wendy100

19 minutes ago, Frostyauggie said:

How was you’re recovery process going from the sleeve to bypass? In a few weeks I will be doing a revision of my sleeve to bypass due to a hiatal hernia and acid reflux. I’m curious to know if the recovery after the surgery is worse, the same or easier the second time around. I’m also interested in knowing how your insurance covered the revision. My policy has an exclusion and I’m concerned I will be denied coverage.

I thought it was easier than the sleeve but I recovered really well on both of them...I didn't have the gassy pain that I have heard folks talk about...same with the bypass...I was only in the hospital about 24 hours after surgery for the by-pass...then I flew home...that was interesting as I missed my connecting flight and had to spend another night away from home. But the room was comfortable at the hotel and I slept hard...lol

I tend to feel really good and then over do it by lifting something really heavy like grandkids or bending over gardening...I have to let the weeds go for another week or so.

My insurance did NOT cover either surgery...that's why I went to Mexico and had it done. $8k vs. $28k. Plus I have a friend that went first and she said the experience was fine; she was never scared or anything like that. The hospital was clean...there was a language barrier but it has inspired me to learn Spanish after being down there. The first time I went to Tijuana in 2011; most recently I went to Juarez. Both times I wasn't scared and it was fine.

Maybe consider that if you get denied. Plus, I decided to get the surgery around April 16th and had the surgery May 19th...it was pretty quick!

Not sure with the hiatal hernia and acid reflux how the Mexico thing would go. I would think that with those issues, it would be covered. But you never know with insurance.

Best wishes

On 4/19/2021 at 8:03 AM, SummerTimeGirl said:

Hello and welcome! I'll have mine on May 19th. Tomorrow I attend my pre op class and also meet with my surgeon one last time so I guess I'll find out the deets to my pre surgery diet tomorrow. I know there is one, cause I saw it in the notes of the dietician, just not sure of the details.

There is another forum about May surgery dates too. You can check it out at:

https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/436606-may-surgery/?tab=comments#comment-4919284

That's the same day I had mine.

How is it going?

What have been some of your experiences with going from sleeve to bypass? Worst things? Best things? Weight loss time periods? etc.

Also, I know this is a stupid time to be asking this but I made a bad assumption about the bypass. I thought since I had the sleeve already that the surgeon would just use that pouch and redirect the small intestine. After reading some of the stories on here, I am not sure what they did to my stomach part?? Anyone have any answers for that one too??

That sounds more like what I did 🙄. But I still had a limit on how much I could eat. Perhaps the soda Water didn’t help matters.

That’s a great question... I will put the question to the folks that did mine and see what they say. The way I understood the difference between the two was that both surgeries did the pouch for a stomach but the bypass also rerouted the small intestine. But I am no expert 😉

I did a little googling and not one of the five sites said it was NOT possible to stretch your pouch out. But that was a google search 😉

Hmmm I can tell you from firsthand experience that it’s not a myth . My doctors and staff told me that this is why the rate is about 60% for sleeves. I believe that it’s harder to do with the bypass but was told it’s still possible.

I had the sleeve done 10 years ago and missed the memo on not drinking carbonated Water. I stretched my tummy out and got hungry again, of course means more food and weight gain. 🙄 On the 19, I had the bypass done. It’s more aggressive than the sleeve and the advances in 10 years convinced me to do it. I’m less than 2 weeks in but I think, if I follow the rules, this will be the fix.
good luck on your journey

You didn't like the Optifast? Wow...a friend of mine thought it was awlful too. I thought I would hate it but I actually like all 3 flavors. I think this must get easier with time!

I am doing 3 shakes, 1 bar, and 1 Soup until the surgery...then 5 shakes...this is what my doctor carries...not sure about slim fast...I drank that one time and felt really odd, plus the flavor sucked. I like the Optifast and today is better...still hungry but better. thanks and congrats on your losses!

Is anyone using Optifast? I started this on Wednesday and am starving??

Holy Smokes...that's all I can say!

I told my Dad and step-mom the other night that I was getting the band...the first thing out of both their mouths was "OMG you aren't really going to do something that risky??" I immediately told them that I didn't want to hear any negativity about this and they could either support me or not say anything at all. Why are people so afraid of change? Now if something goes wrong all I will hear is "We told you not to do this". If everything goes well, I won't get an apology for their negativity!! And unfortunately, my whole family except my grown children are like that! But I don't care what they think! I am doing this to live longer and be healthier. Hang in there.