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RickM

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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  1. Like
    RickM got a reaction from catwoman7 in 7 Years after VSG Gastric Sleeve Weight Gain/Loss   
    Yes, very common, and here is one of the factors -
    In the middle of the video he goes over the typical progression of meal volume that we can expect, and it is consistent with my experience. I you simply let things happen and eat the same way we did the first year, but more, then there will certainly be the tendency to gain.
    While I'm not a big fan of everything this guy preaches (or any online guru, for that matter,) one of the things that I do like is his "eat your vegetables first" concept, which he applies after the first few months of Protein first. My general evolution was to increase the veg content of my meals over time, rather than the protein, as the protein that we are advised to consume early on is usually our basic requirement, as we can't get that from pills like we can most micronutrients. So, I still have about 3 oz of meat in a meal today like I did the first year, but a lot more veg in there.
    And, it's still something of a struggle because the junk still wants to creep back in there stimulating old habits (we usually spent a lot more time getting fat, and getting used to it, than we have trying to be healthy now!)
    With a sleeve, or a bypass, at this point it is basic dieting/healthy balanced eating that we are all familiar with; it is somewhat easier than before as our volume rarely returns to where is was pre-op, but our old bad habits sure can come back.
  2. Like
    RickM got a reaction from catwoman7 in Ekg and echo   
    The main idea for all of these tests and clearances is so that there are no surprises on the operating table. Yes, some things that they may find might lead to a delay while they treat that problem and get it under control - isn't it better that you (and they) know about such problems and get it treated? Most things won't delay surgery, but it does give them advanced notice of any problems so that they can adjust to it for the surgery.
  3. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SleeveToBypass2023 in Stomach stricture - possible removal of full stomach WHAT?!   
    You certainly need to get a second, and probably third, opinion to find out what's going on; they should be able to explain to you, in layman's terms, what your situation is and what the options are for treating it. That is usually a straightforward and insurable step here in the States, but I don't know what hoops you may have to jump through in the UK. It does sound like something's not right in what they did (which is why you want a second, impartial and uninvolved opinion,) as strictures are not common with sleeves that are done correctly; they are common and easily treated with an endoscopic dilation in and RNY, and that may work with a sleeve stricture, or may not depending on what caused it (usually a misshaping of the sleeve.)
    I did quite a bit of research on these topics a few years ago when they found a cancerous polyp in my stomach; fortunately it was very early and all treatable endoscopically, but all of these various options were discussed and researched. There are some Facebook groups specifically for patients with partial or total gastrectomies, which is what they are proposing for you.
    The most common approach here, and what it sounds like they are proposing for you, is a Billroth 2 gastrectomy, which has been around for about 140 years, and is the basis of the RNY gastric bypass, The main difference between a partial or total gastrectomy is whether they can use some of the remaining stomach to form an RNY like pouch (partial) or remove all of the stomach and attach the esophagus directly to a loop of intestine, or an additional roux limb as in the RNY, and form "stomach" pouch in the intestine where the esophagus is attached. So, going without the stomach is possible and entirely livable (there are several books on Amazon about "eating without a stomach" which go over what is basically a normal bariatric diet progression.) To the surgeons I was dealing with (at a major regional cancer center,) the total gastrectomy was a much bigger deal surgically and recovery wise than the partial, as attaching the esophagus directly into the intestine was a much touchier procedure with a more extended recovery and healing time (on a feeding tube for several months,) than going through even a small pouch of stomach tissue - something else to consider with whatever choice you have in surgeons (try to find one who has done a lot of these.)
    One of the things that stood out as fairly common amongst the Facebook group was problems with bile reflux, and you can see how that could easily happen by looking at the altered anatomy. The surgeon I was dealing with said that he did not experience those problems if he kept the various limbs within certain minimum lengths (which presumably some other surgeons didn't do in order to minimize malabsorption and weight loss,) so another point to consider in finding a surgeon who has some direct experience with these problems.
  4. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SleeveToBypass2023 in Stomach stricture - possible removal of full stomach WHAT?!   
    You certainly need to get a second, and probably third, opinion to find out what's going on; they should be able to explain to you, in layman's terms, what your situation is and what the options are for treating it. That is usually a straightforward and insurable step here in the States, but I don't know what hoops you may have to jump through in the UK. It does sound like something's not right in what they did (which is why you want a second, impartial and uninvolved opinion,) as strictures are not common with sleeves that are done correctly; they are common and easily treated with an endoscopic dilation in and RNY, and that may work with a sleeve stricture, or may not depending on what caused it (usually a misshaping of the sleeve.)
    I did quite a bit of research on these topics a few years ago when they found a cancerous polyp in my stomach; fortunately it was very early and all treatable endoscopically, but all of these various options were discussed and researched. There are some Facebook groups specifically for patients with partial or total gastrectomies, which is what they are proposing for you.
    The most common approach here, and what it sounds like they are proposing for you, is a Billroth 2 gastrectomy, which has been around for about 140 years, and is the basis of the RNY gastric bypass, The main difference between a partial or total gastrectomy is whether they can use some of the remaining stomach to form an RNY like pouch (partial) or remove all of the stomach and attach the esophagus directly to a loop of intestine, or an additional roux limb as in the RNY, and form "stomach" pouch in the intestine where the esophagus is attached. So, going without the stomach is possible and entirely livable (there are several books on Amazon about "eating without a stomach" which go over what is basically a normal bariatric diet progression.) To the surgeons I was dealing with (at a major regional cancer center,) the total gastrectomy was a much bigger deal surgically and recovery wise than the partial, as attaching the esophagus directly into the intestine was a much touchier procedure with a more extended recovery and healing time (on a feeding tube for several months,) than going through even a small pouch of stomach tissue - something else to consider with whatever choice you have in surgeons (try to find one who has done a lot of these.)
    One of the things that stood out as fairly common amongst the Facebook group was problems with bile reflux, and you can see how that could easily happen by looking at the altered anatomy. The surgeon I was dealing with said that he did not experience those problems if he kept the various limbs within certain minimum lengths (which presumably some other surgeons didn't do in order to minimize malabsorption and weight loss,) so another point to consider in finding a surgeon who has some direct experience with these problems.
  5. Like
    RickM got a reaction from ChunkCat in Revision from VSG to Bypass   
    I would want to look closely at this, verifying the bile reflux and determining if there is any acid reflux component to this before getting into long term treatment options as the treatment can differ widely depending upon that diagnosis. If it is bile, then I wouldn't expect Pepcid or other anti acid meds to do much as the are treating acid and not bile, a base. I'm not sure what meds they do use but likely different ones. Bile is used to neutralize the acid coming out of the stomach along with the digested food into the intestines.
    Is your surgeon in the loop on these findings (I assume so, but check if you haven't heard from them yet,) as that may change his prescriptions.
    If it is strictly a bile problem, then a bypass will probably correct it, but not guaranteed as it moves the stomach/pouch outlet downstream into the natural path of bile secretions; the key, according to one surgeon I discussed this with, is the length of the roux limb, as that is the one that connects the pouch with the mainstream intestine and how far any bile would have to travel to reflux into the stomach. This doc noted that at 80cm or greater (IIRC) he didn't run into any bile reflux problems.
    The basic RNY procedure has been around for some 140 years for gastric cancer and gastroparesis (it is usually termed just a partial gastrectomy, or likely some other fancy latin names as well,) and it that use, bile reflux is a not uncommon complication. My non-MD take on it is that in those cases, they tend to keep the limbs short to minimize malabsorption and weight loss (last thing a cancer patient usually needs is more weight loss!) So, the longer limb makes sense here. Discuss this and make sure that your surgeon is up on this aspect of it.
    The other option if it is basically a bile problem is the DS, duodenal switch, which is pretty much a guaranteed cure for any bile problems owing to the very long path between the bile ducts and the stomach, but relatively few bariatric surgeons offer it owing to its greater complexity. Note this only applies to the "traditional" or Hess DS and not the newer SIPS/SADI/"loop" or simplified DS, which like its mini-bypass cousin has bile reflux as one of its common complications. The DS will not help any acid reflux problem as it uses the existing sleeve (though may resleeve it if it was malformed causing GERD rather than just overproduction of acid,) while adding the intestinal rerouting for malabsorption. The DS is a better choice over the RNY revision if slow or inadequate weightloss is an issue, too, as it is a stronger metabolic tool.
    Good luck on this - bile is surely a much less common problem with the sleeve than acid reflux, so the industry isn't quite as settled on solutions for it.
  6. Like
    RickM got a reaction from ChunkCat in Revision from VSG to Bypass   
    I would want to look closely at this, verifying the bile reflux and determining if there is any acid reflux component to this before getting into long term treatment options as the treatment can differ widely depending upon that diagnosis. If it is bile, then I wouldn't expect Pepcid or other anti acid meds to do much as the are treating acid and not bile, a base. I'm not sure what meds they do use but likely different ones. Bile is used to neutralize the acid coming out of the stomach along with the digested food into the intestines.
    Is your surgeon in the loop on these findings (I assume so, but check if you haven't heard from them yet,) as that may change his prescriptions.
    If it is strictly a bile problem, then a bypass will probably correct it, but not guaranteed as it moves the stomach/pouch outlet downstream into the natural path of bile secretions; the key, according to one surgeon I discussed this with, is the length of the roux limb, as that is the one that connects the pouch with the mainstream intestine and how far any bile would have to travel to reflux into the stomach. This doc noted that at 80cm or greater (IIRC) he didn't run into any bile reflux problems.
    The basic RNY procedure has been around for some 140 years for gastric cancer and gastroparesis (it is usually termed just a partial gastrectomy, or likely some other fancy latin names as well,) and it that use, bile reflux is a not uncommon complication. My non-MD take on it is that in those cases, they tend to keep the limbs short to minimize malabsorption and weight loss (last thing a cancer patient usually needs is more weight loss!) So, the longer limb makes sense here. Discuss this and make sure that your surgeon is up on this aspect of it.
    The other option if it is basically a bile problem is the DS, duodenal switch, which is pretty much a guaranteed cure for any bile problems owing to the very long path between the bile ducts and the stomach, but relatively few bariatric surgeons offer it owing to its greater complexity. Note this only applies to the "traditional" or Hess DS and not the newer SIPS/SADI/"loop" or simplified DS, which like its mini-bypass cousin has bile reflux as one of its common complications. The DS will not help any acid reflux problem as it uses the existing sleeve (though may resleeve it if it was malformed causing GERD rather than just overproduction of acid,) while adding the intestinal rerouting for malabsorption. The DS is a better choice over the RNY revision if slow or inadequate weightloss is an issue, too, as it is a stronger metabolic tool.
    Good luck on this - bile is surely a much less common problem with the sleeve than acid reflux, so the industry isn't quite as settled on solutions for it.
  7. Like
    RickM got a reaction from ChunkCat in Revision from VSG to Bypass   
    I would want to look closely at this, verifying the bile reflux and determining if there is any acid reflux component to this before getting into long term treatment options as the treatment can differ widely depending upon that diagnosis. If it is bile, then I wouldn't expect Pepcid or other anti acid meds to do much as the are treating acid and not bile, a base. I'm not sure what meds they do use but likely different ones. Bile is used to neutralize the acid coming out of the stomach along with the digested food into the intestines.
    Is your surgeon in the loop on these findings (I assume so, but check if you haven't heard from them yet,) as that may change his prescriptions.
    If it is strictly a bile problem, then a bypass will probably correct it, but not guaranteed as it moves the stomach/pouch outlet downstream into the natural path of bile secretions; the key, according to one surgeon I discussed this with, is the length of the roux limb, as that is the one that connects the pouch with the mainstream intestine and how far any bile would have to travel to reflux into the stomach. This doc noted that at 80cm or greater (IIRC) he didn't run into any bile reflux problems.
    The basic RNY procedure has been around for some 140 years for gastric cancer and gastroparesis (it is usually termed just a partial gastrectomy, or likely some other fancy latin names as well,) and it that use, bile reflux is a not uncommon complication. My non-MD take on it is that in those cases, they tend to keep the limbs short to minimize malabsorption and weight loss (last thing a cancer patient usually needs is more weight loss!) So, the longer limb makes sense here. Discuss this and make sure that your surgeon is up on this aspect of it.
    The other option if it is basically a bile problem is the DS, duodenal switch, which is pretty much a guaranteed cure for any bile problems owing to the very long path between the bile ducts and the stomach, but relatively few bariatric surgeons offer it owing to its greater complexity. Note this only applies to the "traditional" or Hess DS and not the newer SIPS/SADI/"loop" or simplified DS, which like its mini-bypass cousin has bile reflux as one of its common complications. The DS will not help any acid reflux problem as it uses the existing sleeve (though may resleeve it if it was malformed causing GERD rather than just overproduction of acid,) while adding the intestinal rerouting for malabsorption. The DS is a better choice over the RNY revision if slow or inadequate weightloss is an issue, too, as it is a stronger metabolic tool.
    Good luck on this - bile is surely a much less common problem with the sleeve than acid reflux, so the industry isn't quite as settled on solutions for it.
  8. Like
    RickM got a reaction from catwoman7 in 7 Years after VSG Gastric Sleeve Weight Gain/Loss   
    Yes, very common, and here is one of the factors -
    In the middle of the video he goes over the typical progression of meal volume that we can expect, and it is consistent with my experience. I you simply let things happen and eat the same way we did the first year, but more, then there will certainly be the tendency to gain.
    While I'm not a big fan of everything this guy preaches (or any online guru, for that matter,) one of the things that I do like is his "eat your vegetables first" concept, which he applies after the first few months of Protein first. My general evolution was to increase the veg content of my meals over time, rather than the protein, as the protein that we are advised to consume early on is usually our basic requirement, as we can't get that from pills like we can most micronutrients. So, I still have about 3 oz of meat in a meal today like I did the first year, but a lot more veg in there.
    And, it's still something of a struggle because the junk still wants to creep back in there stimulating old habits (we usually spent a lot more time getting fat, and getting used to it, than we have trying to be healthy now!)
    With a sleeve, or a bypass, at this point it is basic dieting/healthy balanced eating that we are all familiar with; it is somewhat easier than before as our volume rarely returns to where is was pre-op, but our old bad habits sure can come back.
  9. Like
    RickM got a reaction from catwoman7 in 7 Years after VSG Gastric Sleeve Weight Gain/Loss   
    Yes, very common, and here is one of the factors -
    In the middle of the video he goes over the typical progression of meal volume that we can expect, and it is consistent with my experience. I you simply let things happen and eat the same way we did the first year, but more, then there will certainly be the tendency to gain.
    While I'm not a big fan of everything this guy preaches (or any online guru, for that matter,) one of the things that I do like is his "eat your vegetables first" concept, which he applies after the first few months of Protein first. My general evolution was to increase the veg content of my meals over time, rather than the protein, as the protein that we are advised to consume early on is usually our basic requirement, as we can't get that from pills like we can most micronutrients. So, I still have about 3 oz of meat in a meal today like I did the first year, but a lot more veg in there.
    And, it's still something of a struggle because the junk still wants to creep back in there stimulating old habits (we usually spent a lot more time getting fat, and getting used to it, than we have trying to be healthy now!)
    With a sleeve, or a bypass, at this point it is basic dieting/healthy balanced eating that we are all familiar with; it is somewhat easier than before as our volume rarely returns to where is was pre-op, but our old bad habits sure can come back.
  10. Like
    RickM got a reaction from BeanitoDiego in When will the restriction relax?   
    This doc presents a typical volume progression which fits my general experience (though my wife continues to be somewhat more restricted than I am even after 18 years.) Some will progress faster or slower than others, but you do seem to be on the slow side.
    You might have a minor stricture at the stoma which is overly restricting things - not an uncommon thing with the bypass. Have you talked with your doc about this - it is usually easily treated with an endoscopic dilation if that is the problem.
    But yes, over time you should be able to have a healthy diet full of fruits and veg - the doc in the video above is a big fan of this - but it may take you a little more time than others. Throughout my loss phase I always maintained at least an homage to a healthy balanced diet with some whole grains, veg and fruits in there, even if it was at times a minimal amount.
    BTW. what group did you have your surgery through? I have a nephew who works for Atrium, so am always curious how people got along with them.
    Good luck in your venture...



  11. Like
    RickM got a reaction from catwoman7 in Heartburn after Gastric BYPASS   
    Yes, as catwoman says, it is common for them to have you on a PPI, or increase the dosage of the PPI after any of out bariatric procedures; I've been put on pantoprozole (Protonix generic) after other minor procedures unrelated to the GI tract because the body often reacts to the stress of surgery by increasing acid production. Talk to your surgeon's team to get it resolved.
  12. Like
    RickM got a reaction from catwoman7 in Heartburn after Gastric BYPASS   
    Yes, as catwoman says, it is common for them to have you on a PPI, or increase the dosage of the PPI after any of out bariatric procedures; I've been put on pantoprozole (Protonix generic) after other minor procedures unrelated to the GI tract because the body often reacts to the stress of surgery by increasing acid production. Talk to your surgeon's team to get it resolved.
  13. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SKH13 in Lost 110 pounds but now at 1500 calories a day   
    Adding to the good points that have been made here, metabolic rates are somewhat individual, beyond genetics but personal history and even your gut flora that helps digestion and absorption. The BMR tests are interesting as a reference, but they mostly tell you what the algorithm thinks your metabolism should be, but not what it actually is. Also, this is a somewhat tough time for a bypass post op, as the caloric malabsorption of the bypass dissipates after a year or two - you tend to lose that extra help in losing weight and become a more "normal" person in that regard. Some may never notice the effect if they lost quickly and early, but it can also bite you in maintenance if one gets used to being stable at say, 1700 calories, but then that stability point drops to maybe 1600 or 1500. So, stay flexible and try to keep the calories down as much as you can until you get to the weight you desire (or to where it just won't go down anymore) and adjust to maintenance
    Good luck....
  14. Like
    RickM got a reaction from shawn524 in Always Low Energy   
    It sounds like something is out of balance to be that lethargic at six months - most tend toward the energizer bunny side of things with a big chunk of weight off. Have you had labs done recently (six months would be a typical time for most programs)? Low Iron or B12 are common bypass problems, which is why they usually recommend extra, but the recommendations tend to be an average and may not be enough for everyone (while being too much for others.) I would certainly check in with the surgeon or RD on this.
  15. Like
    RickM got a reaction from CarmenG in New to Revision (Sleeve to Bypass) Seeking Advice   
    The good news is that this seems to be fairly normal - our weight loss when we start a major effort, surgical or not, tends to be front loaded - lots of initial loss, mostly Water weight, and then slows down. Plus you are just getting in.to the "three week stall" window where weight loss typically slows or stops for a bit while the body absorbs what has happened to it, and then resumes (though usually at a slower rate.)
    The not so good news is that as a revision, weightloss is typically slower and less than with the original surgery. My simple minded thought on this is that originally, our stomachs will hold 32-64 oz, but now after your original WLS and whatever stretch and adaptation it goes through over the years, it might hold 4-6 oz, yet you have adapted to that (learned how to eat around your sleeve/pouch) and still regained. So things will be slower. And, the biggest loss tends to be around surgery time when we are stuck with the highly restrictive pre- and post-op dieting. Additionally, the RNY is metabolically similar to your original VSG, so it doesn't provide a big change over what you had - so it is much slower going the second time around. (The DS, duodenal switch, is stronger metabolically than either of the others, so does work somewhat better on regain, but few surgeons offer it, or mention it.)
    Those who I have seen who have done really well with revision weight loss are those who take the "I'm not going to let that happen again" attitude and really knuckle under and get, and stay with, the program.
  16. Like
    RickM got a reaction from Tomo in Can I start taking Ibuprofen again ?   
    This is a big maybe - talk to your surgeon and see what their position is. They may have one thing published in their guidebook (don't take them, ever...) and something else if you talk to them directly about your specific condition.
    NSAIDs are a big NO NO for a bypass, which has been well established owing to specific problems with that configuration, which doesn't exist with the sleeve. When things started with the sleeve, most docs simply carried over their same instructions to their sleeve patients - intellectually they knew there was a difference, but their experience didn't tell them how much. Many now consider them to be a small no no for the sleeve, while still prohibiting them for the RNY, but that still varies. Occasional use is usually approved, but they want to avoid consistent use. Our team had been doing sleeves for some twenty years, mostly via the DS, when I had mine done twelve years ago, and their experience indicated no problems with NSAIDs even shortly after surgery (more recent conversations with him indicated waiting a couple of months or so.)
    I like to be conservative on such things, so I avoid them mostly, but use them occasionally. These days I mostly use Rx meloxicam for occasional orthopedic issues, which is a Cox-2 inhibitor and supposedly somewhat friendlier to the stomach than NSAIDs.
  17. Like
    RickM got a reaction from MelbaT in A Fib and Gastric Bypass   
    You probably can go through with your bypass, but that is a call for your medical team - the surgeon and cardiologist. Typically, they want you stable and under control when you go in for surgery - they don't want surprises on the operating table - that's what these various specialist clearances are for. If we were all in perfect health with no pre existing conditions, no one would ever get WLS.
    I hear you on the Eliquis - it's the new kid on the block which makes it expensive, but the older meds are a lot more inconvenient to use (when my father was still alive, he was always needing blood draws to adjust the doses of his coumadin/warfarin blood thinner, which isn't necessary with Eliquis.) The drug companies often have discount programs for these expensive drugs to drop the copays for the patient (they don't mind sticking it to the insurance companies, but they want it cheap enough for the patient to use the med rather than a cheaper generic alternative,) so check into that.
    It's not the end of the journey, but it is a Detour. At the beginning of this year, my PCP found that I was in Afib when I was getting a clearance for cataract surgery, which put that off for a while until it got treated, but it did happen, though a few months later than expected.
  18. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SuziDavis in BMR and my future self ???   
    First, your BMR is a bit of a guesstimate, but 2100 isn't unreasonable for a guy. Some calculators/formulas are way off because they simplify things by using body weight, while it is lean or muscle mass that is the important factor (all that extra fat we carry around does little to BMR, though whatever extra musculature we may have to carry around that extra fat does help. There are some tests that they can do (VOx, etc.) that can give a closer reading to your personal BMR, and many body composition scales give an OK estimate based upon their reading of your lean mass. The most important thing is at what caloric level is your weight stable - that gives the best clue as to where you stand metabolically. My BMR was probably around 2100 also, though my stability point by experience and tracking intake was in the 2600-2800 range (consume more consistently and I would gain, consume less overall and I would lose.) BMR represents our resting metabolism, while the extra burn if from exercise and daily activities; most calculators and tables (and ourselves) tend to over estimate the burn from exercise.
    After surgery, and you lose what you are going to lose, you will likely have lost some muscle mass, I lost around 10 lb) as you aren't carrying that extra 100, 200 or whatever pounds around with you 24/7, so your BMR will likely decline some, but not a lot (maybe down to 2000). This is why most programs emphasize getting in adequate Protein, and doing some load bearing exercise, to minimize the loss of muscle mass, to keep our BMR up.
    If you can maintain a diet of 1100 calories (not at all difficult for the first year or so post op) that will yield a caloric deficit of around 1000 calories to your BMR (and likely more considering activity burn,) which will equate to an average loss of around 10 per month (more initially, and tapering off over time) - that's about what I did at 1100 calorie average, and my final few months before goal was a consistent 10lb per month loss; after goal and into maintenance, I settled into around 2100-2200 per day to maintain a stable weight.
    Some people, particularly the shorter ladies, may be stable at 11-1200 per day after all is done, so they will need to go much lower to lose their excess weight - this is why we see 6-800 calories as a common intake for the loss phase, and they will often lose more slowly because they have a lower caloric deficit (figure about a pound per month per 100 calories in deficit, on average.)
    In short, figure on 1000 calories or so while losing, and probably around 2000 or so, give or take, to maintain, as a quick guesstimate.
  19. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SuziDavis in BMR and my future self ???   
    First, your BMR is a bit of a guesstimate, but 2100 isn't unreasonable for a guy. Some calculators/formulas are way off because they simplify things by using body weight, while it is lean or muscle mass that is the important factor (all that extra fat we carry around does little to BMR, though whatever extra musculature we may have to carry around that extra fat does help. There are some tests that they can do (VOx, etc.) that can give a closer reading to your personal BMR, and many body composition scales give an OK estimate based upon their reading of your lean mass. The most important thing is at what caloric level is your weight stable - that gives the best clue as to where you stand metabolically. My BMR was probably around 2100 also, though my stability point by experience and tracking intake was in the 2600-2800 range (consume more consistently and I would gain, consume less overall and I would lose.) BMR represents our resting metabolism, while the extra burn if from exercise and daily activities; most calculators and tables (and ourselves) tend to over estimate the burn from exercise.
    After surgery, and you lose what you are going to lose, you will likely have lost some muscle mass, I lost around 10 lb) as you aren't carrying that extra 100, 200 or whatever pounds around with you 24/7, so your BMR will likely decline some, but not a lot (maybe down to 2000). This is why most programs emphasize getting in adequate Protein, and doing some load bearing exercise, to minimize the loss of muscle mass, to keep our BMR up.
    If you can maintain a diet of 1100 calories (not at all difficult for the first year or so post op) that will yield a caloric deficit of around 1000 calories to your BMR (and likely more considering activity burn,) which will equate to an average loss of around 10 per month (more initially, and tapering off over time) - that's about what I did at 1100 calorie average, and my final few months before goal was a consistent 10lb per month loss; after goal and into maintenance, I settled into around 2100-2200 per day to maintain a stable weight.
    Some people, particularly the shorter ladies, may be stable at 11-1200 per day after all is done, so they will need to go much lower to lose their excess weight - this is why we see 6-800 calories as a common intake for the loss phase, and they will often lose more slowly because they have a lower caloric deficit (figure about a pound per month per 100 calories in deficit, on average.)
    In short, figure on 1000 calories or so while losing, and probably around 2000 or so, give or take, to maintain, as a quick guesstimate.
  20. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SuziDavis in BMR and my future self ???   
    First, your BMR is a bit of a guesstimate, but 2100 isn't unreasonable for a guy. Some calculators/formulas are way off because they simplify things by using body weight, while it is lean or muscle mass that is the important factor (all that extra fat we carry around does little to BMR, though whatever extra musculature we may have to carry around that extra fat does help. There are some tests that they can do (VOx, etc.) that can give a closer reading to your personal BMR, and many body composition scales give an OK estimate based upon their reading of your lean mass. The most important thing is at what caloric level is your weight stable - that gives the best clue as to where you stand metabolically. My BMR was probably around 2100 also, though my stability point by experience and tracking intake was in the 2600-2800 range (consume more consistently and I would gain, consume less overall and I would lose.) BMR represents our resting metabolism, while the extra burn if from exercise and daily activities; most calculators and tables (and ourselves) tend to over estimate the burn from exercise.
    After surgery, and you lose what you are going to lose, you will likely have lost some muscle mass, I lost around 10 lb) as you aren't carrying that extra 100, 200 or whatever pounds around with you 24/7, so your BMR will likely decline some, but not a lot (maybe down to 2000). This is why most programs emphasize getting in adequate Protein, and doing some load bearing exercise, to minimize the loss of muscle mass, to keep our BMR up.
    If you can maintain a diet of 1100 calories (not at all difficult for the first year or so post op) that will yield a caloric deficit of around 1000 calories to your BMR (and likely more considering activity burn,) which will equate to an average loss of around 10 per month (more initially, and tapering off over time) - that's about what I did at 1100 calorie average, and my final few months before goal was a consistent 10lb per month loss; after goal and into maintenance, I settled into around 2100-2200 per day to maintain a stable weight.
    Some people, particularly the shorter ladies, may be stable at 11-1200 per day after all is done, so they will need to go much lower to lose their excess weight - this is why we see 6-800 calories as a common intake for the loss phase, and they will often lose more slowly because they have a lower caloric deficit (figure about a pound per month per 100 calories in deficit, on average.)
    In short, figure on 1000 calories or so while losing, and probably around 2000 or so, give or take, to maintain, as a quick guesstimate.
  21. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SuziDavis in BMR and my future self ???   
    First, your BMR is a bit of a guesstimate, but 2100 isn't unreasonable for a guy. Some calculators/formulas are way off because they simplify things by using body weight, while it is lean or muscle mass that is the important factor (all that extra fat we carry around does little to BMR, though whatever extra musculature we may have to carry around that extra fat does help. There are some tests that they can do (VOx, etc.) that can give a closer reading to your personal BMR, and many body composition scales give an OK estimate based upon their reading of your lean mass. The most important thing is at what caloric level is your weight stable - that gives the best clue as to where you stand metabolically. My BMR was probably around 2100 also, though my stability point by experience and tracking intake was in the 2600-2800 range (consume more consistently and I would gain, consume less overall and I would lose.) BMR represents our resting metabolism, while the extra burn if from exercise and daily activities; most calculators and tables (and ourselves) tend to over estimate the burn from exercise.
    After surgery, and you lose what you are going to lose, you will likely have lost some muscle mass, I lost around 10 lb) as you aren't carrying that extra 100, 200 or whatever pounds around with you 24/7, so your BMR will likely decline some, but not a lot (maybe down to 2000). This is why most programs emphasize getting in adequate Protein, and doing some load bearing exercise, to minimize the loss of muscle mass, to keep our BMR up.
    If you can maintain a diet of 1100 calories (not at all difficult for the first year or so post op) that will yield a caloric deficit of around 1000 calories to your BMR (and likely more considering activity burn,) which will equate to an average loss of around 10 per month (more initially, and tapering off over time) - that's about what I did at 1100 calorie average, and my final few months before goal was a consistent 10lb per month loss; after goal and into maintenance, I settled into around 2100-2200 per day to maintain a stable weight.
    Some people, particularly the shorter ladies, may be stable at 11-1200 per day after all is done, so they will need to go much lower to lose their excess weight - this is why we see 6-800 calories as a common intake for the loss phase, and they will often lose more slowly because they have a lower caloric deficit (figure about a pound per month per 100 calories in deficit, on average.)
    In short, figure on 1000 calories or so while losing, and probably around 2000 or so, give or take, to maintain, as a quick guesstimate.
  22. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SuziDavis in BMR and my future self ???   
    First, your BMR is a bit of a guesstimate, but 2100 isn't unreasonable for a guy. Some calculators/formulas are way off because they simplify things by using body weight, while it is lean or muscle mass that is the important factor (all that extra fat we carry around does little to BMR, though whatever extra musculature we may have to carry around that extra fat does help. There are some tests that they can do (VOx, etc.) that can give a closer reading to your personal BMR, and many body composition scales give an OK estimate based upon their reading of your lean mass. The most important thing is at what caloric level is your weight stable - that gives the best clue as to where you stand metabolically. My BMR was probably around 2100 also, though my stability point by experience and tracking intake was in the 2600-2800 range (consume more consistently and I would gain, consume less overall and I would lose.) BMR represents our resting metabolism, while the extra burn if from exercise and daily activities; most calculators and tables (and ourselves) tend to over estimate the burn from exercise.
    After surgery, and you lose what you are going to lose, you will likely have lost some muscle mass, I lost around 10 lb) as you aren't carrying that extra 100, 200 or whatever pounds around with you 24/7, so your BMR will likely decline some, but not a lot (maybe down to 2000). This is why most programs emphasize getting in adequate Protein, and doing some load bearing exercise, to minimize the loss of muscle mass, to keep our BMR up.
    If you can maintain a diet of 1100 calories (not at all difficult for the first year or so post op) that will yield a caloric deficit of around 1000 calories to your BMR (and likely more considering activity burn,) which will equate to an average loss of around 10 per month (more initially, and tapering off over time) - that's about what I did at 1100 calorie average, and my final few months before goal was a consistent 10lb per month loss; after goal and into maintenance, I settled into around 2100-2200 per day to maintain a stable weight.
    Some people, particularly the shorter ladies, may be stable at 11-1200 per day after all is done, so they will need to go much lower to lose their excess weight - this is why we see 6-800 calories as a common intake for the loss phase, and they will often lose more slowly because they have a lower caloric deficit (figure about a pound per month per 100 calories in deficit, on average.)
    In short, figure on 1000 calories or so while losing, and probably around 2000 or so, give or take, to maintain, as a quick guesstimate.
  23. Like
    RickM got a reaction from SuziDavis in BMR and my future self ???   
    First, your BMR is a bit of a guesstimate, but 2100 isn't unreasonable for a guy. Some calculators/formulas are way off because they simplify things by using body weight, while it is lean or muscle mass that is the important factor (all that extra fat we carry around does little to BMR, though whatever extra musculature we may have to carry around that extra fat does help. There are some tests that they can do (VOx, etc.) that can give a closer reading to your personal BMR, and many body composition scales give an OK estimate based upon their reading of your lean mass. The most important thing is at what caloric level is your weight stable - that gives the best clue as to where you stand metabolically. My BMR was probably around 2100 also, though my stability point by experience and tracking intake was in the 2600-2800 range (consume more consistently and I would gain, consume less overall and I would lose.) BMR represents our resting metabolism, while the extra burn if from exercise and daily activities; most calculators and tables (and ourselves) tend to over estimate the burn from exercise.
    After surgery, and you lose what you are going to lose, you will likely have lost some muscle mass, I lost around 10 lb) as you aren't carrying that extra 100, 200 or whatever pounds around with you 24/7, so your BMR will likely decline some, but not a lot (maybe down to 2000). This is why most programs emphasize getting in adequate Protein, and doing some load bearing exercise, to minimize the loss of muscle mass, to keep our BMR up.
    If you can maintain a diet of 1100 calories (not at all difficult for the first year or so post op) that will yield a caloric deficit of around 1000 calories to your BMR (and likely more considering activity burn,) which will equate to an average loss of around 10 per month (more initially, and tapering off over time) - that's about what I did at 1100 calorie average, and my final few months before goal was a consistent 10lb per month loss; after goal and into maintenance, I settled into around 2100-2200 per day to maintain a stable weight.
    Some people, particularly the shorter ladies, may be stable at 11-1200 per day after all is done, so they will need to go much lower to lose their excess weight - this is why we see 6-800 calories as a common intake for the loss phase, and they will often lose more slowly because they have a lower caloric deficit (figure about a pound per month per 100 calories in deficit, on average.)
    In short, figure on 1000 calories or so while losing, and probably around 2000 or so, give or take, to maintain, as a quick guesstimate.
  24. Like
    RickM got a reaction from summerseeker in BPD/DS   
    My wife is coming up on 18 years out on her DS, but can't offer any real advice on the preop diet as we didn't have one. The best general advice on the shakes is to try several ahead of time (some manufacturers/retailers have sample packs of different varieties that you can get to try). Try both the RTD (ready to drink) and mixes as suits your needs, but there is more variety in the mixes. Generally, 100% whey isolate is preferred to the cheaper whey blends or concentrates as it is better absorbed (and also more expensive...) and is also better tolerated by those who are or develop lactose intolerance as the lactose is filtered out in the processing. But if a blend or concentrate fits your tastes better, one that you will drink is preferred over one that just sits on your shelf. An additional option is unflavored powder (though there is no such thing as one without taste...) and flavor it with one of the sugar free flavor syrups that are available. Also, when just to complicate things further, when/if you hit on one that you like, don't load up on too much of it, as your tastes may change post op (or they may not...)
    Good luck in getting through this - lots of changes in these next few weeks pre and post op, but things settle out over time.
  25. Like
    RickM got a reaction from GreenTealael in Finding a gastro 10 y post op?   
    A general gastroenterologist should be fine for starters - with the bypass being the most common current and legacy bariatric procedure, most should have a reasonable amount of experience with cases such as yours, and be familiar with the common maladies (such as marginal ulcers.) They are usually the ones to do an initial EGD (endoscopy) to take a look and see what's going on inside. If necessary, they can then refer you to a specialist interventional endoscopy center, usually associated with a major regional cancer center hospital. Such hospitals usually have a bariatric practice associated with the cancer center, and they are often a good place to go for more unusual cases as they tend to see a wider variety of odd cases; while they, too, tend to be primarily surgeons, they usually have a broader staff of specialists beyond surgeons, though sometimes they may require a referral from a generalist - step one, your general gastroenterologist.
    Another step you can consider is to try to establish a relationship with a local bariatric practice for annual follow ups - some practices actively encourage this, while others are more cut and done type of practice. My wife and I still see (12 years out for me, 18 for her) our bariatric practice, which is 5-6 hours away, but they have long done telephone consults, but it does serve as a means of keeping them "on retainer" in the event that questions such as this come up - we, or our PCP, can call or email the doc with questions about these types of situations (is this a common thing for your patients, is there something else I should be looking for, etc.?) Check and see if any local practices have support groups open to others beyond their patients as an entry point, and to see if they have a long term interest in their craft.

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