That’s some nice progress! How long ago was your surgery? And what kind of surgery was it?
Wow! You look fantastic. It’s really amazing to compare your pre-op pictures to your new ones. You look like a whole new woman and I’m sure you probably feel like one too.
My surgery was in June of '06. So I’m about 10 months out. The surgery was the (brace yourself) biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, usually just abbreviated DS for duodenal switch. What all that means is that they cut my stomach capacity down to about 4oz. (but unlike the “stomach stapling”, they actually removed most of my stomach, not just stapled it off; also, I still have a functioning pyloric valve); they also re-routed my intestines so that I malabsorb about 80% of the fat that I eat, as well as about 50% of the protein, and about 30% of the complex carbs. The only thing I absorb 100% are simple carbs, so I go easy on them.
I couldn’t begin to tell you how different I feel!
I’ve never heard of that. Does it have another name? Such as roux en Y?
I’m looking at 9 month data for our patients, and it seems that loss of excess body weight averages at about 46% for almost all procedures except lap bands. Oddly enough, at 6 months, the average is about 55%. So either people gain during those months, or my data is screwy. I’m not sure which I’d rather have it be! 
Wow Norine, you look fantastic!
If I hadn’t know that your “before” & current pictures were both you, I wouldn’t have even realized they were the same woman!
No, the roux en y is the classic “stomach stapling” (although in the distal RNY, they do still bypass a fair amount of intestine, for the advantage of malabsorbing. If you want to see a sketch of what was done to me, go to Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch - DSSurgery. It’s been done in this country for about 15 years, but is now gaining more wide-spread acceptance. Statistically, the DS provides a somewhat higher percentage of excess weight lost and better weight loss maintenance than the RNY. The trade offs are that it’s a more complex procedure, plus with more malabsorption, you have to be really compliant about vitamins/supplements and regular labwork.
y’oughta see me when I’m wearing makeup! 
Huh. I just find it really strange because while this may not be the leading bariatric hospital in the world, it’s pretty cutting edge. (Pun intended.) That procedure is not even on the list. Maybe that goes under “other.”
Perhaps so. OTOH, there are probably only 40 or so surgical practices in the country that do this particular surgery (because it’s pretty complex, and because it’s harder to get insurance to pay for; it’s also less lucrative. I’m not implying your hospital’s only “in it for the money”, but a lot of bariatric surgeons look at the bottom line, and decide not to do the DS). So if there’s no DS surgeon in your area, that would explain it not being done at your hospital.
The new pictures are great norinew You do look like a different person.
Congratulations on your progress! It really sounds like you’re doing everything right.
I only managed 6100+ steps yesterday on my pedometer because I didn’t take my morning walk. I didn’t get up again this morning. My band is performing at a big resort hotel every night this week and working days and gigging nights makes for a long, long day and not much extra time for exercise.
It also makes for lots of activity and little time to eat so I’m down to 170 this morning. I’ll take it. Even if it’s only for a day.
Ha! Good thing you weren’t watching a few minutes ago when I was eating that Pop Tart! Seriously, I’ve found that the occasionaly forays into JunkFoodLand don’t hurt, as long as they are truly occasional, and I’m careful to get enough protein and fluids and all my supplements. I try to exercise several times a week, too, but this week, kidney problems once again. For some reason, for the past three months or so, my left kidney has been infection, infection, infection! I’m thinking that the antibiotics I’ve been taking help me for a little while, but don’t get rid of all the bacteria, and as soon as I’m off the antibiotics, the bacteria starts growing again, and bam! I’m back to the infection. Last night, the pain was almost bad enough to send me to the ER. I’m having problems getting the attention of a doctor today, so I may end up at the ER anyway. 
Anyway, sounds like you’re doing really well, too. And I think we’re all successful, just for hanging in there, even when it’s tough!
Let me add my congratulations for your great weight loss, **Norine. **You really do look great!
I walked over 3 1/2 miles yesterday. That’s a new record for me. By the end, I was feeling as tired as I used to feel having walked 2 or 2 1/2 miles but I could have walked more if I had to. What a difference new shoes make!
Thanks! I’m really pleased. I do kinda wish that my boobs (which were by no means large to start with) hadn’t decided to leave the premises. . .
I console myself with the idea that in another 6 months or so, I should be a “normal” enough bra size to get a Wonderbra! And in a couple of years, I’m goin’ to Brazil, and comin’ back with whole new equipment! 
My boobs were sizable to start with but now they’re two limp bags of flab. Plus, looking in the mirror, I can see a definite difference in size between the left and the right that wasn’t so apparent before…maybe even two cup sizes worth.
Brazil is out of the question for me but I sometimes like to imagine using a bicycle pump to re-inflate them.
I have the same problem. Solution? Push-up bra. My boobs look fabulous.
I’m losing my boobs, too!
Of course, in my case, it’s a good thing…
I have been bemoaning the fact that Wonderbras do not come in a size 42B (is that a ridiculous bra size or what??). However, I did find, available for mail-order, some bra extenders, which would allow me to buy a Wonderbra in 38B and then turn it into a 42B.
Dopers forgive me for I have eaten, it has been some time since my last weigh-in.
I am really glad I got back to my support group befor March ended, that was very important to me somehow. It’s been a bad month plus, but I have a handle on it again. Last month, the 23rd to be exact, came my birthday, and frankly, I let myself go, both in the eating, drinking and not exercising departments. And while you don’t need to hear my problems, let’s just say that work has not been helping to uplift me from my doldrums.
So, on the 23rd of March I rededicated myself to diet and exercise and things have been going better. The exercise has really helped with stress reduction, and getting up at 4:30 means that when I go to bed I really do sleep (instead of replaying my workday in my head for a couple of hours.) So, go me! 
I have decided that I am going to use the situation at work to motivate me and make me feel better about myself, so far so good.
I was really glad to learn that I had not done as much harm in that month as I feared. It was mostly the formal exercise that suffered, and I guess tossing and turning as well as stress burns more calories than I thought.
Envelope please…
the numbres are:
280 / 258.5 / 175
No wonder you are Smuggy J. Smuggerton.
Scale says 291.5 this morning. Moving average is at 295.4, down almost 35 pounds from my peak. And still moving the right direction.
Lane. Bryant.