Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Sherry, I'm sorry I didn't answer before. My total intestinal length was 675cm. My alimentary tract was 250cm, of which 100cm was common channel. The remaining 325cm is the biliary limb. If you'd like, I'll email you a copy of my weight chart so you can see the rate of weight loss I have had. Let me know. I'm down to 156 now, at 21 months post-op, from my pre-op weight of 299. I reached my low weight at about 18 months post-op, and my weight has stayed remarkably steady for the past 3 months. M. --- in Valrico, FL, age 38 Starting weight 299, now 156 Starting BMI 49.7, now 26.0 Lap DGB/DS by Dr. Rabkin 10-19-99 http://www.duodenalswitch.com Direct replies: mailto:melanie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Sherry, I'm sorry I didn't answer before. My total intestinal length was 675cm. My alimentary tract was 250cm, of which 100cm was common channel. The remaining 325cm is the biliary limb. If you'd like, I'll email you a copy of my weight chart so you can see the rate of weight loss I have had. Let me know. I'm down to 156 now, at 21 months post-op, from my pre-op weight of 299. I reached my low weight at about 18 months post-op, and my weight has stayed remarkably steady for the past 3 months. M. --- in Valrico, FL, age 38 Starting weight 299, now 156 Starting BMI 49.7, now 26.0 Lap DGB/DS by Dr. Rabkin 10-19-99 http://www.duodenalswitch.com Direct replies: mailto:melanie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Sherry, you might also want to post this to the DS_PostOpFriends mailing list. I know that lots of post-ops are not active on this list anymore, and some of them may have some good insight for you. To join that list, go to this URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DS_PostOpFriends M. --- in Valrico, FL, age 38 Starting weight 299, now 156 Starting BMI 49.7, now 26.0 Lap DGB/DS by Dr. Rabkin 10-19-99 http://www.duodenalswitch.com Direct replies: mailto:melanie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Sherry, you might also want to post this to the DS_PostOpFriends mailing list. I know that lots of post-ops are not active on this list anymore, and some of them may have some good insight for you. To join that list, go to this URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DS_PostOpFriends M. --- in Valrico, FL, age 38 Starting weight 299, now 156 Starting BMI 49.7, now 26.0 Lap DGB/DS by Dr. Rabkin 10-19-99 http://www.duodenalswitch.com Direct replies: mailto:melanie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 > > Sherry, I'm sorry I didn't answer before. My total intestinal > length was 675cm. My alimentary tract was 250cm, of which 100cm > was common channel. The remaining 325cm is the biliary limb. Oops -- I should clarify. My total intestinal length was 675cm. My alimentary tract is comprised of a 250cm food tract and a 100cm common tract. The remaining 325cm is the biliary tract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 > > Sherry, I'm sorry I didn't answer before. My total intestinal > length was 675cm. My alimentary tract was 250cm, of which 100cm > was common channel. The remaining 325cm is the biliary limb. Oops -- I should clarify. My total intestinal length was 675cm. My alimentary tract is comprised of a 250cm food tract and a 100cm common tract. The remaining 325cm is the biliary tract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Hi Sherry: > > I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat > a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you > do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon > being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the > day of surgery! I don't blame you at all for being angry that they switched surgeons on you without your knowledge. This strikes me as, at a minimum, EXTREMELY unethical. With that said, I think you're needlessly worried about the alimentary limb length. But before I get into that, I want to make sure we're talking about the same thing. The alimentary limb carries food from the stomach and delivers it to the " common " limb. According to Dr. Hess, (who created the surgery we commonly refer to as " the DS " ), the alimentary limb should be 40% as long as the original length of the entire small intestine. Dr. Hess' followup study includes 342 women. (I'm ignoring the men because you're a gal.) Among those 342 women, the pre-op lengths of their small intestines ranged from 473 cm to 997 cm, with an average length of 707 cm. Using Dr. Hess' 40% rule, this means that he left these 342 women with alimentary channels ranging from 189 cm to 398.8 cm, with the average patient receiving an alimentary channel length of 282.8 cm. Your length of 250 cm is well within this range. Also, you should note that most docs who perform the surgery by lap don't measure the small intestine. Instead, they use a " standard " length for the alimentary limb. I'm not sure about the rest of them, but I'm pretty sure that the New York docs led by Dr. Gagner use a 250 cm standard common channel. This is exactly the same length as your common channel. I say all of this advisedly, because I don't know how long your small intestine was prior to your surgery. HTH Tom Panniculectomy, Dr. Anthone, 11/10/2000 Open DS, Dr. Anthone, 03/30/2001 11/10/2000 . . . 386 03/30/2001 . . . 360 04/19/2001 . . . 338 05/03/2001 . . . 328 05/18/2001 . . . 316 06/03/2001 . . . 301 06/15/2001 . . . 299 06/25/2001 . . . 293 07/03/2001 . . . 286 07/16/2001 . . . 278 108 Ugly Pounds, GONE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USC DS Support Group: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ds_usc> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Hi Sherry: > > I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat > a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you > do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon > being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the > day of surgery! I don't blame you at all for being angry that they switched surgeons on you without your knowledge. This strikes me as, at a minimum, EXTREMELY unethical. With that said, I think you're needlessly worried about the alimentary limb length. But before I get into that, I want to make sure we're talking about the same thing. The alimentary limb carries food from the stomach and delivers it to the " common " limb. According to Dr. Hess, (who created the surgery we commonly refer to as " the DS " ), the alimentary limb should be 40% as long as the original length of the entire small intestine. Dr. Hess' followup study includes 342 women. (I'm ignoring the men because you're a gal.) Among those 342 women, the pre-op lengths of their small intestines ranged from 473 cm to 997 cm, with an average length of 707 cm. Using Dr. Hess' 40% rule, this means that he left these 342 women with alimentary channels ranging from 189 cm to 398.8 cm, with the average patient receiving an alimentary channel length of 282.8 cm. Your length of 250 cm is well within this range. Also, you should note that most docs who perform the surgery by lap don't measure the small intestine. Instead, they use a " standard " length for the alimentary limb. I'm not sure about the rest of them, but I'm pretty sure that the New York docs led by Dr. Gagner use a 250 cm standard common channel. This is exactly the same length as your common channel. I say all of this advisedly, because I don't know how long your small intestine was prior to your surgery. HTH Tom Panniculectomy, Dr. Anthone, 11/10/2000 Open DS, Dr. Anthone, 03/30/2001 11/10/2000 . . . 386 03/30/2001 . . . 360 04/19/2001 . . . 338 05/03/2001 . . . 328 05/18/2001 . . . 316 06/03/2001 . . . 301 06/15/2001 . . . 299 06/25/2001 . . . 293 07/03/2001 . . . 286 07/16/2001 . . . 278 108 Ugly Pounds, GONE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USC DS Support Group: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ds_usc> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 > > I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It > would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my > weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary > limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I > need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that > word lightly. No offense taken at all! I don't know what the 'average' pre-op length is, but I do know that most surgeons use a calculation by measuring your 'guts' vs. determining how much weight you need to lose, to come up with the measurement that is supposed to be optimum for your case. I know my alimentary limb (common tract, where the food and bile mix, prior to voiding) is 100cm, according to my surgical notes sent to my pcp. Colleen - Iowa Dr. Buchwald U of MN 1-15-01 DS -80# Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 > > I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It > would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my > weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary > limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I > need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that > word lightly. No offense taken at all! I don't know what the 'average' pre-op length is, but I do know that most surgeons use a calculation by measuring your 'guts' vs. determining how much weight you need to lose, to come up with the measurement that is supposed to be optimum for your case. I know my alimentary limb (common tract, where the food and bile mix, prior to voiding) is 100cm, according to my surgical notes sent to my pcp. Colleen - Iowa Dr. Buchwald U of MN 1-15-01 DS -80# Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 I thought 250cm was standard for the alimentary limb. I seem to see that number alot and when I was in consult with Dr. Heap that is the number he gave me. Reading thru all of Dr. Baltasars papers, he does a 250cm also. i think that is the norm. The common channel is where they are changing the length. Mine will be 75cm. Some surgeons do 100cm. Why are you thinking you need a revision? I've been following your loss due to your weight being the same as mine (although I'm 5'8) and because you're in Washington like me...and you've done fabulous. I can tell you're upset. I wish I could help you more. " Sherry " wrote: >Ok, I'm very upset right now. Mainly at the situation that put >me here with the Surgeon scandal that happened the day of my surgery, >but also because it seems people on here can't stop fighting long >enough to answer my question. > >Some of you answered with " you've lost 105 pounds and that is great; >just remember to get your protein first, vegetables second and >avoid carbs " . Now, I know your hearts were definitely in the >right place, but that is seriously not what I asked and I REALLY >need to know. > >PLEASE, how long is your alimentary limb?? I would especially >like to know this from Dr. Welker's patients. Also, how long >is it before they shorten it in surgery, if anyone knows?? > >I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat >a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you >do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon >being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the >day of surgery! > >If I could eat all protein & vegetables and avoid carbs, I >wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place. Carbs >are absorbed in the alimentary limb and to find out that mine >is longer than it should be is upsetting. > >I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It >would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my >weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary >limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I >need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that >word lightly. > >Please don't take offense to anything in this post. It's not >meant to inflame. I'm just trying to express how angry and >upset I am and that I *need* answers, please!! > >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 >self-pay >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 I thought 250cm was standard for the alimentary limb. I seem to see that number alot and when I was in consult with Dr. Heap that is the number he gave me. Reading thru all of Dr. Baltasars papers, he does a 250cm also. i think that is the norm. The common channel is where they are changing the length. Mine will be 75cm. Some surgeons do 100cm. Why are you thinking you need a revision? I've been following your loss due to your weight being the same as mine (although I'm 5'8) and because you're in Washington like me...and you've done fabulous. I can tell you're upset. I wish I could help you more. " Sherry " wrote: >Ok, I'm very upset right now. Mainly at the situation that put >me here with the Surgeon scandal that happened the day of my surgery, >but also because it seems people on here can't stop fighting long >enough to answer my question. > >Some of you answered with " you've lost 105 pounds and that is great; >just remember to get your protein first, vegetables second and >avoid carbs " . Now, I know your hearts were definitely in the >right place, but that is seriously not what I asked and I REALLY >need to know. > >PLEASE, how long is your alimentary limb?? I would especially >like to know this from Dr. Welker's patients. Also, how long >is it before they shorten it in surgery, if anyone knows?? > >I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat >a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you >do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon >being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the >day of surgery! > >If I could eat all protein & vegetables and avoid carbs, I >wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place. Carbs >are absorbed in the alimentary limb and to find out that mine >is longer than it should be is upsetting. > >I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It >would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my >weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary >limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I >need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that >word lightly. > >Please don't take offense to anything in this post. It's not >meant to inflame. I'm just trying to express how angry and >upset I am and that I *need* answers, please!! > >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 >self-pay >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Thanks. The reason I'm worried about it is because someone else who had the same surgeon/surgery problems I did is having trouble losing. Her common channel is 100cm and her alimentary is 250, and she went to Dr. Welker who told her they BOTH need to be shortened in a revision. And had she had the Dr. she wanted, they would have both been shorter to begin with. The other reason I'm upset is because my weight loss is not where it should be, even though it has been " not bad " up til now. The " milemarker " indication is that one should have lost have of what expects to lose from this surgery by the 6 month mark.... Well, I started at 411 (after losing 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts). My *very conservative* goal weight is 180 pounds because I figure I will have about 30 pounds of excess skin to be removed & I am 5'5 " tall. Seems like a very reasonable goal weight to me... So 411 - 180 = 231 Thus 231 is what I should be able to reasonably expect to lose from this surgery. Half of that is 115.5. I'm at 315 right now, which means I've lost 96 pounds since surgery. So to lose half the weight I expect to by 6 months out, that means I need to lose 19.5 pounds by August 2nd. I know there is no way that is going to happen. Especially since I haven't lost a pound since July 6th. The alimentary limb is where carbs are absorbed, from what I understand, and I am more of a carb person than a " fats " person. I feel that if my alimentary limb were shorter (as apparently it would have been if I'd had the surgeon I picked) that my weight loss would be on target, instead of lagging some, as it seems to be doing. The reason I want a lot of people to answer about what their alimentary length is is to see if I am correct in my theory, or just in a state of plateau-induced wacko-ness. I am trying to increase my protein intake and " watch " my carbs a little better, but I fear denying myself too much of anything or I will just get right back into the " diet mentality " and wind up suffering in the long run physically, physiologically, mentally & emotionally. Yes, I think I'm a big baby when it comes to plateaus, but I also think I have a good reason for asking the questions I'm asking. I just " wanna know " ! Thanks so much for your reply, I appreciate it! -Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 self-pay 5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > >Ok, I'm very upset right now. Mainly at the situation that put > >me here with the Surgeon scandal that happened the day of my surgery, > >but also because it seems people on here can't stop fighting long > >enough to answer my question. > > > >Some of you answered with " you've lost 105 pounds and that is great; > >just remember to get your protein first, vegetables second and > >avoid carbs " . Now, I know your hearts were definitely in the > >right place, but that is seriously not what I asked and I REALLY > >need to know. > > > >PLEASE, how long is your alimentary limb?? I would especially > >like to know this from Dr. Welker's patients. Also, how long > >is it before they shorten it in surgery, if anyone knows?? > > > >I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat > >a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you > >do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon > >being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the > >day of surgery! > > > >If I could eat all protein & vegetables and avoid carbs, I > >wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place. Carbs > >are absorbed in the alimentary limb and to find out that mine > >is longer than it should be is upsetting. > > > >I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It > >would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my > >weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary > >limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I > >need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that > >word lightly. > > > >Please don't take offense to anything in this post. It's not > >meant to inflame. I'm just trying to express how angry and > >upset I am and that I *need* answers, please!! > > > >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) > >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 > >self-pay > >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old > >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts > >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! > >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! > >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------- --- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Thanks. The reason I'm worried about it is because someone else who had the same surgeon/surgery problems I did is having trouble losing. Her common channel is 100cm and her alimentary is 250, and she went to Dr. Welker who told her they BOTH need to be shortened in a revision. And had she had the Dr. she wanted, they would have both been shorter to begin with. The other reason I'm upset is because my weight loss is not where it should be, even though it has been " not bad " up til now. The " milemarker " indication is that one should have lost have of what expects to lose from this surgery by the 6 month mark.... Well, I started at 411 (after losing 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts). My *very conservative* goal weight is 180 pounds because I figure I will have about 30 pounds of excess skin to be removed & I am 5'5 " tall. Seems like a very reasonable goal weight to me... So 411 - 180 = 231 Thus 231 is what I should be able to reasonably expect to lose from this surgery. Half of that is 115.5. I'm at 315 right now, which means I've lost 96 pounds since surgery. So to lose half the weight I expect to by 6 months out, that means I need to lose 19.5 pounds by August 2nd. I know there is no way that is going to happen. Especially since I haven't lost a pound since July 6th. The alimentary limb is where carbs are absorbed, from what I understand, and I am more of a carb person than a " fats " person. I feel that if my alimentary limb were shorter (as apparently it would have been if I'd had the surgeon I picked) that my weight loss would be on target, instead of lagging some, as it seems to be doing. The reason I want a lot of people to answer about what their alimentary length is is to see if I am correct in my theory, or just in a state of plateau-induced wacko-ness. I am trying to increase my protein intake and " watch " my carbs a little better, but I fear denying myself too much of anything or I will just get right back into the " diet mentality " and wind up suffering in the long run physically, physiologically, mentally & emotionally. Yes, I think I'm a big baby when it comes to plateaus, but I also think I have a good reason for asking the questions I'm asking. I just " wanna know " ! Thanks so much for your reply, I appreciate it! -Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 self-pay 5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > >Ok, I'm very upset right now. Mainly at the situation that put > >me here with the Surgeon scandal that happened the day of my surgery, > >but also because it seems people on here can't stop fighting long > >enough to answer my question. > > > >Some of you answered with " you've lost 105 pounds and that is great; > >just remember to get your protein first, vegetables second and > >avoid carbs " . Now, I know your hearts were definitely in the > >right place, but that is seriously not what I asked and I REALLY > >need to know. > > > >PLEASE, how long is your alimentary limb?? I would especially > >like to know this from Dr. Welker's patients. Also, how long > >is it before they shorten it in surgery, if anyone knows?? > > > >I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat > >a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you > >do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon > >being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the > >day of surgery! > > > >If I could eat all protein & vegetables and avoid carbs, I > >wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place. Carbs > >are absorbed in the alimentary limb and to find out that mine > >is longer than it should be is upsetting. > > > >I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It > >would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my > >weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary > >limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I > >need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that > >word lightly. > > > >Please don't take offense to anything in this post. It's not > >meant to inflame. I'm just trying to express how angry and > >upset I am and that I *need* answers, please!! > > > >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) > >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 > >self-pay > >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old > >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts > >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! > >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! > >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------- --- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 - I really appreciate your answers. I crave numbers, figures & such. It's really good to know how well you're doing with the same length common channel & alimentary limb that I have. I started out a lot heavier than you though, and am afraid I might be more of a carb person than you are. Do you have any idea how many carbs you get in a day? Have you ever tracked it? I just like to see where I compare with others. Also, do you know at what rate you absorb carbs with a 250cm alimentary - is it about 50%? Just curious. Thanks for all the info & support. Take care! -Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 self-pay 5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > > > Sherry, I'm sorry I didn't answer before. My total intestinal > > length was 675cm. My alimentary tract was 250cm, of which 100cm > > was common channel. The remaining 325cm is the biliary limb. > > Oops -- I should clarify. My total intestinal length was 675cm. My > alimentary tract is comprised of a 250cm food tract and a 100cm > common tract. The remaining 325cm is the biliary tract. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 - I really appreciate your answers. I crave numbers, figures & such. It's really good to know how well you're doing with the same length common channel & alimentary limb that I have. I started out a lot heavier than you though, and am afraid I might be more of a carb person than you are. Do you have any idea how many carbs you get in a day? Have you ever tracked it? I just like to see where I compare with others. Also, do you know at what rate you absorb carbs with a 250cm alimentary - is it about 50%? Just curious. Thanks for all the info & support. Take care! -Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 self-pay 5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > > > Sherry, I'm sorry I didn't answer before. My total intestinal > > length was 675cm. My alimentary tract was 250cm, of which 100cm > > was common channel. The remaining 325cm is the biliary limb. > > Oops -- I should clarify. My total intestinal length was 675cm. My > alimentary tract is comprised of a 250cm food tract and a 100cm > common tract. The remaining 325cm is the biliary tract. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Tom- I really appreciate your well-thought-out reply. I discussed with my Surgeon the fact that my body was SO EFFICIENT at making & storing fat that I wanted the slightly smaller common channel, etc. In some ways I think I'm overly-worried about it, and in others I see the very real figures in black & white that I have not lost as much as I should have at this point. (I need to lose 19.5 pounds in the next 2 weeks in order to have lost half of my excess weight by the 6 month mark). I've been driving my husband crazy speculating about it, so I guess it's only fair I do the same thing to ya'll. LOL Thanks for your reply. -Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 self-pay 5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > Hi Sherry: > > > > I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat > > a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you > > do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon > > being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the > > day of surgery! > > I don't blame you at all for being angry that they switched surgeons > on you without your knowledge. This strikes me as, at a minimum, > EXTREMELY unethical. > > With that said, I think you're needlessly worried about the > alimentary limb length. But before I get into that, I want to make > sure we're talking about the same thing. > > The alimentary limb carries food from the stomach and delivers it to > the " common " limb. According to Dr. Hess, (who created the surgery > we commonly refer to as " the DS " ), the alimentary limb should be 40% > as long as the original length of the entire small intestine. > > Dr. Hess' followup study includes 342 women. (I'm ignoring the men > because you're a gal.) Among those 342 women, the pre-op lengths of > their small intestines ranged from 473 cm to 997 cm, with an average > length of 707 cm. Using Dr. Hess' 40% rule, this means that he left > these 342 women with alimentary channels ranging from 189 cm to 398.8 > cm, with the average patient receiving an alimentary channel length > of 282.8 cm. Your length of 250 cm is well within this range. > > Also, you should note that most docs who perform the surgery by lap > don't measure the small intestine. Instead, they use a " standard " > length for the alimentary limb. I'm not sure about the rest of them, > but I'm pretty sure that the New York docs led by Dr. Gagner use a > 250 cm standard common channel. This is exactly the same length as > your common channel. > > I say all of this advisedly, because I don't know how long your small > intestine was prior to your surgery. > > HTH > > Tom > > Panniculectomy, Dr. Anthone, 11/10/2000 > Open DS, Dr. Anthone, 03/30/2001 > 11/10/2000 . . . 386 > 03/30/2001 . . . 360 > 04/19/2001 . . . 338 > 05/03/2001 . . . 328 > 05/18/2001 . . . 316 > 06/03/2001 . . . 301 > 06/15/2001 . . . 299 > 06/25/2001 . . . 293 > 07/03/2001 . . . 286 > 07/16/2001 . . . 278 > 108 Ugly Pounds, GONE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > USC DS Support Group: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ds_usc> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Tom- I really appreciate your well-thought-out reply. I discussed with my Surgeon the fact that my body was SO EFFICIENT at making & storing fat that I wanted the slightly smaller common channel, etc. In some ways I think I'm overly-worried about it, and in others I see the very real figures in black & white that I have not lost as much as I should have at this point. (I need to lose 19.5 pounds in the next 2 weeks in order to have lost half of my excess weight by the 6 month mark). I've been driving my husband crazy speculating about it, so I guess it's only fair I do the same thing to ya'll. LOL Thanks for your reply. -Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 self-pay 5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > Hi Sherry: > > > > I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat > > a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you > > do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon > > being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the > > day of surgery! > > I don't blame you at all for being angry that they switched surgeons > on you without your knowledge. This strikes me as, at a minimum, > EXTREMELY unethical. > > With that said, I think you're needlessly worried about the > alimentary limb length. But before I get into that, I want to make > sure we're talking about the same thing. > > The alimentary limb carries food from the stomach and delivers it to > the " common " limb. According to Dr. Hess, (who created the surgery > we commonly refer to as " the DS " ), the alimentary limb should be 40% > as long as the original length of the entire small intestine. > > Dr. Hess' followup study includes 342 women. (I'm ignoring the men > because you're a gal.) Among those 342 women, the pre-op lengths of > their small intestines ranged from 473 cm to 997 cm, with an average > length of 707 cm. Using Dr. Hess' 40% rule, this means that he left > these 342 women with alimentary channels ranging from 189 cm to 398.8 > cm, with the average patient receiving an alimentary channel length > of 282.8 cm. Your length of 250 cm is well within this range. > > Also, you should note that most docs who perform the surgery by lap > don't measure the small intestine. Instead, they use a " standard " > length for the alimentary limb. I'm not sure about the rest of them, > but I'm pretty sure that the New York docs led by Dr. Gagner use a > 250 cm standard common channel. This is exactly the same length as > your common channel. > > I say all of this advisedly, because I don't know how long your small > intestine was prior to your surgery. > > HTH > > Tom > > Panniculectomy, Dr. Anthone, 11/10/2000 > Open DS, Dr. Anthone, 03/30/2001 > 11/10/2000 . . . 386 > 03/30/2001 . . . 360 > 04/19/2001 . . . 338 > 05/03/2001 . . . 328 > 05/18/2001 . . . 316 > 06/03/2001 . . . 301 > 06/15/2001 . . . 299 > 06/25/2001 . . . 293 > 07/03/2001 . . . 286 > 07/16/2001 . . . 278 > 108 Ugly Pounds, GONE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > USC DS Support Group: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ds_usc> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Dear Sherry: I am also 250cm and it took me 19 months to lose all my weight not one year. I also have to tell you I still don't own a scale and during those 19 months I only weighed myself once a month at the most and if I was ever on a plateau I am not aware of it as I did not worry about it. I trusted the surgery to do what Dr. Anthone said it would and it did. I ate lots of protein and never denied myself anything I wanted including carbs but then as now I still crave protein first, I eat any veggies I have a taste for, I eat potatoes or yams or rice of some kind for dinner each night and I eat something sweet everyday although I had no taste for sweets until I was around 19 months out except for regular Coke. Try to relax and give your body a chance to do what it is supposed to do then if there is a problem then you can decide on your next step. Huggles, Tiger Lake Female 160 lbs. BMI 21.7 224lbs gone 165 1/2 inches gone 6' -- 53yrs young Dr. Anthone@USC So. Calif. Open DS Surgery 1/13/99 384lbs BMI 51.21 Last Visit 4/20/99 315.5 BMI 42.07 7/19/99 274.8 BMI 36.64 9/03/99 259.3 BMI 34.54 10/04/99 252.4 BMI 34.02 10/25/99 231 BMI 32 12/17/99 217.5 BMI 30.2 01/19/00 211 BMI 28 02/20/00 195 BMI 26 04/08/00 182.9 BMI 25 Hernia repair on 06/07/00 Dr. Anthone Tummy Tuck & Breast Reduction Dr. Downey 06/07/00 160 BMI 21.7 01/08/01 164.3 BMI 21.7 Total Weight Loss! 224.1lbs GONE! Total inches lost 154.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Dear Sherry: I am also 250cm and it took me 19 months to lose all my weight not one year. I also have to tell you I still don't own a scale and during those 19 months I only weighed myself once a month at the most and if I was ever on a plateau I am not aware of it as I did not worry about it. I trusted the surgery to do what Dr. Anthone said it would and it did. I ate lots of protein and never denied myself anything I wanted including carbs but then as now I still crave protein first, I eat any veggies I have a taste for, I eat potatoes or yams or rice of some kind for dinner each night and I eat something sweet everyday although I had no taste for sweets until I was around 19 months out except for regular Coke. Try to relax and give your body a chance to do what it is supposed to do then if there is a problem then you can decide on your next step. Huggles, Tiger Lake Female 160 lbs. BMI 21.7 224lbs gone 165 1/2 inches gone 6' -- 53yrs young Dr. Anthone@USC So. Calif. Open DS Surgery 1/13/99 384lbs BMI 51.21 Last Visit 4/20/99 315.5 BMI 42.07 7/19/99 274.8 BMI 36.64 9/03/99 259.3 BMI 34.54 10/04/99 252.4 BMI 34.02 10/25/99 231 BMI 32 12/17/99 217.5 BMI 30.2 01/19/00 211 BMI 28 02/20/00 195 BMI 26 04/08/00 182.9 BMI 25 Hernia repair on 06/07/00 Dr. Anthone Tummy Tuck & Breast Reduction Dr. Downey 06/07/00 160 BMI 21.7 01/08/01 164.3 BMI 21.7 Total Weight Loss! 224.1lbs GONE! Total inches lost 154.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 I'm very interested in your answer...I also am a carb eater so if this is true I'll have to talk to Dr. Baltasar about it. I don't want to run into the same thing if there is a way to do something before hand. I'm sorry you're so stressed. I know things like this can be very disheartening. Hang in there...You are doing great! AJ " Sherry " wrote: >Thanks. The reason I'm worried about it is because someone else >who had the same surgeon/surgery problems I did is having trouble >losing. Her common channel is 100cm and her alimentary is 250, >and she went to Dr. Welker who told her they BOTH need to be >shortened in a revision. And had she had the Dr. she wanted, they >would have both been shorter to begin with. > >The other reason I'm upset is because my weight loss is not where >it should be, even though it has been " not bad " up til now. The > " milemarker " indication is that one should have lost have of what >expects to lose from this surgery by the 6 month mark.... > >Well, I started at 411 (after losing 9 pounds in pre-op weight >loss efforts). My *very conservative* goal weight is 180 pounds >because I figure I will have about 30 pounds of excess skin to >be removed & I am 5'5 " tall. Seems like a very reasonable goal >weight to me... > >So 411 - 180 = 231 Thus 231 is what I should be able to reasonably >expect to lose from this surgery. Half of that is 115.5. I'm at >315 right now, which means I've lost 96 pounds since surgery. > >So to lose half the weight I expect to by 6 months out, that means >I need to lose 19.5 pounds by August 2nd. I know there is no way >that is going to happen. Especially since I haven't lost a pound >since July 6th. > >The alimentary limb is where carbs are absorbed, from what I >understand, and I am more of a carb person than a " fats " person. >I feel that if my alimentary limb were shorter (as apparently >it would have been if I'd had the surgeon I picked) that my >weight loss would be on target, instead of lagging some, as it >seems to be doing. > >The reason I want a lot of people to answer about what their >alimentary length is is to see if I am correct in my theory, >or just in a state of plateau-induced wacko-ness. > >I am trying to increase my protein intake and " watch " my carbs >a little better, but I fear denying myself too much of anything >or I will just get right back into the " diet mentality " and >wind up suffering in the long run physically, physiologically, >mentally & emotionally. > >Yes, I think I'm a big baby when it comes to plateaus, but I >also think I have a good reason for asking the questions I'm >asking. I just " wanna know " ! > >Thanks so much for your reply, I appreciate it! > >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 >self-pay >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > >> >> >Ok, I'm very upset right now. Mainly at the situation that put >> >me here with the Surgeon scandal that happened the day of my >surgery, >> >but also because it seems people on here can't stop fighting long >> >enough to answer my question. >> > >> >Some of you answered with " you've lost 105 pounds and that is >great; >> >just remember to get your protein first, vegetables second and >> >avoid carbs " . Now, I know your hearts were definitely in the >> >right place, but that is seriously not what I asked and I REALLY >> >need to know. >> > >> >PLEASE, how long is your alimentary limb?? I would especially >> >like to know this from Dr. Welker's patients. Also, how long >> >is it before they shorten it in surgery, if anyone knows?? >> > >> >I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat >> >a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you >> >do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon >> >being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the >> >day of surgery! >> > >> >If I could eat all protein & vegetables and avoid carbs, I >> >wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place. Carbs >> >are absorbed in the alimentary limb and to find out that mine >> >is longer than it should be is upsetting. >> > >> >I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It >> >would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my >> >weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary >> >limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I >> >need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that >> >word lightly. >> > >> >Please don't take offense to anything in this post. It's not >> >meant to inflame. I'm just trying to express how angry and >> >upset I am and that I *need* answers, please!! >> > >> >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) >> >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 >> >self-pay >> >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old >> >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts >> >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! >> >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! >> >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ >> > >> > >> >------------------------------------------------------------------- >--- >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 I'm very interested in your answer...I also am a carb eater so if this is true I'll have to talk to Dr. Baltasar about it. I don't want to run into the same thing if there is a way to do something before hand. I'm sorry you're so stressed. I know things like this can be very disheartening. Hang in there...You are doing great! AJ " Sherry " wrote: >Thanks. The reason I'm worried about it is because someone else >who had the same surgeon/surgery problems I did is having trouble >losing. Her common channel is 100cm and her alimentary is 250, >and she went to Dr. Welker who told her they BOTH need to be >shortened in a revision. And had she had the Dr. she wanted, they >would have both been shorter to begin with. > >The other reason I'm upset is because my weight loss is not where >it should be, even though it has been " not bad " up til now. The > " milemarker " indication is that one should have lost have of what >expects to lose from this surgery by the 6 month mark.... > >Well, I started at 411 (after losing 9 pounds in pre-op weight >loss efforts). My *very conservative* goal weight is 180 pounds >because I figure I will have about 30 pounds of excess skin to >be removed & I am 5'5 " tall. Seems like a very reasonable goal >weight to me... > >So 411 - 180 = 231 Thus 231 is what I should be able to reasonably >expect to lose from this surgery. Half of that is 115.5. I'm at >315 right now, which means I've lost 96 pounds since surgery. > >So to lose half the weight I expect to by 6 months out, that means >I need to lose 19.5 pounds by August 2nd. I know there is no way >that is going to happen. Especially since I haven't lost a pound >since July 6th. > >The alimentary limb is where carbs are absorbed, from what I >understand, and I am more of a carb person than a " fats " person. >I feel that if my alimentary limb were shorter (as apparently >it would have been if I'd had the surgeon I picked) that my >weight loss would be on target, instead of lagging some, as it >seems to be doing. > >The reason I want a lot of people to answer about what their >alimentary length is is to see if I am correct in my theory, >or just in a state of plateau-induced wacko-ness. > >I am trying to increase my protein intake and " watch " my carbs >a little better, but I fear denying myself too much of anything >or I will just get right back into the " diet mentality " and >wind up suffering in the long run physically, physiologically, >mentally & emotionally. > >Yes, I think I'm a big baby when it comes to plateaus, but I >also think I have a good reason for asking the questions I'm >asking. I just " wanna know " ! > >Thanks so much for your reply, I appreciate it! > >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 >self-pay >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ > > >> >> >Ok, I'm very upset right now. Mainly at the situation that put >> >me here with the Surgeon scandal that happened the day of my >surgery, >> >but also because it seems people on here can't stop fighting long >> >enough to answer my question. >> > >> >Some of you answered with " you've lost 105 pounds and that is >great; >> >just remember to get your protein first, vegetables second and >> >avoid carbs " . Now, I know your hearts were definitely in the >> >right place, but that is seriously not what I asked and I REALLY >> >need to know. >> > >> >PLEASE, how long is your alimentary limb?? I would especially >> >like to know this from Dr. Welker's patients. Also, how long >> >is it before they shorten it in surgery, if anyone knows?? >> > >> >I'm so upset because when I eat a piece of bread and you eat >> >a piece of bread, *I* absorb more calories from it than you >> >do because my alimentary limb is longer because of my surgeon >> >being snatched out from under me (without my knowledge) on the >> >day of surgery! >> > >> >If I could eat all protein & vegetables and avoid carbs, I >> >wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place. Carbs >> >are absorbed in the alimentary limb and to find out that mine >> >is longer than it should be is upsetting. >> > >> >I need to know how long most of them are made these days. It >> >would be comforting to hear of someone who started at my >> >weight (420) who made it down to goal with a 250cm alimentary >> >limb. But I don't think that's gonna happen. I think I >> >need a revision and that's INFURIATING. And I don't use that >> >word lightly. >> > >> >Please don't take offense to anything in this post. It's not >> >meant to inflame. I'm just trying to express how angry and >> >upset I am and that I *need* answers, please!! >> > >> >-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA) >> >BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001 >> >self-pay >> >5'5 " / 315 pounds / 33 years old >> >Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts >> >Have lost 96 pounds since surgery! >> >Total of 105 pounds gone forEVER! >> >http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/ >> > >> > >> >------------------------------------------------------------------- >--- >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 I had my surgery on May 11th, my alimentary limb is 75cm, I think you meant your common channel...I dont think anyone has an alimentary limb that short...LOL ~~* AJ *~~ BMI 59 Surgery date 7/24/01 going self pay - Dr Baltasar Spain Check out the Bellingham Support for WLS WWW.lookin2bthin.homestead.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 I had my surgery on May 11th, my alimentary limb is 75cm, I think you meant your common channel...I dont think anyone has an alimentary limb that short...LOL ~~* AJ *~~ BMI 59 Surgery date 7/24/01 going self pay - Dr Baltasar Spain Check out the Bellingham Support for WLS WWW.lookin2bthin.homestead.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 In a message dated 7/17/01 10:23:42 PM, duodenalswitch writes: << I'm very interested in your answer...I also am a carb eater so if this is true I'll have to talk to Dr. Baltasar about it. I don't want to run into the same thing if there is a way to do something before hand. I'm sorry you're so stressed. I know things like this can be very disheartening. Hang in there...You are doing great! >> Sherry: Sometimes I worry about this, too --- eating carbs and all. I was a real heavy carb eater as a pre-op (no pun intended LOL). Now, I focus on protein and really don't have room for an excessive amount of carbs like before. I do eat them, though. My situation is different from the original poster's, though - I have lost 50 pct of my excess weight (about 70) at five months out, even though it has seemed pretty slow up to now. I want to get down to 170 and started at 307. I'm now 236.... about 70 more lbs to go, man! AGH The halfway point is the worst!!!! I'm not totally sure whether or not certain people's body's will utilize carbs more efficiently (i.e. - store them) even after the DS. But, I do know that I had only lost 15 lbs at three weeks out (whereas others had lost 20-25) and I mainly ate PROTEIN with a passion. I had little if any carbs (absolutely no room for it!). So, I know that my loss was not as fast as others to begin with and the carbs were not even an issue at that point. I also have a 250 alimentary/100 cm common channel. I have been very satisfied with my loss and rate of loss (my skin has adjusted really well, I've felt great for the most part). BUT, I can obsess about it and wonder whether it will just 'slow down' or 'stop' whenever I'm on a plateau. My body really tends to fight the surgery and hangs on for dear life. Then, I get an extremely rapid loss for a few days and level out... once again. Sigh. I think you have some good questions -- I wish there was some more research about this topic and how carbs are processed, etc. You can try the real protein-intensive approach and see if it works... I'm not *totally* convinced that it's what one eats. I think each body really reacts differently and will go at it's own rate regardless..... all the best, lap ds with gallbladder removal January 25, 2001 five months post-op and still feelin' fabu! pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'9 1/2 " ) now: 236 (and still goin' down????) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.