Cheeselife

Had my sleeve 2 years ago, got reflux so had it converted to bypass last summer. Highest weight was 267, stayed pretty steady at 143-147 for the past year, I'm 5ft 8. Gone from size 2XL to Small, and my feet went from size 11 to 9!

I started running, which has been a huge help with maintenance. I love Spartan style races, they are so much fun!

Edited pictures because I'm still in the closet and paranoid!! I haven't posted pictures here before, fingers crossed nobody I know sees them! 

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How is everyone doing? I had my sleeve at NYP 2 years ago, then had reflux so had it converted to bypass this summer. Started at 267, my highest, currently 143-147 and have been at this weight for a year. So so happy with my decision, and the team at NYP are incredible.

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I just got unlucky, I was focused on fluids and Protein and wasn't getting enough Fiber, so ended up constipated, which lead to the obstruction. I wasntvable to keep down fluids so I wasntvable to clear it without being hospitalized. I ended up nil by mouth for a week and on IV fluids. Once I was hydrated I passed everything very slowly, it took nearly two weeks before I was able to eat anything more than purees safely. I'm on regular food now and much more careful about fiber!

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Came home yesterday, back to clear liquids for a few more days, then full, then I can try purees again.

Please take your post surgery instructions seriously, and please don't ignore any pain or discomfort! I was very very lucky that this didn't have an awful outcome.

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Seems to be a bowel obstruction. Was transferred from my local ER to the hosp in the city where I had my surgery.

It was really dumb to wait so long, my surgeon was gentle, but made it clear I should have called as soon as I had the slightest unusual pain.

I was fine on IV fluids and nil by mouth for a few days, would have been sent home this afternoon but after tolerating a cup of black tea and some apple juice this morning, I didn't tolerate half a cup of Italian ice at lunch. So I'm back on the IV, nil by mouth, and will need to stay in for another day or two.

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Got to the ER at 8pm, it's now past 2pm and I'm still here. I had an x ray and CT scan with contrast, but the Drs don't have experience with bariatric surgery to know how to read the results confidently. Been waiting to be transferred from my local hospital to the bigger hospital where I had my surgery since last night, but they have no beds free.

Feeling better but now just hungry, tired, and frustrated!

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Thank you! It comes in waves, when it's worst all I can think about is the ER but I don't have the strength to communicate. Once it subsides a few hours later (usually after puking a bunch) I'm feeling comfortable enough to wait. I'm going to go in tonight though, I'm no longer able to keep down Pedialyte.

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Update: stuck to liquids, but had some soft foods on Friday. Cramps came back badly on Friday evening, I ended up puking every half hour from 10pm until 7am, then slept for 12 hours, woke up for a few hours to sip broth, really craved a Saltine, but threw it up an hour later.

Today anything more than Clear Liquids sipped slowly causes stomach cramps. Had a Protein Shake for Breakfast, sipped slowly, and it caused cramps, lots of gas bubbles too, despite me consciously sipping carefully. I'd have called my surgeon yesterday but I literally slept 12 hours solid.

Been pooping okay, but all I can think is that there's a blockage. I'm 22 days out from surgery and was tolerating full liquids really well until a few days ago. Now feeling pretty exhausted and weak, focussing on hydration, and trying to get in some Protein here and there.

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UTI confirmed! On antibiotics now, feverish and tired. Really struggling for the motivation to eat or drink enough, the puree/liquid stage is so dull I just keep forgetting myself when I'm cooking for the family.

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I think I'd be quite unlucky to have appendix or gallbladder issues not 3 weeks out of significant abdominal surgery!

Took a while for the pain and spasms to decline enough for me to sleep last night, but I woke up feeling okay, no pain. Got up and had a sip of a Protein Shake, and the spasm came back, but lighter. It only lasted an hour or so.

So whatever it was, I'm wondering if me deciding that my teeth did a good enough job that I didn't have to puree stuff sent some gastric muscle into shock or spasm, like hiccups. The Constipation didn't help, I'm sure! Hopefully it's properly passing now. I'm certainly feeling better now I can stand upright for the first time in 2 days!

Also worried I have a UTI, which I suspected was on the way because I'm prone to getting them, and this was my first time being catheterised. Hopefully it's something else, for now it's just an urge to pee before my bladder is full, and slight discomfort, but I'll see my Dr if it's still happening by this afternoon.

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Yes... yikes. The pain is bearable right now, but if it escalates I'll call my surgeon. Thank you for giving me something else to keep an eye on! I'd forgotten about gallbladder issues.

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I'm 17 days out from a sleeve to bypass revision (sleeve was 18 months ago) and I've been having abdominal pain for 2 days. I put it down to Constipation, but that has since passed, yet the pain is still there. It's fairly low in my abdomen, just below my navel. It comes in waves, being uncomfortable all the time, but every few minutes there's a wave of pain at around a 7-8 on the pain scale. It comes and goes through the day, if I am tense it hurts more, and kind of feels like muscle spasms.

I'm still on the puree stage, but have been a bit lax with it over the weekend, so put it down to that. Today I've been careful and stuck to liquids, but the pain hasn't changed. No fever, nothing else worrying, it's just very uncomfortable and significantly painful from time to time.

My thinking is that maybe it's still constipation, or something like that, but I'm worried in case it's something more significant. I've had some nausea, but not much, and I'm also aware that it hurts more the more I worry about it!

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Please take the pain meds, you'll need them. Hospitals vary, but my stay was 2 nights, the pain meds last 4-8 hours. My hospital had no issue with me walking down by myself to meet my husband this time, but last time I had to have supervision. Check with your hospital first to find out their policy, then figure out the safest way to get around it if you have to.

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I can see this is an important issue for you, you clearly feel strongly about it. I'm wondering if there might be kinder ways for you to express those feelings that might make it easier for people to hear the valid points you're making.

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I'm on purees now, so not quite as restrictive, but I miss food! How are you doing? Able to eat fairly normally now? I was only on a cup of food at a time before surgery, so I found this recovery much quicker than my sleeve recovery.

Johnny, the surgeon who did my sleeve is wonderful and very responsive. I lost 110 lbs and didn't regain, I'm just over 18 months out. I had the revision because my sleeve pouch got kinked, causing GERD. The surgery to repair the kink has only a 50% success rate, so he recommended the bypass. He saw the kink issue in enough patients that they have now changed the sleeve procedure, putting in sutures to minimise the chances of the pouch moving around enough to get kinked.

I was very happy with the sleeve surgery itself, as are most of the people in my VSG support group. Initially I asked for the bypass, but the surgeon said that as I wasn't diabetic or prediabetic, the VSG was a lower risk option with similar outcomes.

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Im with Sippin! I'm 18 months out from sleeve surgery and I've lost 120 lbs. I said I was having a hernia repair and was told to go on a liquid diet. If anyone probed I said I used it as a jumping off point and kept up the liquid diet for a while, then gradually added real food but focussed on Protein and making better choices. I also took exercise seriously and ran 3-4 days a week, plus hit the gym. Health issues have put a stop to that for the last 6 months, but I'm keen to get back to being fit!

Not even my parents know about my surgery. Im ashamed that I'm doing bariatric surgery a disservice by not being open about how difficult it really is, but I'm just not brave enough.

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Bit late, but yes, I had my sleeve go bypass revision 2 weeks ago.

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Im 18 months out from sleeve, had a revision to bypass two weeks ago. I have only told a handful of people because I was really judgemental about bariatric surgery and I can't face the comments. A therapist reminded me that it's not anyone else's business, plus it's not a secret, just something I prefer to keep private.

I have told a few heavy friends because pretending it was possible to lose do much through diet and exercise felt like a betrayal. Though I did start running regularly, which definitely sped up my weight loss.

I'm 148 lbs, down from 267. Had the bypass due to GERD and a stricture.

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I have a high pain threshold too. When I had my sleeve 18 months ago I wasn't up to driving for a couple of days. I had a revision to bypass 2 weeks ago and could have driven when I came home on day 2, though I'm glad I didn't need to. I drove for an hour on day 5 and was fine. I second the suggestion that you don't tell them you're planning to drive yourself. Plan for a backup in case you aren't able to drive and can't stay. I haven't told anyone about my surgery, I said it was a hernia repair, so that's always an option too.

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I laughed out loud at the button comment. Glad to hear you're on the mend and that was some sound advice you give when high [emoji4]

[emoji7]

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Sorry, I didn't explain myself properly. I never had any issues with reflux before my surgery. They put me on loads of meds after surgery. I know I'm dreading another surgery [emoji24][emoji24][emoji24]

I'm in hospital right now, I had a sleeve to bypass revision this morning due to reflux since my sleeve.

Nobody wants surgery, it's understandable you're nervous! It's good to find out what's going on tho.

I didn't realise that my reflux was a big deal, initially it was controlled well with standard meds off the shelf. I assumed it was just something I needed to live with. I mentioned to my surgeon at my 12 month post-sleeve appointment and he started to talk about the need for surgical intervention. Worth remembering that in the US they tend to be overly cautious about interventions like this!

I had tests done to check how much damage had been done by the GERD, turned out it was quite a bit.

I discussed it with my hubs over a few months, I really didn't want to lose even more weight when I was alreasy worrying I was too skinny in places. What sealed it for us was finding out that long term GERD can lead to esophageal cancer, and long term use of omeprazole etc can lower your Calcium, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

I hope you have a good doctor and can get some good answers to set your mind st ease. Much as we've all had similar experiences, everyone reacts differently and has different issues and bodies, so only you can make the decision, so .and an informed one!

Sorry about the rambling... I have a dilaudid button!

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I had the sleeve done just over 18 months ago, but due to the GERD issues I was experiencing, my surgeon started talking about converting it to a bypass about 6 months ago.

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I'm 13 weeks post op and really struggling. So much so that I've been wondering if my surgery was a big mistake. I still struggle to eat. Most things make me nauseous, and I vomit more or less every other day. I don't feel hungry at all and I have no appetite or desire to eat food. I suffer with GERD symptoms. My weight has dropped dramatically, 3 stone in 13 weeks. I have fainted and my blood pressure is very low. I can't get the nutrients that I need. I went to a different country to have my surgery and I've spoken to my surgeon since who says everything I'm feeling is normal? I take my Iron tablets, Vitamins and I've had my B12 injection. I would like to start exercising but I'm not getting enough calories right now to even think about working out. Some days are good and I feel great. Some days are terrible to the point that I deeply regret my surgery [emoji20]

I'm assuming you live in the UK? I'm on the Tapatalk app so I can't see profile details. I'd go to your GP and explain the situation, it doesn't sound like an emergency, but it's worrying enough that I think it's worth you being checked for a stricture or other anomaly.

I'm having a sleeve to bypass revision next week because my stomach twisted in the middle, making it hourglass shaped. I've lost a lot more weight than expected, I've had increasingly bad reflux, and also struggled to eat much and puked regularly. I had a barium swallow test and an endoscopy to figure out the issue. It's likely you'll only get one or the other on the NHS, but it's worth getting checked out.

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Ive had surgery by Dr Krichelly and Brezzler at NY Presbyterian. The corrected obstructions and strictures from band to bypass complications . You are in good hands
Regarding dumping, you have to get use to portions. I f you eat to much with bypass you get bloating. This happens about ten to twenty minutes after you eat. With the band, you get stuck immediately. With bypass, Your pants get tight. I started to saliva and had dry heaving.
since they fixed the problem I've been fine. Dr Krickhely promised to fix problem and delivered. Adhesions are a risk of any surgery. Good luck

They are a wonderful team! They did my sleeve surgery and are always very thorough and patient with any questions and during my follow up appointments.

I eat so little at the moment, Dr Bessler said I may actually gain weight after the bypass because I'll be in less pain. I'm sure I'll mess up with portions and sugar while I learn my new system, it was a challenge to figure out the tolerance of my sleeve at first too. Thank you for the bloating tip!

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I'm going for a sleeve to bypass conversion on August 18th!

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