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shriner37

Gastric Bypass Patients
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  1. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from nicholeweller in Sleeve revision to bypass 2/6.   
    Best of luck with your revision surgery! I did the same thing for the same reasons a year ago. My biggest issue was a hiatal hernia that had caused great pain and difficulty eating. I also had pretty bad reflux.
    It seemed like recovery was about the same the second time around, although I was seven years older. I did not lose as much weight after the bypass, but probably because I didn't have nearly as much to lose. As has been said, be careful to chew thoroughly and you still might find some foods that cause you challenges for a while. Just go slowly and if something causes issues wait a while before trying it again. The pouch does react differently than the sleeve and it takes a while to learn how to deal with it.
    Two things that you may or may not experience after the bypass are dumping syndrome (your body reacting to sugars) or reactive hypoglycemia or late dumping (your body overproducing insulin in response to a meal). I was lucky not to experience dumping but do have issues with the reactive hypoglycemia.
    I noticed that I lost weight for about 3 months after the revision, then stopped. One difference for me this time is that if I gain weight it seems to stay around, where often times with the sleeve I would gain a couple pounds then lose them easily. Not sure whether this means that my metabolism wants to be at a higher set point weight. I didn't really do the revision to lose weight, and I'm still 15-20 pounds lower than when I had the revision, but it is something I've noticed.
    Also, my experience is that although the surgery helped tremendously with reflux, for me it's still not gone completely. I'm still taking omeprazole daily, and if I eat certain things in the evening I might still have a reflux issue late at night. I can completely control this by not snacking at night.
  2. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from lavette43 in Sleeve to bypass hopefully   
    I went through the same thing a few months ago due to a hiatal hernia that had become almost strangulated. The 'reason' for my surgery was hernia repair, and that is what the insurance company approved. As my surgeon said, "we went in to fix the hernia and a bypass just happened".

  3. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from lavette43 in Sleeve to bypass hopefully   
    I went through the same thing a few months ago due to a hiatal hernia that had become almost strangulated. The 'reason' for my surgery was hernia repair, and that is what the insurance company approved. As my surgeon said, "we went in to fix the hernia and a bypass just happened".

  4. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from lavette43 in Sleeve to bypass hopefully   
    I went through the same thing a few months ago due to a hiatal hernia that had become almost strangulated. The 'reason' for my surgery was hernia repair, and that is what the insurance company approved. As my surgeon said, "we went in to fix the hernia and a bypass just happened".

  5. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from GreenTealael in Slow weight loss after VSG to RNY Revision - looking for others experiences   
    On 2/15/22 I underwent revision from VSG to RNY due to hiatal hernia and reflux issues. My surgery weight was around 230 lbs, actually a few less due to three days of liquid diet. In the 5 months since revision surgery I've lost about 40 lbs, but have been at a steady weight for over five weeks. I'm currently around 15 to 20 lbs away from my final goal.
    I had a post surgery follow up with the surgeons office and they just suggested I try to stay closer to the dietary guidelines. I probably was a little short on Protein but in the couple weeks since have worked diligently to increase protein and reduce carbs. Yet the scale hasn't moved.
    Looking for experiences from others who had revision without a large amount of weight to lose. How did it go for you? Is this just a stall or my new normal? Should I expect to continue to lose, or am I pretty much at my new set point after five months?
  6. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from GreenTealael in Slow weight loss after VSG to RNY Revision - looking for others experiences   
    On 2/15/22 I underwent revision from VSG to RNY due to hiatal hernia and reflux issues. My surgery weight was around 230 lbs, actually a few less due to three days of liquid diet. In the 5 months since revision surgery I've lost about 40 lbs, but have been at a steady weight for over five weeks. I'm currently around 15 to 20 lbs away from my final goal.
    I had a post surgery follow up with the surgeons office and they just suggested I try to stay closer to the dietary guidelines. I probably was a little short on Protein but in the couple weeks since have worked diligently to increase protein and reduce carbs. Yet the scale hasn't moved.
    Looking for experiences from others who had revision without a large amount of weight to lose. How did it go for you? Is this just a stall or my new normal? Should I expect to continue to lose, or am I pretty much at my new set point after five months?
  7. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from GreenTealael in Slow weight loss after VSG to RNY Revision - looking for others experiences   
    On 2/15/22 I underwent revision from VSG to RNY due to hiatal hernia and reflux issues. My surgery weight was around 230 lbs, actually a few less due to three days of liquid diet. In the 5 months since revision surgery I've lost about 40 lbs, but have been at a steady weight for over five weeks. I'm currently around 15 to 20 lbs away from my final goal.
    I had a post surgery follow up with the surgeons office and they just suggested I try to stay closer to the dietary guidelines. I probably was a little short on Protein but in the couple weeks since have worked diligently to increase protein and reduce carbs. Yet the scale hasn't moved.
    Looking for experiences from others who had revision without a large amount of weight to lose. How did it go for you? Is this just a stall or my new normal? Should I expect to continue to lose, or am I pretty much at my new set point after five months?
  8. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from Arabesque in I lost my Bum to a gastric doctor 😁   
    I never had one before, but since I've slimmed down overall the lack of one isn't quite as noticeable as it was. I've always said I had a case of "noassatall".
  9. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from summerseeker in Stomach capacity   
    Tomorrow I will be three weeks out from bypass surgery. For the past six days my surgeon's diet program has had me eating soft, moist Proteins, with a target of eventually getting to 3oz per meal before adding in non-starchy vegetables.
    I'm really surprised at how sensitive my stomach is to food capacity. Sometimes I can eat 2.5 to 2.75 ounces of food and feel fine. The next day the same amount makes me feel awful as though I ate a pound of food. It's really something how sensitive my new stomach is as it heals and how even 1/4 ounce of extra food can create all kinds of discomfort.

  10. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from hollywrites2u in Alcohol 3 weeks post sleeve op.   
    I think it really is more a question of whether your stomach is healed enough to tolerate alcohol. My surgeon advised to wait two months before consuming alcohol as their belief is that the stomach should be completely healed first.
    That being said, I did start drinking again a few months after my sleeve, which I believe was one of the reasons I never reached my weight loss goal. I was in a similar situation to yours in that alcohol was a part of my social scene at the time. Along with drinking came poor nutrition decisions and between the two I stopped losing weight 30 pounds short of my goal.
    I'm two months post revision to bypass and haven't started consuming alcohol again yet. I'm determined to get to my weight loss goal this time (only have about 25 lbs to go) and have now adapted my social scene enough so that alcohol isn't such a big part of it.
  11. Like
    shriner37 reacted to Danny Paul in 3 years post op   
    I fast between 7PM to 7AM daily and do a 36 hour fast mid week. I stop eating at 7PM on Wednesday and resume eating at 7AM on Friday. During this time I only drink Water or tea. I have watched Dr. Fung on You Tube and incorporate his ideas into my overall maintenance plan. It's one more tool in the weight maintenance tool kit.
  12. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from Nicki100 in 3 years post op   
    What worked for me after some regain was to combine 'time restricted feeding' (i.e. intermittent fasting) with a low carb/low insulin diet plan. I skipped Breakfast and only ate two meals a day, at Noon and by 6pm. This let me 'fast' for 18 hours per day. I ate about 3-4 oz. of Protein (beef, chicken, fish, etc.) and green vegetables such as green Beans, broccoli, salad, etc. for each meal. I was able to drop close to 20 pounds doing this in a couple months.
    The basis of this is the insulin control program developed by Dr. Jason Fung. You can search his name on the internet and find a lot of useful information. He is the author of the book The Obesity Code.

  13. Like
    shriner37 reacted to Tomo in First time with foamies/frothing   
    For me, it went away. I had the foamies quite a bit the first 3 months and then it became only once and awhile after that. After the 6 month mark, it has completely stopped.

    Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app


  14. Like
    shriner37 reacted to catwoman7 in First time with foamies/frothing   
    yes, they do. A lot of people have issues with various foods the first few weeks (and sometimes the first few months) post-op. eggs, dairy, dry meats (like a dry chicken breast) are all common culprits. For most of us, we can eventually eat all of these again.
  15. Like
    shriner37 reacted to BigSue in First time with foamies/frothing   
    YMMV, of course, but I think it's pretty common to have problems with meat early on but eventually improve. I had a lot of trouble with meat for the first several months after I got to the solid food stage. Even though I was very careful to make sure it was moist (usually with some kind of sauce), eat small bites, and chew well, I would often get a feeling of a bite getting stuck on the way down, and it was very unpleasant but would usually clear up in 10-20 minutes.
    I'm 20 months out now, and I almost never have problems with anything I eat anymore. Every once in a great while (maybe once in 3 months), I take too big of a bite and/or don't chew well enough and get that "stuck" feeling, but I eat meat all the time without issue. I will say that I've gotten in the habit of taking small bites and chewing well, and most of the meat I eat is in a dish with sauce or a soup/stew, but I don't really have to think about it or be careful because now that's what feels normal to me. I, too, love my smoker and greatly enjoy smoked chicken, ribs, and pulled pork with sugar-free BBQ sauce! I haven't tried brisket since my surgery; I rarely eat red meat in general.
  16. Like
    shriner37 reacted to Arabesque in First time with foamies/frothing   
    It’s not pleasant but at least it passes quite quickly unlike dumping. Dry meat is always the cause for me. Though I did have a episode a couple of weeks ago caused by very coarse green Beans - they were unusually hard to slice so I should have tread more carefully.
    Don’t give up a food if it makes you unwell though just give it a break for a few days or a week & try again. Next time, try smaller bites, add extra sauce or gravy, cook it in a different way like to medium rare not medium or well done, or try a different cut like chicken thighs not breast, etc.
  17. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from Arabesque in Stomach capacity   
    This is good advice. I've experienced it a couple times already. The past two days at lunch I have had more than I should have, even by a couple bites, and the discomfort was intense. I realize I'm still healing but I'm also trying to learn the feelings and signals that go with this new pouch. They are different from the sleeve.
    Today at dinner I was very mindful of my current capacity, and stopped eating at the first flash of a full feeling. It worked as I was comfortable after my meal.
  18. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from summerseeker in Stomach capacity   
    Tomorrow I will be three weeks out from bypass surgery. For the past six days my surgeon's diet program has had me eating soft, moist Proteins, with a target of eventually getting to 3oz per meal before adding in non-starchy vegetables.
    I'm really surprised at how sensitive my stomach is to food capacity. Sometimes I can eat 2.5 to 2.75 ounces of food and feel fine. The next day the same amount makes me feel awful as though I ate a pound of food. It's really something how sensitive my new stomach is as it heals and how even 1/4 ounce of extra food can create all kinds of discomfort.

  19. Congrats!
    shriner37 got a reaction from Arabesque in Two weeks out   
    Today is two weeks past surgery. Recovery has gone well with no complications. My surgery was a revision from sleeve to bypass for hernia and GERD issues. I've dropped 10+ lbs in the two weeks which seems right in line (I was only at 227 on date of surgery). Per my surgeon's plan today we could progress to soft solid Proteins, so it was great to have an ounce or two of sliced deli meat for lunch. Only downside is that they do an internal stitch to hold things together and that pain is real. I'm told it'll go away 4-6 weeks following surgery but until then it's the only downside to an otherwise good recovery so far.
  20. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from armartin98 in Seven years out - experiences and lessons learned   
    I began my WLS journey in 2015 with gastric sleeve surgery in September. My starting weight was 301, which I had managed to diet down to 285 by the time I was approved for surgery. Surgery weight was 277. Surgery was uneventful and I was back at my normal activities within a couple days. My goal weight was 185, but I only managed to lose down to 210. I believe this was because I made the mistake of continuing to drink alcohol after surgery (although less than before) and still ate too many Snacks and slider type foods.
    Over the next several years my weight gradually increased until it settled in at about 230-235. Then the pandemic occurred and that added 20 pounds, so I was back to 255. This is when I learned what I felt was a good method to handle regain - I combined time restricted feeding with Keto dieting... I only ate between Noon and 6pm, and strictly limited carbs. Doing this for a couple of months I was able to drop from 255 back to 235.
    I had issues with reflux before the surgery, and they continued after. They seemed to worsen as time passed. I learned not to eat at least 3 hours before bedtime, and still sometimes I'd end up sleeping in the recliner for several hours when the reflux was particularly bad. I also had developed a hiatal hernia (which a CT report said was small).
    Then in January of this year something changed. I started having issues where I could only eat a couple ounces of food without feeling severely overstuffed. This plus some bouts with chest pain prompted a couple of ER visits for cardiac workups. Finding no cardiac issues my doctors determined the pain was likely the hernia that had expanded. I also started experiencing symptoms that seem to be consistent with "silent reflux", such as throat, ear tube and sinus issues.
    I scheduled an EGD with my bariatric surgeon who found a 3cm hiatal hernia. He is going to repair it this coming Tuesday, and to prevent recurrence of the hernia as well as to resolve the GERD issues is doing a revision to RNY. I'm not happy about having to start over with the healing process, but am excited to finally lose the excess weight, correct the hernia and GERD, and get a chance to do things right the second time.
    So, here are some lessons learned along the way. If they can help someone else then this post is worth making:
    1. Listen to your surgeon. If they recommend one procedure over another, there is a reason why. I probably should have done the RNY in the beginning but opted for the sleeve even though I had existing reflux issues.
    2. Follow the dietary guidelines. They are there to assure the most successful weight loss. Unfortunately I 'taught myself' how to overcome the carbonation in beer and continued to drink it after recovery, which is a large part of the reason for lack of loss and regain. I wasn't addicted to either, but both were present in my social environment. I have now determined that alcohol and junk food are poison to my system and have resolved to be diligent in avoiding them.
    3. If you do experience regain, get on it quickly. I found that time restricted feeding along with a keto eating plan worked wonders for me. I was essentially following the insulin control program established by Dr. Jason Fung. I quickly dropped close to 20 lbs using my sleeve along with this plan.
    4. The sleeve, or bypass, is a tool that is given to you for life. You have a great window of opportunity the first year to lose weight and correct health problems. Make the most of it. Even though the tool is still there in later years, it becomes more difficult to lose weight after your system is fully healed and settled into normal life. It's possible, but harder. Make the most of the "one year honeymoon" window!
  21. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from learn2cook in How do you get your doctor to support revision?   
    I'd also tell him about the hernia for sure. I went back to my surgeon 7 years after my sleeve with severe hiatal hernia symptoms. He did an EGD, and as soon as I woke up told me he saw the hernia and had scheduled my revision surgery for the following week. Hernia and GERD are two very good reasons to revise to bypass as it should help with both.
    As others have said though, don't expect as much weight loss with the revision as with the original surgery.
    One other thought, I had great luck using my sleeve with a combination of time restricted feeding and Keto. I only ate between noon and 6pm (lunch at noon, dinner by 6pm, no snacking) and generally followed keto guidelines. This is the insulin control diet regimen recommended by Dr. Jason Fung. I dropped 20 pounds in a couple months and found it was easy as since my sleeve I didn't have a great deal of hunger.

  22. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from learn2cook in How do you get your doctor to support revision?   
    I'd also tell him about the hernia for sure. I went back to my surgeon 7 years after my sleeve with severe hiatal hernia symptoms. He did an EGD, and as soon as I woke up told me he saw the hernia and had scheduled my revision surgery for the following week. Hernia and GERD are two very good reasons to revise to bypass as it should help with both.
    As others have said though, don't expect as much weight loss with the revision as with the original surgery.
    One other thought, I had great luck using my sleeve with a combination of time restricted feeding and Keto. I only ate between noon and 6pm (lunch at noon, dinner by 6pm, no snacking) and generally followed keto guidelines. This is the insulin control diet regimen recommended by Dr. Jason Fung. I dropped 20 pounds in a couple months and found it was easy as since my sleeve I didn't have a great deal of hunger.

  23. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from learn2cook in How do you get your doctor to support revision?   
    I'd also tell him about the hernia for sure. I went back to my surgeon 7 years after my sleeve with severe hiatal hernia symptoms. He did an EGD, and as soon as I woke up told me he saw the hernia and had scheduled my revision surgery for the following week. Hernia and GERD are two very good reasons to revise to bypass as it should help with both.
    As others have said though, don't expect as much weight loss with the revision as with the original surgery.
    One other thought, I had great luck using my sleeve with a combination of time restricted feeding and Keto. I only ate between noon and 6pm (lunch at noon, dinner by 6pm, no snacking) and generally followed keto guidelines. This is the insulin control diet regimen recommended by Dr. Jason Fung. I dropped 20 pounds in a couple months and found it was easy as since my sleeve I didn't have a great deal of hunger.

  24. Like
    shriner37 got a reaction from Arabesque in Sleeping on incisions   
    I had my one week post-surgery follow up with the surgeon's PA today. They removed the staples and put on steri-strips (told me to leave them in place until they fall off by themselves after showering). They told me it was safe to sleep on my side, that the sutures were healed enough to be safe and it was a matter of tolerating any pain. I'm not really having any incision pain so it shouldn't be an issue.

  25. Like

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