Good morning!

I'm providing a bit of an update for any of the folks *****ad these boards.

Since surgery my biggest vitamin deficiency has been K. I had no baseline pre-surgery. As listed here, my first test came back at 55. I started eating more greens and got some dry K supplements (K1 and K2) that were started the first week of October, even though my dietician says you can't supplement K. My numbers in October tested in the 60's.

I bumped up my K supplements to double each day, plus a lot of seaweed and greens. My six month follow up was a couple weeks ago and my K level is now at the bottom of the normal range at 167 out of a range of 130-1,500. I'm going to keep taking at least double dosage until my one year follow up.

The easy bruising and sensitivity/pain have not changed. My clinic has now referred me to my PCP about it since my vitamin levels are within range. The last blood draw included coagulation testing, which also came back normal.

Make sure you take your supplements!

Hello, Tanya, I am a 20 yrs Post Open RNY, 2003, I was not offered or if they used Robotic then, so the huge incision, and recovery, and lost around 75 of 100 goal. But it worked, and had a 10 lb up and down of goal for 20 years. (Sorry for typos, I don't see spell check?)

So, my recent couple yrs weight regain, big gain, have tried diet, and low exercise just hadn't moved my extra lbs., (the WHY BELOW), After a yr of really trying, nothing is happening, so just revisted my former wght loss clinic, tests, papers, appointments, phyc eval almost 6 months later, just got approved, and my SURGERY DATE February 20th, for a "DISTALIZATION", NOT D.S., I was surprised, what is the difference, GOOGLE, and this blog, searching, reading, etc. It looks so close to a D. Switch , and they will take the small intestine by my Y, down from my pouch, and pass by around 3/4 my small intestine, into the last portion, just prior my bowel. The obsorption of calories, and of course for me, (even less vitamins, and minerals!!) My bypass, unlike your sleeve, I already have my small jntestine routed shorter, but not near what your D.S., or my Distalization will, I have already had on, and off through the years, low labs, and deficient in multiple areas. Mostly due me, and not filling vitamin/med organizers weekly, having them ready.

I'm excited to follow you, and see how your surgery goes, and your results, I was told by my surgeon, around 60% weight loss of extra, is average. I've read that as well.

So, it's coming fast now, I start my 2 week diet, protein drinks, 3x day! That's it, and being lapriscopic, and mainly dealing with lower than liver, not as critical I loose x number of lbs, as a 1st time sleeve, or RNY, would be. I also have much scar tissue from my RNY, and a 4 level lumbar fusion, done through my lower abdominal area, and had a big attack of bowel obstruction in 2007, 5 yrs after, it hit out if the blue, and serious when I say, a six of coffee mid mug, pain hit full throttle, a sip of water set the pain into, a 10 plus, grind my teeth pain! After 1 day, tests, scans, multiple ER Docs, found scar tissue, and kink, causing full blockage. I had to agree to another full open abdominal surgery, exploratoryL ugh! To say I'm not a bit nervous, I would be lying. If I want to walk again,play with future grandbabies, I need help! (Say a prayer for me.)

My Pre story, as why extra weight gain, after 20 yrs RNY

Now in last few years due to many surgeries, Spinal, cervical and lumbar, then bad highway passenger crash, 2017 put me down, and unable to exercise much at all.. dieting,, and fighting to be able walk again, without a (shopping cart, as a walker) or short distance, just turned 62, and damn, I've lost too much time, I can't get back! I need, pray, strive to lose the 50-75 lbs, that hinder me, and tire me out, And live again!!

Blessings,

Patty

Just in case it might help someone to read this, I asked my surgeon why Ursodiol wasn't on my list of prescriptions six months ago. He mentioned some mixed reviews on it and said that he's seen it cause some issues where it makes the gallbladder empty when there is sludge or small stones that can then cause additional issues. I'm not convinced but it was ultimately his choice.

He definitely wouldn't give it to me now for that same reason. Surgery scheduled February 10th for removal to prevent complications. He thinks I have a very high pain tolerance for not opting to have it out tomorrow. Go figure.

Hi there,

Good to hear. One of the things I did to help with nerves was to go armed with a whole list of questions for the things I was nervous about. I had lists for the surgeon, dietician, and nursing staff. By the time my pre-op bloodwork was done, I felt a lot more educated.

Hopefully your clinic has educational information and diet advice/requirements they're sharing with you. The plans by clinic can vary greatly, so not sure if yours will have the same diet/stages mine does. I was on two weeks of high protein liquids after surgery before being moved to the next phase by my surgeon. If yours is similar, it might include some of the things on the list I'm including below about the stage 2 diet.

It's got some good info about that stage overall and suggestions about schedules. Some people set timers or use one ounce cups...I just always had a bottle of liquid with me. To meet my goals, I was sipping literally all day the first couple of weeks. Some people set alarms. I couldn't take big sips, though, so just kept working at it.

It also includes some typical fluids that might be on your clinic's plan. I don't like sweet things, so mostly stuck with water, Unjury chicken soup protein, my clinic's required vitamin protein, and decaf tea. They should give you protein and fluid goals, which I've also learned can vary. Initially, I was aiming at 64 ounces of total liquid with 80g of protein.

Definitely use your clinic's standards, but this might give you some idea of what to expect. Hope it helps!

Hi there,

I haven't had a revision and I'm still in my honeymoon phase, as it were, so I don't have a whole lot of feedback there.

I will say that from everything I've seen, a lot of DS used to be done as a two-part surgery with the intestinal half coming months, or even years later as the patient lost weight.

Hopefully your surgical team is able to help with nerves. I went in with a list of questions and that helped a lot to reduce nerves on my surgery date. Wishing you all the best!