Questions, comments, reflections, etc., fairly long - ok very long!

November 20, 2001

Also, for those few of us with the constipation issue rather than the

reverse....are we really malabsorbing? Dr. A says I am malabsorbing, but he

is simply going by my weight loss. However, until recently, I really was

eating very little, so I think it may reflect that more than any

malabsorption going on. If everything I eat is sitting there for a week,

wouldn't more of it be being absorbed?>>>>>>>

Dawna: REst assured we all WILL be malapsorbing for the rest of our lives!

Everyone's body is different, of course, and some bodies adjust quicker

but they STILL malapsorb. That's why we'll ALWAYS have to take supplements

and ensure that we get enough protein in, no matter how long we are post-op.

With only anything from 50-100 cm of intestines (plus about 5 cm of duodenum)

fully 'functional' for digestion, there is no way we will ever make up for

that totally as far as we now know. The intestines DO accomodate and that's

the GOOD news --- we grow thicker receptors, elongate, etc. in order to

maximize what little we do use to absorb. This usually occurs from 12-18

months out. Some people may 'stop' losing at 9 months or more but it could

also be that their weight loss has slowed down considerably even though it

hasn't 'ceased' alltogether.

I am nine months post-op and I'm still on a roll... I'm always afraid that

this will 'be the end' and wonder whether I will get any smaller. However,

at this point (when I'm down to a size 16 and feel GREAT!) I'm less anxious.

I've lost about 15 lbs in the past two months (down from 215-213 to 200 now).

I'm hoping to lose about 30-40 more to be in the 160's (this is my 'normal'

bmi range for my height of 5'10 " ). I think I may just make it! Yahoo!!!!

I expect that I'll have quite a few loooong plateaus but I hope I hold out

until at least 12 months post-op....

Also, for your question about constiptation and malapsorption... Since the

food is most likely sitting in your colon, I don't know if it is still being

'absorbed' per se. It has most likely gone through the common channel and is

sitting there in the colon (which is 'slow' or 'sluggish' for some reason)...

Have you tried some anti-constipation tricks (like fiber, etc.)? Perhaps

this will help..

All the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

nine months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 200 lbs/size sweet 16/large in normal people's clothing! Yahoo!

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