Camella

I had a sleeve 7 years ago and lost 85 pounds over 6 months. I had no loose skin whatsoever, but I have regained the weight and I'm due to have a revision to a Mini Gastric Bypass in a few weeks. I'm curious to know if you are more likely to have loose skin after a revision for weight gain? I am also now 7 years older 🙂

I have been struggling with the same decision and also didn't want to have to go through another surgery. I had a sleeve 7 years ago. I have now chosen to go with the MGB (op in three weeks) as the long term risk factors (in particular - bowl obstruction) is much lower than the RNY. It should also resolve your current reflux. I'm still concerned about bile reflux, but my doctor assures me that it isn't that common after MGB. MGB statistically offers better weight loss and a lower chance of regain.

I'm scheduled to have a revision from a sleeve to a mini gastric bypass in 5 weeks. I am way more scared than the first surgery. I think in part because I know what to expect post op (I had an awful recovery last time). Has anyone else felt like this before their revision?

Thanks Michelle for your reassurance and suggestions 🙂 I am going with a different surgeon this time around but I will definitely share my concerns with him 🙂

Thanks Michelle for your reply! My surgeon nicked my spleen and 12 hours after the initial surgery I was in excruciating pain, I had to go under again to rectify internal bleeding. I also had a C-Diff infection that made me very sick and it took three weeks to recover. I know that it was initially only four of five weeks of pain and suffering but the thought of going through this again is weighing on my mind.

I was sleeved 7 years ago and regained all the weight. I maintained my weight loss for 5 years and then over a 2.5yr period I gained it all back. I am now scheduled to have a revision surgery. I feel a lot of shame about regaining, which I am now learning isn't helpful. What I have learn't from regaining is that I have an addiction to food. For me to be successful going forward I need to focus on what motivates me to overeat, and come at the problem from a psychological perspective. Despite everyone saying that you need to work on your head, after my surgery I thought I would never regain and I could get away with not looking at how I became morbidly obese in the first place. I don't know what is happening for you, but if you haven't already I would possibly look into Overeaters Anonymous or seeking help from a therapist, plus a dietician.

It definitely sounds like you are definitely on the right track 🙂

I'm really glad you have some clarity. I also had bulimia when I was younger and understand your concerns, and I understand why the idea of surgery could be a trigger for increased binging. My experience in having lost weight via surgery and regained. plus having an eating disorder is that surgery won't fix your head. This time around I am seeing a therapist for my eating disorder at the same time as going through surgery. I know that if I don't fix my thinking I will regain again.

I had the sleeve and 7 years on I wish I had gone for the bypass. It's a really personal decision, but I tend to eat compulsively throughout the day, not large meals. Overtime my sleeve stretched and I regained a lot of weight due to eating small amounts regularly. I am now scheduled to have a mini bypass. So when you are weighing up your options, remember that the initial restriction from the sleeve is not permanent, I can now eat the same size meals as my husband. I hope that helps 🙂

Thanks Band07 and congrats on keeping it off!

Hi Everyone I am scheduled to have a revision from a VSG to a Mini Gastric Bypass in 8 weeks. I have weight regain and issues with reflux. I am extremely nervous about the surgery - way more nervous than when I had my sleeve. I would love to know if anyone else has had this conversion and know if the surgery was a success or if you have any regrets. Thanks 🙂

I have been sleeved and due to weight regain I am planning to have a bypass. I didn't loose as much weight as I had anticipated. My weight loss stopped at the six month mark. My sleeve has stretched considerably. I regret not having the bypass. The % of regain is less with the bypass, and from my research, people tend to loose a little more weight. Starting at the 3 year mark I have also had ongoing issues with GERD. Having said all of that, it is a very personal decision and there are quite a few things you need to weight up.

I am two years post op and I feel a lot of shame when it comes to my weight gain since surgery. I feel like I have failed and that once again food is winning and my waist line is losing. After weight loss surgery gaining weight is quite terrifying. I feel like I am slipping down a rabbit whole and the other side is all too familiar. There isn’t a single person that has weight loss surgery that doesn’t promise themselves that this will NEVER happen again, and for some of us it does happen. I suppose for me the first thing I need to do is stop punishing myself because that has never helped me gain control of my eating, the second thing is to take stock of why it has happened. For me that is very simple, I didn’t work on my head, I only worked on my body, I didn’t unfriend my toxic friend food! We are still in a dysfunctional relationship. The surgery limited my food intake, but it didn’t equip me with new coping mechanisms and unfortunately food still plays an important role in helping me relax, sooths me when I’m down, occupies me when I’m bored and helps me hide from the world when I don’t want to be seen. I have gained 15lbs since my surgery 2 years ago and some may even say that’s normal, but I know my eating is out of control. I have gained 10 lbs. in the last two months. For those of you that have been post –surgery for a long time, and have successfully maintained, how did you fix your head and your relationship with food?

Hi There I am four years out from my surgery this July and I am 99% sure that I have developed a stomach ulcer. I will be visiting my doc next week for further tests, but I was wondering if anyone else has developed this problem as a long term complication and if so, what was the outcome? Thanks! :-)

I have found that I physically cannot eat food and drink. As WL Warrior said, it is like a sink. If you poor cement into the sink and then poor liquid on top, it won't go down and for me it just comes back up. So one of two things happen to me. 1. I throw up or 2. If it sugar (e.g. cookie and a sip of coffee) I then get dumping syndrome as the food has been sent to my upper intestinal tract too quickly. I then spend an hour sweating and wanting to vomit - usually involves me lying down for an hour. So I avoid drinking/eating at all costs. It's not a big deal, I just need to wait 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the meal.

I am two years out. Initially I was unable to tolerate any sugar, then by about six months out I could tolerate a little sugar. I am now once again a full blown sugar addict. The good news is that I can't eat all the sugar I want in one sitting, however it can easily be consumed throughout the day. My best advice is give up sugar when you have the surgery and NEVER touch it again. Honestly, for me it has been a very slippery slope and I have now regained 15 lbs. The surgery will not prevent you from returning to your sugar addiction. Sugar is a toxic substance and we grossly underestimate how addictive it is and what it does to our bodies.

Have you had your ferritin levels checked? It may be a more accurate measure of low iron/anaemia. I have also been exhausted and my Iron levels came back normal but ferritin levels were very low. I was recently reading that up to 40% of sleeve patients have iron deficiency one to two years out (especially women).

I can relate to you so well! You are far too young to have so many health issues and to be concerned about your longevity for your children. I was exactly the same. Pre-diabetic, PSOC (although I didn't know it at the time), I struggled to keep up with my young son and I felt like I would probably die by the time I was 50. I was terrified to have surgery and terrified about what life might be like if I didn't. It is not impossible to lose the amount of weight you need to lose on your own, but statistically the odds are highly stacked against you. If I were you (and only you can decided what is best for you) I would have the surgery in a heart beat. It is life changing in the best possible way. It has been two years since my surgery and I don't even remember who the morbidly obese person I use to be was. I now run three times a week and swim twice a week. I have an active social life (I use to hide away). I have a great job/career that I may not have had, if I hadn't lost weight. If you have the opportunity to have surgery, I would jump at the chance. It has been a gift for me!

I had terrible issues with PF before surgery and could only wear Ecco shoes (the only shoes that didn't hurt me) and flats where out of the question. Since surgery I am happy to say that I get the very occasional arch ache but I wear heals every day to work and stilettos when I'm heading out in the evening. I'm so happy to be able to buy pretty shoes again!

Just wondering if anyone has become gluten intolerant following their surgery. I am two years out and I have recently really cut back on products that contain wheat (by reducing carbs) and I have realised that when I do eat things that contain wheat, I have extreme bloating and fatigue. Would love to know if others have had a similar experience? (I have read that this happens to some people after bariatric surgery).

I'm so sorry that you have had so many health issues and complications. I am 2 years out and recently gained 15 lb and I went to the doctor and found out that I had several hormonal imbalances and PCOS. Perhaps a visit to see an endocrinologist for a full hormone evaluation would be a good idea and make sure your thyroid is functioning properly. These things can easily cause weight gain. Also it sounds like the RNY is the way to go, the quality of your health and life are the most important things to be focusing on! I'm so sorry that you have had so many health issues and complications. I am 2 years out and recently gained 15 lb and I went to the doctor and found out that I had several hormonal imbalances and PCOS. Perhaps a visit to see an endocrinologist for a full hormone evaluation would be a good idea and make sure your thyroid is functioning properly. These things can easily cause weight gain. Also it sounds like the RNY is the way to go, the quality of your health and life are the most important things to be focusing on!

I just checked it out. My only observation is that it is quite high in sugar, but apart from that it looks fine - probably not enough Protein if you are not eating breakfast!

Thanks sewin-quiltin for your update! My two year anniversary is in two days and I have also been reflecting on my journey so far. There have been massive highs and some lows, but overall I am in a much happier and healthier place in my life. The person I was 2 years ago seems like a distant memory. Like you I have also gained exactly 15 pounds. I realise that from this point on my success is 100% up to me. I am determined to get the 15 pounds off and continue to live a happy healthy life!

I felt the same way. I spent years numbing my emotions with food and when you take the food away it can be quite an adjustment. Find new ways (healthy ways) to sooth yourself when you are stressed and angry. If you can learn these new skills now you will have a much better chance and making a permanent change to your health/weight.

I had huge amounts of hair loss between the 5 to 12 month mark. Fortunately I have extremely thick hair so it wasn't that noticeable. I would say after 12 months my hair started to thicken up again, but remember that if you have had significant hair loss (I had massive handfuls coming out in the shower and clogging the drain) it takes a long time for that hair to grow back to a reasonable length. If you are patient I think it should eventually return to normal, provided you are getting the Vitamins and minerals you need.