Hello everyone
Some of you may know me from other WLS groups. My initial surgery was in May 1995, a distal GB-RNY. In December 1995, this was revised, along with a complete abdominal wall rebuild and removal of my gall bladder. After going home, I nearly bled to death after rupturing a blood vessel near my stomach. This led to a prolonged recovery time and a long series of complications that continue to surface periodically.
Overall, however, I am doing very well. I was relatively young (32) with pre-diabetes my only co-morbidity at the time of surgery (of course, they called it glucose dysregulation and did not treat it at the time). My highest weight was 275 lbs (BMI 46.4) and my weight since the initial weight loss has remained in a healthy BMI range. At present, I am ~150 lbs down from my highest weight, in the mid-120s (BMI ~20 - 22).
In the process of learning to care for myself after surgery, I returned to graduate school where I ultimately earned a couple of advanced degrees in nutrition and related fields. After developing a nutritional deficiencies despite taking everything recommended (and then some), I ultimately figured out what doses work for me, most of which exceed current WLS recommendations. Although my day job in health care does not have me interacting much with WLS patients, they are seldom far from my thoughts and I hope to have more opportunity in the future. This sometimes comes through in my posts, which can be detailed - I only hope some people find this helpful.
I eat almost exclusively whole foods, and have not tolerated protein supplements in any form for nearly a decade. I've still been able to maintain my protein levels with foods. My biggest bug-a-boo over the years has been a shrinking ability to digest different foods, mostly those containing fiber and complex carbohydrates. While avoiding them makes it easier to maintain my weight, there are so many nutrient-dense foods that I miss out on enjoying, many of which are not likely to contribute to weight gain. I'm still searching for a "work-around" for this so I can eat more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Why my increasing inability to digest various foods remains unexplained, yet it seems likely related to the abdominal bleed of 18 years ago and the scar tissue it left behind.
I'm curious about whether anyone else has experienced increasing difficulty tolerating foods. Here are a few additional details about my surgery and current situation. My common channel is 100 cm, with an additional 150 cm separating it from what remains of my stomach. My pancreas has (apparently) stopped producing most or all of the enzymes needed to digest starches. I produce some stomach acid and presumably also produce the enzymes to digest proteins and fats. Despite my strict diet limitations, both my internist and naturopathic physician agree that I am healthy, based upon lab and clinical findings.
-Elena
I had my DS surgery in August with Dr. Basil Yurcisin. I knew nothing about the DS until he called me on a Sunday night and told me he had been thinking about me and that it would be my best option. I am thanking god everyday for him because my life has changed so much in the past few months! I'm just shy of 5 months and I'm down 137 pounds from starting weight before the pre op diet and the NSVs are endless 
