Post on the DS board by a lapbander

No, we don't eat anything and everything. Most of us don't even want to -- the surgery removes the majority of the hormone that makes us hungry. I guess compared to what most people with other surgeries eat, it may seem like we do sometimes. We don't absorb 80% of the fats we eat, 60% of the protein, but we do absorb most of the simple carbs like sugar and bread. I can't remember now what the figures are for complex carbs. The whole diarrhea thing is way overblown. Most people who talk about that are referring to the older, original version that caused a lot of problems. Sure, some people are very sensitive to fats, but not many and not for long. Early out, when our plumbing is healing and getting used to the new way, things can be a bit iffy if you overindulge -- but our tummies are so small that it's hard to overindulge too much. I haven't read about oil slicks in quite a while. I've never had 'em. The ones I remember were in people early out eating Taco Bell or something and wondered why their poopies were orange. I'm guessing that is qute a shock! I ate Taco Bell beans and cheese on the way home from surgery, and it didn't bother me at all. Everyone is different. I was prepared for the worst, and wonderfully surprised that things weren't awful. After I had the DS and travelled the first year, I worried about needing to stop often and scouted out rest rooms along the way. I had heard stories about all the awful things that could happen. I shouldn't have worried. In driving from St. Louis to Omaha many times, I've only stopped to use the restroom in Kansas City, and that's only to empty my bladder. I've had others ride in the car with me for long trips and I didn't pass gas at all. It's just way overblown, the scare tactics about the DS. I'm not sure why. I guess people don't want to believe something is too good to be true because most of us have tried and failed so many times that our brains are tired of the sales pitches. One thing you didn't mention is lactose intolerance. That is pretty common, and if it happens, that can cause diarrhea - in anyone. I figured out early on that I couldn't drink my protein drinks mixed in milk. I can now without any problems, but early on it caused some big rumblings in my tummy. People with IBS often say their problems are improved by the DS surgery, so that's a plus at least. I agree, people need to research and research and research. They need to visit all the websites, all the forums, talk to people who have had each surgery before they make a decision. I sure wouldn't have a surgery because I thought I could eat whatever people are saying.. 5,000 - 10,000 calories? Hahaha.  Someone has a document from a bariatric convention that shows the amount of malabsorption in DSers vs RNYers at different stages after surgery. I'll see if I can find it. Must be on another computer. So in conclusion, we do not wear diapers, we do not stink, we do not lose all of our teeth, we are not gray-skinned, we can't eat a bazillion calories, we rarely have to supplement with iron or B12, and our protein and umm.. what did you call it? protein malnutrition? issues are similar to RNYers. When any of us has surgery, we agree to have our labs checked regularly and to follow up with the surgeon who can adjust our vitamins as needed. Oh, and men have a great advantage, darn it. They seem to be able to eat a lot of stuff and still lose weight. It just doesn't seem fair!  Jeanie - who-ah, didn't mean to write a book!

Re:
There are other DS sites in the internet, where the people post about their problems, the toilet trouble, the protein malnutrition, the vitamin deficiencies, the anemia, and the weight regain. Anybody researching surgeries will not be served by the DS board on this web site. They will be misinformed and if they make choices based on the BS posted there, they will be in for a rude awakening after the honeymoon period, or they can do what others do, work at it, follow their surgeon's instructions( which is NOT to eat 5000 calories a day)  and then lie about it on the boards. 
I truly hope any intelligent people *****ad these boards use common sense and understand that if something sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. Yes, our surgeons pay us a commission to lie about our food intake and recruit hapless fat folks to "the DS side."  Not everyone--regardless of surgery choice--makes excellent choices all the time.  I have "smarter" days and, well, "less brilliant" days.  According to the common calculations, if I do nothing all day but BREATHE, I need between 1500-1800 calories per day to maintain my weight.  If I do MINIMAL stuff--shower, load the dishwasher, go get the mail, read a book, clean a countertop--I may need up to 2600 calories. Now, I COULD eat lots and lots and lots of dry chicken breast and get there eventually.  I could also eat what YOU might consider a reasonable diet, but I'd probably not get to 2600 calories, so I'd probably lose weight with that plan. But here's the weird part...I have another option.  I can eat the entire small cheesecake I picked up while at the store.  (We could call this a "less brilliant" day.)   The whole thing contains 2050 calories, 1250 of them from fat.  (But that's how much someone with normal absorption would acquire.)  I would be consuming 1050 calories and 250 of them would be from fat.  I could throw in three 6-oz filet mignons for another 700 calories, 72 of them from fat.  That would bring me to 1750 calories, 320 of them from fat...AND I'd be underconsuming my caloric need by 950 calories.  If I did that all week, I would underconsume 6650 calories and that would make for a weight loss of just under two pounds per week. Of course, it's not a particularly well-balanced diet .  It's just an illustration that three 6-oz beef steaks and a small (1-pound, 5-ounce) cheesecake per day can provide weight loss for the DS patient. Whether I'd lie about doing this or not is essentially irrelevant as the MATH doesn't lie.

You have no idea what anybody eats, or how much anyone else may need for their activity.  As to lying or not, doesn't matter except to someone looking for answers on their research for their surgical choice. Lying doesn't affect the rest of us, we've had our surgeries and doing well. And it obviously doesn't affect you.  Anyone can eat whatever they choose. But people who overeat won't be maintaining a weight loss for very long. I say have at it! Just don't expect intelligent people to sit here and swallow your BS hook, line and sinker.

First, I am reporting my experience and how math works.  I cannot change either of those things just because someone who chooses to detect a conspiracy that doesn't exist doesn't like them. I have SAID that I am only 19 months out with this procedure and that my results may change after time.  You seem to prefer to think of that those of us who have had a different surgery and different experiences than you have had are part of a vast DS conspiracy, AND you have chosen to defend yourself against it by calling us liars and accusing me of pumping out BS.  I imagine this approach has served you well...in whatever it is you are trying to accomplish...or you would have changed to something more attractive by now. Actually, I DO know what other people eat.  I go on outings with girlfriends who have had three different kids of wls's...although two of us have been revised FROM the band to something else  We stay at the same places, often sharing hotel suites or getting adjoining rooms or staying at someone's home.   We've eaten lunch together at the Top of the **** in Chicago and across the bay from the Queen Mary in Long Beach and we drink together and we ride boats all over Newport Harbor in California.  Some of them are four or five years out.  Some are VERY careful about what they eat.  Others, not so much.   Our results vary...with RnY, with DS and (while we had it) with the band. So, you are striving to make sure that the DS doesn't sound...what...TOO GOOD?  And your motivation for that is that whichever surgery you had is serving you well but sharing YOUR experiences--without calling others who are reporting on THEIR experiences liars...isn't effective enough?  Talk about BS! Sharing experiences that someone's uncles' brother's lover's housekeeper's podiatrist said that the cop who arrested his gardener said his ex-sister-in-law had with HER wls procedure just isn't as convincing as sharing your OWN experiences.  You might want to try it. Sue

For you to say that we DS'rs are liars and full of BS is just plain wrong.  I invite you to spend a day with me. We'll go out to dinner, my treat.  And then a movie afterward.  And I'll have popcorn dripping with butter.

 

 ~Clearly you've got a severe case of weight loss envy.~

BTW, I can also attest to RNY.  Read my profile to find out why I chose the DS for my revision.

 

"There are other DS sites in the internet, where the people post about their problems, the toilet trouble, the protein malnutrition, the vitamin deficiencies, the anemia, and the weight regain. Anybody researching surgeries will not be served by the DS board on this web site. They will be misinformed and if they make choices based on the BS posted there, they will be in for a rude awakening after the honeymoon period, or they can do what others do, work at it, follow their surgeon's instructions( which is NOT to eat 5000 calories a day)  and then lie about it on the boards. " I would like to invite you to put your money where your mouth is, so to speak.  Do you have any scientific research to support what you say?  Can you cite the references for the published research on which you base your postion and statements?    Are you confusing the "possible" side efffects with the usual course of DS post-op life?  After all, taking an aspirin has a listed side effect of causing life threatening hemmorhage... but that doesn't "usually" happen.  Likewise, the listed "possible side effects" of the DS doesn't mean that they "usually" occur. You have made some very broad and inflamatory and terminal statements.  Please support what you have to say, or else identify what you are saying as being what it is:  a personal unsubstantiated rant.

You'd think we were kidding...but we're not...thats how we eat and still lose weight.  I don't post what I eat because I'd probably make some people fall out of their computer chairs...but on average of 4000 calories a day...and I've lost 6 lbs this month.   As jeanie says "come to the dark side we have cookies" Scott

I've been visiting different message boards for the last six years since my surgery and there's always people arguing over which surgery is superior to the other one.  I've seen people get in really heated arguments over it.  It's truly sad.  As far as the DSers, I know some of them do gain weight back, but from what I've read (which isn't a whole lot), they can eat what they want but have problems with diarrhea a lot and they do malabsorb more than RNYers.  I think everyone, no matter what surgery type they have can gain a little or a lot of weight back, depending upon their eating habits.  Calories are calories and we either expend them or they turn to fat - no one is immune to the way God made our bodies.  I just wish the 'wars' would stop and we could all support each other and not feel superior to the other.....JMHO....

Re:  Calories are calories and we either expend them or they turn to fat - no one is immune to the way God made our bodies. I'm sorry, but this statement shows a marked misunderstanding of the concept of malabsoprtion which is a small part of the RnY and a large part of the DS. This is not an "argument" over which surgery is "better."  This is merely about getting the details right.

Amen, sista!! War is not the answer.  What works for one may not work for another.   Debra VSG Representative (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy)