Hey!

[mandachelle]

Hello! Larra recommended that I join this site I have my DS surgery scheduled for July 25 with Dr. Stephen Boyce in Knoxville, TN. I am so, so excited to get this all started and begin this brand new chapter! I am planning on documenting my journey with video updates as I have enjoyed following others as well. It seems like a great way to be able to look back at all your progress and share your experiences with others.

 

[Susan in Tennessee]

Welcome, Mandachelle! I'm scheduled for June 10, with Dr. Esquerra in Mexicali. I live in Tennessee and would have loved to have my surgery in state but unfortunately I am self-pay so I am traveling to get a great surgeon. Are you a Tennessee resident, or traveling from a surrounding state?

 

[mandachelle]

Hi Susan! My goodness yours is coming up soon!! Congratulations I live in Knoxville...born and raised. I don't blame you for traveling for a great surgeon!

 

[Larra]

Hi again! Good to see you here. I bet @southernlady and some other folks who have been patients of Dr. Boyce will be around soon.

 

[hilary1617]

Hello and welcome @mandachelle ! Congratulations on your upcoming date. Now's a great time to get your vitamin and nutritional status at its best before surgery. Best wishes!

 

[Mystrys]

Welcome mandachelle!
I just had mine with Dr. Boyce on the 26th of April! He's a great guy. Awesome surgeon,too. I've had no worries at all.
You've got a bit of time to soak up some of the wisdom and knowledge around here. Glad you're here

 

[mandachelle]

Thank you so much! I'm both nervous and excited and know I'll be in great hands. So glad you've done so well! I'm excited to be here and be able to interact with others who have been through it already and learn from them!

 

[SmilinsShrinking]

Welcome! I've been youtubing as many DS people as I can find... I wish I could find a few more. You could probably help a lot of others that are thinking about getting a DS.

I wish you the best!
Joni

 

[southernlady]

Welcome @mandachelle
Yeap, Boyce patient here...I'm 5 1/2 years out now. Boyce is an excellent cutter but read here for vitamin info and eating as a DS'er info. (once healed). Cause all their vitamins are horseshit and the aftercare eating is geared to RNY patients. That office preaches low fat. DS'ers need quite a bit but it varies by person and has to be worked up to.

Some threads of interest:
http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/dr-stephen-boyce-knoxville-tn.26/
http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/fats-are-not-the-enemy.3185/
http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/generic-ds-lab-order.191/
http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/vitalady-links.11/
http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/labs-and-barilife-vits.3717/
http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/barilife-vitamins-wrong-for-dsers.2578/

 

[mandachelle]

@SmilinsShrinking thank you! I've been doing the same for the last 6-8 months! I finally decided to go ahead and start documenting for myself! If love to follow your journey as well if you are on YouTube!
I hope that I can be of some assistance to anyone thinking about DS for themselves or someone who has a family member or friend considering it as well! I still have so much to learn, but thought this would be a great place to learn from all those who have walked down this path already!

Here is my first YouTube video

 

[mandachelle]

@southernlady thank you so much for this excellent information! I have head so many times that their office tries to push the RNY education and nutrition on the DS patients. I've definitely enjoyed reading all of the info from those who have already been where I'm heading and learning from them! I've already started a notebook with some of the information you have provided. I'm really interested in the vitalady regimen, as most of those who I have seen have great success through her outline. I will definitely check out the rest of the info you provided as well!

 

[Kate]

Welcome!

 

[SmilinsShrinking]

Amanda, I liked your intro video! Your surgery is going to be 9 days before mine I've never done a video on YouTube, but my husband was encouraging me to document the journey so it can help others like I've been helped. Your video is encouraging... I might just go for it!!! I'll definitely follow you. ❤️

 

[mandachelle]

Amanda, I liked your intro video! Your surgery is going to be 9 days before mine I've never done a video on YouTube, but my husband was encouraging me to document the journey so it can help others like I've been helped. Your video is encouraging... I might just go for it!!! I'll definitely follow you. ❤️

Thank you! I never thought I'd be putting a video up for other people to see because I'm so shy and private. I watched so many others and found them extremely helpful so, I thought I'd give it a shot! Maybe it'll help break me out of my shell a bit
I'm so glad we'll be having our surgeries so close together! We can definitely support and encourage each other!
Definitely let me know if you decide to make a video to stay documenting your journey! I'd love to follow yours as well!

 

[Mystrys]

Love,love,love your video! Thank you for showing up and being courageous! There is so much growth when we move out of the place of fear and into our Truth!!
You were stellar!!

My husband has been pushing me to vlog,blog write a book....something....ANYTHING about my journey over the last 10+years. I always come to that place where I think to myself...."I'm not doing anything extraordinary. Lots of people do this. It's called Life... for those of us who don't give up."
But, I'm beginning to see where our journeys can inspire and help others who might be on the fence or still sitting in fear. So, BRAVO, BRAVE WOMAN!!!
I will also be following you.

Btw.. we have some pretty interesting and similar experiences getting to this place. We should chat some time.
Congratulations on your surgery date and I hope you stick around here! So many pulling for you! This is my go to...I'm still a newbie in this and I want to be around for awhile,so I'll stick where I know the knowledge and experience is!

Love&Light,
~Krystyna~