catwoman7

a lot of people seem to be afraid of the bypass, but I went with it because I had GERD pre-surgery, and I didn't want to risk having it get worse (I know it doesn't always, but I didn't want to risk it). I wasn't afraid of it though - and at the time I had surgery the standalone sleeve was still fairly new, so I also didn't want to take the risk of it turning out to be "Lapband 2" (although at this point, it's been around long enough that we know it's not "Lapband 2", so that wouldn't be one of my concerns if I had to make the decision today). However, given my pre-surgery GERD, I still would have gone with the bypass if I had to make the choice again. Anyway, I love my bypass, and I'm glad I had it.

dumping on sugar is more common than dumping on fat (and even given that, only about 30% of bypass patients dump on sugar). I've never dumped, but from what I've heard from those who do, it's more the added sugar (as opposed to the more natural kind). I know ice cream is a big one for dumpers. I don't know the answer to the question about fat because I don't personally know anyone who dumps on fat, but I know some people do. Hopefully someone who does (or at least knows) will see this and answer it for you.. I do know that most dumpers can tolerate *some* sugar (or fat). They just can't eat a ton of it at one sitting. In other words, they can usually eat a cookie or a couple of forkfuls of cake, but they can't go overboard on sweets like they could pre-surgery or they'll be sorry!!!

like someone above said, the relationship itself may not get worse (although it COULD), but losing weight tends to give people more confidence and the realization that they have other choices and don't have to put up with the crap any more.

I've heard mixed reviews about vitamin patches - they seem to work for some people, but not for others. I never tried them because I figured I'd be one of the latter. I HAVE thought about getting some to take on trips, though, since they'd be a lot more convenient - and if they ended up not working for me, a few days without vitamins wouldn't be the end of the world.

I don't have any advice for you since I worked a very regular schedule at the time (I'm not in health care - I'm a retired librarian), but the comment about vending machines in hospitals made me laugh. I had two of my plastic surgeries in Chicago. After the second one, I slept most of the day but was wide awake - and starving - around 8:00 pm. It was too late to order food from the cafeteria, so I sent my husband out to the nurses' station to see if they had some kind of snacky thing I could eat. They didn't - so they told him to go down to the basement vending machines. He came back and asked me what I wanted out of the vending machine, since that was our only option. Stumped, I said something at least semi-healthy (since I was very aware of the kind of crap vending machines are normally stocked with), I finally suggested something like a pack of peanut butter crackers or one of those little bags of peanuts. He came back up a few minutes later and said they didn't have either of those things - just chips and candy bars. WTF? In a HOSPITAL? Luckily, I remembered there was a Walgreens down the street, so I sent him over there to pick up a couple of protein bars. So anyway, yea - sometimes there isn't much available during odd times - even at a hospital!

mine came back at five months out. I wish it never had...

it's a pretty common problem with both sleevers and bypassers. It's probably due to the high protein diet and/or a some of the supplements (calcium and iron supplements are typical culprits). A lot of us take stool softeners or a capful of Miralax every day to keep on top of it. Magnesium tablets can help as well.

that's a question only your insurance company can answer...

I had a desk job (retired now) and took three weeks off. If necessary, I could have gone back after two - but I appreciated that third week to sleep and get used to the food progression.

your PCP's records of your weight for the last five years should count for that five-year requirement. For supervised diet, usually people work with their PCP or a registered dietititian (although some insurance will accept things like Weight Watchers, if it's documented - you'll have to ask them). You shouldn't need to have any co-morbidities at a weight of 360. Most insurance companies don't require you to have co-morbidities to approve the surgery unless your BMI is under 40.

you're only six months out, so still in the "honeymoon" stage. Try to get back on track ASAP because it's never in your life going to be easier to lose weight than it is right now. I'd call your clinic for help - that's what they're there for! They may have you work with the dietitian or the psychologist (if they have one on staff - our clinic did...)

the two week thing is the infamous "three week stall". Almost everyone experiences it. Here are the 17,501 posts on it on this site (and no, I am NOT kidding): https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=three week stall weird color poop isn't uncommon the first month or two after surgery. I think paleness usually indicates fat malabsorption, which isn't a huge surprise. I think mine was normal colored after about the first month. as for the pain thing, I'd run that by your clinic. I'm not sure what that is- could be a lot of things, I think. They might want to do a scope or something to see what's going on.

I think I had to be at the hospital at 7:00 am. I had the second surgery of the day (by the same surgeon) - I think it was scheduled for 10:00 am.

sounds like it might have been the same test I took...

it's really common. Something about the surgery evidently affects your inner thermostat. I had that issue the first few months after surgery, but I don't any more. For some people, though, it's permanent.

same here. Although like the person above said, not everyone is required to give up caffeine. There seems to be zero consensus among surgeons on this issue.

I had to take a test online. It's been a few years, but I think it was similar to what jeanniebug said - I had to circle a number from 1-5 according to how much I agreed with whatever the statement was (or felt it or thought it or whatever). It took forever - at least 1.5 hours - and maybe 2 hours - and a lot of the questions seemed repetitive. I THINK it was the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). I think they're just looking to see if you have some serious mental health issues (and I mean serious - there are lots of people who have garden variety anxiety or depression issues, and those usually won't stop you from having the surgery). They also want to make sure you know what you're getting into and are realistic about it. After I took the test, the psychologist chatted with me for about a half hour - asked me how much I expected to lose, etc. Can't remember what else. It wasn't a big deal - it was just that test drove me crazy after awhile. Too long and repetitive. But you may not get the same test...

someone at your clinic will probably let you know before you're discharged from the hospital (or maybe even before you have the surgery) - but in my case, all I was supposed to do for the first four weeks was walk (and they really encouraged that). At the four week mark, I was cleared to do everything EXCEPT strength training. I had to wait eight weeks, I think, to go back to that.

it's the infamous three-week stall. It happens to almost everyone. It's not always the third week - it's sometimes the second or fourth - but it's most often the third (hence, the name). It'll last 1-3 weeks (sometimes longer - although that's unusual - 1-3 weeks is pretty standard). Just follow your plan and stay off the scale for a few days. It'll break and you'll be on your way again. here are past posts on this site about the three week stall. All 17,501 of them (and no, I am NOT kidding): https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=three week stall

this isn't normal. You really need to contact your team.

I didn't like bananas for several years after surgery. Too cloying. I can eat them again now, though.

this is all temporary. You'll eventually be able to eat most of the foods you love again. I assume you have to wait until April before eating solid foods because of the bowel obstruction, not the bypass. My mother-in-law had surgery for a bowel obstruction a year or so ago (she never had weight loss surgery, though - it just happened), and she was on fluids and purees for quite awhile, too, as I recall. you've been in a very down mood for quite awhile now - since weeks before your surgery. I hope you'll start feeling better soon emotionally, too. If not, does your clinic have a therapist? You might find it helpful.

I'm in my 60s and had my bypass at age 55. There are lots of us who've had surgery in our 50s and 60s (even a few in their 70s)

I had mostly protein shakes the first couple of weeks. We were told to use those that were 100% whey protein isolate - I don't think many - if any - brands of that contain any beef byproducts.

only about 30% of bypass patients dump - and it can be controlled by limiting the amount of sugar or fat you eat at one sitting (which we should be doing anyway, to be honest...). I had my bypass 7.5 years ago and have never dumped - and I know lots of other bypassers who aren't dumpers, either. meds might have to be adjusted due to the malabsorption, but they're used to having to do this. Bypass has been around for a long time. GERD can get worse with sleeve, but it's not inevitable. Some people don't experience this - and some even claim theirs got better. But the percentage of people whose GERD got worse was a little too high for me to take the risk, so I went with bypass. But others are willing to take the risk. P.S. I've been very happy with my bypass and would make the same decision if I had to make it today.