Questions from my family, pre-op

HELP! Here's the questions I have gotten from my family so far that I don't want to give wrong information on: 1.  What's the weight gain percentage for the DS surgery? 2.  What are the risks of surgery? 3.  Will they tell you if you don't qualify and why? 4.  How does the rest of your body change with the surgery? (i.e. they assume my stomach will shrink, but will my LARGE legs shrink, too) 5.  What's your plan for exercise because you don't exercise now? 6.  How fast will your weight loss be and will you have to eat small portions at a time so you don't get sick? They've seen people they work with have RNY and regain and/or vomit from eating too much, so I see where some of their questions are coming from, but to be fair to them, I would like to answer without judgment or negativity. They may all one day benefit from WLS, too. Thanks for any help or info you can share!

Hi Amy, I think duodenalswitch.com can answer a lot of you questions but I can answer based on my experience... 3. Yes, they will tell you if you were denied and the reason 4. Everyone looses weight differently but I've noticed most people loose from the top down.  I am heaviest in my lower abdomen and have noticed that area shrink slower than others, but again it's the top down thing.  Oh, how age, obesity and children have ravaged this body. I strongly recommend taking pictures and measurements preop.  It really gives you an idea of how far you've come. Expect extra skin.  I now can lie on my bed and pull my bellybutton up about six inches due to the extra skin. 5. I exercise 3-5 times a week.  I recently went back to the gym after my cast came off and noticed that I can workout harder and still maintain an appropriate heartrate.  I'm also burning less calories than when I was carrying around 90 more pounds.  Oh well! 6. Everyone's weightloss differs.  I received great advice when I came home from the hospital - avoid simple carbs for the first six months.  I didn't avoid them all together but I know that has helped me loose 90 pounds in six months. In the beginning you will only be able to eat small amounts.  Your stomach considerably smaller and it is swollen from the surgery.  I did vomit in the beginning when I ate too much - I had three meat balls and should have stopped at two. Now, six months out I can eat considerably more.  Last night I had 3/4 a piece of Chicken Cordon Bleu, a few bites of salad, a few bites of mixed veggie and a few bites of cheese cake.  I've learned to listen to my body and stop when I'm full. You can out eat any surgery but the DS has the most success.  There is more malablsorbtion that helps with the maintained weight loss.  Thus it is important to take your supplements, protein and water and to get your labs drawn per your surgeon. I hope this helped.  I'm sure someone will chime in with their experiences.  Very excited to hear about your first appointment.  You'll be 6 months post op before you know it!