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Hello I read that you stated that a general surgeon can have some issues in removing a gallbladder if they don't know the DS anatomy.? That kinda scares me because I have a DS done in 2012 and had my gallbladder out by emergency visit 2 years ago. And a year later I had an intestinal blockage near the left side where the gallbladder was removed. My blockage I was told was 5cm. Stayed in the hospital for 7 days with a NG tube to suction out the blockage out. It was painful with a tube down your nose and down the throat . Now I think about what you said about a general surgeon going in our anatomy and messing with it. Could of been related to what happened to me a year later due to the gallbladder removed.
so far after that experience I have lost an extra 10 pounds and now considered under weight which worries me now. My family thinks something is going wrong with me. I now most likely am going to get my surgery report and see what went on with my gallbladder removal from the general surgeon. Thank you for posting that about a general surgeon issue. It never dawned on me about that there not familiar with a DS.
Yes, I told this specialist last week and she mentioned my Estrogen is probably down, but make sure you clean Your system out...that helps too!
Im testing bow, but usually after my cycle it balnce things out.
SW / CW / GW 292 / 188 / 174 - Height 5'7, Size 10
Hey!
I'm curious if anything worked for you? I'm 3 years post op, having the same issue along with really bad stomach pain relieved by passing gas/ stool. I've tried xifaxin, metronidazole and probiotics. None of which worked. Had an endoscopy and colonoscopy to rule out any other issues. I even did surgery to remove my gallbladder because my GI thought it was causing my symptoms. No change. I feel like I'm losing my mind. Im scared to eat anything on days that I have to work. On days I'm home, like the weekends I tend to overeat to try and compensate for my starving body. So basically a starve binge cycle of me trying to avoid symptoms when I'm not home. I am honestly at my whits end. I can not eat anything without gas and bloating, especially not carbs, or fiber.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
on 2/4/23 7:57 am
Good morning!
I'm providing a bit of an update for any of the folks *****ad these boards.
Since surgery my biggest vitamin deficiency has been K. I had no baseline pre-surgery. As listed here, my first test came back at 55. I started eating more greens and got some dry K supplements (K1 and K2) that were started the first week of October, even though my dietician says you can't supplement K. My numbers in October tested in the 60's.
I bumped up my K supplements to double each day, plus a lot of seaweed and greens. My six month follow up was a couple weeks ago and my K level is now at the bottom of the normal range at 167 out of a range of 130-1,500. I'm going to keep taking at least double dosage until my one year follow up.
The easy bruising and sensitivity/pain have not changed. My clinic has now referred me to my PCP about it since my vitamin levels are within range. The last blood draw included coagulation testing, which also came back normal.
Make sure you take your supplements!
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 Tanya,
I've received your msg, later my post, I think I added you as a friend, I've looked on this site a lot through the years, however not very active, thus trying to figure this out, like FaceBook,. Lol
OMG, lady, as they say it, your a "Glutton For Punishment", hope your knee, Isn't a full replacement!
Yes, I definitely want to keep up on our developing progress, even though a different procedure, very similar in nature. I looked over all the image's, read each procedure, over, and over, and had a really hard time, through verbiage, of how, and where, the changes are made, in the small Intestines. I've never been very good, with the whole anatomy thing, the (inside parts), is parts. Lol
Good thing, I changed my direction of what careers I was to enter, decades ago, Dr. Surgeon, or Administrative Office, haha
Take care, my procedure "DISTALIZATION ", Like your Duodenal Switch, (twin surgury) is fast approaching, the 20th is just around the corner, I guess maybe age, is why as you wrote your more anxious, and scared this time around, I am as well, I blame mine on age, and all the surgeries I've had, in all, came through the anesthesia good, I am more fearful now, and with my B.P., higher now, 20 yrs after my RNY, the though of blood clots, etc., come more to mind now, then ever!
Blessings, Patty
Hello, Tanya, I am a 20 yrs Post Open RNY, 2003, I was not offered or if they used Robotic then, so the huge incision, and recovery, and lost around 75 of 100 goal. But it worked, and had a 10 lb up and down of goal for 20 years. (Sorry for typos, I don't see spell check?)
So, my recent couple yrs weight regain, big gain, have tried diet, and low exercise just hadn't moved my extra lbs., (the WHY BELOW), After a yr of really trying, nothing is happening, so just revisted my former wght loss clinic, tests, papers, appointments, phyc eval almost 6 months later, just got approved, and my SURGERY DATE February 20th, for a "DISTALIZATION", NOT D.S., I was surprised, what is the difference, GOOGLE, and this blog, searching, reading, etc. It looks so close to a D. Switch , and they will take the small intestine by my Y, down from my pouch, and pass by around 3/4 my small intestine, into the last portion, just prior my bowel. The obsorption of calories, and of course for me, (even less vitamins, and minerals!!) My bypass, unlike your sleeve, I already have my small jntestine routed shorter, but not near what your D.S., or my Distalization will, I have already had on, and off through the years, low labs, and deficient in multiple areas. Mostly due me, and not filling vitamin/med organizers weekly, having them ready.
I'm excited to follow you, and see how your surgery goes, and your results, I was told by my surgeon, around 60% weight loss of extra, is average. I've read that as well.
So, it's coming fast now, I start my 2 week diet, protein drinks, 3x day! That's it, and being lapriscopic, and mainly dealing with lower than liver, not as critical I loose x number of lbs, as a 1st time sleeve, or RNY, would be. I also have much scar tissue from my RNY, and a 4 level lumbar fusion, done through my lower abdominal area, and had a big attack of bowel obstruction in 2007, 5 yrs after, it hit out if the blue, and serious when I say, a six of coffee mid mug, pain hit full throttle, a sip of water set the pain into, a 10 plus, grind my teeth pain! After 1 day, tests, scans, multiple ER Docs, found scar tissue, and kink, causing full blockage. I had to agree to another full open abdominal surgery, exploratoryL ugh! To say I'm not a bit nervous, I would be lying. If I want to walk again,play with future grandbabies, I need help! (Say a prayer for me.)
My Pre story, as why extra weight gain, after 20 yrs RNY
Now in last few years due to many surgeries, Spinal, cervical and lumbar, then bad highway passenger crash, 2017 put me down, and unable to exercise much at all.. dieting,, and fighting to be able walk again, without a (shopping cart, as a walker) or short distance, just turned 62, and damn, I've lost too much time, I can't get back! I need, pray, strive to lose the 50-75 lbs, that hinder me, and tire me out, And live again!!
Blessings,
Patty
on 1/25/23 2:04 pm
Just in case it might help someone to read this, I asked my surgeon why Ursodiol wasn't on my list of prescriptions six months ago. He mentioned some mixed reviews on it and said that he's seen it cause some issues where it makes the gallbladder empty when there is sludge or small stones that can then cause additional issues. I'm not convinced but it was ultimately his choice.
He definitely wouldn't give it to me now for that same reason. Surgery scheduled February 10th for removal to prevent complications. He thinks I have a very high pain tolerance for not opting to have it out tomorrow. Go figure.
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
I haven't had a revision, (or as some would call it, a "completion", as you're just taking your sleeve and completing the DS...) though that's something that's always on the table if needed - that "Plan B" is something I discussed with the surgeon going into the VSG, and Dr. Keshishian has discussed it a few times in our support group over the years. My wife has lived with her virgin DS for almost 17 years now, so that has been part of our life for quite a while.
So, not quite your situation, but there is a lot of DS knowledge on this forum, so ask away!
1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)
Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin
