I have been on these boards for months now and have read most of them. I promise I truly have a good grasp on the long term expectations and responsibilities. The questions I have are mostly here and now questions that I have not been able to find answers to.
- History:- I was a SMO person who thought because I had no health problems and came from a gene pool of long livers that my weight was not a problem. High weight Nov 2020, 306... I'm 5'3". First health issue to pop up was a torn miniscus playing in a wave pool with my grandson. MRI revealed arthritis w/ bone on bone and a new knee in my future. I did the PT and over time it healed. I used to scuba dive, hike, bowl, camp.... , but the weight really started to weigh me down and was preventing me from doing as much. Then came mild high BP. Nothing too bad 150/80 range. I always had very low 120/70. This resulted in first RX. Then came pre diabetes A1C of 6.0 and add metformin to the repertoire. I had already been on 50,000 IU weekly vit D for years trying to figure out the fatigue and constant tiredness. Maybe it was the extra 170 lbs. the next fun symptom was my feet hurt. Not the bottom like heel spurs. I had those before. This was the top of my feet and it hurt to touch them. Again totally explained by the weight to which I was in denial was that big a problem. I had decided I had enough and did not want to live like this anymore. I hated taking medications. Not that I hate taking pills, but it just is Nat natural to put so many chemicals in your body. My Dr. Asked if I had ever considered WLS and I was kind of surprised. We have Tricare Prime and my Dr. Is at the Navy base. I always thought this was elective surgery and not coverd. He said that had changed in recent years and I was a candidate, if I wanted a referral he would give me one. He was very encouraging and said it was very rare he caught people in the pre diabetic stage and could help. Most of the time people were already very sick. The doctor I got referred to is one of the only ones that had DS on their website. I thoroughly researched all of the procedures and determined the DS was tree only option for me.
- Surgery:- my first appointment with my surgeon was Dec 7, 2020 and I had already quit drinking diet coke and lost 6 lbs. I told him I wanted the DS and he said we will make a decision after my endoscope. I had to meet with the dietician, psyche eval, endoscope and have 3 weight management visits. I got the endo done Dec 23rd. Had met all requirements except the visits by mid Jan. I am very determined once I get something in my head. The next to last apt. Before my surgery we discussed what procedure we were going to do. He suggested bypass. I told him absolutely not an option and that I wanted DS he said he would be happy to try for DS, but because I had my gall bladder out almost 20 years ago there might be scar tissue that would prevent him from doing the DS. I told him if he got in there and could not do the DS I did not want just a sleeve as a back up. I know too many people who have regained and I would be devastated of I regained. I have lost and regained my whole life and hate the disappointment from well meaning friends and family who say you were doing so good what happened? I want to lash out and say I ate 1 carbohydrate and gained 5lbs. Lol. He thought rejecting the sleeve was a bad idea, but would repair the hiatal hernia I had and that would be all. I could tell he was not happy with this decision. Up to surgery time I was able to lose 44lbs on my own with shakes and low carb food choices. March 23, 2021 I had my surgery. A large hiatal hernia repair and DS. My doctor was not happy because I specifically stated I only wanted DS and I conveyed it in pre surgery to the surgical nurse and anesthesiologists so there was no miss understanding. I got the surgery I wanted.
- Post-Op:- I am 12 days past surgery and recovering okay. I still can't sleep on bed very well, but it is getting better. My fasting blood sugar is 98 and BP is 120/65. I haven't taken any meds since tyre Thursday before surgery. Everything checked out fine at my post op apt and the Dr. Wants to see me back at the 3 month mark.
- Im a DSer now what?:- So I know all the rules and expectations long term, but need some help getting there. So far I have been able to get my 64oz of water in most days, but now that I'm adding food it is a bit harder. Has anyone else experienced hiatal hernia surgery with the DS? I would love to hear your experience. This surgery has made it way harder to comply with the DS stuff. Swallowing is difficult and you feel like anything you swallow swells as it goes down no matter how small of a sip or bite it is. My Dr. Had me on full liquids until my post op apt. Which was day 8. I tried one SF popsicle but didn't like it had a couple SF Jello's , but meh not impressed and tried broth, but it tasted awful to me. I tried bullion and it was better. I had not realized my husband made me Swanson cooking broth. Yuck! So basically my first week was sipping water and getting rid of gas bubbles. I don't understand why they want me eating SF stuff with artificial sweeteners anyway. Which brings me to a question why do dieticians push the artificial sweeteners? Especially since the sugar alcohols react so badly with us. I am in the process of adding foods and am doing okay I think. So far nothing had made me sick. I am up to soft foods. I kind of blew through the pureed stuff because it was stuff we should not have like the dietician sheet listed mashed potatoes. Really? So my questions are.... As long as I am not getting sick from food. And chewing very thoroughly is it okay to be eating scrambled eggs with some veggies, roast beef and cheese meat roll, and hamburger cooked with cheese? I don't want to push eating real food, but want to get my diet up to speed. Next question is how long should I give myself to be getting in my protein daily? Obviously I am not going to be able to eat enough right now, but what should I set as a goal to be up to full protein daily?
- Vitamins:- I started taking vitamins after my post op apt. I am starting with the bariatric advantage chewable multi vitamins for now. I have read allot on this site about the vitamins. Are the bariatric advantage ones not used because of cost or effectiveness? I want to wait to add pill forms of vitamins until I am fully healed and on a full diet. So get my food on point then go back and tweak vitamins later. Just do the chewable ones in the interim. What do you think about this strategy?
- :- I am still mostly having Diarrhea
- , but I just started eating more solid foods so I am sure that will work out. I have even had a few finger shaped turds. Yeah me. none of the Diarrhea is unmanageable or violent so it's fine. So for the question..... I knew about the bad smell and yes it is bad, but does it get worse or better once you get everything running and eating full solid meals? Can't imagine it getting worse.
