Question:
Had a DS and unhappy with weight loss?

I'd like to hear from anyone who's had the DS and is unhappy, especially with the amount of weight you've lost.    — MsBatt (posted on December 25, 2003)

December 25, 2003
Judith hon, from looking at your profile, you JUST had the DS a few weeks ago. Sweetie, you are still swollen and under the influence of the anesthesia. Now, I'm not sure what you meant by "not happy with the DS", but I surely know that no matter what the problems you are having, this is all new to you and it's wayyyy too early to be giving up. On the other hand, we have all felt, at some time or another, that "maybe" we shouldn't have done this. It's not an easy row to hoe and for me, it was life threatening. I had the DS and after 3 years had a reversal. That being said, it's wayyyyy to early for you to be thinking it's not working. Give it time. Most likely, you will lose faster and easier then those with the RNY. I know I did but that was part of my problem. Want encouragement? I went from a size 26 to a size 4 in a year. I hope that gives you alittle bit to look forward to. The only advice I would give, is to make SURE you take EVERY vitamin you are supposed to, start taking calcium NOW (I am suffering big time from arthritis now) and have bloodwork at "least 4 times a year for anemia and other problems. I wish you a great holiday season. Things will start looking up soon.
   — Barbara H.

December 26, 2003
Hi Judith, I too see you just had surgery 2 weeks ago. At this point your body is till healing and you cannot determine if you will be successful or not. I am not at all unhappy with my DS, I have lost 165 pounds in 16 months. I am blessed, but I had a lot of plateaus and slow goings along the way. Do not be hard on yourself. Do you have a support group? If not please e-mail me directly and I can invite you into the online Yahoo group for my Dr's patients that I started. There are alot of people with different stories that can be shared and will also help supportt you, even if you are not one of my Dr's patients, you do not need to do this alone. Also have you gone to the Yahoo DS group? There are people there too that can provide tips and support. I wish you the best. Please be good to yourself. StephiAZ Open DS 08/12/02 335/170/155
   — Stephanie B.

December 26, 2003
I'm a member of the slow-to-lose club too -- I've had 3 plateaus already of 3-4 weeks each. For me, I think it's a combination of no exercise (but DH and I are going to start walking today, no excuses) and eating a bit more carbs than I probably should -- though paradoxically, it seems the day after I eat more carbs than I think I should, I often drop a pound or two -- as well as being 50 years old. I had my surgery on 8/5/03 with Robert Rabkin, and as of the other day, I was at 228 from 285 for a loss of 57 lbs in 4-1/2 months. Since my goal is 160, I think I will make it sometime around 18 months, not 10 months like some people do. Still, my halfway point is 62.5 lbs, so I'm almost there -- only 5.5 lbs to halfway.<P> While I find my slow rate of loss frustrating, I'm trying to make myself believe that a good side of this is that my skin has a little more time to shrink and maybe my need for plastics will be lessened (yeah, right ...). But I'm definitely gonna get my neck lifted and lipo'ed when I'm done if it doesn't snap back on its own -- the boobies and belly and batwings and droopy thighs can be camoflagued with clothes, but I want my neck back!
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 26, 2003
I'm a member of the slow-to-lose club too -- I've had 3 plateaus already of 3-4 weeks each. For me, I think it's a combination of no exercise (but DH and I are going to start walking today, no excuses) and eating a bit more carbs than I probably should -- though paradoxically, it seems the day after I eat more carbs than I think I should, I often drop a pound or two -- as well as being 50 years old. I had my surgery on 8/5/03 with Robert Rabkin, and as of the other day, I was at 228 from 285 for a loss of 57 lbs in 4-1/2 months. Since my goal is 160, I think I will make it sometime around 18 months, not 10 months like some people do. Still, my halfway point is 62.5 lbs, so I'm almost there -- only 5.5 lbs to halfway.<P> While I find my slow rate of loss frustrating, I'm trying to make myself believe that a good side of this is that my skin has a little more time to shrink and maybe my need for plastics will be lessened (yeah, right ...). But I'm definitely gonna get my neck lifted and lipo'ed when I'm done if it doesn't snap back on its own -- the boobies and belly and batwings and droopy thighs can be camoflagued with clothes, but I want my neck back!
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 26, 2003
Whoa! Let me correct a misapprehension---I am not at ALL unhappy with MY surgery, and I am well aware that at only two weeks out there's not WAY I could have lost any more than I have. Heck, I don't even own any scales! WHAT I AM ASKING is for input from people who are 6 months or more out, and haven't lost weight like they thought they would. I have talked with two (ONLY TWO) DSers who felt this way, but I talked with both of then inside a 24-hour period. This started me thinking "Is there something that I COULD do wrong? Let's figure out what, and avoid it!"
   — MsBatt

December 26, 2003
Barb, it's so great to hear you post again!!!! :)
   — Danmark