Some people can do it the old fashioned way!

Hi Chris, I am the "DC" friend that Andrea and Mary are talking about.  I lurk on the non-ops board because no surgery is a miracle cure and changing our habits is the name of the game.  I find inspiration from these folks who diet and exercise.  I will be 5 years post op on March 6th.  I love the DS, but I can't eat whatever I want and I can't always eat without guilt.  The weight is only part of the issue.  The head games that obesity and compulsive eating play on us is at least 75% of the battle.   Just a few points - people that are 13-19 years out did not have the BPD/DS.  They had an older version of the procedure that is done today.  It was riskier, resulted in greater malabsorption and a higher incidence of death.  If I am not mistaken, it had something to do with where the intestinal transection took place.  This procedure is not done today.  The duodenal transection (DS) resulted in a safer procedure, but malabsorption is also somewhat less.  Most people I know who have had the procedure that is done today are 10 years or less post-op.  Even 5 years ago when I had it done, portions of the BPD/DS were still considered experimental.  While the DS board on OH is helpful, I would suggest reading testimonials and reviewing information on  www.duodenalswitch.com. The VG (vertical gastroplasty) or stomach portion of the BPD/DS will allow restriction early on, but it does not stop one from grazing.  I know people who have "beat" the procedure, losing only 60 lbs or so and not losing any more because they could not let go of old habits.  I also know people who are 4 or 5 years out who have experienced significant weight gain - 40 - 60 lbs.  It is easy for this to happen as your body adjusts.  Based on my experience and many that had the procedure before me or around the time that I did, you can eat more around 3 years out and your body starts to become more efficient at absorbing fats and proteins.   One of my DS friends had the procedure over 7 years ago.  I met him for lunch several months ago and we had a conversation about regrets.  One of the biggest ones he had was listening to the people who had the DS before him  who, over and over again, said that they could eat anything they wanted and did not have to worry about it.  He found that to not be true for him.  I mention all of this because I hope for you to have every possible opportunity for success that is available to you.  My suggestion is to use the 'honeymoon' period to change your habits and develop healthy new ones.  Whenever you see someone posting or talking about how they can eat with abandon, please be sure to check and see how far post op they are and please be aware that not everyone experiences absolute freedom to eat with abandon, even with the DS.  Another suggestion is to stay on top of the bloodwork and vitamins.  It is not a walk in the park to keep yourself healthy after the DS.   As one of the ladies I know on the DS website indicates, the DS is not perfect, but it does help level the playing field.  I still think it was the best choice for me and hope you are happy with your decision. Best wishes, Sharon

Hello,  I am new on this forum and after reading all the complications with WLS, I have decided to try again and do it the old fashion way.  One thing I read being said all the time from others who have had the surgery, and that is being deciplined, eat less and exercise.  I have tried losing weight over many years and always fail, but I would pick being fat and feeling good any day then being thin and have to vomit and sick with adominal pains.  One thing I know with me  I HATE PAIN AND FEELING SICK!. I do not cope well with feeling sick.  I am overweight but I do not feel sick.  I want buddies who are not using WLS to achieve weight loss, so we can get to the finish line together.  I want to make one thing clear, I respect all the people who have had WLS...The only reason I will not do it is because I am a coward from birth and that is why I did not learn to ride a bike because I was afraid of of brusing my knees and in pain. Sincerely, Jenny

You're not a coward if you're deciding to work hard at losing weight.  WLS isn't the right choice for you, then it isn't the right choice.

lotsa people can do it the "old fashioned way" and you know you can too. you are that disciplined. you have done it before and can do it again. you don't NEED surgery at this point. you are younger than me! its that kind of self-defeating negative thinking that keeps you from getting what you want.

I know I can't do it that way, not forever. I hate the very THOUGHT of having to live like this for the rest of my life.  I don't want to feel guilty every time I decide to have fried chicken, chicken wings or a friggin oreo.  I can live with protein/fat first and daily vitamins. I can't live with guilt. Edit: I don't fit in the 'lotsa' category. I don't fit into the successful with the natural way category. I will eat myself into 700lbs if I continue. Better to fix it while I'm STILL young.. I have a better chance of survival that way. ;)

Hey Chris, I just read some of your former posts, and I see that you have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem.  I can see why you are so frustrated now with 'natural' weight loss.  People with your health issues don't naturally lose weight...they gain!  I have severe PCOS and gained a hundred pounds in one year.  So I know what it's like to just gain for no reason and the whole damned thing is totally out of your control.  Here's your 'Poor Baby', cuz that is a horrible thing to deal with.  But now that you know what your problem has been all of this time, you may be able to get a handle on it without the surgery.   I don't want to sound like an arm chair psychiatrist, but this is a non-op board...why are you here talking to us, if you have your heart set on surgery?  Shouldn't you be on the DS Board?  If you are certain in your heart that you want to eat what you want, when you want it, without the guilt, why hang with a group of people who are knee deep in discipline...or at least giving it their best try.   I'll give you my two cents...which ain't worth a damned thing, but I'm giving it anyway.  Knowing what I know about hormonal imbalance, the answer for that is very low carb and lots of exercise.  And giving your body a chance to adjust to your new thyroid levels becoming normal before you go and get them out of whack again with WLS, cuz that's what the honeymoon period is...even for DS...your hormones out of whack.  You may be amazed at how fast you lose weight now if you go on Atkins.  Men, with normal hormones, drop weight dramatically on Atkins, so it's not a forever kind of thing for you.  And Atkins is great for people with insulin resistance, because the majority of morbidly obese people are insulin resistant.  I'm not recommending it forever, but it will give you the same jumpstart that the pre-surgery diet will give you.  Just my two cents, and I hope I didn't offend you. Mary 

" I don't want to sound like an arm chair psychiatrist, but this is a non-op board...why are you here talking to us, if you have your heart set on surgery?  Shouldn't you be on the DS Board?  If you are certain in your heart that you want to eat what you want, when you want it, without the guilt, why hang with a group of people who are knee deep in discipline...or at least giving it their best try.  "
This is my family. I haven't always been pre-op. At one time I had decided against surgery. I've been posting on the non-op board for over a year though I had a sabbatical while I gained 20lbs back. I had decided that I'd give it another go and if I failed again, surgery was for me. I tried and failed. I came back and I'm trying again. I have 6 months of pre-op diet to go. That'll give the thyroid time to adjust to the T4. But what if my body doesn't convert T4 to T3 well?  I'm already having a hard time convincing my doctor that it's important to check my T3. Besides, it's not like I'm sitting here doing nothing. Yeah, I want WLS but I haven't stopped trying to eat right. Even if I didn't have the pre-op diet requirements I'd continue to fight. I'm seeing a nutritionist.  She won't allow me to do Atkins. Wants me to just focus on balance, which is really the best way to do it. I plan to give her a chance and see if she can help me. I know all the tricks. I know how to lose weight. I've come a long way from what I used to be. Ask anyone around here.  I have been quite successful. Success is misleading and motivation from success is fleeing. I don't get offended easily. :) The whole point of this post wasn't to talk about me. It was to give you all hope. The guy lost 600 lbs by making baby steps. He's almost 70 years old. That's inspirational. Sorry I turned it into a pity party. That wasn't my intention.

Well I don't see it at as pity party at all.  Frank discussions are how you sort out how you feel about things.  Not discussing things is how a lot of us got here in the first place.  And typing your thoughts out can be very cathartic.   I kind of got the feeling that these guys were your family.  I have one on another board that I wouldn't leave for the world.  But it seems to me that these people have more faith in your abilities than you do!  And is the Neecee on this board, the same one who called you a whiner in your signature.    Now that's a great friend.  I admire anybody who can tell it like it truly is. Geeze, what is up with your endocrinologist not testing your T3 levels?  Mine checks mine all the time because once you have been moribidly obese, they always stand a chance of going whanky. So when exactly are you planning to have your DS?  Sounds nosy I know, but for some reason I can identify with what you are going through.  My sister is going through the same thing.   I hope you are able to lose all of the weight that you want for you to be comfortable in your own skin.  But ya know, it's a life long battle and maintenance is just as hard as losing.  I just try to soldier up and fight the good fight.  I pray you win all of your battles! Mary     

And is the Neecee on this board, the same one who called you a whiner in your signature. Now that's a great friend.  I admire anybody who can tell it like it truly is. Yep, that's my Neecee!! Geeze, what is up with your endocrinologist not testing your T3 levels?  Mine checks mine all the time because once you have been moribidly obese, they always stand a chance of going whanky. Actually, it's my PCP. I haven't gone to see an endo yet. I was giving him the benefit of doubt. I plan to educate him when I go in on the 28th for a checkup. I think he is just going by the text book and hasn't done any real research on hypothyroidism.  I have an endo picked out should I not get the results I desire.  I'm not opposed to going on Armour if it will help. To be perfectly honest, part of me hopes and prays that my problems are because of the thyroid. I have 6 months of dieting more to go. If I find in 6 months that the thyroid meds have made weight loss easier and more 'normal' then I will call off the surgery. However, I don't really expect that to happen.  As much as I've researched WLS I've also read into hypothyroidism and I really haven't seen anyone yet who has overcome their weight issues through medication. Sure a few have lost 20-30lbs but I have a lot more to lose than that. So when exactly are you planning to have your DS?  Sounds nosy I know, but for some reason I can identify with what you are going through.  My sister is going through the same thing.  I don't have a date scheduled yet. I'm still going through the process. I am attending a seminar on the 18th. The first of many pre-requisites. I hope you are able to lose all of the weight that you want for you to be comfortable in your own skin. Thank you.  It used to be about feeling comfortable in my skin. Now it's much more than that.  It's mostly about my health. I don't want to die young like my parents did.  I am starting to develop more and more co-morbs. I never used to care about my health. I think that's because I never had anything checked out thoroughly and assumed I was healthy. I've found out different over the last year or so. In addition to the health I just want to be normal. I'm not willing to accept that 'these are the cards life has dealt me."  Why can't I discard and pull new ones????  maintenance is just as hard as losing. The DS changes how maintenance is done for me.  Maintaining weight loss having done it the natural way is no doubt as hard if not harder than losing, especially with thyroid issues.  (why haven't they found a cure yet??) Maintenance after the DS will be easier than doing it naturally but will gradually increase in difficulty as my body adjusts to the malabsorption. Hopefully, (and I'm pretty optmistic about it) I will have learned how to control my food issues by then.  A 'break' from the fight should allow me the strength I need to win the battle.

Chris, you can do this any way your little heart desires.. you do have it in you.  Just like you get up, take a shower and walk to work everyday through discipline, you do have it in you to develop the discipline to take control of the weight issue.. whether that be through surgery or not.  YOU ARE NOT a failure, young man!  Stand in the mirror and repeat that 10 times, then do the time warp just for ****s and giggles! In fact.. let's all do the time warp.. I'm gonna do it RIGHT now (it always puts me in a better frame of mine).. tee hee Lori