Alex Brecher

I don't see him listed on the NYU website any longer and haven't spoken to him in years. His direct email address is brad.schwack@gmail.com

You can get Gastric Bypass medical alert bracelets at The BariatricPal Store.

I deal with reactive hypoglycemia myself, which is why I wear a Libre. For me it usually shows up as that shaky, sweaty, weak, weird feeling when my blood sugar drops fast, sometimes with brain fog and that “I need to eat right now” feeling. A big trigger is carbs without enough protein, or eating something that spikes me and then drops me. What helps most is keeping meals balanced, prioritizing protein, and paying attention to what actually happens after certain foods instead of guessing. If you've been diagnosed with it, what symptoms do you get and what seems to trigger it for you?

We stopped working with CareGLP a few months ago. The payment you sent was directly to them. If we had any control over your payment we would step in.

If the goal is to build muscle, maintenance is usually the better place to start. A deficit makes it a lot harder to add muscle, especially post-op. You can still lose fat while recomposing if protein is high, lifting is consistent, and recovery is solid. I’d focus on strength training first, see how your body responds, and only consider a small deficit later if weight isn’t moving the way you want. Also worth saying, after everything your body’s been through, meds, cancer, surgery, slow and steady wins here. Building muscle will help more long term than chasing the scale.

Yeah, I’ve seen this happen. Carbonated drinks can absolutely cause real pain after sleeve or SADI-S, especially early on. Gas pressure builds fast and it can feel scary. That said, if the pain is sharp, persistent, or getting worse instead of better, don’t just assume it’s gas. Trust your gut and push your surgeon if needed. But yes, carbonation alone has definitely done this to people.

Lori, this is very real. I’ve dealt with hypoglycemia too, even after a full bypass reversal, so it’s definitely not just a “time since surgery” thing. The spike then crash and that wiped-out, almost drugged feeling is exactly how it shows up for me too. You’re also right that a lot of the standard advice doesn’t work for everyone post-bypass. Protein first, better carbs, pairing foods… none of that guarantees a stable blood sugar. The hidden starches are especially frustrating. Appreciate you posting this. It’s something more people should be aware of, especially years out.

It's still located at https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1018-duodenal-switch-surgery-forum/

Nope, we received a cease and desist from big Pharma and decided to discontinue the program.

If you’re looking for a convenient and tasty way to supplement your protein intake, check out the wide selection of bariatric-friendly protein bars available at the BariatricPal Store. While some options are available in single servings, others are sold in bulk. This allows you to easily find the perfect protein bar without the risk of wasting money on a whole box of something you may not like. Here are some of the awesome protein bar brands they carry: - Alani Nu - Atkins Nutritionals - BariatricPal - Bhu Foods - BSN - Buff Bake - Built Bar - CanDo - Convenient Nutrition - Dang - Detour - Eat Me Guilt Free - Epic - Evolved - Extend Nutrition - Genius Gourmet - Good To Go - HealthSmart Foods - IQBar - Keto Bars - Keto Wise - Kirkland - Love Good Fats - MET-Rx - Munk Pack - Muscle Foods - NuGo - One Brands - Optimum Nutrition - Organic Food Bar Company - Perfect Keto - Power Crunch - Promax - Proti Diet - Pure Protein - Quest Nutrition - Raw Revolution - Robert Irvine’s Fit Crunch - SlimFast - Think! - Universal Nutrition - ZonePerfect

I take vitamins with food. Otherwise they hit hard on an empty stomach, especially the ones with iron. Fat-soluble stuff like ADEK also absorbs better that way. Protein’s a different story. I usually do shakes between meals or when I know I’m not getting enough from food. The timing doesn’t really matter as long as you’re consistent. Everyone has their own routine, but that combo’s worked well for me.

I am so sorry you went through this. They stole a large amount of my money, and Dr. Illan botched my surgery twice. He also forged multiple documents and cannot be trusted. I initially thought it was just a surgical mistake, but after he operated on Bill Yanez and caused his death, I now believe Dr. Illan tried to eliminate me in the same way.

The BariatricPal Store carries over 7,500 Bariatric-friendly products for pre- and post-op! Check them out at https://Store.BariatricPal.com.

Thank you, I appreciate that. It was definitely scary at the time, but I’ve recovered well and life is good now. The complications weren’t what I expected going in, but I’ve made peace with it. At this point scar tissue from all the abdominal surgeries is what’s behind the obstructions. The second one actually hit right at the beginning of a really long flight from Asia. I was so sick on the plane they debated an emergency landing, and an ambulance met me at the airport when we landed. Not fun at all, but thankfully it passed on its own without surgery.

I had the MGB for two days, but I developed a leak and was bleeding out, so they revised me to a full Roux-en-Y right away. A while later, I had a bowel obstruction that required emergency surgery, and they ended up reversing the bypass completely. I’ve had another obstruction since then, but it passed on its own without surgery. At this point, the scar tissue from multiple abdominal surgeries is what’s behind the obstructions.

That’s awesome that you’re 15 years out and maintaining such great results, congrats on your success!! I know what you mean about protein clumping in coffee; that can be so frustrating. The BariatricPal Store actually carries a bunch of bariatric-friendly unflavored protein options that dissolve more smoothly: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/flavor_unflavored Some popular unflavored protein options are: Inspire Pure Unflavored Protein Powder by Bariatric Eating at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/inspire-protein-pure Bariatric Advantage HPMR High Protein Meal Replacement Unflavored at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatric-advantage-high-protein-meal-replacement?variant=17894360065 Syntrax Nectar 1lb Protein Powder Bottle - Medical Unflavored at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/syntrax-nectar-1lb-protein-powder-bottle-medical-unflavored IsoPure Protein Powder at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/isopure-protein-page A lot of people also find it helps to mix the powder into a small amount of cool liquid first (like water or milk), then stir that into your hot coffee. That way it blends in smoothly without clumping.

Thanks! I reported this bug to our developers.

Great question! I totally get your concern. The FDA ended the allowance for pharmacies to make mass-produced copies of tirzepatide once the shortage was officially over. That rule was aimed at pharmacies that were essentially producing unbranded duplicates of Lilly’s drug. What we’re offering through the BariatricPal program isn’t that. The partner pharmacies we work with provide customized versions for patients, rather than just bulk copies. That makes them different in the FDA’s eyes. The program was set up to continue even after the shortage ended, so you won’t see it disappear on you after you start.

Just checking back in since it’s already Labor Day afternoon. I didn’t totally stick to the plan, but didn’t go crazy either. Let myself have a couple of things and moved on. Honestly, it feels like progress compared to how I used to handle long weekends. Curious if anyone else surprised themselves. Did things go better or worse than expected?

Holiday weekends can be tough with food and social events. How are you planning to handle things this weekend? Are you staying on track, giving yourself some flexibility, or a little of both?

Hi Sophie, glad you flagged that. Your Adelene Keeler Smith account is tied to your Facebook login with your Earthlink email, but your longtime Sophie7713 account uses your iCloud email. I went ahead and merged this account back into Sophie7713, so your posts and history are restored. As for your questions: I lost 40 lbs, and I’m at my goal now, the lowest adult weight I can remember. A big side effect for me is that I no longer suffer from hypoglycemia, which is huge. I can finally eat sushi without my blood sugar crashing. Because of that, I’d continue taking Tirzepatide just for that benefit. I’m on the lowest dosage now and plan to stay on it long term. I’d lean toward most likely yes, people do regain if they stop. The needle is very small. For me, it’s almost painless. The first time can feel intimidating, but once you do it you realize it’s nothing. I noticed results quickly. On average, people lose about 1 to 3 pounds per week, but it varies. Losing 25 to 30 pounds could take a few months, depending on your starting point and dosage. Side effects vary. Some people have it worse than others. The most common is nausea, especially at the beginning, but it usually improves as your body adjusts. I can’t give medical advice, but I can share my own experience.

I’m sorry you went through that. I had a Lap-Band in 2003 and also ended up with major complications. I had a gastric bypass in 2018, then even had to have that reversed after a blockage. You’re not alone in feeling like the band was a mistake; a lot of us have had challenging experiences with it. You might still be able to find a surgeon covered by your insurance at https://www.lapband.com/find-a-surgeon/

That’s a long run with the band. You’re right, there’s not much Lap-Band talk anymore. Most people either had problems or moved on to other surgeries, so stories like yours don’t get heard much. Sixteen years, almost no fills, still doing its job, and only now getting a small unfill is pretty rare. Funny thing is, BariatricPal actually started as LapBandTalk back when the band was huge, so you’ve been around longer than most here.

All the scales say something different, and it makes me crazy, too. I go by mine at home now. I weigh myself first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom, without any clothes, the same way every time. That’s the only number I track.