Re: BPD/DS July 23rd.

[Guest guest]

Dear Lee Anne,

Congratulations on your July 23rd date. It will be here before you

know it. I am 7 1/2 weeks post-op and I drink with my meals (I

limited mealtime drinking immediately post-op to make sure I got my

protein in) now that I can get sufficient protein in. I eat anything

and everything. I eat steak, burgers, chicken, wings, shrimp, pasta,

and the list goes on. Actually, I have tolerated everything I eat so

far.

A sample day's menu: (yesterday) Breakfast: whole boneless/skinless

BBQ Chicken Thigh (leftover from dinner the night before) Lunch:

can of tuna w/ mayo on whole wheat bread and Dinner: about 5 oz.

steak (Rib Eye) 1/2 ear corn on the cob w/butter & a small bowl of

salad greens w/ dressing (lettuce, tomato, carrots) Snacks: 1 glass

skim milk (I always drank skim), 1 large mozzarella stick, small

lemon ice and I picked on some fruit salad.

I have 1-2 BM's in the early a.m. when I get up and very little gas.

I never had a problem with urgency or lack of control.

I take 3 ADEKS, 2 MultiVitamins and 4 Citracal a day.

I eat enough protein each day that I do not supplement with shakes or

bars (gross IMHO). Best of Luck to you.

Also, I started out with a BMI of 40. I just knew this operation was

the best one for me even with a lower BMI.

Jane J.

230/195

Lap BPD/DS

April 26, 2001

Dr. Ren

NYU Medical Center, NYC

www.thinforlife.org

[Guest guest]

Lee Anne:

> I've read varying information on the

> level of

> malaborpstion.

Every surgeon has a different idea about the amount of malabsorption

involved. I think it varies more from one patient to another than it

does from one surgeon to another.

> I had the

> incorrect impression or rather assumption that this was the more

> appropriate

> surgery for heavier people... I'm a lightweight... BMI of 45ish...

so

> I am

> thrilled.

This was a commonly held idea for the first few years the DS was done

but it has been pretty well discarded. It's good for any weight.

> I would really love to hear from some post ops... I've heard that

you

> can

> drink with your meals with DS? There is no dumping so you are

limited

> in

> what you can eat?

> Please clue me in to some post-op meals... THanks.

I am six months post-op and my wife is 4 months. We eat absolutely

anything we want, and this includes everything we ate before the

surgery. We can't eat very much of it but there are NO limitations.

And yes, you can drink with your meals. It does restrict how much

you can eat so I limit my drinks to small sips but you can drink

anything just like you can eat anything. Tonight I had a few pieces

of crispy duck with sauce, a tiny portion of rice with soy sauce, an

egg roll with plum sauce and am saving a very small cup of hot and

sour soup for later. I have never had dumping though if I drink too

much orange juice I can get to feeling a little lousy. Actually

maybe that is dumping but it is very rare.

Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fart

San , Tx., 60 years old

Surgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker

Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch

340 Starting Weight, currently 230.5

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WLS-12StepRecovery

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/20/01 12:04:05 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< I had the

incorrect impression or rather assumption that this was the more

appropriate

surgery for heavier people... I'm a lightweight... BMI of 45ish... so

I am

thrilled.

I would really love to hear from some post ops... I've heard that you

can

drink with your meals with DS? There is no dumping so you are limited

in

what you can eat? Please clue me in to some post-op meals... THanks.

>>

LeeAnne: WElcome to the DS list! I know you've been very active on the AMOS

boards. Congrats on the surgery date, too! I tell you, I didn't consider

myself a lightweight at a bmi of 45! ROFL That was my starting bmi before

the surgery. I didn't have any serious co-morbidities (only mild GERD, which

was diagnosed in my pre-op endoscopy, joint pain, IBS), but boy was I at my

maximum limit!

Yes, you can drink with meals with the DS. It happens at different times

with different individuals. I basically could drink with and immediately

after eating from the get go. Others say that, since they cannot eat much

(either nauseous or stomach is swollen, etc.), they do not drink with meals

or they will not be able to eat.

The majority of people do not experience dumping with the DS. I would say

'all', but some do claim that they experience something akin to dumping. It

may be a factor of low/high blood sugar and not dumping in the classic sense

or it could be that their pyloric valve is sluggish after surgery and some

high sugar items hit the intestines quickly. I haven't had any dumping

experiences. I also have had no food intolerances. However, there have been

others who have experienced any of the following, sometimes to a

dehabilitating degree: lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, inability to

eat fatty foods (by this I mean they experience severe gas, oily discharge

and/or diahhrea upon eating this kind of food)... I'm sure others can

elaborate more. You'll find that we have a wide variety of experiences as

post-ops with food. It is pretty normal to experience negative reactions to

food, especially as a recent post-op. For some reason, I didn't have any. I

eat whatever I want, but focus on protein first.

Protein is crucial for long term health with the DS (as it is with the RNY,

but the daily requirements are higher - it depends on the surgeon but mine

started me off on 75 gms/day for the first three weeks then 80 gms/day

thereafter). Animal protein/meats are the highest concentrated source, dairy

and vegetable proteins are great too. I wasn't a big protein eater as a

pre-op (mainly carbs), so I went on a high protein food regimen (not a diet)

before the surgery. I found that I liked it and could do it. I highly

suggest this for anyone who wants the DS.

As far as sugar goes, I do indulge sometimes. However, I don't have the same

cravings for it as before (same with carbs). It is mainly in the form of a

sugary drink (iced tea or juice, which I do try to dilute). Many people

will attest that their bodies begin to want different things after surgery.

I know that sugar can slow weight loss because it is absorbed throughout the

intestines -- and doesn't necessarily need to combine with enzymes to be

digested (i.e. - it can be digested, depending on the type of sugar, even

before it reaches the common channel).

I've lost 60 lbs so far (in over 4 months) and feel FABULOUS. Others have

lost weight at a faster rate. My surgeon, Dr. Gagner at Mt. Sinai, told me

that losing weight steadily but surely is also common and we will all get to

our goal in the end. The weight loss window for the ds is 18 months and

everybody is different. There are plateaus along the way just like the RNY.

I just got my three month bloodwork back and it is almost perfect except for

a .02 discrepancy in the calcium/potassium level. I switched from caltrate

to citrate two months post-op, so this may be why it is a little low. I'm

eating more dairy and looking into the Twinlabs chewable citrates or liquid

calcium.

So, malapsorption is always a big issue with the ds. There is a lot of talk

about 'being compliant'. I personally think this is important but some will

tell you that they aren't necessarily monitoring what they eat (ie. - protein

levels, etc.), trust their bodies and do fine. I take two multivitamins,

three ADEKS and 2 citrates twice a day. I'm also taking chromagen forte (a

liquid iron in a capsule) twice a day on an empty stomach. That's it!

Since the majority of the pills are at meals, it is easy to remember them. I

got a little pill container (with a child-proof top!) that I constantly

refill so I have my pills when we go out. I do focus on proteins, eating

them first and ensuring that most meals are high-protein (if not, then I get

a protein shake in to make up for it).

Your surgery date will be here before you know it. You'll find a lot of

experience and knowledge on these boards so stick around!

all the best,

Noverr-Chin

co-moderator, duodenalswitch

lap bpd/ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

four months post-op and still feelin' fab!

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 245 lbs -- goin' down! Yahoo!