Recent Posts
on 3/2/23 7:55 pm
I will say that after 3.5 months on a very low fat diet, I did have all the things you mentioned. My skin and hair were dry, dry, dry. I was taking Miralax every day and had several malabsorptive issues with my fat soluble vitamins. So, I get it. Moderate fat had been working better for everything until my gallbladder went. My vitamin numbers were largely back in range. It did make a difference.
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
Thanks so much for your reply! I had two connections done since I had a traditional DS and not a SADI. The only thing that differs is the length of my common channel--it's 200 cm as opposed to the 100-150 that most traditional DSs are. My doc does a standard CC for all his patients and they get great results with that.
I figured that my fat intake should be somewhat moderate but not so low that I can't have normal bowel movements or end up with dry skin and brittle hair. I also want to be able to absorb the ADEK vites since those are the fat solubles. I guess when I see my doc and dietician next week I can ask them what that looks like. I figured my protein intake would be anywhere from 100-120 grams a day once I'm able to work up to that. Because of the spasming in my GI tract right now, getting 60 is a challenge.
I appreciate you sharing your experience so far--at this stage, information from folks who have walked the walk is helpful! Thanks again.
on 3/1/23 8:25 pm
Hello,
Congratulations on your revision. I hope your recovery is smooth!
A caveat - I'm still in my losing phase and haven't hit maintenance yet, so my experience is in progress and I'm still learning what works for me.
Per your first point, I don't think this happened for me. I remember my intestines reactivating the evening I had surgery and had some rumbling. I do have contracting and bowel issues depending on my diet, speed I eat, etc. I occasionally have what feels like tightness in my sleeve, especially when I eat too fast. Nothing I'd describe as spasms, though. Did you have one connection done, or two? That could make a difference. And GI tract is everything...is it everything spasming? Sounds like your doctors are aware if you have a prescription, so that's good!
For your second question, my clinic says 80-100 grams of protein per day. My common channel is 300 cm and I've always had borderline protein numbers. I'm on the edge of low now consuming 90g per day but I was also low before surgery. My clinic didn't give macros for fat outside of less than 3g per serving except for beef (up to 10). They are believers in low fat to prevent bowel issues from malabsorption. I personally aim for moderate fats to boost vitamin absorption but am on low fat since I just had my gallbladder out. Carbs especially are the big variable and it's how I'm told I'll control my weight once I hit maintenance. We got lists of non-starchy carbs to work towards in soft foods for vegetable intake (2 weeks to 3 months). At six months, purely due to how I've been losing, my clinic reintroduced 15g of starchy carbs per meal from a list. Basically, it's super low, non-starchy carbs until you get close to maintenance for my clinic. Amounts were by volume/weight so you don't overeat. I also don't have calorie goals at the moment.
All of that rambling to say, your needs and experiences may differ but it can help to have some data points. Protein is the main focus, for sure. That has literall been the first and primaryvmacro focus. I've also learned that everyone's plans from their clinics can be highly variable, so hopefully yours provided some guiderails!
Best of luck to you!
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
Hello everyone,
I am just shy of a week out of DS surgery--I had my surgery done last Thursday, and went home Friday afternoon. I had a sleeve in 2013, but could not maintain the loss I had and knew I needed to do something to ensure that I could. I also wanted resolution of my diabetes, which seems to be well on its way to happening! My sleeve was also reshaped as it was cut as an hourglass in my original surgery, so my surgeon shaped it to be more banana-like. This will give me more restriction, thankfully so I am hopeful that I can hit my goal weight of 170 pounds.
I have a couple of questions for the crowd:
- The spasms in my GI tract are vicious...when do they stop? I don't remember this happening with my sleeve but of course that was 10 years ago. I was prescribed Robaxin for these and take it when needed.
- I am wondering what my protein, fat and carb goals should be. My CC was constructed to be 200 cm long so shorter than a SADI but longer than a Hess DS. Right now since I am still on full liquids I am concentrating on hydration and protein.
Thanks in advance for your insight and advice. I hope that I can learn a lot from the group's expertise here.
Hi Tanya, I had the sleeve in 2008 and lost 180 lbs regained 110 lbs, had DS in 2017 and lost 80 of the 110 regain. I would do the DS all over again. I make sure I take all of my vitamins EVERY day. That is absolutely a must! I eat at least 90 grams of protein and 90 grams of fat everyday. I do need iron infusions every 2 or 3 years. My labs are good and I feel good. I'd be happy to share any info you would like. Good luck! You will do great!
Dang, I am feeling your pain, in those words! Hang in there, frustration, body shock, I read another blog similar your weeks stretch, hers plummeted all at one! Hopefully today!
Since my home weigh in, was the same as the hospital weigh in, Monday, surgery day, I have now dropped -5 lbs. Not including my weight gain, after surgery (water) weight gain, out of the hospital, but from pre-weight. I need to remind myself not to get into weighing myself to much. I like most, are to mood/food driven, by the scale.
And dang I'm hungry! I'm sick of jello, don't like broth, have my 1 shake a day, crushed/blended into, a pretty yummy slushy drink per day, it just doesn't stick with me. IVE always been a water, and coffee drinker, and still am, but after my original (RNY), my hunger stayed away, for some time, this being intestine only, I could rip the frig racks out! But doing as told, and don't want to chance ripping anything out!!!!!
Keep us posted, hoping for a big drop. You drinking enough water?
Patty MN original RNY 2003 NEW (Distalization Surgery) Similar (DS) February 20, 2023
It can take about three years for our body to completely adjust. Part of that adjustment is that your face and body fills in and you no longer look too skinny. It is normal to have bounceback regain or 20 or so pounds in the second year after surgery. My surgeon recommends going 10, 20 or even 30 pounds under weight during the honeymoon phase when weight loss is easy. That gives a nice cushion for the bounceback phase that is coming.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
on 2/24/23 7:56 pm
Dropping an update in here in case it helps someone down the line. I did have my gallbladder removed laparoscopically on February 10th. My two week follow up was Wednesday.
The PA introduced herself by saying she was the person who was holding my gallbladder during surgery. Good times. She also said there were signs of chronic inflammation, so in their opinion surgery was the right choice. Even though it didn't show on the ultrasound, I did have a lot of stones in addition to the sludge. Nothing weird on pathology and they were cholesterol stones.
Since I'm over seven months out from my initial SADI, they checked everything while they were in the area. No adhesions and everything looks good. It was nice to get the bonus review.
I do now have a diagonal dent in my stomach running from the big incision where the removal was to the next lowest incision. Apparently it's from the deep sutures they place and it may or may not stay with me when they dissolve. She said if they had seen it like that, they would have fixed it. Hard to know at the time.
So yeah...if your body tells you something is out of the ordinary, listen to it! I got lucky to have reacted to it early but it was inflamed by the time it was removed. Take care, everyone!
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
on 2/24/23 6:23 pm
Just want to say congrats on your surgery! From what I've read here (and experienced) it's super common to gain from the surgery from all the fluids. It's good to ignore the scale for a bit if you can!
You're on your way!
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
on 2/24/23 6:20 pm
Yep, they absolutely do! My surgery wasn't a revision but it took me five days to start losing and my first stall was at just over two weeks. Now I'm stalling for an average of three weeks a month, followed by bursts of losing. Our bodies do weird things to adapt. Congrats on your revision. Stay the course, follow the plan...the loss will come!
HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4
Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5
