9.5 years post op. Time sure flies

Howdy everyone,

See some familiar old faces and many many new ones.I know I dont get around here as much as I should, but honestly Im swamped with work, horses and life in general. 

As an aside my surgery doesnt effect my life like it used to. Honestly you could say I forgot I had it at times. I eat normal and actually eat enough that only vites I take are my D3. But please dont use me as an example to not take yours. I have been an odd case from day one. And struggle with blood electrolyte imbalance (sodium in particular). Ive had it...apparently can be genetic. So Resouce and Smar****er are my god sends, well and a few pinches of salt under the tounge if in a bad bind. (I get full body charlie horses, wanna talk debilitating if im not careful). And nope only time I get run down and have problems is a reault of low sodium. Labs are still great. But like I said take your vites, your not me!

Im actually at the lowest weight I have ever been consistantly with my DS (it works dang it). While my BMI puts me in the overweight catagory, my body fat percentage of 23% clearly says im not (female athletes are usually 20-25% and normal female is 26-32% if I remember correctly). So 9.5 years out and I have no regrets. Ive learned to listen to my body in ways some might think im crazy. Othertimes....such as that ice cream flurry, Ill take the consequences of my actions...it can be worth it. Lol. But thats it a small (or medium depending on the parlor) does what I want. Not buy the biggest and still want more.

I dont say anything is off limits. As for stomach stretching, it does, I started with 5oz and I topped off at 10oz some years ago. So simply put if I over eat I will have to throw up. I hate throwing up sooooo I learned the signs right quick.

Overall I have adopted healthier eating as a body as picky as mine doesnt leave much room otherwise. My body only tolerates cane, beet and fruit sugar, high fructose causes MAJOR issues along with other "natural" but not normally injested in a granular state sugars (Stevia etc). Ive really come to use local honey 90% of the time for sweetening. Im allergic to all artificial sweeteners to the point of major throat swelling. Like I said I have a picky picky body and having surgery really made me aware of it all. Were there signs prior, sure was but like most Drs they couldnt see passed the weight issue.

I know there was a time when I kept saying to myself what will it be like 5, 10, 15 years out. Well with nearing 10 now I can say I love my DS more now than the first few years when weight was falling off. As I never wanted surgery to define me or use it to be something I wasnt. All I wanted was to have a more normal functioning system so I could do what I wanted in life and wasnt battling weight.  The DS gave me that and SOOOO much more. Its that marriage that lasted beyond the honeymoon stage and got better with age.

Happy surgiversary, Nicole.  

--gina

Thank you so much for sharing!  It is really important to hear from people who have had long term success.  Congrats on your successful journey!!

Great report Nicole!  We may all have the DS, but our bodies are way different.  Some can eat anything they want w/o it bothering their guts, others like you and me, have to watch certain foods, or suffer.  It's nice to be reminded we have to listen to our bodies and mind our labs.

Personally, I love being normal.  Congrats on 9.5 yrs.

I agree!!  Everyone who has the DS body is responding so differently.

Awesome, and we so appreciate you sharing your story.  Thank you, and Happy anniversary!

Happy surgiversary!!

As someone researching revision from VSG to DS....if our bodies are so different, how can we know what it's going to do? Does that mean even if you eat protein and good fats with a few veggies you might have bowel issues??? That's my biggest fear, that even if I eat appropriately, I will have bowel issues. I don't mind figuring out what I can't eat or knowing but choosing anyway, like OP talked about, and suffer the consequences. But are there some who have bowel issues regardless of how they strict they stick to the proper diet??

Obviously, this is a big concern for me. Thanks for letting me ask!