APPROVED IN FIVE DAYS!!!!

I was approved in five short days and I am so excited!  Today i found out that my surgery date is August 5th! Now i'm researching meal plans and vitamin rules! SO ready for this journey!  Any suggestions on these first steps? 

Nervous now.... just read someone post that they didn't lose any weight going from the sleeve to DS..... anyone else face this? They said without resleeving, the DS was a waste to get.

I just found the post about no weight loss with the DS.  This is the first time I have ever read of anyone not losing.  The poster also started out at 185 lbs and mentioned saboting her own efforts with too many carbs (I read her blog). I believe these results are very atypical.  There is no surgeon mentioned, but at 185 lbs (which many DSers are happy as their FINAL goal), I have to think that common channel lengths, etc all come to play.  I also have to question any surgeon who approaches the surgery and ignores the possibility of resizing the sleeve.

It is my observation, that most surgeons look at a revision with a much broader picture.  If a sleeve needs to be resized, they do it.  They take a comprehensive look at the body's ability to lose weight and DON'T only look at its ability south of the pylorus.  I don't know anything about your surgeon, but the decision making of your surgeon will have a great impact on the success of your revision.  You really need to be sure that he is taking a comprehensive look.  

Revisionists lose weight slower.   And you have to be compliant after the surgery.  

I would be asking on these boards, if anyone has had experience with your surgeon specifically.  I would also start another thread entitled Sleeve to DS surgery Questions (or something similar) to get more information about what you need to be addressing.

And I certainly don't mean to discourage you.  But there are only a few doctors that the vets would recommend for a revision of any kind, and your surgeon is not one of them.  There are others far more knowledgeable than I about surgeons.  I am sure they will chime in.

I'm guessing you're a 2 parter then.  I'm a 2 parter and got a 75cm common channel.  I made it to the healthy range but it's not been as easy as I thought.  You hear about people losing too much and I thought I might be one of them.

If you can get a 50cm common channel do, but you have to SERIOUS about your vitamins and labs.  Get on the Vitalady program as early as you can - I didn't until I was 4 weeks out and am only just starting to get nice labs now at a year out.

How many posts have you read that state they didnt have any WL with the DS? Ive lost 131 lbs in five months time... more than 50% of my excess weight... Not bad right?

EVERYONE is different.. Dont let ONE person post discourage you..

They have done the sleeve first and DS second in many cases with results. I believe originally that is where the sleeve came from? They would do it first for SMO patients to get them down far enough that they could do the second half of the surgery. I am sure hers is just not typical. How stretched out is your pouch? There is only so far it can stretch. I know some DSers that have larger pouches than others and they have successful weight loss. /shrug

Here is a list of the supplies I got for my surgery:

* ordered 2 months supply of vitamins from Vitalady.

* bought chewable multi vitamin and calcium supplements.

* bought Poo-Pouri for the bathroom issues.

* bought wipes to take with me to the hospital.

* bought a bathroom stick to help wipe yourself immediately after surgery. (this was a life saver, I was able to take care of my own needs instead of relying on a nurse).

* bought toddler sippy cups for the hospital so I could slowly drink my fluids.

* bought cloth diapers to have on hand in case of "orange farts".  I didn't need them for that, I have an open wound that still seeps after 5 weeks and use the diapers to absorb to seepage.  

* bought lots of low carb isopure, vitamin water, propel and some protein shakes.  Many people have a hard time with the protein shakes.  What you like now you may not like after surgery so don't buy too much of one kind, you may end up not liking it.  

* bought a pill organizer that has compartments for pills for 4 times a day, x 7 days a week. I bought 4 sets of these so I only have to sort my vitamins monthly.  I got this on amazon.  Each day is removable so you can take it with you in your purse.  

That's all I can think of for now.  Good luck with your surgery!!!

Thank you so much WoodKD.... you mentioned some things I had not even thought of doing!! GREATLY appreciate these ideas!!!
 

Congratulations!!!  That's AWESOME!

Thank you everyone SO much for your advice and input!! I had my pre-op class today and actually had a chance to ask Dr. Barker about losing with the DS and they do actually resize the sleeve while they revision from a sleeve to a DS.  He said they haven't had any issues with patients not losing with this process so that makes me feel so much better!  I have already ordered my first 90 days of vitamins and my protein water and protein shakes for before and after my surgery.  I have small babies and will follow instructions to the T to be healthy for them! :) ONE bad thing.... my surgery was pushed off until the 12th but that's only three weeks away! very excited to start this journey!