New guy with questions

HI!

I'll give a brief backgound and then hopefully just a few questions.

I've battled with weight my entire life, trying diet after diet - successfully at first and then bouncing back. Then, after almost a full year of research, I finally took the step into WLS - The LapBand. I was banded in November 2009. In just 6 months I had lost 60 pounds( from 290 (BMI 42) down to 230). But, then, after going on a cruise and indulging too much, I had a problem and needed a complete unfull. Unfortunately, because I had only had the band for 6 months, I easily went back into the over-eating mindset. Even though I have had many fills since then, I have not been able to get back into that original weight-loss. I have basically maintained my weight since then, loosing another 20 pounds but gaining them back again, and now going up/down 5/10 pounds for the past 2.5 yeas (currently at 225). I'm 5'10", so my BMI is 32 right now. However, I feel very fat and that I am not able to loose those remaining 60+ pounds without some extra help. 

I've been researching the sleeve and DS now for about a month and don't quite feel ready to make any sort of commitment, however I do really like what I have seen thus far about both the sleeve and DS. What I would like to be able to do is connect with some people who have made the transition from the band to DS. Plus, would like to be able to get some info from DSers who have been living with DS for 10+ years (if possible).

Some questions I have...

1) How many vitamins do you actually need to take? I have read that some people take as few as 10 pills while others take 30+. Also, I can see myself taking the pills for years, but I'm only 28 years old and find it hard to imagine myself talking pills for another 30 years, 50 years, or even more! That's a lot of pills. 

1A) (Related to the previous question). I have read that some people have requested that their surgeons give them a longer intestine so that the malabsorption is lower for vitamins. Any advice on this? I really want to loose the weight, but at the same time, it's the rest of my life of pill-popping. How about getting it shorter, and then a revision to lengthen after the weight loss? Just a thought

2) A friend of mine was born with intestinal problems, and as a result, actually has a very short intestine. Whenever we eat together, she usually needs to go to the washroom about 20 minutes after the meal, and (based on the sounds), it's not solid stool. However, for her, this happens EVERY meal. I've read a lot of people say "oh, it only happens when you eat high carbs" or "a lot of alcohol", etc. Are there any statistics on how many people have bowel issues? I understand that the first few months will be different then the rest, I'm more interested in long-term than short term.

3) Any recommendations for website or books to read? This website has a fantastic message board, but looking for something that might have statistical reports or clinical trial results, etc.

4) Anyone in the Vancouver BC, Canada (Richmond specifically) area who has had DS and is willing to meet? I actually work internationally but will be back in Vancouver in June and July (2013). Would love to meet if possible to ask more questions.

Anything I'm missing???

Thank you everyone! Hoping to get my questions answered and start trusting DS as that final piece of my WL story.

How many pills will you be taking in 30 or 50 years if you remain obese?  And the "pills" you will be taking then will not be vitamins. 

I happily traded a future of meds for:

high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, chronic pain, depression, sleep apnea, heart disease, renal failure etc...

for a handful of vitamins several times a day.

I got the DS to save my life.  The benefits that came with that?  Unmeasurable.

~Becky

Great questions! I'm curious about the number of pills per day and the number in each setting/dose too. Although I can absolutely see that being obese can cause other issues, which require more medications, so far I'm a fat chick with no major health problems. So it's difficult to compare meds related to health vs a bunch of vitamins. Timzor, I think we're in a similar boat. Hope to hear from the vets here. Thanks for posting.

I've been living with my DS for almost 10 years now. I take pills 4 times a day, and it's really no big deal. How many pills YOU will have to take, no one can predict. It's based on your lab results, and really varies a lot from one person to the next. And no, you don't want to plan on a revision of your common channel!

My only 'bowel issue' is occasional constipation. I usually cure it by upping my fats.

I don't know of any books about the DS. Have you visited http://www.dsfacts.com ?

you know what they say..."you can't have your cake and eat it too"... there are always going to be some tradeoffs. I traded losing my legs,kidneys and eyesight to diabetes for first the sleeve then on to the Ds. it is a no brainer to me. Even though you are young now,you will not always be young and the ravages of obesity as years pass are going to bite you in the butt later,sure as **** happens.  Morbid obesity is # 1 cause of most all the health ills that Americans have today. If you don't do something now,it is not a matter of IF you get obesity related problems down the road,it is a matter of WHEN.

 

What i hear you saying is you want to lose the weight IF you can have it all your way. Well,sorry,you can't. You have to decide IF you really want to lose the weight and HOW BADLY you want to lose it. If you don't make that decision,it doesn't matter WHICH surgery you choose you won't have a rat's ass in hell chance of being successful.

 

Please know that this is reality as I see it. Please also know it is said with all the respect and kindness the internet can convey.  I believe in telling it like it is cause sugar coating it doesn't work,pun intended. ")