wendy100

I am just over 18 months post RNY surgery and am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity for this tool, and glad I made the decision to do it. Even with everything going on in the world today, I am feelling happier and healthier than I have in a long time.
I am 5'10, just turned 43 year old women (41 at time of surgery). Highest weight was 334, day of surgery 292, today I am maintaining right around 160. So many non scale victories, but a few of my favorites:
- I have a ton more energy. I used to fall asleep on the couch after work most nights, and weekends I did errands and chores and rarely had the energy for much else. Now, I use my evenings to chores and save my weekends for hiking or other fun activities.
- My knees and ankles don't hurt. Before, just walking around the block meant pain, and my knees ached everyday (arthritis). Now, I walk between 1.5-2 miles almost every day and rarely have any pain. I can even do yoga poses like child's pose as I'm gaining flexibility back.
- I am out enjoying life more. I have always loved hike, but even when my weight wasn't as high I had a hard time as I was out of shape. Now, I hike most weekends, going 10+ miles and 2K elevation gain without a problem. Last weekend, at the top of a pretty steep hill my heart rate was still below 100! As the world reopens I feel more comfortable going to restaurant's (chairs are so much more comfortable!) and I'm sure other activities will be easier too.
- I started a new job in April, and hadn't met anyone in person. We had lunch the other day and I wasn't self conscious and worried that they'd be judging me for my weight.
- I can fit into cute and stylish clothes. I'm still figuring out what works on my new body, but I can go into little shops and they actually have things that fit! I'm generally a S top and 8-10 in bottoms.
I do have some work to do to clean up my diet. I've slipped a little in the last couple of months and need to get back to eating healthier before it starts impacting my progress. My goal is to not have to hyper focus on food and do regular meal planning with healthy foods and just eat until I am full. Hopefully, coupled with exercise that will help me maintain.
Thanks for letting me share.
Lori

No restriction going from VSG to RNY really bothered me for a long time and was the worst.
Best thing for me was that I am a dumper since I have no restriction and this keeps me in check and its much easier to maintain weight loss.

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

Best thing is no more GERD/ Acid Reflux! Worst thing is I can't think of is the wrinkles in my face from all the weight loss. I have no issues personally with dumping and can eat anything without any issues except ice cream. I can only eat a very little amount of ice cream (candies too) or I will pay a price with stomach/colon pains and uncomfortable heart rates but I never throw up and I think that may be because of a hiatal hernia repair that my body just won't throw up even when I want it too. I am almost 8 months post op and have lost 21 lbs more with the roux en x bypass and after a couple of months stall and just now starting weight training in a gym am starting to see the scale moving once again. I am only 4lbs from my goal. I am sure my lose skin weighs about this, LOL... But I am happy just not having the GERD or Acid reflux and so it has all been very worth it!

Best thing.....NO MORE ACID REFLUX
Worst thing.....Dumping
Surgery 10/29/2020 @ 187 lbs.
Weight loss since surgery..... 52 lbs. That's also a BEST THING!
Since my surgery was for the stomach/esophagus issues, the weight loss has been a bonus!
After the sleeve, I had a banana sized stomach. Now I have a golf ball sized stomach. The remainder of my stomach and my duodenum (upper most part of my upper intestine) is still inside, the duodenum is just connected further down into my ilium (lowest part of the upper intestine). So in the revision, nothing is taken out like with the sleeve. The digestive track is just rerouted to bypass the stomach and duodenum.
I hope that makes sense.