New here: having revision from RNY to DS on 12/15/11
Welcome and congrats! You'll love the DS after having lived with RNY. I had my RNY in 2003, and my DS revision in Dec. 2009. It knocked me on my butt and it was awhile before I was able to truly appreciate it, but now I definitely do.
Keep reading, it was always good to see what other people were going through, especially other revisionistas. Yes, we stall around 4 weeks. Yes, we lose a little slower than the virgin DSers, yes, we have to be very careful to get in the vitamins and water.
You're going to love the DS difference!
Keep reading, it was always good to see what other people were going through, especially other revisionistas. Yes, we stall around 4 weeks. Yes, we lose a little slower than the virgin DSers, yes, we have to be very careful to get in the vitamins and water.
You're going to love the DS difference!
It's so helpful particularly to hear from "revisionistas" (love that term!) I'd be interested in more of your story, defining the 'knocking you on your butt' experience. Or if you have links you can share, instead of making you re-type it all :-) I'd be happy to be in the 160s even, though my 'dream weight' is 150. I appreciate all of you who have responded!
Haha I don't mind.
Let's see...
I started trying to revise in the Spring of 2009. I had a lot of problems with my RNY due to a permanent ring around my stoma. I was barfing constantly and I was getting esophageal erosion. I was also severely deficient in vitamins and iron, even though I was trying to follow a good regimen.
I had most of my testing done in August/September, and I was following the 6 month supervised diet just in case. After 5 months, I was approved, on Dec. 9. Only problem? My insurance was changing on Jan. 1. My doc's office had a cancellation on Dec. 21, so they put me in. I spent the next 10 days trying to get my life in order, freaking out (I was more freaked out before the revision than I was before RNY), and baking cookies. Yes, I must be a masochist, because I spent an entire weekend while on the liquid diet baking tons of Christmas cookies for friends & family.
I went in on Dec. 21. Surgery went well but he had to excise the ring from my stoma, take down the pouch, make the sleeve, remove the gall bladder and appendix, fix a partial bowel obstruction I didn't know I had, and remove some adhesions from prior surgeries.
I was extremely sick the first day. They sent me for the leak test and I became nauseated, so they gave me anti-nausea meds and sent me for an MRI. I slept a lot but by day 2 my back was already starting to hurt.
I was sent home on Christmas Day. Husband picked me up, I slept the whole way home, and slept once I got home. I had a drain and a j-tube in case I couldn't get in enough liquids. I sipped warm liquids (decaf tea, low-sodium broth) for days, and mixed in some plain protein. Ugh.
On New Years Eve my husband took me to one of the local old lady beauty shops to get my hair done, haha. It was great. They colored and cut it and I felt human for the first time. That night, I went to a friend's house and slept on her couch while the family watched the ball drop. I still wasn't eating - I was told I couldn't for 2 weeks.
I started to feel better but it was slow going. I was anemic. By week 5, I felt well enough to fly to see a friend in Texas, but I spent most of the time resting. I did eat and was amazed that I was able to eat meat without barfing. After 6 years, that was a gift.
I went back to work at 6 weeks (Feb. 1) and had an hour commute each way, which kicked my butt. I was still weak and had problems with constantly going to the bathroom. Silly me thought it was from having a Ds, but it was because I caught c. diff. I was on flagyl from Feb. 15 - May 15, then on Vancocin for 2 weeks, then another 2 weeks of flagyl. I never want to see flagyl again! It made me feel so sick, I would eat matzoh to combat the nausea, which probably wasn't the best thing to do, since I didn't need the carbohydrates. I also had a lot of trouble exercising because I was exhausted all the time. I did take a dance class - my husband and I learned how to dance for our 25th anniversary.
I stopped losing at the 10 month mark. Never got to my 140 goal, don't care. I am healthy, happy, wear a 12 bottom, 10 top or dress, and some 8s when I want to look like a hoochie, lol.
I credit Vitalady with saving my butt. Her advice got me on the right track, and my iron is normal for the first time in years.
There's risks with every surgery, and Renfairewench's story is pretty scary. She had her revision about 6 months or so before mine, and she went through hell with leaks and the need for more surgery. You might want to check out her story just because it's good to know everything ahead of time. I feel very fortunate that everything went well for me (other than the c. diff) and I don't regret this for a minute.
Hope this helps. :)
Let's see...
I started trying to revise in the Spring of 2009. I had a lot of problems with my RNY due to a permanent ring around my stoma. I was barfing constantly and I was getting esophageal erosion. I was also severely deficient in vitamins and iron, even though I was trying to follow a good regimen.
I had most of my testing done in August/September, and I was following the 6 month supervised diet just in case. After 5 months, I was approved, on Dec. 9. Only problem? My insurance was changing on Jan. 1. My doc's office had a cancellation on Dec. 21, so they put me in. I spent the next 10 days trying to get my life in order, freaking out (I was more freaked out before the revision than I was before RNY), and baking cookies. Yes, I must be a masochist, because I spent an entire weekend while on the liquid diet baking tons of Christmas cookies for friends & family.
I went in on Dec. 21. Surgery went well but he had to excise the ring from my stoma, take down the pouch, make the sleeve, remove the gall bladder and appendix, fix a partial bowel obstruction I didn't know I had, and remove some adhesions from prior surgeries.
I was extremely sick the first day. They sent me for the leak test and I became nauseated, so they gave me anti-nausea meds and sent me for an MRI. I slept a lot but by day 2 my back was already starting to hurt.
I was sent home on Christmas Day. Husband picked me up, I slept the whole way home, and slept once I got home. I had a drain and a j-tube in case I couldn't get in enough liquids. I sipped warm liquids (decaf tea, low-sodium broth) for days, and mixed in some plain protein. Ugh.
On New Years Eve my husband took me to one of the local old lady beauty shops to get my hair done, haha. It was great. They colored and cut it and I felt human for the first time. That night, I went to a friend's house and slept on her couch while the family watched the ball drop. I still wasn't eating - I was told I couldn't for 2 weeks.
I started to feel better but it was slow going. I was anemic. By week 5, I felt well enough to fly to see a friend in Texas, but I spent most of the time resting. I did eat and was amazed that I was able to eat meat without barfing. After 6 years, that was a gift.
I went back to work at 6 weeks (Feb. 1) and had an hour commute each way, which kicked my butt. I was still weak and had problems with constantly going to the bathroom. Silly me thought it was from having a Ds, but it was because I caught c. diff. I was on flagyl from Feb. 15 - May 15, then on Vancocin for 2 weeks, then another 2 weeks of flagyl. I never want to see flagyl again! It made me feel so sick, I would eat matzoh to combat the nausea, which probably wasn't the best thing to do, since I didn't need the carbohydrates. I also had a lot of trouble exercising because I was exhausted all the time. I did take a dance class - my husband and I learned how to dance for our 25th anniversary.
I stopped losing at the 10 month mark. Never got to my 140 goal, don't care. I am healthy, happy, wear a 12 bottom, 10 top or dress, and some 8s when I want to look like a hoochie, lol.
I credit Vitalady with saving my butt. Her advice got me on the right track, and my iron is normal for the first time in years.
There's risks with every surgery, and Renfairewench's story is pretty scary. She had her revision about 6 months or so before mine, and she went through hell with leaks and the need for more surgery. You might want to check out her story just because it's good to know everything ahead of time. I feel very fortunate that everything went well for me (other than the c. diff) and I don't regret this for a minute.
Hope this helps. :)
Wow, thank you for sharing your story, taking the time to write that! You really went through it, and I'm glad you're doing well. You're sense of humor is awesome :-) I had to look up c.diff, was unfamiliar...omg! You poor thing! I can relate to what you went through. I had a whole round of problems when I had my Lap RNY, got sick a week after, turns out a stitch popped holding down my intestine, and it bunched up behind my pouch. But I was in the hospital nearly 4 weeks, nothing by mouth, while they poked, tested, to figure out what was wrong before taking me back to surgery. This surgery was open, and the day after surgery they noticed redness in my wound - infection! Had to take ALL the staples out, and I had the grand canyon in my belly, which they packed while I was in the hospital. Set up with a home health nurse who thankfully, was a wound specialist and she got me set up with a wound vac, which I was on for the entire summer. I am so hoping for a smooth, uneventful surgery and recovery this time, infection free, fingers are crossed.This time I really would like to be able to fully maximize my early post-op window and hit the bricks exercise-wise. I did a year of bootcamp and loved it, got in great condition. I imagine what that can be like with a surgery tool that really works :) Thanks again for sharing.
(deactivated member)
on 12/5/11 8:48 am
on 12/5/11 8:48 am
Welcome!
I am a revision but not from RNY. (an old stapling procedure from the '80's)
I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised. Most of Dr. K's revisions make it to goal or very close. :)
You might want to start looking into the differences in eating between RNY patients and DS patients, we eat a lot!! We do not particularly have to watch any fats and need to eat them for a few reasons, one because we NEED fat as we are malabsorbing 80% of them and two, a lot of us just can't poop unless we get a certain amount of fat in our daily diet. It also may be hard for you to get used to the concept of "the more you eat, the more you lose" aspect of the DS.
Once you get over feeling that a truck ran over you and then backed up to see what they hit, you are going to love the DS!
You have a excellent surgeon, so you already have half the battle won!
Michele
I am a revision but not from RNY. (an old stapling procedure from the '80's)
I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised. Most of Dr. K's revisions make it to goal or very close. :)
You might want to start looking into the differences in eating between RNY patients and DS patients, we eat a lot!! We do not particularly have to watch any fats and need to eat them for a few reasons, one because we NEED fat as we are malabsorbing 80% of them and two, a lot of us just can't poop unless we get a certain amount of fat in our daily diet. It also may be hard for you to get used to the concept of "the more you eat, the more you lose" aspect of the DS.
Once you get over feeling that a truck ran over you and then backed up to see what they hit, you are going to love the DS!
You have a excellent surgeon, so you already have half the battle won!
Michele
I love the 'once you get over feeling that a truck ran over you and then backed up to see what they hit'! :-) I appreciate the reminder about the DS diet; there are similarities, but yes, some big differences, like the fat. Fortunately, I like a high protein diet/modest carb diet. I didn't get the results from my RNY, but I did thankfully learn a great deal at least. I know in the beginning there won't be much more than liquids and random soft foods and I'll be asking questions here as well as researching. Thanks!
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your DS! It's really close huh? Excited?
You'll find tons of info and lots of successful revisions. Look around for Kerry as well, he has a great story from RNY to his current successful DS lifestyle. You've meet great ones already.
You'll find tons of info and lots of successful revisions. Look around for Kerry as well, he has a great story from RNY to his current successful DS lifestyle. You've meet great ones already.
5'1 HW 298 CW 118
"Making America skinny, one slap atta time!" -Slap Chop Dude
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