Question:
answer to BPD/DS
I don't regret having the BPD/DS although, unlike the other answers, I suffer greatly from the frequent BM's and gas. It may be what I eat, but yes there is a drawback to this. I was in the hospital with my daughter the other day and honestly was so embarrassed at the smell due to the gas and diahrea that I had. No way to explain it to people except the truth I guess. Possibly this is more than you wanted to know, but otherwise, I am very happy with this surgery as I have been 9 months postop and am within 9 pounds of my goal now. I have lost 135 pounds so far and actually the family is saying I shouldn't lose another pound but I want to be 130 and size 6 not size 8. Sounds rather vain when I say that on here because a year ago i would have been happy in a 14. I still have the mindset that I am fat and really can't see myself clearly I don't think. Now I kindof know what anorexics go through. You are constantly in that "I am overweight" mode. Good luck to you. — BARBARA R. (posted on March 20, 2000)
March 20, 2000
Thank you Barbara for you honest and heart felt post on your
experience. I'm not familiar with DS, however, I suggest you talk to Fran
G maybe she can help with dome suggestions on your diet that might help
your situation. I thank all the members that post the good, the bad
and the ugly.. Thank you Ava and Fran G. for all you input and help to our
members.
— Victoria B.
March 20, 2000
Hi Barb - so glad to see another DS patient here! It will
be nice to have some input from someone who's actually had
the surgery! My experience with gas and diarrhea is that
it is entirely dependent on what I put in my mouth. Hi fats
can sometimes give me diarrhea (but not usually), and
lactose is a sure bet for severe gas and diarrhea. Like Mel,
if I take a lactaid supplement, I'm fine. Try staying away
from low-fat dairy products - they have more lactose. If
that doesn't help, cut dairy completely and then start adding
one item back at a time. You'll discover the culprit food,
and be able to avoid it in the future. Again, thanks for
your first-hand experience -- such a refreshing change!
— Kim H.
March 20, 2000
Hi Barbara, I am almost 3 months post op and I had Lap BPD-DS . I have lost
62 pounds so far and am happy. When I was researching the different types
of surgery it became obvious that a consideration with the Roux-en-Y was
more possible complications "up top" as in upper gastrointestinal
reactions such as nausea, vomiting, and pouch problems. While with the DS
it seemed that I would probably have to deal with more of the lower
gastrointestinal reactions, such as smelly gas and diarrhea and looser
stools. To date this has materialized for me and I do carry around a small
pocket size can of Ozium which is a particularly strong odor neutrilizer.
This really seems to freshen the air well. Also, and I hope this isn't
information overload, I flush the toilet as soon as I start to go and this
helps to disperse the waste and aroma quickly. Phew, that's a personal
answer. I also know that many DS people initially have particularly pungent
eliminations but a few months down the road this seems to diminish. Sorry
it hasn't for you. I would rather be svelte and smelly than fat and
fragrant!!!!LOL It is a matter of what the botttom line is for you!
— Fran B.
March 20, 2000
Just for the record, I was NOT complaining about not recieving any answers.
I recieved wonderful heartfelt answers and all of you, I concider to be
wonderful friends and co-happy surgery people. You are all such an
encouragement to me and I love hearing all your suggestions on all
subjects. I am not sure what the person meant about complaining about not
getting answers.
Love to all of you,
Barb
— BARBARA R.
March 20, 2000
— Carly K.
March 20, 2000
Sunshine, I, too saw a post from melanie this morning and I dont feel that
it was hateful. Melanie brought up a very good point, that all other posts
(except for Fran's) should be discounted. I agree with her that when other
DS'ers post, their credibility is questioned. I can say that Fran is a
good person and very helpful, and I care for her deeply, but her answer in
not the only one. Sunshine, please dont get caught up in this... you are
so new to the site and probably have enough on your plate without this.
— Kris S.
March 20, 2000
Have you discussed these problems with your surgeon? I am over two years
post op (DBG/DS). My diarrhea problems have been virtually solved by the
addition of fiber to my diet. Try taking Metamucil, Citracel or some
comparative item. Start slow or you will end up constipated, which is just
as bad as the diarrhea! LOL As for the gas, if charcoal and chlorophyll
aren't working for you, you might want to ask your doctor to write you a
prescription for Flagyl. Simethicone (mylanta) works in the intestines,
not the colon. Because food is not fully digested when it hits the colon,
the bacteria flourish. The Flagyl will kill off some of that bacteria,
decreasing the amount of gas you are experiencing. This is just a
suggestion for you to try. It works for me. I hope it helps you, too.
— Tami B.
March 20, 2000
Barbara, thanks so much for your original post. As someone who will
undergo BPD/DS surgery in 3 weeks, I'm focusing on the fact that you say
you have no regrets and are very happy with the surgery. What a wonderful
weight loss!! In addition, I'm quite sure from reading the DS list (as
well as numerous helpful posts from Melanie Magruder, Kris Sanchez, Kim H,
and Heidi) that you and other DSers (me, soon!) can manage
gastro-intestinal distress by modifying diet, in the same way that the
RNYers who experience dumping can change their intake to control this
problem. Here's to continued success for all of us!
— Julie C.
March 20, 2000
Hi folks! Whew! Who would have thought that my talking about my gas
problems would have led to such a hot debate. I wanted each and every one
of you to know that I took nothing that was said as anything but helpful
and that I appreciated each and every answer to my question. EACH and
EVERY one of them.
We are all somehow brothers and sisters in this journey and to have such
animosity written on here is disheartening. I realize that some people on
here think that others are jealous and envious but, I have to ask myself
this...have i ever been jealous of anyone on here? The answer, if I am
truthful, would have to be yes. I was jealous of the people who were
losing faster than me, I was jealous of the people who had other types of
surgeries and were having an easier time (ei: no gas), and I was jealous
of the people who were not going through such long plateaus as I was. But,
I learned something in all of this. I learned that even if I hadn't lost a
single pound, that I gained alot anyway. I gained compassion for the
person who has been turned down by ins., I gained self confidence to talk
about my "gas" problems, I gained alot of knowledge about myself
and my failings, and I gained alot of beautiful friends be they large or
small. If someone is concieved to be "jealous" maybe we should
have the compassion to ask them what might help them through this instead
of berating them? I am not chastising anyone, but I hate to see any of us
have animosity towards another on here as we are all in the same boat it's
just that some of us are at the bow and some at the stern at any given
moment. But, we have all been at the bottom of the boat and it's our
responsibility, I think, to throw that life jacket to the friends that we
feel might have fallen overboard. Some of us were given such a wonderful
gift when we had this surgery and now maybe it's our turn to pass that gift
on. I know nothing about any of the people who responded to my first
question, but I do know that each and every one of you wrote to me with the
best intentions and for that I am so grateful. Please pass the love and
knowledge that you have, on to others like you have for me. I for one, am
one that will continue to write here and try and help when I can because I
kindof feel that it's my responsibility now as well as something that makes
me feel good....helping others if i can.
I honestly want to thank each and every one of you for your responses to
questions that I have posed. Your insight has been invaluable. Please
let's not let bad feelings rule us now...we all have too much to live for
and enjoy now!
Love to each of you!
— BARBARA R.
March 20, 2000
Barbara... about the smelly gas and BMs.... have you tried acidophilus?
You can get it in the health food stores and it does relieve the odor
considerably.
— Kris S.
March 20, 2000
Mellie, thank you for clarifying this for me... and I agree. I can
honestly say that, in my case, this surgery (DS) is a true miracle. Having
lost 125 lbs in 7 months and being able to eat anything I want, except Taco
Bell and drink normal milk (I drink soy milk now), is a true blessing. I
have said it before and I will say it again... I know I am not the only
fat person in the world that has wished to be able to eat anything I want
and not gain weight.
— Kris S.
March 20, 2000
Sunshine... some people become lactose intolerant, thats why I drink soy
milk now. Even people who have never had WLS are sometimes lactose
intolerant. As for Taco Bell, no idea, but I do know it tears my stomach
up. Perhaps, lower quality food? I can eat other mexican-type foods with
no problem. Other than these two things, I can eat anything I want.
— Kris S.
March 20, 2000
Ava,... see? I KNEW I wasnt the only one, lol. I am so glad your surgery
was a success for you.
— Kris S.
March 20, 2000
First I want to say Barbara I hope your gas problems work themselves out.
You seem to have gotten some good responses here to help you. My mom
always relys on her good ole Imodiom AD (sp?). As for the others....Do
you realize how comical you have become??? I'm serious!!! I and several
others come here sometimes just to see how diplomatic you all can be while
scratching out the others eyes. I'm sure you are trying to express your
own views and all but gosh there are days when you trip me out and all I do
is bust a gut laughing at you. I apolize in advance for any hurt feelings
and I must admit I have learned a lot from 2 of you in particular just
because I search out your responses. Peace and love to all.....hahahaha
— jennmak72
July 27, 2000
This is going to sound crazy, but try it once and you'll see that it works.
For getting rid of those 'embarrassing' odors...just carry around a book
of matches. Light one and blow it out. Totally neutralizes odors
immediately. Faster than any spray products and a whole lot easier to
tote. Nearly everywhere bans smoking, but lighting a match for just a
split second hardly qualifies. Works every time.
— [Anonymous]
July 27, 2000
— merri B.
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