipped away. I am now 7 1/2 years post op. I still weigh around 143 and holding. Unfortunately, I have had a few health issues to deal with. I'm not really sure if any of it is related to my WLS though. Perhaps some if it could be due to the malabsoprtion of the BPD/DS. I have been diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and degerative disc disease in my lower back. I am on Forteo now and I have to give myself a daily injection every day to help rebuild the bones. My doctor wants me on the medication for 2 years. On top of that I had to have kidney stone surgery in December to remove a 3cm and a 8mm kidney stone. I was also told that WLS patients tend to form kidney stones (which I wasn't aware of). Th bottom line is, since the WLS I have is a long term malabsorption procedure, I have to pay close attention to my health and keep a watchful eye on what goes on internally. I have taken the recommended vitamins and supplements but apparently it wasn't enough. Also dealing with the daily pain has taken a toll but I am trying to find ways to cope. If I had to do it all over again, maybe I would have opted for the Lap Band instead, I don't know. Still overall, I am pleased that my weigh is stable and I haven't gained anything back over the last few years. Since I haven't had to "work" at maintaining my weight, I still need to learn to eat healthier! That's my goal for now.
01/17/2007 This is my 6th year post op as of Jan. 31st. I have been very lax in my eating over the last year. I have managed to gain about 7 unwanted pounds. I know the weight gain was due to a lot of stress and a couple of health issues. But the upside to this is that before my WLS I would have had a lot more than that to worry about. I am starting a healthier and more conscious effort the lose the 7 pounds. I realize more than ever, that the WLS is a tool and not a cure for weight control. My head still has all the same lifelong reasons for eating whether it's emotional, bored or stressed. I hope to lose around a total of 15 pounds and stay at around 135 again. I know I can do it!
03/07/06 I just celebrated my 5th year post op on January 31. Time has gone so quickly and it's hard to believe it's been 5 years! I stay around the weight of 143 and it fluctuates a little but not much. I could have never done this without surgical intervention. I'm still taking daily vitamins without fail. We have a group of about 8 of us who are Dr. Baltasar's patients and we still stay in contact with one another in the KC area. All of us have had the DS and compare notes and keep each other updated. It's been wonderful not to have to wake up every morning worrying about my weight and how it will affect my attitude and self esteem. : )
01/16/05 It's been 4 years this month since my duodenal switch surgery in Spain with Dr. Aniceto Baltasar. I think it's important to add my comments even at four years post-op to help others with any questions about WLS long term. Overall I am doing great with very few problems. Mostly minor problems I guess but nothing I can't handle. My weight has stabilized at around 140. I still wear a size 6-8. So, I can say the results are what I wanted and anticipated. I still take my daily regimen of vitamins without fail every day! Protein is still kind of hard to do most of the time - but I do try. The cosmetic/plastic surgery still looks great and most people guess my age to be around 10 to 15 years younger than I actually am! Life is good.... : )
07/10/04 I am now 3 1/2 years post op from my WLS and 8 months since my plastic surgery. I feel great and I have decided to start a modeling class. Hard to believe I would have ever been doing this at my age! But I also know if it wasn't for the courage and decisions I have made to get the surgeries, I would have never done this. It has given me the psychological boost I needed to have pride and confidence in myself. My weight is a bit more than I want right now at 138-140. I'm certainly NOT complaining but I would like to see about losing around 8 pounds to be in better modeling shape. The challenge is learning how to lose weight with WLS. I know keeping the protein level high is very important. Also thanks to all of you who have written to me with your compliments! I hope I may have helped you in some way with your decisions on WLS or plastic surgery in Brazil!
11/19/03 Cosmetic surgery: I just got back from Brazil and had cosmetic surgery as the final step on my weight loss journey and process. I decided to have several things done within the 3 week stay while I was there. I had a breast lift, an extended tummy tuck, four zones of lipo on my back, a lower face and neck lift, nose work, eye lift and a little bit of lip augmentation. I went to Dr. Fabio Zamprogno in Vitoria, Brazil. He is an excellent doctor! If anyone would like more information on the cost involved, please sign up on the yahoo egroups at MedNetBrazil and say that you were referred by Maryann in KC when you post on the message board. There will be a website online soon. If anyone wants more info please write to me and I will make sure you get the information. The cost was about 1/3 of what you will spend in the U.S. I know for some people, insurance will cover some of the cosmetic surgery, but for a lot of us, that isn't an option. I'm still feeling a little tired and achy, but the results are amazing! My skin and body haven't been this tight in years! As I get better, I will post the newest pictures. I even lost about 7 pounds after surgery!
10/07/03 As time goes by keeping up with updates seems to get farther apart. I guess when weight isn't an issue in my life anymore, it's not such a focus as it used to be. But I do think it's important to share information long term to help others to see what it's like from my perspective. One thing I must admit, the BPD/DS does allow me to eat anything I want and I do find myself eating more junk than I should sometimes. However, the weight has gone up a bit, it's still very much what I was hoping for. I weight about 140 now. My family and friends say I look much healthier at this weight than when I was at around 125. I looked too thin will my ribs showing and I didn't look healthy. But that has changed and I feel and look much better. I had lab test run last week and everything was within normal limits. I am getting ready to go to Vitoria, Brazil to have cosmetic surgery done with Dr. Fabio Zampragno on Oct. 28th. This is something I am looking forward to. I want to have a tummy tuck, breast lift and maybe a lower face lift. With having this done I could easily lose another 5 pounds. I will stay for two weeks. I am looking forward to having a very flat tummy again! I will post the results when the time comes.
01/30/03 I am now 2 years post op from my BPD/DS surgery by Dr. Aniceto Baltasar in Alicante, Spain. I guess I am now considered a veteran of sorts. It has been an interesting journey since the operation and weight loss. At about 8 months after the surgery my lowest weight was 125. My family and friends were worried about me and said that I looked very thin and almost frail. I knew that I would gain a little weight back so I wasn't terribly worried about it. Over the last few months I have gained 12 pounds and I am now at a healthy 137 at 5'6" tall and a BMI of 22. Starting weight was 210. Overall I feel great! Lots of energy. The biggest problem with the BPD/DS is the gas, bloating and loose stools. Eating still hurts the tummy at times, but if I eat slowly and divide the meal up into smaller meals, it works much better. I eat just about whatever I want, but still try to focus on protein. I got on a sugar binge around Christmas and it's hard to get away from it! I still take a daily dose of vitamins without fail.
Emotionally and physically there has been changes. When I first lost the weight - I found myself looking in the mirror sometimes in disbelief seeing that it was really me! So this is the lady who was hidden beneath the padding? There were clothes shopping sprees and cleaning out closets of the old "fat" clothes. Sometimes not knowing or believing the compliments and attention I was getting from others with the new me. But I have since settled down and now when I look in the mirror, I know it is me, and this is the way I will look for the rest of my life. At times - I felt a "mourning" or longing for the old self - why, I'm not really sure. (I have never mourned food though). But life is great and I don't regret my decision to change my life. I threw away all of the tons of diet books I had. After years and years of dieting - diets never really worked but only added more of what I was trying to get rid of - therefore the "yo yo syndrome!"
I still recommend anyone to check out all aspects of weight loss surgery and decide which surgery would work best for you and IF it is for you. It is not without problems or complications. With the research I have done, it looks like weight loss surgery is a godsend for a lot of morbidly obese people who have tried everything else.
There is a group of 5 ladies in the Kansas City area who are all patients of Dr. Baltasar and we meet about every three months. Collectively, we have lost around 550 pounds so far! Three of us are at a goal weight and are happy with the results. If you have any questions about the BPD/DS, please write and I will try to answer them for you. A good website to visit on the surgery is: http://www.duodenalswitch.com.
2 years post op
current weight 137
BMI 22
09/09/02 20 months post op - Bilo Pancreatic Diversion with the Duodenal Switch. (BPD/DS) It's been a while since I've posted an update, mostly because no news is good news. I've been doing pretty good lately and my weight has stabilized at around 133-135 and I still wear a size 6 for the most part. I take a handful of vitamins without fail every morning and a prescription iron supplement every night. Now, I just need to stop procrastinating and get busy and hit the gym! I am considering cosmetic surgery for a tummy tuck. As far as food goes, I can eat anything I want. I still eat slowly and usually only about half a meal at a time, and when I'm full - I'm full and not another bite goes in my mouth. Eating is different than what it used to be, but that's not a bad thing anymore. Nothing takes as good as thin feels! woo-hoo!
01/12/02 At almost one year post op, my weight loss has stabilized, but does fluctuate within a 5 pound range, from 125 to 130. Clothing size is 5-7. Overall my health is good. Still some problems with eating. The tummy doesn't want to stretch too much to accommodate eating very much at any one time. Lactose intolerance is better now. I have posted before and after pictures. (See below).
1 year post op
80 pounds lost and at goal
BMI 21
10/17/01 I'm 8 1/2 months post op and feeling almost normal! Still have some occasional pain in the stomach right after eating. My current weight is 130 and at goal and can wear a size 6-8! Total weight lost is 76 pounds. I have talked to a lot of other people who have an interest in knowing more about weight loss surgery. I encourage them to do thorough research and find out everything they can before deciding to have surgery. For me, it was worth everything I went through. I guess it's kind of like having a baby. You forget about all of pain and problems after a while.
8/16/01 At 6 1/2 months post op after the BPD/DS in Spain with Dr. Baltasar. My current weight is 134, for a total loss of 72 pounds. The nausea and vomiting are much better. I only get occasional problems with pain in the stomach now. Time heals all I guess! Very satisfied with the results and the procedure!
07/16/01 I am currently at 5 1/2 months post op. I have lost a total of 66 pounds and my current weight is 140 and my BMI is 22. I feel good and can eat just about anything I want with no problems (except for dairy and I use Lactaid). There are two other ladies in the Kansas City area that also had the DS surgery in Spain, and we keep in touch and compare notes on a regular basis. Everyone seems to be doing well!
05/28/01 I am right at 4 months post op after my duodenal switch surgery in Spain with Baltasar. I have lost a total of 56 pounds and currently weigh 150 at 5'6". I am able to were a size 10 jeans! I have had to buy almost all new clothes. I feel pretty good overall. I still have occasional bouts with vomiting and a little nausea sometimes. But it's not too bad. I need to be careful not to let myself get too empty, meaning no food in my stomach. If I am very "empty" the pain is severe when I try to eat something. I have to eat a little bit and then wait for a while before I try to eat some more. I can eat just about anything, but I have become lactose intolerant since the surgery, so I have to be very careful with dairy and use "Dairy Ease" if I want something like that.
4 months post-op
BMI 24
56 lbs. gone
03/19/01 I am almost 7 weeks post op. The biggest problem I have had with my recovery in the nausea and vomiting. My stomach wants to treat food as a foreign object now. It seems very strange that this happens. My local PCP has prescribed a Scopolmine patch and Reglan to help me with the problem.
Weight loss has been good. I am now down 32 pounds in less than 7 weeks.
Maryann
7 weeks post op
BMI now 28.6
32 lbs gone!
02/19/01 I am 19 days post op. I hemorrhaged right after the DS surgery with a mesenteric tear. I was taken back into surgery for the repair within 10 hours. I had to have two units of blood, and lots of painful iron shots. I will have to take extra iron for a while. I was extremely pleased with Dr. Baltasar as my physician. He is very kind, dedicated and caring with his patients. He sat with me for hours to make sure I was going to be okay.
The surgical site is healing well. Over all, I don't feel too bad, except, I do have a lot on nausea and vomiting when I try to eat anything other than liquids or pureed food. I am hoping this is going to get better everyday. I have lost 22 pounds so far in 19 days!
Maryann from Missouri
01/31/01 post op
Dr. Baltasar - Alcoy, Spain
22 lbs. lost so far
I am scheduled to have surgery in Spain with Dr. Baltasar. I am traveling to Spain with another lady who is going to have the operation also. I have heard many good things about Dr. Baltasar and I am confident that I will be in good hands. Surgery is scheduled for 01/31/2001 in Alcoy, Spain. My starting weight is 210.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
