justhere4theshow

I am scheduled for sleeve to bypass conversion on October 26. I have to be on all liquids starting tomorrow. I am so ready to have this done that I don't even care about the all liquid diet. I hope all goes well for you!

I would not insist on the sleeve. I have had nothing but complications, and my weight loss has stopped after I lost 26 pounds. I wish I had insisted on the RNY!

Always, always do what your program dictates. They are the ones taking care of you, and are familiar with your individual case. There are SOOOO many different plans. The only one you need to follow is yours. It's dangerous to make changes based on someone else's plan. Trust your doctor and you'll be okay. Best wishes to you!

@@BandedKT, I understand your fear and I will keep you in my prayers. I hope everything goes well for you.

Thank you all so much!! @@laliza, I hope all goes well for you--I will keep you in my prayers! I am so grateful for all of you and you wonderful support!

It is when bile backs up into the gastric sleeve and into the esophagus. It has damaged the bottom of my esophagus. Feels like heartburn amplified 100 times. Conversion to bypass is the only way to fix it.

I got my approval today for my sleeve to be converted to RNY! My tentative date is October 26. I am so relieved. I have had severe bile reflux for 4 months. I'm getting tired and I seem to be on a constant emotional roller coaster. Just hoping the next 3 weeks go by fast!

From the mouths of babes...I will never forget what my 15 year old daughter said to me in the grocery store the day I was buying a tiny little cake which was to be my very last. (it still is the last one I ever ate) I was telling her all of the changes I had made and still had ahead of me, and she looked me straight in the eye and said "I'd get a bigger cake." Sometimes they know what they are talking about. You can change as much you want to change at one time, as long as you are able to withstand the suffering, lol. I think it all comes down to what you can handle at the time. Sometimes too much is just too much. You will make it if you just hang in there and commit to the changes. Setbacks are temporary. Giving up is permanent. Best wishes to you!!

@@James Marusek, thank you for your reply. Yeah, bile reflux feels like GERD. Except it's not really stomach acid causing the problem; it's pure bile. I wake up choking on it. My gallbladder is gone, so I think that makes it worse too. I know I will be feeling much better soon. Thanks again for your reply!!

Okay, so I had the upper GI and the endoscopy. I have intractable bile reflux, which has damaged my esophagus. I also have a small sliding hiatal hernia which causes a slight amount of discomfort when I eat. My surgeon has decided to revise my sleeve to bypass. I was fine with all of this, but I think the stress is wearing me down. I am so tired and scared. I know this is necessary, but for some reason, my anxiety is off the charts. I was nowhere near this anxious before the sleeve. I know it will make me feel better, and I am hoping I will feel less anxiety once the surgery is scheduled. Just waiting for BCBS to approve everything and I will get the next possible date to go to the OR since I have esophageal erosion. Has anyone else had this done? Please share your experience...I want to know what I can expect. So discouraged to start over, but blessed to have a plan!

I live in Asheville, NC, but I wanted to congratulate you and just say that my sister-in-law and her husband live in Maryville. We visit Knoxville often because we are huge college football fans and of course we love the TN Volunteers! I know I'm not local, but I am not too far. Hope you find people close to you! Best wishes for much success!

@@KristenLe Thank you so much. I have been feeling a little rough for sure. I am trying to keep the protein and water coming, but admittedly, some days are just harder than others. It will get better, but it's hard to stay positive with a belly ache. Thanks again for your kind words.

@ Thank you for your kindness. I am sure it will get better.

So, I have been really struggling with acid since my sleeve surgery in May 2016. I have had mad pain when I get hungry, and any food other than dairy pretty much burns my esophagus all the way down. I finally complained so much that my surgeon ordered an upper GI (which I thought was torture; 2 different kinds of barium--ACK!!) They said there was "no reflux", but rather a "sliding hernia". What in the actual heck caused that?? Why does it feel so much like reflux if it isn't reflux? I hurt all the time in the place that I visualize being the point where my esophagus is attached to my stomach. Next step is another upper endoscopy (I had one preop and no hernia was present), and then they will decide what action needs to be taken to help me. There was mention of converting to a bypass, and I have read that it is hard to fix this problem long term with hernia repair alone. So I am nervous about all of this, and I really need some advice. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but I kind of hope if someone else has had this experience they could tell me about it. I am okay with having a bypass, but I really dread the liquid diet and starting over in my recovery. Will it make me lose more hair? I have lost so much hair already, and it's finally slowing down. My anxiety is in overdrive, but my endoscopy is not scheduled until 9/21...I am miserable and it seems so far away...

I finally stopped having panic attacks in the grocery store...but, I have developed a hernia at some point after my sleeve surgery. I have had to endure an upper GI, and I am scheduled to have another upper endoscopy (I had one pre-op already) At the very least, I am faced with a hernia repair surgery, and possibly conversion to RNY. So, I guess complications are weighing me down right now. Kind of discouraged. And on top of it all, my weight loss has stopped at 3 months out.

Has anyone had to do this? My reflux is making me miserable...saw surgeon yesterday and he wants to do upper GI and upper endoscopy. Then they will submit to insurance for revision approval. I am super nervous, not because of the insurance but because I really want to feel better and just lose this weight already! It would be super to not have my esophagus feel like it's on fire. Any advice?

P E P C I D!!!!!! I have taken ONE dose and I have NO burning, and no pain when my sleeve is empty anymore. Thank goodness!!!!

I have had it pretty badly. I was taking Protonix with no relief. Doc added Pepcid and it was like flipping a switch. I no longer burn, and my sleeve no longer hurts when it is empty. I swore I was having hunger pain, but I believe it was acid causing it. It's gone after one dose!

Wow, that sounds rough!!! I am a former sugar addict myself. I didn't do anything structured when I got off the sugar. I just stopped. It's rough at first, but the freedom is wonderful! I would just run everything by your doctor and make sure it is safe, and then do whatever feels right for you. I hope you have good results; I know how miserable sugar addiction made me feel. All the best!

@@helenpgh Thank you!! I got out my WLS for Dummies book where I had written my weight and measurements. I had forgotten that I started at 238. I have lost inches from everywhere I had measured! I am feeling much better about things tonight. I also saw my doctor and they are going to work on my hormones and enlarged uterus. (I'm pretending it weighs 10 lbs just to make me feel better, LOL) Things will work out. I am making good choices and doing everything I can. The rest will be sorted out in time. Thank you for the support!

I am over this stupid stall. 10 days gone by since I hit Onederland, only to turn around and end up right back at 200 again. I am doing everything my surgeon said to do. I have fibroids and I am seeing my Gyn tomorrow about that. I cannot stand this! It's so frustrating...I don't mind the challenges; they are making me stronger. I do mind the fact that lately this seems like I made the wrong choice to deal with my weight. I never dreamed I'd be stuck at 200 lbs!

I was the same, with some intermittent reflux off and on. Nothing serious. Hopefully I can get my meds right and stop the burning!

Thank you!

So, I have had a bit of trouble with stomach acid over the last couple of weeks. My surgeon increased my pantoprazole to twice a day about a week ago. Twice since then, I have woken up with acid coming up and choking me. I cough and sputter, and it feels like it goes up into my nose and into my lungs. This concerns me greatly because it is painful and now I am afraid to lie down, and I cannot sleep in my recliner (I'm a lifelong side sleeper) I have been suffering with bad hunger pangs and I know acid causes that too. Has this happened to anyone else? I think it may be related to my eating half a banana, but that is the only thing I can think of that was different. I also gained back three pounds in just a week, so I am very upset and discouraged at this point. I feel like my body is fighting against me a bit and I am letting it get to me. I plan to call my surgeon tomorrow. I have an appointment 8/22. If I can't get this under control, I am going to be miserable! Now I wish I had gone with RNY.

I am finally free...I finally said goodbye to the use of food for coping. I had so much head hunger while I was on liquids. That was hard. I never cheated on any of my diet phases, I just felt a lot grief over the loss of the coping mechanism. I was slow to feel confident in my ability to change my relationship with food for the rest of my life. I was a sugar/carb addict. But, slowly I developed a healthier approach to food. I need fuel, not entertainment or comfort. I slowly but surely found the will to disconnect my entire life from food. I made peace with it. I now eat to survive and enjoy other things. I am no longer obsessed with what I can eat next. I just think about efficient ways to get my nutrition now. I can go grocery shopping without anxiety. I had full-on panic attacks at first; I just couldn't imagine my life without most of what is in that store. Now I am able to go in for what I need, and I ignore the other stuff. It's a good feeling. I am so glad I had the surgery. It has truly saved me. I now love myself more than I love food.