Lets discuss the duodenal Switch!

ok, I'll bite.

I had a remarkably easy surgery and recovery, as do many of Dr. Smith's patients.  I don't have any trouble with gas or diarrhea unless I way overindulge in carbs.    In fact, I do still fight eating too many carbs, because they affect me so little (and taste so good).

Still, in 14 months I've gone from this (about 300 lbs):




to this, about 175 lbs:






pp

Jessy, you're looking great.  My DS has been very uneventful thankfully.  I had laparoscopic DS on 12/16/09 by Dr. Stewart in Denton, TX.  I was a severe type 2 diabetic on 9 prescription pills and insulin.  I also had morbid obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea.  My endocrinologist told me that at age 40 with all of these problems and a glucose in the 600's frequently that I would be dead in 5 years if I didn't do something drastic.  My diabetes was gone within a month of my surgery.  I have not taken a prescription pill since.  I am healthier now than ever, running up to 4 miles per day, and contemplating a "major" career change as a direct result of my DS.  I could ramble on, but will let my 8-month comparison photo speak for itself:



From 342 lbs to 185 lbs in 8 months and loving life.  I love my DS!

 Hi Jessy!  You're such a positive person, I smile just seeing your avi.  And then, I read your posts and smile some more because of the maturity and courage you have at such a young age.  I was probably still sucking my thumb in a corner when I was 17!

How has the DS changed my life?  Nine months ago tomorrow, I was 253 pounds. I'm 5' 3", and that was not my highest-that was 293 pounds in 1997.  I had lost 135 pounds on my own back then, developed some serious disordered eating (or not eating) behaviors and exercised every day till I almost passed out.  But alas, that couldn't continue indefinitely, so I regained 100 pounds after 7 years.  When I was down around 160, I had an extended anchor cut tummy tuck. Pretty aggressive and forward thinking for 1999.  But here I was, 42 years old, 253 pounds and so immobile due to dyspnea that everyday activities would leave me breathless.  I had high blood pressure, and a road map for an early date with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  

Since my DS, I've lost 110 pounds.  I've gone from a size 24 to a size 8 (!).  Me?  An 8?  I've been obese since I was a child.  I've never had a normal BMI.  And all that was hard to swallow.  It took me a long time to get the nerve up to buy the 8's, and now they're loose.  you know what that means?  ACK!

So anyway, I'm 5 pounds from goal, 2 pounds from a normal BMI.  But more importantly, I can live without adjusting my life and choices because of my obesity.  I can move, and walk up the stairs.  The escalator was broken today at the train station, and I easily walked up the stairs.  But as i did, i wondered what I would have done pre-op.  I would have walked a long way out of my way to find an elevator.  There was no other choice.   i can clean the damn house without stopping every 5 minutes!  i can go out with my 21 year old daughter and we can shop til SHE drops!  And we can share clothes.

For some perspective, here are my "Oh my GOD, these are size 8's!" pics.





Love love love my DS! It has saved my life!  Even if I was alive, I wasn't living.

What an awesome thread, Jessy! Thanks for starting it. It amazes me how few people out there have ever heard of the DS. It's a hidden gem of a procedure, for sure.

I try to mention the DS to anyone who'll listen, because it has made such a difference in my life.

So far, at almost 10 months out, I have lost 143 lbs, 84% of my excess weight. My BMI went from Super Morbidly Obese (51.6) to Overweight (28.6). I've been cured of Sleep Apnea, GERD, hypertension and my PCOS symptoms are gone. I had complex hyperplasia and was on the path for an early hysterectomy - that is totally resolved thanks to the normalization of my hormones. I've gone from a tight size 26/28 and 3x down to a size 10-14 and M or L (depending on cut - darn vanity sizes!). 

That is all wonderful, but it only tells part of the story. My DS has given me many other gifts. I feel normal about food for the first time in my whole life. Before surgery, I had constant, insatiable hunger. I never felt full, no matter what or how much I ate. It totally ruled my life. I also had a crappy metabolism thanks to PCOS and years of yo-yoing, and could gain weight from looking sideways at a cupcake. 

Now, it's a brand new world. I get hungry, but "normal-hungry". I get full and feel satisfied. I can enjoy food without guilt, stress or worry about weight gain. 

I enjoy a wide variety of food, focusing on protein, then fat and complex carbs. I do occasionally enjoy simple carbs in moderation too. Nothing gives me diarrhea, and the only thing I've found that gives me gas is cabbage and cauliflower.  I do tend toward constipation, so I've found that I need to actively add fat to my diet. Trust me when I say, that is not a hardship for me.  I love bacon, cheese, avocado, butter, heavy cream in my coffee, etc. 

Thanks to the DS, I have a wonderful quality of life. I am 34 years old and I have never been healthier, even in high school. 

If anyone is researching the DS and would like to ask me questions, feel free to PM me. 

I'd like to invite readers to look at my profile. I think the pictures tell it all.

You're right, the pictures tell quite a story.  Thanks for sharing.

 Thank you everyone for all your replies! So fantastic.