Remingtonh
Well-Known Member
Hi all, it's been a while - about 4 1/2 months since my duodenal switch surgery so I though I'd update on my progress and experiences so far.
I decided enough is enough in January 2018, when I stepped on the scale and it read 305 pounds. Prior to surgery I got down to the 250s, and now I'm at 196, having dropped under 200 pounds last week! I am official no longer "obese" and just "overweight" at about 29 BMI. I'm looking forward to getting down to about 175 or so, which is a good weight for me. 165 would be even better and is probably my "goal" weight to provide a cushion in case of some bounce-back.
Dr. Sashidhar Ganta did a fine job. I have had no complications, the after-surgery support from his office has been very good, and the staff is excellent and responsive. I feel that he's a skilled surgeon and I'm happy to have selected him here in the Austin TX area. I have no regrets.
As has been discussed here before, Dr. Ganta had concerns, based on past experience, of difficulty getting insurance companies to pay claims for procedures using generic billing codes, like the laporascopic DS. I had to put a deposit of $5,000 down to have this procedure. This has been a controversial topic in the forum in the past. I'm happy to report that my insurance company, United Healthcare, paid the claim quickly, and I was refunded quickly by Dr. Ganta's office, "Austin Institute of Bariatrics and Laparoscopy." Thank goodness.
I haven't had my first labs since the surgery, but I'll probably have that done within the next few weeks. I'm currently taking 50,000 IUs of D3, B12 x2, 2-3 multivitamins, an ADEK bariatric combo, 2-3 calcium chewables, iron, Omniprazole, each day.
I'm not hungry and have plenty of restriction (more than I expected to be honest). Though food can smell good, and I miss the taste of some foods, If I didn't *have* to eat, I'd rather not honestly. I don't really have satisfaction if I eat, and I have to eat carefully and deliberately, as it's a fine line between eating "enough" and eating too much and feeling bad. That fine line is about one or two bites. Eating is a chore now, and that's fine with me. I have to use protein shakes to hit my protein goals.
I feel an order of magnitude better. It's remarkable how quickly and effortlessly I can move, I'm sleeping better, I have more energy, I'm in a better mood overall, and I'm just actually enjoying life. I'm wearing new bright or light colored clothes (I only ever wore black) and I can see I get more attention and glanc
I decided enough is enough in January 2018, when I stepped on the scale and it read 305 pounds. Prior to surgery I got down to the 250s, and now I'm at 196, having dropped under 200 pounds last week! I am official no longer "obese" and just "overweight" at about 29 BMI. I'm looking forward to getting down to about 175 or so, which is a good weight for me. 165 would be even better and is probably my "goal" weight to provide a cushion in case of some bounce-back.
Dr. Sashidhar Ganta did a fine job. I have had no complications, the after-surgery support from his office has been very good, and the staff is excellent and responsive. I feel that he's a skilled surgeon and I'm happy to have selected him here in the Austin TX area. I have no regrets.
As has been discussed here before, Dr. Ganta had concerns, based on past experience, of difficulty getting insurance companies to pay claims for procedures using generic billing codes, like the laporascopic DS. I had to put a deposit of $5,000 down to have this procedure. This has been a controversial topic in the forum in the past. I'm happy to report that my insurance company, United Healthcare, paid the claim quickly, and I was refunded quickly by Dr. Ganta's office, "Austin Institute of Bariatrics and Laparoscopy." Thank goodness.
I haven't had my first labs since the surgery, but I'll probably have that done within the next few weeks. I'm currently taking 50,000 IUs of D3, B12 x2, 2-3 multivitamins, an ADEK bariatric combo, 2-3 calcium chewables, iron, Omniprazole, each day.
I'm not hungry and have plenty of restriction (more than I expected to be honest). Though food can smell good, and I miss the taste of some foods, If I didn't *have* to eat, I'd rather not honestly. I don't really have satisfaction if I eat, and I have to eat carefully and deliberately, as it's a fine line between eating "enough" and eating too much and feeling bad. That fine line is about one or two bites. Eating is a chore now, and that's fine with me. I have to use protein shakes to hit my protein goals.
I feel an order of magnitude better. It's remarkable how quickly and effortlessly I can move, I'm sleeping better, I have more energy, I'm in a better mood overall, and I'm just actually enjoying life. I'm wearing new bright or light colored clothes (I only ever wore black) and I can see I get more attention and glanc