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Just curious if anyone has had a significant rise in their Total Bilirubin and Vitamin B12 levels post op. My Bili is always on the high end of normal, or BARELY above normal. I was once told that I might have some sort of benign liver disease (I was 19 at the time - I am now 47), but no other doc was ever concerned as the rest of my liver function tests are usually normal. And while the only time I have ever had (knowingly) a Vitamin B12 level was pre-op... it WAS normal. When I got home from the hospital, I noticed online that my Bilirubin was much higher than my normal while I was in the hospital. I just assumed that it was due to injury/irritation of liver or gallbladder during surgery and hoped it would come down by my next set of post-op labs. Well, I was supposed to do my 3 month labs 2 weeks prior to my 3 month appointment. Because I was going back to work, I decided to get it done 2 weeks earlier. They are posted on my physician portal and they have me a little alarmed. Most are OK, with a few out of the ordinaries. But my Total Bilirubin is 1.9 which is a little HIGHER than it was in the hospital, but also my Vitamin B12 level is greater than 2000. Of course, you look these up online and the possibilities of what is causing this is pretty scary... so I don't want to jump to those conclusions. But I can't find enough research regarding this phenomenon with WLS. I had the sleeve. I know my liver was fatty according to my surgical notes. I know I am losing weight rapidly so that can cause issues. But, has anyone else go through this? If so, what was the cause? And did it resolve on its own? Or did it resolve at all? Kind of anxious, but my appoint with the doc isn't until December. Struggling with deciding if I should wait and see if the doc calls me when he sees the results, making an appointment for sooner, or just waiting until the next appointment. Worried, but also know I was fine before surgery, so maybe I am still just recovering? Or maybe it is my gallbladder acting up without too many symptoms yet... or maybe it IS a liver disease. Not ready to think Cancer yet, but don't want to "wait and see" too long either. Ugh. Anyhow... I doubt the doc has seen my results yet.

Get a nutrionshinist or use a plan - Been said a million times here before Get the tool, But whip you heads ass into shape also - F#$ck FOOD

I see people saying that their "sleeve" failed and i was just wondering how that happens. I appreciate what you said. I figured as much, but seeing as though im new to the sleeve (x-bandmember) i wanted to see if there was other reasons. I've had two friends regain after the sleeve. I see how they eat and i figured it was those very reasons. And i didn't want to be that friend that say..... Should you be eating that? I loved my band and wish i still had her, but i had a good long haul with her..... 7+ years. Thanks, Chris

Hello! Glad to connect with another local person! I think you really hit the nail on the head about making things off-limits. I tend to fail when I do that (long term, short term I can do it). I would like to live a life of moderation and I'm hoping that the bypass can help with that. It's overwhelming at times, but hearing from folks like you is really helpful! I am really, really looking forward to getting a more effective tool. Fingers-crossed! Thanks for sharing your experience!

btw - weird liver-related numbers aren't unusual when you're in the losing phase. Although I haven't read about bilirubin specifically, a lot of people have high AST/ALT values for a few months after surgery. Rapid weight loss is really hard on livers, I was told. Those values usually normalize after the weight loss really slows down - or stops. As I said, I don't know if I've heard of high bilirubin numbers associated with that, but that's a possibility. I'd just call your doctor if you're concerned.

You still see dead people like me? I found it to be a silly wasted of time, although I paid cash so mine was just a formality. I had to get fully undressed and lay on the couch. Then the hot younger doctor evaluated me. Not sure why she dimmed the lights and played music, but it had a happy ending Ok anyone believe that and you have overdosed on Protein -

Hang tight you all some of us like Juice. I do drink juice and try to get the sugar free or very low sugar versions. I also went from a 8oz glass to just a few oz. Doing your own juicing also helps - Then you know exactly what you are getting - Adding Vodka is also not allowed, but you have to get caught

I’ve been doing this same thing. Caffeine was the hardest. But now the canine headaches are gone and I’m just down to my occasional fun sized piece of candy which is gone next Monday. That’s my drop dead day. Pre op liquid diet starts the 12th and I say goodbye to old eating thoughts and Bad foods forever. I’m very all or none and if I tell myself eating it will make me dump I’ll avoid it. I hate being sick that much.

I tried a few brands of protein powders but my favorite right now is called scitec nutrition. Water and powder shake it up yummy

There are 2 big myths of WLS: 1. Dumping--people have these surgeries hoping for that negative feedback for their addictions. But if you don't change your head, nothing will change. You will still cheat with sugar. Whether or not your get sick. You will find a way to have your addiction. You can NOT depend on a TOOL to do the work if you use it the wrong way. And the real truth is that only 30% of RNY patients experiencing dumping and substantially fewer VSG peeps (maybe 3-5%?). And that dumping goes away sometimes the longer you are post surgery. 2. Restriction & Malabsorption--people believe their restriction and/or malabsorption will last for life and that they can eat anything they want cuz their "tool" will protect them and magically make them observe a moderate behavior. But moderate behavior begins with a choice in the brain and if you don't change your head, nothing in your behavior will change. People eat around their tool every day. I could eat an entire huge order of etouffee from Pappadeaux's if I ate a few bites every 10-15 minutes. I'd probably finish it within an hour! And I would have had 2 -3 days of calories in one meal. I could have a bite of Crispy Creme donut every 15-30 minutes and at the end of the day have eating 4-5 of them. I would not have dumped and I'd be craptastically full of sugar, carbs, and fat. I would have absorbed a ton of the cals. See where I'm going? In addition, both your restriction and malabsorption lessens the further out you are from the surgery. WLS only ever was intended to give people a brief honeymoon period where they could lose substantial amounts of weight and potentially reset their metabolic health so that they could then go on to learn new healthy habits for living and behaving with food/learn proper nutrition practices and live a healthy thin life the rest of their lives. Do your head work and let your tool do the job it's supposed to do. You are responsible for using your tool correctly. Don't bring a hammer to a screwdriver fight. Use your tool the way it's intended and it will serve you well--for life.