Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 Hi Cari! I bought a recliner to put next to my bed and it is STILL there and I could not have survived recovery without it! I found it used, a Lazy- Boy in great shape for next to nothing and it has served me well! It made sleeping and getting up and down the first 6 weeks or so post-op ds as well as post op Tummy tuck and hernia repair so much easier! I honestly could not have gotten through that recovery period without it. I volunteered full-time as an office assistant at the Red Cross before surgery and it was a good 3-4 months post-op before I had the energy to get up, shower, get dressed, drive 15 miles, and walk down that long corridor as well as spend a full day in the office, plus taking care of home, kids, and honey! This is one of those things that is different for everyone. Some people are ready to roll back into fulltime work and school in just weeks, some take longer. Post- op complications can make this time stretch even longer for many as well. Hair loss, ICK! I experienced it by the handfuls and I cried! It was not a happy experience but it is one that allowed me to do something I had always thought of but never dared! I simply cut my hair from almost waist length to a VERY short cropped cut because it was easier to care for, and it has grown back in thicker, stronger, and healthier than it was preop! Nothing I took, swallowed, ate, or slathered on it helped, it simply fell out and I couldn't stop it, but it only lasted a few months (between my 3rd and 6th months postop), and now I have a short, thick, healthy, sassy, and fun haircut I love! Someday I will let it grow again, but not yet!. Why did I chose the ds? Simple, because I like food but hated being fat! I enjoy eating but hate vomiting, and this surgery allowed me to live a more normal life than those I know who have had the RNY! There are so many plusses to the ds, so many reasons why I chose it over the RNY or other surgeries, but it all boils down to this, I simply wanted the BEST Weight Loss Surgery available and my research showed me that THIS IS IT!! Cindee www.geocities.com/firecoupleinca 5 feet 5 inches tall 252 highest weight April 2002 - size 26/28 3X - BMI 42 238 preop weight October 2002 - size 22/24 2X - BMI 39 DS surgery 10/15/02 Hernia Repair/Tummy Tuck 01/09/04 post-op weight 136 - BMI 23 Todays weight 149 BMI - 25 Size 8/9/10 and feeling healthy, and happy again! > > Hello everyone...I have a couple more weeks until surgery if all goes > as planned...but I have some questions for those that can help!!! I > am 26, 5'9, about 300lbs. > > 1. Would you reccommend that a bed is suitable for recovery time or > should I rent a recliner? > > 2. For those of you who had to return to a job full time...how may > weeks after surgery were you able to return? > > 3. Have any of you experienced hair loss? Have you done something > to prevent it from occuring? I am taking a vitamin called Biotin > that helps with hair growth...someone had reccomended it to me. > > 4. What made you choose the DS surgery vs. other bariatric surgeries? > > I have met a few people through this group. I am interested hearing > from anyone. Thanks to all of you in advanced and congratulations on > your weight loss! Oh and if there is anyone out there who started > out maybe close to my age, weight...etc...let me know. :-) -Cari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 > > Hello everyone...I have a couple more weeks until surgery if all goes > as planned...but I have some questions for those that can help!!! I > am 26, 5'9, about 300lbs. > > 1. Would you reccommend that a bed is suitable for recovery time or > should I rent a recliner? > > 2. For those of you who had to return to a job full time...how may > weeks after surgery were you able to return? > > 3. Have any of you experienced hair loss? Have you done something > to prevent it from occuring? I am taking a vitamin called Biotin > that helps with hair growth...someone had reccomended it to me. > > 4. What made you choose the DS surgery vs. other bariatric surgeries? > > I have met a few people through this group. I am interested hearing > from anyone. Thanks to all of you in advanced and congratulations on > your weight loss! Oh and if there is anyone out there who started > out maybe close to my age, weight...etc...let me know. :-) -Cari ***************************************** Cari, Your question regarding the recliner depends on the individual (just like everything else involved in this surgery!). After sleeping in the hospital recliner for 2 nights (and my lower back killing me), I only wanted to sleep in a bed. Thereafter, I slept only in bed. Of course, I didn't shift sides much in the night since I was hooked up to my drains - until they were pulled. My inclination is to say where ever you are most comfortable pre-op - where ever you get the best and most comfortable rest. I was fortunate enough to not be working when I had my surgery - so, returning to work was not an official issue. Through-out the whole process of surgery and recovery I never experienced any pain at all (except for the before mentioned backache) -which is very unusual. However, had I been working, it would have been several weeks until I returned to work because of my " tiredness " - which I eventually realized was paralyzing lethargy related to depression. My reason for telling you all this is - if you are on anti-depressants - be sure post-op to take an appropriate med for the short common channel. Hair loss, at least in my opinion, is the luck of the draw. At 8 months out, neither me nor my hair dresser have detected a loss. However, I keep my hair colored (every 6 weeks to cover grey) and cut fairly short. I recently read that coloring the hair tends to thicken the hair shaft and make the hair appear thicker. So, ...? Concerning the various procedures for weight loss surgeries, I defer to our good Drs. K & Z web-site. Cari, in case you don't know it, it is: www.gr-ds.com Click on the (I think it's called) Comparison of Surgeries. This gives you a good basic idea of your choices. I am just horrified to think that I ever considered the RNY!!! Thank goodness for the DS and Dr. K! HTH, Melinda in NM Open DS w/Dr. K 2/10/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 Hi Cari, I am 38 - had surgery 2 1/2 years ago. I weigh 141 pounds now. I am 5'8 " . I chose the DS in all honesty for the post op ability to eat and the malabsorption factor to not gain it back. - Basically, quality of life. I knew that if I had the RNY I would not get malabsorption enough to not regain my weight and I didn't want to live with a little pouch - I wanted a stomach! I wanted to be able to eat! I knew that having a smaller stomach wouldn't change my head and that I would still be a food lover/ overeater. Years of counselling hadn't cured that and I didn't think a surgery would either - be it RNY, Lapband or the DS. So the DS it was. I have NO REGRETS!!! WOuld do it again in a heartbeat!! hugs, cindy lee > > 4. What made you choose the DS surgery vs. other bariatric surgeries? > -Cari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 1. I used a recliner. That was how I slept for two or so years prior to losing weight, however. Now I no longer suffer from daily back pain, only have it after cleaning house. 2. I returned to work on post-op day 19. 3. I lost hair for about six weeks. It was definitely noticeable. I wear my hair short which helped. (I am now growing it out). I did nothing to prevent it and don't believe any of that stuff helps. 4. No question. Until I heard about the DS I would not have had WLS. I see patients with complications from other surgeries. Marta DS 4/3/2 BMI 50 Now size four Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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