Long-term Vets (5+ years) Gratitude Thread

You look great. Always glad to hear another Dr. Belzberg patient is doing well!
I had no idea how hard it was going to be to get Kaiser and Belzberg to agree to that surgery. He'd only performed 2 or 3 prior to me. Bookfaery and I felt like we were blazing that trail! Kaiser made it so much more difficult that it had to be and Gary was very nervous about the long term ramifications of that surgery. He grilled me over and over about what I knew of the recovery and life-long commitment. It warms my heart to hear that you (and others I'm sure) were able to get the surgery as well!!! When did you have your surgery?
 
I had no idea how hard it was going to be to get Kaiser and Belzberg to agree to that surgery. He'd only performed 2 or 3 prior to me. Bookfaery and I felt like we were blazing that trail! Kaiser made it so much more difficult that it had to be and Gary was very nervous about the long term ramifications of that surgery. He grilled me over and over about what I knew of the recovery and life-long commitment. It warms my heart to hear that you (and others I'm sure) were able to get the surgery as well!!! When did you have your surgery?

I had my DS a year ago. Kaiser had done my sleeve six years earlier but it "stretched" within 8 months and I only kept off about 30 pounds. Many years later, I went back in. The same doctor who had done my sleeve offered to revise me to RNY, but then I started doing some research and decided the DS was a better bet. Told them I wanted to see Belzberg. I went in well-researched and with a clipboard full of questions. Once he saw I had done my homework, he approved right then and there. He told me he wouldn't do the surgery on anyone who doesn't know more about it than he does. Good answer, I thought. I think he had done at least a dozen before me so he didn't seem so anxious by the time he got to me. Thanks for blazing the trail! They still don't advertise the DS. It's like the secret menu at In-and-Out.
 
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I'm a fifteen year graduate from the great Dr. Hess himself. Over all, I am grateful that I no longer wake up every day and feel like a failure. The everyday struggle to find balance in my life is pretty much over. I now wake up every day free from the burden that we all know so well. I enjoy life now with a depth I never imagined before this surgery.
 
I am almost 6 years out, my life is so normal I sometimes forget to be grateful to the DS that did it for me. Sometimes I forget what it felt like to be judged negatively for weight, what it felt like to be out of breath and limited in what I could do. This post reminds me of all that and so my gratitude for my DS and my current life is difficult to put into words, overwhelming is the closest one that comes to mind.IMG_1858.JPG
 
I am about
15 years out DS surgery. I am 71 yrs old. I had my DS in San Fransisco with R. Rabkin. Weight was 264lbs.
Got down to 140-145. I have gained to 150 now, was not working for abut 6 months and did a lot of grazing of food that I wish i had not done. anyway.
I did not have major medical issues pre surgery, other than arthritis and obesity, anxiety and some depression . But it was just a matter of time, had I not had the surgery.
One thing about the weight gain, is my perspective of it is flawed, it is that old thinking, if feels like 50-100 lbs and that I am fat again. I am very grateful I have had this surgery, its a gift and a miracle .I have recommended it to people . I feel I will live a long time because I am so healthy at 71 yrs.
I wanted to know if any of you long timers have developed any autoimmune diseases?? I only had H. thyroiditis prior to surgery. Now I have Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease. (sudden hearing loss in one ear and some balance issues too). I wonder because of our absorption issues with surgery,
Appreciate any info regarding this.
Jackie
 

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I wanted to know if any of you long timers have developed any autoimmune diseases?? I only had H. thyroiditis prior to surgery. Now I have Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease. (sudden hearing loss in one ear and some balance issues too). I wonder because of our absorption issues with surgery,
Appreciate any info regarding this.
Jackie
Or could it be that you are far more aware of your body and your health, that odd things are far more noticeable.

There is a thought that autoimmune disorders seem to be more common among DSers.

Maybe, maybe not. I do know I already a few before my DS. Mostly annoying. Ankylosing Spondylitis, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia (thankfully a mild case). The thing about autoimmune diseases is one can lead to others popping up their ugly head.
 
I am about
15 years out DS surgery. I am 71 yrs old. I had my DS in San Fransisco with R. Rabkin. Weight was 264lbs.
Got down to 140-145. I have gained to 150 now, was not working for abut 6 months and did a lot of grazing of food that I wish i had not done. anyway.
I did not have major medical issues pre surgery, other than arthritis and obesity, anxiety and some depression . But it was just a matter of time, had I not had the surgery.
One thing about the weight gain, is my perspective of it is flawed, it is that old thinking, if feels like 50-100 lbs and that I am fat again. I am very grateful I have had this surgery, its a gift and a miracle .I have recommended it to people . I feel I will live a long time because I am so healthy at 71 yrs.
I wanted to know if any of you long timers have developed any autoimmune diseases?? I only had H. thyroiditis prior to surgery. Now I have Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease. (sudden hearing loss in one ear and some balance issues too). I wonder because of our absorption issues with surgery,
Appreciate any info regarding this.
Jackie

Balance issues? have you had your copper and ceruloplasmin checked? if they get low enough that can happen.
 
I will be 15 years out from my DS with Robert Rabkin on August 5th, and 12 days later, I will turn 65.

Tell us what annual labs you’re having done and what your latest levels are (please include the normal ranges for the tests from your lab).
 
Or could it be that you are far more aware of your body and your health, that odd things are far more noticeable.

There is a thought that autoimmune disorders seem to be more common among DSers.

Maybe, maybe not. I do know I already a few before my DS. Mostly annoying. Ankylosing Spondylitis, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia (thankfully a mild case). The thing about autoimmune diseases is one can lead to others popping up their ugly head.

Thank you for responding . I was not suddenly noticing something new when I had sudden hearing loss. the symptoms came on suddenly: horrific loud mechanical sounds in my ear, getting louder and louder . I could not understand what was happening, it was like nothing I ever heard of (i am a nurse) . it got so bad, so loud I had to go to the dr immediately. I eventually saw a specialist who ran special test and told me I had Autoimmune inner ear disease with balance problems.
I know the the thinking now within the medical profession, is that the gut is the main reason for many of the different disease we have. So the balance of the right bacteria is most important. I think those of us who have had a DS are maybe having some issues. I still am healthy considering my age.
I look forward to hearing from long term patients as to how they are doing.
 
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One other thing I've noticed since I last posted in this thread...doctors NO longer blame all my illnesses on being morbidly obese.

Example, recently spent a good part of Wed at Urgent Care because my right knee popped. My weight ONLY came up as having to log it in the chart...wasn't weighed, they just asked what I weighed. (I said 145, but Sun I weighed 144). But at NO time did they brush me off on the knee injury telling me OR even implying that it was my fault for being overweight/obese/etc.

They did blame it on being older and having osteoarthritis. But since that happens to pretty much everyone eventually, I didn't feel judged for it. Cause I really don't want the alternative any time soon (being dead).
 

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