DS Questions and Advice Please

[unavidanueva]

I will talk with Cristella tonight about the caffeine and the soda. Right now, she drinks three Red Bulls a day - that I know about.

Is the majority of this caffeine and soda stuff that you are purchasing and bringing into the house for her? If so, if you stop buying it, that would probably go a long way toward helping her cut back.

 

[Mirabella]

Actually, I am not buying it for her. I don't bring soda into the house. I know that we can all eat a lot healthier around here, but Cristella has a job and earns her own money. We had a serious talk about this last night. She is spending most of her money on food and snacks.

She starts therapy with a specialist in food issues on Monday, and we start family therapy on Wednesday. We are willing to do whatever it takes to make her healthy.

 

[Mirabella]

We have been researching vitamins and are getting ready to place an order for some.

I want to know if this is acceptable for the vitamin d. It is less expensive than the recommended Biotech.
http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-D3-50...&qid=1437653679&sr=8-9&keywords=dry+vitamin+d

 

[southernlady]

We have been researching vitamins and are getting ready to place an order for some.

I want to know if this is acceptable for the vitamin d. It is less expensive than the recommended Biotech.
http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-D3-50...&qid=1437653679&sr=8-9&keywords=dry+vitamin+d

YES, many of us use that one.

I will say, watch prices...mark them for price alerts. Sometimes that one is the best deal, other times they've run a heck of a price on the BioTech one. My husband and I buy whichever one is cheapest when we need to order.

 

[southernlady]

Actually, I am not buying it for her. I don't bring soda into the house. I know that we can all eat a lot healthier around here, but Cristella has a job and earns her own money. We had a serious talk about this last night. She is spending most of her money on food and snacks.

She starts therapy with a specialist in food issues on Monday, and we start family therapy on Wednesday. We are willing to do whatever it takes to make her healthy.

Good cause while the DS fixes your metabolism and helps you lose weight (hard not to at first), it is not a fix for the head. And maintenance is for LIFE. You can out eat your DS if eating wrong...as in mostly carbs. And not everyone has reactions to sugar or other carbs that make them easy to avoid. On the other hand, eating protein FIRST, fat second with carbs a distance third, you can easily live with this.

She's lucky...she could easily have major medical issues already (they are probably brewing) such as I did...I was on an insulin pump as a type 2 for 9 years pre-op (2002-2011 barely) and (diabetic since 1997). The damage done, neuropathy, is not curable...I have to live with the reminder the rest of my life. BUT I am not doing any more damage, the DS has done that for me.

I understand it is HARD to change, esp as a young adult and she will have to fight to not "go along with her friends". She will also need to be on birth control that is NOT one that goes thru the digestive track. And pressure to drink is gonna be there. She doesn't have to be a teetotaler but her liver is going to be working EXTRA hard the first 2 years and processing alcohol also taxes the liver. So she will need to avoid alcohol til she is 18-24 months out.

This is a LOT but if she is like most of us, she would do it yearly if she had to to remain healthy.

 

[star0210]

Actually, I am not buying it for her. I don't bring soda into the house. I know that we can all eat a lot healthier around here, but Cristella has a job and earns her own money. We had a serious talk about this last night. She is spending most of her money on food and snacks.

She starts therapy with a specialist in food issues on Monday, and we start family therapy on Wednesday. We are willing to do whatever it takes to make her healthy.

She's very lucky to have you and her father as parents! I applaud you for being willing to do whatever it takes for her to get healthy. It's not going to be easy.

 

[DBmom23]

She will be completely restarting her life--out with all the old habits and comforts of overeating. it will be very difficult and she will hugely benefit from the support of you and her father. However, i hope she is or will start reading and even participating on this board. There is no substitute for being personally 100% committed no matter how great your support network is. She will have to take ownership of the good, the bad and the ugly!

 

[Larra]

I agree with @DBmom23. The support of others, even parents, can only go so far. Cristella needs to be here herself to ask questions, listen, and learn. When she has a problem, or a tough day, it will help her to know that others have been there and done that, and that we have ways to make the DS work in our lives.

 

[duh_Mom]

Hi @Mirabella - I have been reading all your posts but staying quiet. I am just 35 days post op so honestly still in the learning phase. However, I am the parent of a child that has had life threatening diseases as your daughter does. Now, my daughter is in her 40's now, but you don't forget that ****. You are in the throes of it now.
I am thrilled to see that you are starting therapy prior to her surgery. I am 58 years old and will own that I have an eating disorder. I had a lapland 8 years ago and the DS 35 days ago. I have been in some type of ED treatment off and on for many many years. The last year has likely been the most helpful as I began to understand that food was just food and that there is not good or bad food,just how I "used" it.(maybe can chalk that up to a great therapist.) I finally made the decision that I was ready for the WLS that I just had. My therapist and I discussed at length that it was the move for me.

Your daughter is a high school senior, lord help, I don't want to go through that phase again with my daughter. You can learn to help and support her, but if she wants this surgery she will need life long learning and understanding of not just her DS but her potential issues with food. I say potential, because I don't want to make assumptions for anyone. Therapy is not a fast fix and is hard, hard work and I wish you all luck as you start the process. i'll be thinking of you.