Question:
Is there a Carbohydrate eater with a BPD/DS out there?

I am pretty sure the BPD/DS is the surgery for me, but wondered if I was thinking straight about it or not. I've read the Gastric bypass Ry was good for sweet eaters. I am not a big sweet eater. ... my thing is carbohydtates and fats - pasta/potatoes (what can I say I'm Irish and Italian!). I know the BPD/DS is good for fats; as you cant absorb much by the way of fats post op because of the length of that area of the intestine has been altered. ... I know the consequence of a lot of fat in the diet is loose stool - but no weight gain from fats is a really big deal. But what about carbohydrates... how will a bowl of pasta and butter or home fried potatoes do for your long term weight maintenance with BPD/DS? Are pasta and potatoes cosidered complex sugars and therefore ok? I do realize protien first and foremost and vit supplements are the key focus... but I do wonder about the carbs if they are a big no no or not. Not talking immediate post op here but later once things are stablized. mary    — X X. (posted on February 18, 2001)

February 18, 2001
There is always a raging discussion about the right level of carbs in the DS eating regime! For me, I don't worry about carbs, or fat, or sugar (well, a little bit about sugar). I make sure I get the protein grams in, and then eat what I want. Last night I had ravioli and garlic bread for dinner, because I had met my protein count earlier in the day. It is very seldom that I will eat an all carb meal - but I don't stress over it when I do. One of my favorite meals is a baked potatoe with cottage cheese, bacon, and butter. Don't think I qualify as long term at this point. But at 8 months out, I have lost 85 lbs (70% of my excess), am down from a size 26 to a 14, and am quite satisfied with both the loss and the quality of eating. I do not feel deprived of anything - and I was / am a big carb lover. Fortunately, as long as I focus on the protein first, I just have so little room for the carbs, that a small amount leaves me satisfied. Kate
   — kateseidel

February 18, 2001
Mary: You do NOT have to rethink all your foods with the BPD/DS for the rest of your life as a previous poster stated. There are 22 year studies of thousands of BPD patients and WE DO NOT REGAIN THE WEIGHT. That is the beauty of this procedure -- that we do not have to continue with the DIET MENTALITY that got us to be morbidly obese in the first place to achieve and maintain continued weight loss. I was a big carb eater preop (let's face it, at 360 lbs., I was a big carb, fat, protein and sugar eater). At 16 months post (and down 170 lbs to a BMI of 26), I eat eat everything and don't gain and am still slowly losing (my doc says I will probably lose another 20 lbs over this last year before I am stabilized). Since our stomach's are smaller and our body seems to know this, we DSers all agree that we really crave protein. Most of us seem to wake up ready for bacon and eggs, McMuffins, sausages, etc -- nectar to the DSer! By the way, I never have lose BMs from lots of fat, and I'm the girl who eats a lb of bacon on the weekend. By the time you've eaten your protein, you'll find that you don't have the room for an excess of most carbs. For instance, I find I'll concentrate on the meatballs and parmesian, rather than the bread or pasta -- through my own choice. It's kinda like a reverse of the diets of old -- you find yourself piling on the cheese and meats on your sandwiches, and leaving the bread on the plate and always cheerfully requesting whipped cream on your desserts cause the fat and dairy are great for us. I'm gettng hungry for eggs benedict as we speak, and I'm going to go get some!
   — Jill L.

February 18, 2001
Hi, Mary! I totally agree with kate and Jill. I'm three weeks post-op (lap BPD/DS) and I focus on protein, but also get carbs in throughout the day. There are plenty of meals that combine carbs, veggies and protein: spaghetti (carbs) and meatballs (protein); fettucine alfredo (carbs and protein with the cheese sauce) and ham/broccoli... The combinations are endless. The bottom line is: We have to focus on proteins to ensure we get our daily dose (mine starts at 75 gms/day and increases to 75-110 depending on sex/weight - I have to ask my nutritionist at my consult next week what my personal goal with be). It is true that we often 'fill up' on proteins first and there isn't a lot of room left over for lots of bread and butter, etc. (at least this is definately true immediately post-op like I am). But, just try to rethink the bread: I'm having no-sugar added ham and swiss cheese melted on a half of bagel for lunch today! :) Got my bread as well as my meat/protein! :) I had a McDonald's Crispy Chicken yesterday (without the bread/bun) as well as a handful (about 8) of french fries. I got my protein and carb fix and was totally satisfied/full! :) I've had a slice of succulent Boston Market meatloaf over parmeasan couscous and a few veggies on the side for dinner the other night... The carb portions are definately smaller than pre-op, but there aren't any 'limits' or 'restrictions' on what can/cannot be consumed. Pasta? How about three-cheese filled tortellini (cheese is protein, man) or cheese/pepperoni filled pasta? I love penne with vodka sauce: I think a better post-op meal would add some diced ham and perhaps mushrooms to the sauce... I had one of my favorite appetizers the other day: Indian aloo paratha bread (clay oven baked bread stuffed with spices, potatoes, peas and carrots). I ate one half of it as a meal (couldn't fit anything else in) and it is purely carbs. But, it was ok because I had ensured that I got protein in earlier that day and followed up with a protein-rich dinner. I also rely on a protein shake or protein bar to get that extra boost when I need it. I definately think that carbs are not any forbidden fruit long-term. Of course, like you mentioned, we are supposed to limit them to some degree in the 'weight loss window' of about a year to eighteen months to maximize weight loss, but beyond that --- we'll be able to eat a regular sized entree meal and the world's our oyster, so to speak! :) All the best, [email protected],
   — Teresa N.

February 18, 2001
Geez, there are as many opposng opinions as answers here. Oh, dear, I'd sure like some straight answers. I, too, amd a carb-craver, and had lap BPD/DS 3.6 weeks ago. I realize from my research that food quantities are bigger, weight regain is far less likely, fats are allowed,and dumping does not appen--all pluses. There is obviuosly less room for carbs, and protein satieates the appetitie for ALL foods when it hits the jejunem. In fact,the reason I kept craving carbs pre-op--never mind that I like them best--is that I seldom ate protein. When I did, end of cravings for THAT day. Now post-op, I have had trouble tolerating even a bit of sugar (not dumping, just--queasy/ick), and fats make me queasy, and anything "scratchy" like toast--no matter how well salivated-on and chewed, makes my stomach hurt. Yes, I can eat those fats, I know, with relative freedom. But some DO get absorbed, and my particular MD says do NOT purposely eat extra fat, as it won't help with fat-soluble vitamin absorption, and can--in high amounts--slow weight loss. And, instead of craving protein, it seems to make me queasy and repulsed--even the best drinks I used to like. Finally I have hit a few brief plateaus already--probably due to a shortage of protein and water--and have lost "only" 25 lbs. I sure wish there was consensus on this topic, and some reassurance that I might enjoy protein again. I used to love Egg Mcmuffins--with cheese, of course-- as a rare treat, but right now--ewwwwh! Finally, I don't seem able to eat anything like the quantity even Theresa can--it's still 1/3-1/2 cup of soft (pureed)food, and 1/4 c. of chewy stuff. My surgeon is known for making RNY pouches very small (15cc), and I bet he gave me a fairly tiny tube of stomach with this surgery, too. P.S. I would love to have a recent BPD/DS buddy like Theresa, and one farther out,to stay in touch with. DS's are almost non-existent around here where I live. ---Jesse
   — Jesse M.

February 18, 2001
Jesse: All the "queasy" feelings you are having from food right now are NOT indicative of the rest of your life, only that you are 3.6 weeks out of surgery. I was famous (in my own mind at least & to my fellow DSers) for the first few months for claiming "everything tastes like s**t and swill". It seemed like everything was too sweet, too fatty, tasted funny, sat like a lump in my stomach. Some of my favorite foods turned my stomach for a long time after surgery, for no clinical reason that I know of -- but it happens to a lot of us. It took me 6 months before I could enjoy the taste of coffee. But here I sit chugging coffee, the frig is stocked with soda & Hershy's Kisses at my side (I'm sure to get the almond ones for protein LOL). You will surely be able to enjoy & tolerate all kinds of food again. Give yourself some time. You're still a baby here kiddo. Don't compare yourself to Teresa. She's the DS superwoman! Seriously, we all get there -- just a slightly different rates. Teresa & my doctor (same one) also is known for making a very small DS stomach, but since it is dependent on your natural shape of the stomach (the greater curvature) it is dependent on your anatomy to a large degree and can vary -- usually causing the smaller ones to lose more quickly in the first 6 months -- but the DS window is really 24 months, so we all have time to get where we're going. If you need more DS pals, sub to the Post Op offshot lists you'll find at www.duodenalswitch.com. We had to make additional lists because the original DS list got so big that post-ops couldn't handle it -- what with having a life and all. Hope to see you there.
   — Jill L.

February 18, 2001
Jill: I'm not the DS superwoman, I'm the DS mutant! I would never say that my experience is the 'norm' by any means (nor have I ever stated that), but I can clearly say that, being almost 4 weeks post-op I can totally see how wonderful life will keep getting after the surgery since I haven't had any problems with tolerating food, etc. (YET) It's really interesting how very few people (either in the local Mt. Sinai group or the main DS postop lists) even bothered to say 'hey, great to hear you're on the other side!' I got about 3 responses from people other than my close Ds friends when I posted. I guess some people just don't like to hear positive news. :) I want to let people know that the surgery CAN be a positive change, even immediately post-op (as it has been for me). Just because I haven't experienced problems doesn't mean that I should be shunned or ignored, IMHO. All the best, [email protected],
   — Teresa N.

February 20, 2001
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful and lengthy replys... gosh who would have thought a WLS was possible with the prospect of Fetucine Alfredo and Egg McMuffins as great food choices? Thanks so much... I'm really psyched about this.The BPD/DS for sure the right choice for me, I am so glad I found people like you to flesh out (excue the pun) the details and the nitty gritty... mary corona, ca
   — X X.