New and know I want DS, but I have so many questions...

Well where do I start... My name is heather, I'm 24, Im in wasilla Alaska and I've gone to dr todds office to do the orientation, nutritionist appointment, met dr Todd, and have been to two support groups, but I'm finding I have a hard time relating to the other overweight people. I'm 5'8 and I started off weighing at 503 so I'm really much bigger than most of them, and I was much more vocal and open about my weight and issues than the other 'lightweights'. I almost felt ostracized. For my size I don't have any co morbidities other than possible sleep apnea. I don't have much support in all this other than my brother, bf and a few select friends and of course my therapist and doctors. I'm having to be strong for myself, which is hard because I'm also mentally ill, though well treated. I was told I had to lose 30 to 50 lbs and Ive already lost close to 30 in just a couple weeks being on a very high protein diet and swimming three times a week. I desperately want this surgery. I NEED this surgery. But my bf lost his job just before thanksgiving and I'm afraid I won't be able to afford the protein supplements and vitamins that are a way of life with this surgery, and I am well aware of this because both my parents had gastric bypass and I watched my father die because he didn't take care of himself properly, and my mother lost almost all her hair. I don't want this to happen to me. I'm terrified it will. I'm afraid to eat because I know I have to drop weight pre surgery, and the supplements are so expensive... I just don't know what to do. I'm doing everything I can to keep on track. I'm budgeting every penny to be able to afford vitamins and my diet foods as it is now to get in the swing of things so it's not a shock to my system when I finally reach the goal of actually having the surgery... I'm obsessing. If there's any helpful advice or words of comfort I desperately need it... And I need an angel, preferably one who is ok with an open loudmouthed whiner lol. Thanks for reading. God bless.

Wishing you and your BF all the best with this decision and along your journey. You're right, maintaining a healthy DS can be quite expensive. It's really helpful if the whole household can go low carb with you and supports you. Sounds like you have most of this under control. You might want to reach out to Jessy, http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jessyw/ She has had her DS but is facing similar issues you're talking. Jess is in AK too.

--gina

 

Hi and welcome!

 

Is Dr. Todd doing the DS now? It would be great for people in Alaska to have a "local" DS resource.

Regarding costs, yes,l there are definitely some must haves with the DS or any other wls, esp the vitamins and mineral supplements. However, not everyone relies on or uses protein drinks much. For example, I drank one Adkins shake daily for part of my wieght loss phase at my surgeon's insistence, never more than that, and rarely use them now. I rely on high protein foods for my protein, and yes, they cost more than other foods, but I spend less on junk food, so hopefully that compensates, at least somewhat. And I also purchase some vitamins at CostCo, or on sale, etc. The fat soluble vitamins, that we need in the dry form, yes, you will spend extra to buy them from Vitalady, but you can spend less in other areas.

Anyway, I think you have made a great decision to have the DS.

Larra

Gina, Ty for the advice and supportive words, it really helped. I'll try and talk to Jess and see what her experience was. :) Larra, I believe he is, though he might be doing it as a two part surgery because it's just more difficult to work on larger patients. They snt me the 'Emmy' study videos for it so I assume he does. I'm still trying to get everything in order. It's quite a process to get everything lined up to get ready and to be approved, and the appointment was so short with him I felt kind of rushed. But he is a very busy man who is in high demand so I just have to be better prepared next time I get to talk with him. :)

Congrats I am so happy for you.......................... I have connected with a couple of new folks in the last week and I responded to someone and thought you might benefit from my reply as it might include things you would not think to ask. If however it is not helpful no harm done just dismiss I would rather you be prepared then not.

I have not had many problems so I am not sure I am the right one to ask because for the most part I have had a cake walk. Honestly the first 6 months my stomach was the most sensitive but nexium twice a day took care of that.

It was an adjustment to get use to not eating carbs as it seemed like post ds when ever I was thinking of go to food it would end up being a carb so I had to rewire my brain sort of speak.

On a couple of occasions early on I had some abd cramping not sure if my inside were simply getting use to it self. I did lay on the sofa for a few minutes and it passed. I was lucky my first 6 months following this procedure I worked from home.

I had a problem making it to the bathroom twice post op but I have changed my diet and now I am very regular and it certainly is no longer diarrhea. The simple change was heavy cream in place of milk in my shakes.

The only other problem I can think of was early on I had a hard time swallowing the iron pill as it had such an awful smell but someone told me about another kind which I get on amazon and that took care of that.

Oh I forgot early on if I ate to much I would vomit but it was nothing violent but now I have gotten to know when to cut myself off.

Almost omitted the fact I did have hair loss during the 3 - 6 month period but I had a lot of hair to begin with and now I have a normal amount of hair and it is a lot faster to blow dry for work.

The only other down side is the number of vits we must take daily but that is what we each signed up for, I knew if I had the DS I would no longer be heavy but I also would not absorb my vits as I use to since I like the idea of sight and bones and teeth and skin I take the vit rather then running into problems. I did not however take the vits until I was 90 days out.

Cost obviously the vit, shakes and labs but I spent far more money when I was heavy on food and clothing as I was never happy with what I was wearing and the cost of one gimmick after another including the lap band to lose wt.

Now the positives I feel good in my own skin even if it dry at this moment but I am working on it. I no longer feel like I am the person who sticks out in a room. My back feels much better without the extra wt, I actually exercise now and enjoy it. I am able to keep up with my 11 year without any problems. I personally feel attractive once again. Yes I am aging but I feel I am aging gracefully which would of happened with or without the ds except without it I did not feel very graceful.

So at this point and I am early on I do not feel like I traded one set of problems for new.

Hope this helps

Donna