James Marusek

Peripheral neuropathy or polyneuropathy is nerve damage that causes burning pain, numbness or tingling in hands, feet and other parts of the body. Vitamins E, B6, B12, and B1 (niacin) are essential to healthy nerve function and deficiencies can cause widespread damage to nerve tissue. The development of peripheral neuropathy after bariatric surgery can occur as the result of its absorption site in the jejunum being bypassed and inadequate nutritional supplements after surgery. About 16 percent of people who underwent bariatric surgery developed peripheral neuropathy, according to one study of more than 400 people conducted by the Mayo Clinic. After surgery the three most important requirement are meeting your Vitamin, Fluid and Protein requirements. So hopefully after resolving your stricture, you can make sure you get on track in these three areas and the problems you are mentioning will disappear.

After surgery my surgeon prescribed Omeprazole (Prilosec) for the first year after surgery. This was not for GERD but for healing my stomach. So I was not officially able to tell that the GERD was gone until after I stopped using Omeprazole. I am 32 months post-op RNY and no sign of it. Also some of the symptoms of dumping syndrome mimic the effects of GERD.

I had severe acid reflux (GERD) before surgery. I had RNY 32 months ago and the GERD went into remission ever since surgery. Normally sleeve is not recommended for GERD patients because it can make the GERD condition worse.

During the first few weeks after surgery, your body is in a major heal mode. Many people find it difficult to meet the Protein and Fluid requirements immediately after surgery. But keep trying. You will get there. The daily fluid requirement is more than just Water. It includes decaf coffee, tea, milk, flavored water such as Crystal Light, the water you take with your Vitamins, the fluid content of Protein shakes, the fluid content in Soups. Some individuals find that the temperature (hot or cold) can make a difference to acceptability. During winter I find that drinking hot cocoa (no sugar added) taste good.

Yes acronyms can cause confusion. GB could be gastric bypass, gastric banding. I didn't think about gallbladder.

I am a little confused so perhaps you can clarify. In May 2013 you underwent a gastric sleeve surgery. Then after 110 pounds loss, you had the gastric sleeve removed. In gastric sleeve surgery as I understand it, part of your stomach is cut away permanently so a revision to restore is not an option. Maybe this is a misunderstanding on my part, since I had a RNY and not a sleeve. Generally when a person has a revision from a sleeve, they either re-sleeve the stomach, have a revision to RNY or to duodenal switch. Since you successfully lost (and maintained) a weight loss of 125 pounds, I wouldn't exactly call that a failure. It may not have achieved your expectations but it was a success. I guess that when you talk to your insurance, I would not say that the first surgery didn't work. It is just that you need to drive your weight lower.

I am 32 months post-op RNY surgery. I consider it to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I have written a couple short articles about it. The first one describes my experience in the "Weight Loss" phase. The second describes the "Maintenance" phase. I have also include a before and after photo at the 6 month post-op mark. I have lost additional weight since then but it is unbelievable what can happen in 6 months time. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Operation.jpg

Most people try dieting and do not succeed in losing weight. That is why they opt for surgery. The result of yo-yo dieting is in general additional weight gain. People lose weight while dieting and when they get of the diet, they gain it back and then some. Each time they do this they add additional pounds. It rarely works long term.

Welcome and let us know if we can be of any help.

Let your surgeon's office chase this down for you. It doesn't sound right nor typical. You went through a 6 month medically monitored weight loss and exercise program, that is where there may be a mix up. So take a deep breath and relax. See what tomorrow brings.

Having a drain installed after RNY gastric bypass surgery is probably the exception to the rule. I did not have a drain installed. It may depend on the surgeon or because of problems uncovered during surgery. Those that do have a drain installed, generally have the drain removed a week after surgery and experience a minor discomfort.

TTC lets see. Toronto Transit Commission - no. Tao Te Ching - no. The Tom Tom Club - no. Top Teen of Canada - no. Telecommunication Technology Committee - no. Texas Technological College - no. And the lists goes on-and-on. O.K. you mean "trying to conceive". Congratulations on your weight loss. 208 pounds is fantastic. Generally it is recommended that you not get pregnant during the 12-18 months after surgery because low caloric intake cannot support a pregnancy. But since you are in year 2, it sounds like you have a "green" light. Many individuals become more fertile after weight loss surgery. It is important to gain some weight during pregnancy for the health of the little one. You should be able to lose this weight after delivery, provide the weight gain is from good foods with plenty of Protein and Vitamin C.

Walking is a good form of exercise almost a vital form of exercise after surgery. I walked for 30 minutes per day for the 6 months prior to surgery. In the 2 days I was in the hospital, I walked 100 lapse around the hospital floor. When I returned home I walked 30 minutes each day for the first year after surgery. After surgery your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. Don't worry, you will not die of starvation. You already have the energy that you need stored within your body. You just need to release it. I walked every 2 hours after the operation, round the clock, when I was in the hospital. This accomplished a few things. First, it prevents blood clots from forming. Second, it helps to relieve the gas pain that you will experience after surgery. Third, walking promotes wound healing. After surgery while in the hospital, I took no pain medicine. My pain levels were at the most a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10. This was because of walking. If you want to get back on your feet, first you must get back on your feet and walk.

Good luck on your surgery. I will pray that it will be successful.

Congratulations.

Congratulations. I will pray that your surgery is successful.

I think they also probe the root cause of the weight gain and if it has to do with physiological issues to make sure the proper support network is in place to deal with those issues.

I had severe acid reflux (GERD) before surgery. And none since. I am 32 months post-op RNY.

I haven't experience this. Citrus fruit can be a trigger for GERD. I did an internet search and came up with this. http://www.njbariatricspc.com/weight-loss-surgery-articles/stomach-pain-after-bariatric-surgery/

I have no experience with gastric plication. I am 32 months post-op RNY. Some individuals who had RNY gastric bypass surgery encounter hair loss. This is especially true if they do not obtain sufficient Protein. Generally as they transition into the maintenance phase, they report that the hair grows back. Since you are citing other complications such as hair brittleness, tingling and painful scalp, there may be something else at play here such as lack of Vitamins.

Congratulations and good luck on your surgery.

I used Muscle Milk Light (vanilla Creme) powder and blended it with Water. A few months after surgery I started using a half a banana and blending it into the Protein shake. Muscle Milk Light is lactose free.

The weight goal is an artificial number. Let your body decide when you have reached bottom. You will naturally slide into Maintenance mode.

Doesn't sound bad. Remember that while you were in the hospital they filled you with fluids and that when you arrived home you weighed more then when you went into he hospital and you had to lose that weight first.

"How come I am still feeling as big as ever?" This is common. Generally I never knew I was obese because I never really looked at myself in the mirror before surgery and because I was alway the one taking photographs so therefore I was never in them. The best thing to do before surgery is to take a photograph of yourself and then later after surgery take another one as a comparison shot. It was a real eye opener. Here is mine at the 6 month mark. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Operation.jpg