Looking to connect with long-time DSers

Hello, I had a VG 3-1/2 years ago, and I'm sorry to say it's only been party successful for me. I started out at 355, got down to 242, and slowly crept back up to 275. The good news is that I'm 80 pounds healthier than I was, but certainly I am nowhere near my goal of 185, and it doesn't look like I'll get there without help. I have drastically changed my eating habits and exercise frequently, but still my body wants to hang on to the extra weight. Not acceptable, so I am now reconsidering the option to have the second half of what I was originally advised by Dr. Cirangle to have - the DS. I had decided I did NOT want it for a number of reasons - I have long, long had very cranky plumbing, and was (am) loathe to do anything that could possibly make it worse. I have a family history of it - both my grandmother and mother also had problems. I envision a lifetime of even worse problems if I mess with it so drastically. Also, both my mother and grandmother were overweight, but when both of them hit around 72- 75, they suddenly lost all of their weight - we guessed taste bud changes, but don't really know. What happens if I hit 75 and no longer have a taste for eating - do I have possibly fatal problems with nutrition? My mother at 81 is having problems with nutrition, and she still has her entire colon. If a good part of it were missing she'd have starved to death by now. Plus, frankly, I went to a support meeting while I was getting ready for the first surgery and sat next to a gal who'd had a DS 6 months prior, and, well, it wasn't pleasant. God love her, but the odor was just unbelievable, and not something I'm willing to volunteer for if it's something that's lasting. Temporary - fine. Permanent - not a chance. So I have questions to those who had a DS years ago. I know the first year is rough - and I'm perfectly okay with that. But how does your body adapt after 2 years? 4? Does the plumbing settle down into a reasonable daily routine? Do you still have that urgent gonownownow! every day, or did your body get to a point where you were regular without the drama? Because I have some drama *now*, I shudder to think how much worse it could get. Does the gas/odor settle down after your body adapts? I listened to one conversation years ago where the participants were comparing their pocket air fresheners like some people compare chocolate. Is that a lifetime thing, or just a first year thing? Nutrition - I went through a whole lot of different supplements before I finally settled on what are basically candies - the soft chewables are the only thing my stomach can handle now, as pills can cause acid stomach and I have yet to find a liquid that doesn't make me gag after a few days. As it is, they are a caloric extra I could do without, but what happens if I have to double them due to the DS? Way more carbs that I'm happy with now, but don't you need so much more after the removal of so much intestine? And am I looking at a real problem in my elder years when I no longer have such a taste for food? Thanks in advance for your time and information. I am determined to get to a healthy weight, but the side effects seem very daunting. Erica

Hi Erica, When you have some time you should come over the the DS forum!  For me personally and I am only 4 months out, but I had horrible bowel problems before surgery.  I was the type that could barely eat at a restaurant and make it home in time, I pooped more than any normal person should. I had to go 3 years without a job and finally started my own home business. Now with the DS, everything has changed.  I go usually 2 times in the morning.  Now this first BM is gonownownow type, but after my first two BM's I don't go again.  Sometimes I will go again at night if I feel like it, but honestly its usually just go get away from the kids/dogs/house and get some alone time (shhh don't tell them). I don't know what to say about when you get older.  I have talked to my dad about these types of things and he says well, what if there is a natural disaster, or some other thing and you can't get your vits, protein ect.  You can't live your life based on some tragic thing that might happen.  Now yours is a bit different because it seems like it has happened a few times in your family. About the smelly person, was it her body odor or was she passing gas that made her smell?  I don't know anyone who actually smells from the DS, but I do know that farts can stink, although I take probiotics that make it so much better! Well like I said, come on over to the DS board, I am not sure how many people visit this board. HUGS!

Erica,

I will try to answer some of your questions.  I am almost two years out from the DS.  My daughter is almost three years out.

First of all, the long-term nutrition question.  Since no part of your intestine is removed (just re-routed), it can be put back if you have a problem down the road like your mother and grandmother.  You have already had the part of the surgery that is not reversible.

Body odor - Not a problem.  Believe me, my family would tell me if it was.

Gas - I can have gas issues if I eat a lot of simple carbs.  Also, some sugar substitutes will give me more gas.  You can alleviate the problem by watching the foods you eat or by taking flagyll.  Early on, I took low doses of flagyll.

BMs - I have mine in the morning before work.  It takes about two trips to the bathroom to finish the job.  Sometimes I have one in the afternoon.  If I eat a lot of grease, I can have more.  I do not have the (I have to go NOW) issue.  As in gas, the BM issue can be controlled by your food choices.

Vitamins - a number of people take chewables.  Another choice would be to crush the pills and put them in applesauce.

Good luck in your research.  I believe you would do well in losing the rest of your weight by having the DS.

Caroline

Hi Erica, Many of us need more than basic restrictions in order to lose our weight.  I knew from my history of diet frustrations that I needed to change my metabolism to actually lose anything, because eating very little did me no good at all.  For some people, restriction is enough -- the rest of us....notsomuch. I'm in the final stretch of my third year post-DS.  I am a very regular morning pooper, and that's usually it for the day, so YES things settle down and get very predictable.  I've had the pleasure of meeting several DSers along my travels, and have met nobody with any odor to speak of.  (Was the gal you were sitting next to passing gas or what? ).  Now, if we eat much simple carbs, then, YES, the gas can be noxious and the poo the next morning, too.....even with Flagyl.   If we keep them to a minimum, no problemo -- no gas!

  < nominating "Val the Grocery Gal" to be the editor of a new DS advice newsletter - The Morning Pooper   >

  What Val said!

I don't know where you live, but I'm guessing you might be somewhere in the SF Bay area if you are using Cirangle. Why don't you attend some more DS meetings and get a bigger and better picture of what life is like post-DS.  The PacLap-sponsored San Jose DS meeting is next Wednesday across from the Rosicrucian museum in the Rose Garden area.  I am co-run that meeting and there are a number of several years out DSers *****gularly attend (I will be 5 years out in less than 4 weeks). I had diarrhea-predominant IBS prior to my DS and I would have done the DS SOLELY for the improvement in my IBS, if that had been possible.  Things are SO much better now. As for someone being stinky, we DSers have LOTS of ways to control that, the primary way is by not eating stuff that causes gas when you are going to be away from home.  I'm guessing the person you sat next to was having difficulties in self-control, or might have been struggling with a bacterial overgrowth problem that was not yet resolved. By the way, I personally believe it is unconscionable to recommend a stand-alone VSG to someone with a BMI over 45.  Just my (non-MD) opinion -- but I'm seeing that more and more out of LapSF patients.

Yes, come join us at the meeting in San Jose next week if you can. It's a small, friendly group,and people will answer any questions honestly. If you can't make it to that meeting, check the Pacific Laparoscopy website at paclap.com to find the full schedule of all the support group meetings. There is probably one near where you live.     I had the DS about 2 and 1/2 years ago. Like so many others, I go every am, often 2 or even 3 times, and usually that's it for the day. If I eat too many of the wrong carbs, farts can smell. I know what foods to avoid when I'm going to be around other people. Probiotics and/or flagyl can also be very helpful with this. There are some people who have problems with chronic diarrhea, but most of us don't.     I don't think anyone can predict what will happen when you reach old age, except that if you remain MO you may not get there to find out, or if you do get there the quality of your life will be very poor. MO is a crippling, debilitating disease. But one of the good things about the DS is that the "switch" part can be revised or even completely reversed if needed. The sleeve, or course, is permanent, but you've already done that part. And there is no surgery on your colon, just the small intestine.      Come on over to the DS board and learn more not just about the surgery itself, but about what life is like with the DS. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. And please come to the meeting if you possibly can. Larra

The only 'odor' I had was while I was heavily in ketosis and really dropping the pounds fast. Granted, my poo smells a bit worse than it did pre-op, but since I go potty ALONE that's not really an issue. (*grin*) I don't fart in public, either, and at home---wwell, the dogs don't care!

I have also had a pretty regular daily routine re bowel habits since about 4 weeks out, and there was NEVER and "drama"---no real urgency, no "accidents", and the only real diarrhea I've had has been while sick with food poisoning.

Many people report having had dramatic IMPROVEMENT in their IBS after the DS. I didn't have any issues before, nor since.

The colon is NOT involved in the DS---only the small intestine. And none of it is removed---it's just re-routed, and that CAN be reversed should you ever need to. Also, some people take pancreatic enzymes to enhance absorption, if they need to. Oh, and I'll be five years post-op come December.

Erica, I am almost 6 years out from my DS...and I do not have the issues you are describing.  Can I have a rank poo or gas now and then?  Sure...but then again so can EVERYONE!  It depends on what you eat.  You know what bothers you...you do not over do it...simple as that! And I will give you the same adivce my surgeon gave me..."Do you know anyone whose sh*t smells GOOD?"  LOL I've sat next to some RNYers who stank to the holy heavens...and some none WLS people who smelled even worse and DSers who did not 'stink' at all...it is an individual thing.  I think you have listened WAY too much to the propaganda non DSers spout...and frankly you've bought it hook line and 'stinker'! As for the stomach acid issue...perhaps you need to see a gastroenterologist?  Are you taking Prevacid or Nexium?  You might need them. Come on over to the DS forum...I think you could learn alot and will be pleasantly surprised!