catwoman7

yea - unfortunately, for those that don't have it before surgery, it's sort of a crap shoot.

I've always heard that, too, but I don't know if there's hardcore research behind that. Although that said, it's probably a good idea to break it up regardless, so you're getting some protein several times a day (at least three times - maybe more if you're allowed snacks between meals)

I think fatty liver is fairly common, esp in obese people, so that one for sure shouldn't count against. you.

I haven't had that revision, but a lot of people have - mostly because of reflux. I had reflux before I had surgery, so I went with bypass the first time.

PS - I just did a quick google search on this. This is NOT a scholarly article, so there's that - but it does mention that bile reflux (as opposed to acid reflux) can occur in about 5% of mini-bypass patients. It goes on to say they see it more in sleeve to mini-bypass revision patients than they do with non-revisions. Again, I don't know what kind of research is behind this because this isn't a scholarly article - they may just be basing this on their specific patients. But again, let your clinic know what's going on. Hopefully it's just some kind of flare-up. https://mexicobariatriccenter.com/bile-reflux-after-mini-gastric-bypass-surgery/

I know regular gastric bypass usually cures GERD, but I don't know about mini-bypass. It might (usually, anyway), I just don't know enough about that surgery to know one way or the other. I'd let your clinic know what's going on. Hopefully it's just a flare-up and bumping up for PPI for a while might help - but ask them before doing anything (I'm not a medical person...)

I'm several years out at this point. I think I also got it every three months my first year, but after that just once a year (unless something was "off" - then we'd make whatever adjustment was needed and retest about three months later)

I agree with BeanitoDiego on the dark stool - it's probably just blood from the surgery. Strange color stool isn't that unusual the first month or so after surgery. Not sure about the pain part. Just run it by your clinic and see what they say.

I changed mine a few times as I met them - 200, then 175, then 150. I never dreamed I'd make it to 150, but my surgeon didn't bat an eye when I originally said "200", because I never thought I'd make it there, either.

I've had peridontal disease for years (since before I had WLS), so yes, I've had those symptoms, but for me they aren't WLS-related. I'm not Sure those types of symptoms that WOULD be WLS-related, but then, I don't know.. I know lack of vitamin C can cause bleeding gums, too. Just check with your dentist.

at three weeks out, I could barely eat anything! the amount you'll be able to eat will gradually increase and at some point level off. I probably eat about half as much as I did pre-surgery - but at this point, no one would be able to tell I've had bariatric surgery. They probably just assume I'm a "light eater", like many of my never-been-obese women friends are. If I go out to dinner, I usually just eat half of it and bring the rest home. Before surgery, I'd eat the whole thing - and sometimes dessert, too!

btw - I mentioned above that the old rule of thumb was that it takes about 10 X your weight in pounds to maintain your weight (although again, that varies according to several factors listed in my above comment). That's for women. For men, it was 12 x your weight in pounds (again, old rule of thumb that varies between people - although I do think it gives a good starting point - you can experiment with that and then go up or down depending on what your weight is doing)

I'm not familiar with the Omega-sleeve - it could be that that's more common in Europe than the US. I'm eight years out and focus on calories more than portion sizes at this point. I can maintain my weight on about 1600 calories a day. I can eat more if I'm doing heavy exercising.

yes - you just have to watch your amounts.

we were told we could drop protein shakes once we were able to eat enough to meet the protein requirements (of course, this is assuming we always put "protein first" while eating). It could be that you may be have to keep up with the shakes longer than some.

you might be able to eat that much - as I said, it's a lot of trial & error to figure out what your maintenance level is - although since those of us who've been obese usually have to eat fewer calories to maintain the same weight as someone who's never been obese has to, you may not be able to get that high. Although then again, if you're really active, you might. You'll just have to experiment once you're at your goal.

in my case it was the surgeon's requirement. It wasn't mentioned in the insurance requirements. I quit smoking 30 years ago, so it wasn't an issue for me, but in class we were told we had to stop smoking and could never smoke again. I just googled how long it takes nicotine to leave your bloodstream. According to WebMD, it usually takes 1-3 days.

P.S. The old rule of thumb used to be your weight times 10 is about how many calories you should eat to maintain that weight. However, that doesn't take into account your activity level, musculature, etc, so that's just a rough estimate and can vary between people. You have your goal weight set at 140, so that means (at least according to the old rule of thumb) it'll take around 1400 kcal to maintain that. But again, that doesn't take into account how active you are - and there ARE variances among people - so I wouldn't consider that a hard and fast number. You sort of have to experiment to see what your maintenance level is. It's mostly trial and error.

I've heard this from more than a couple of dietitians (and in a graduate-level nutrition/dietetics course I audited last semester on obesity and weight loss, too) - if you have been obese and lose down to a normal (or not far above normal) level, you will have to eat fewer calories to maintain that weight than someone who's the same height, age, gender, activity level, etc who's never been obese. About 10-20% fewer, if I remember correctly. So that means if someone of your height, age, activity level, etc maintains on 2000 kcal, then that means you'd have to eat 1600-1800 to maintain the same weight. that said, your calorie level does depend on several factors - how active you are, how muscular you are, your metabolic rate, etc. We have women on here who can maintain on 2000, and others who can only eat 1200. I'm the same height as you (don't know how we compare otherwise, though), and it takes about 1600 kcal to maintain my weight. I can go a bit higher on heavy exercise days. Although that does give me incentive to exercise regularly, though....

liquids move through you really fast. Food doesn't. You'll especially feel restriction when. you get on solid food (maybe not purees - but you probably will once you move to solid).

I don't know which surgery you had, but it's more of an issue with bypass than it is with sleeve (although my surgeon forbids it for either surgery). Although the PA at my clinic once told me that I could take it on a VERY OCCASIONAL basis...like if I have a terrible headache that Tylenol is doing nothing for. But again, only very occasionally. After eight plus years, though, I still haven't taken any. I take Tylenol for headaches. It doesn't do as good of a job as ibuprofen, but it does help.

as for the hospital, don't take much because you'll be sleeping most of the time. Cell phone with charger for sure. Comfy, easy-to-put on clothes for the ride home (I just wore the same thing that I wore TO the hospital). Some people get dry mouth from the breathing tube that's in during the surgery (they remove it when they're done operating), and Biotene spray and lip balm help with that. I took toiletries but didn't need to, since the hospital gave me a bag of them (deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste). Some people like a pillow for the ride home (to hold against your stomach). That's about it..

I was also going to say it could be a stricture, but then you said you were able to hold down 20 oz of fluid, so now I'm not sure. Those usually start with not being able to hold down food - and once the stricture progresses, you can't even keep fluids down. If that's what it is, it's a really easy fix. They just do an upper endoscopy and stretch it out. Quick and painless. I had two strictures - at four weeks out and again at eight weeks out. They almost always happen (if they're going to happen) within the first three months after surgery. If you get to the point you can't keep fluids down, you need to contact your clinic right away or get to the hospital. You can live for several days without food, but not fluids. Keep your clinic posted and do go to the hospital if you're unable to keep fluids down.

it's not at all uncommon for menstrual cycles to be affected by WLS. Lots of women report changes in their cycles - or have mood swings - the first few weeks after surgery. Estrogen is stored in fat cells, and this is supposedly due to estrogen being released during the rapid weight loss period. It'll eventually stabilize when your weight loss slows down.

I don't feel the same way I did pre-surgery. I get an uncomfortable, sort of pressure-like feeling in my chest. When I start feeling that, I know it's time to stop, or I'm going to be sorry. Some people get even weirder signals, like sneezing. I'm not saying you'll never get back to feeling "full" in the same way you used to, I'm just letting you know my experience. It's not the same for me, but after eight years, I'm used to this new "signal".