4 Months Post-op - BPD-DS (Duodenal Switch)

[@thulisamkhencele]

You look amazing Roy. Keep going and thanks for these updates.

[@roypadrick1286]

Thank you so much! It's been a journey for sure. I am so happy you appreciate these updates. Feel free to ask me anything I don't cover in the videos.

[@lindawilder2393]

Hi Roy - I hope you are doing good since your bpd-ds!!

[@roypadrick1286]

Hi Linda! I need to upload a new video, but I'm doing great! Down to 166 after 9 months!

[@lindawilder2393]

@@roypadrick1286 Wow - that's fantastic!!

[@lindawilder7225]

Hello Roy! You are doing fantastic!! I have been researching surgery for several years now. I need to lose 200 pounds. I have been to several seminars but haven't found a place I am settled at yet. One place near me mentioned they do gastric sleeve and duodenal switch, I hadn't thought about BPD DS until I talked to the lady at that place, and that got me researching. I like that the BPD DS has the biggest percentage of excess weight lost and the highest chances to help you keep it off. The thing that scares me is I have some acid reflux now and I am worried the BPD DS might make it worse because I've read that gastric sleeve often makes reflux better. How is your reflux now? You mentioned it in the last video but not this one. I went to a different bariatric center last week and the lady I talked to there (not the surgeon, a nurse) told me that the BPD DS has been moved away from because of the problems, I wanted to tell her that is not really true, it is not done as much in the US, but it is still done. But I didn't want to be confrontational. The doctor there said gastric bypass, I am just not settled on it. I still think the BPD DS might be better for me. Plus I am self pay, my insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery so if I'm going to pay all that money, I want the most bang for my buck so to speak. Please keep making your videos and let us know your progress. There are so many more sleeve and RNY videos out there, not as many on BPD DS. I had a heart attack (they said it was mild) 4 years ago, I'm not diabetic but take bp meds, cholesterol meds, another heart one, baby aspirin. I don't want to have another heart attack - I doubt a second one would be mild!! Anyway, thanks for the videos and I appreciate any comments/suggestions you might have for me. Sorry - I know you don't know me and YES people do care about your emotions!! Your wife is absolutely right about that!! You are doing great!!

[@roypadrick1286]

Thank you so, so much for the very kind words. It's been a journey, for sure, but a great one so far. One of my best friends had the BPD DS before me and he lost over 200 pounds in about a year. It was pretty incredible and he looks and feels great. Let me try to answer your questions as best I can. Reflux - Every DS patient from my clinic is put on Omeprazole prescription, so my reflux is managed pretty well. I've only had bad reflux once or twice, and very minor reflux a handful of times. Usually, it's my fault when I try to experiment with foods. I don't feel it's an issue for me, but from what I hear, any surgery with the gastric sleeve will have the same issues. Self Pay - Absolute best of luck to you. If I had to, I would have self-paid, as well. It's that worth it to me. Heart Attack - I am terribly sorry to hear that. You know as well as I do the strain the extra weight puts on your heart. While I didn't have heart problems directly before surgery, I can tell you my blood pressure and resting pulse have all gone down since I've lost weight. My resting pulse is 10 bpm slower now. I hope you find a solution that works for you. It has changed my life in so many ways. There's a ton of ways my life is better now that I don't talk about on video. As a matter of fact, it's better in literally every way. I hope you can experience it soon! Please keep me posted.

[@lindawilder7225]

@@roypadrick1286 Hi - thanks for your reply - I really appreciate your time. Wow - 200 down in one year for your friend, that is amazing!!! I am more interested in keeping it off than anything else, I mean yes I want to lose the weight, but more important than that, I want it to stay gone. I've read no matter what the surgery everyone pretty much takes an acid reducer for at least 3 months or so, I've read like you said that the sleeve sometimes makes some people's a lot worse. I can tell a difference in the reflux I have now with what I eat - eat not so good stuff for me = reflux.... eat better stuff for me = not much reflux. Maybe that should tell me it would be ok, but still worries me. On self pay, my insurance covered it long ago, when it wasn't even a thought it my mind and I didn't weigh near what I do now, but I suppose that is water under the bridge. I will just make it work whatever I decide on. I never took any meds for my heart before the heart attack, but of course after take the bp meds, cholesterol etc. that I already mentioned. Without the ol' ticker, things are not good. I think I am going to call the office near me that does the sleeve and bpd ds and talk to them again. The initial visit with the surgeon is $550. Though that's a lot just to talk with him, I think that will help me make up my mind about bpd ds or gastric bypass. I have read so much about if you keep off 50% of the weight that is considered success, that would not be success to me - that would mean I would still be 100 pounds overweight!! So, I'm thinking long term - and I know a lot of it is me, how I adapt to the changes, keep following what you do after surgery, etc. Their program (office near me that does do bpd ds) is 3 months, and I think I need at least that long before surgery to work on the head/brain - since the surgery isn't on that! Sorry I am a bit long-winded!! Keep up the great work - have you looked to compare from your first video until this last one - you already can tell a difference. If you have a chance look at shrinkingvioletds. Her most recent video is from I want to say like 4 months ago. She looks great also. I'll go now - again I really appreciate your time - your neighbor in Georgia! Take care-

[@roypadrick1286]

Ultimately, keeping it off is up to us. When I went in for my original consultation, there were people in there who had bariatric surgery and regained it, and I was struck by how much they felt was the surgery's fault. Two people outright said the surgery failed, but when they got into their habits, nothing really changed for them. Of course weight regain will happen if you don't make the necessary lifelong changes! It's a lifestyle change, for sure.

[@lindawilder7225]

@@roypadrick1286 Hello - Actually reading what you wrote I remember my next door neighbor told me she had gastric bypass, I forget how long ago she had the surgery. She told me that it didn't work for her, I'm not sure if she gained all of her weight back, and I didn't really think about it at the time because this was probably 5 or more years ago, but her saying that stuck with me. I think it is more what the person does, because like I have heard, you can eat around any of the surgeries. The surgery does the physical part, we have to do the mental/habit part. Makes sense! Thanks for your time!

[@mhouse7539]

I’m working with a nutritionist and in the process of getting insurance approval. Nervous about the “digestive issues” but excited overall. Thank you for sharing. Also, you ate gator bites as in 🐊?

[@roypadrick1286]

Yes, gator tail is actually really high in protein. Most of the time, it is breaded and fried, so if you can get it grilled, it's a great source of lean protein. As for the "digestive issues," you will have them for sure, but they'll level out and you will get used to them. I'm four months out and pretty much have no issues now. I use an app called Baritastic to track food intake, measurements, recipes, etc. It's great and I recommend it to anyone in the process. Best of luck!