Tufflaw

Please make sure you speak with your surgeon and anesthesiologist in advance to see what they say, you may be able to take it before surgery as long as they're aware of it. After my surgery, that evening I was able to take medicine in pill form (painkillers) so it's definitely doable.

The biggest changes I noticed was an aversion to certain spicy foods that I didn't have before - I used to love this buffalo chicken pizza my local pizza place made. Several months after surgery I tried a bite and it was WAY too spicy when before it didn't bother me at all. Also the taste of soda disgusts me now and I used to drink gallons of it.

You'll be fine. After my sleeve surgery they had me eating scrambled eggs, egg salad, tuna salad, and chicken salad the day after I got home. Same after my revision to bypass surgery. Some doctors are more conservative than others I suppose, but our anatomy is the same, so if I was OK you'll be OK too.

Nexium is esomeprazole, not omeprazole. They're close but have a few differences. I switched from omeprazole to esomeprazole and preferred it. I recommend getting the generic of either rather than Prilosec or Nexium, it's identical and cheaper.

I had GERD for 11 years and they had me keep taking meds for 30 days post-surgery and then stop, it's been fine since then.

Just as a preface, I had the sleeve in Dec. 2016 and dropped about 120 lbs in 6 months, then screwed up and slowly went back up almost to where I started. I had a revision to bypass in Nov. 2021 and have been doing very well, about 80 lbs down so far. Last week was spring break for my kids so we decided to take a vacation, my first since the most recent surgery. We went to Virginia (drove from NY). I was very worried for a few reasons. First, I weigh myself every single day (yes I know some recommend against it, it works for me). I didn't want to bring my scale so it would be a week without monitoring my weight loss (or gain). Second, I rarely eat out and I weigh everything I eat when I make it. I wasn't going to be bringing my food scale and I knew I'd have to eat out more than usual. Finally, we were going to a lot of places where there weren't the healthiest options to eat. So I resolved to try my best not to blow it and see what happened. We stayed at a timeshare resort which had a full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, utensils, pots/pans, etc) which was fantastic because we were able to go shopping for a lot of stuff to make in the room so I knew exactly what I was eating. I was able to make my usual breakfast (2 scrambled eggs with shredded cheese) almost every morning. I bought a few pre-packaged salads and some other stuff for the room. I only had to actually eat out 4 or 5 times the entire trip, not counting during the drive to and from VA. When we ate out I was able to check the calories for what I was eating to make a healthier choice, and made sure to stop when I was full instead of cleaning my plate. I was able to find something to eat at both Waffle House and Cracker Barrel that wasn't too horrible. Even at Busch Gardens we went to the German area restaurant and I got something called a German Chef Salad that was pretty good and not too heavy or unhealthy. Bonus at Busch Gardens: Last year (pre-surgery) we went to an amusement park and I wasn't able to ride most of the roller coasters because I just couldn't fit - no problem at all this time, got in with room to spare! I stayed away from snacks and desserts (I got Halo Top ice cream for the room to have at night). When we got back I was concerned what the scale might say, but I was down 2 lbs from when we left, so I'll consider that a win! I had a nice NSV before the trip too - I was looking for clothes to bring and found a bunch of shirts I got when I lost all the weight the first time, and they all fit comfortably and looked great. Before the surgery I wore XXL shirts, and even those were getting a little snug, I even had one XXXL I think. Lately I've been wearing XL's which were getting roomy, all the shirts I found were L and fit great, so that was awesome. I also had to buy a new pair of jeans that was 4 sizes smaller and fits great. I found my old bathing suits which were too tight last year, now half are too big and the rest fit OK (almost too big but not quite yet). So it's been a good week, hoping to continue on my path to onederland again! Here's a pic of the family having fun.

Pre-surgery my resting heart rate was close to 100 and BP was about the same as you. I went for my followup to the doctor this morning (my surgery was in November) and my resting heart rate was 66, BP was 106/69. I'm down about 80 lbs and still losing - so don't give up hope! Get the surgery and follow the program, you can do it!

I tried editing my original comment but couldn't figure out how so updating here in case it's helpful - the store that supposedly had the zero calorie sweet tea did NOT have it and had never heard of it. So the closest I could find was Crystal Light Sweet Tea packets at Walmart which I bought and holy cow it's even more delicious than Milo's! So that's an option for people looking for something sweet that isn't bad for you.

Doesn't bother me at all, I love the taste and my doctor says it's fine to drink.

I also have Fidelis in NY and if I recall correctly, they covered my nutritionist clearance but not the psychologist clearance. I didn't try to appeal, the same thing happened several years ago with my first surgery when I had Empire BC/BS.

After my surgery, I took the following chewables (almost all brands have the same stuff so I just went with what would cost the least!) Pro Care Health Bariatric Multivitamin with 45 mg Iron - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085F314T2/ - "Fruit punch" flavor, the taste is a little meh but it does that job BariBursts - Watermelon Calcium Citrate - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SV51NM6/ - Oh yeah these are freaking delicious, it was like having a little candy treat twice a day After my doctor's office said I didn't need the chewables anymore, I switched to these: Bariatric Choice Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsule with 45 mg of Iron - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HZ3YQ5X/ Spring Valley Calcium Citrate Dietary Supplement - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-Valley-Calcium-Citrate-Dietary-Supplement-600-mg-300-count/47431969 - I take two, twice a day, and it's ridiculously inexpensive

I always LOVED drinking soda, it was my favorite (and usually almost only) thing I ever drank. When I was in college one summer we were on a meal plan where we got $25 to spend in the school cafeteria a week, Every week I bought 8 2 liter bottles of Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi (forgot which) and filled up a little mini-fridge I had in my room. I drank all 8 bottles every week. And that was just when I was in my room, that doesn't include the sodas I would drink throughout the day. And yes I drank them right out of the bottle like an animal. That was admittedly excessive, but for the next 20+ years I still drank a LOT of soda, had it every day with most meals and throughout the day. Preferably Diet Coke but I'd take Diet Pepsi if DC wasn't available. Also loved Diet Cherry Coke and Diet Cherry Pepsi. The caffeine never even affected me, I'd drink it right before going to sleep with no problem. I would definitely feel miserable if I went a day or two without, like caffeine withdrawal headaches. I had my last glass of soda the day before my first 2 week liver shrinking diet before my sleeve surgery, back in December 2016. The first week was absolutely miserable going without both food and soda but I managed. My doctor advised no more soda EVER so I followed his instructions and never had a full glass of any type of soda ever again since then, and honestly I don't even miss it. After a while I tried a sip once or twice when I was really thirsty and nothing else was around and I discovered that I can't stand the taste anymore. It's too fizzy, too saccharine, just unappealing. I really don't miss it. Even when I screwed up and put most my weight back on before I had my revision to bypass, I never started drinking soda again. I get bored drinking water so I drink tons of crystal light lemonade and I actually just found something new this week - I'm on vacation in Virginia and found a brand called Milo's that makes Sweet Tea which of course I can't/won't drink, but they have a Zero calorie version which I got and it's delicious, I already found a store near me that sells it so I'm going to start adding it to my shopping list. Good luck!

Are you referring to general anesthesia vs. twilight sedation? Twilight is generally only for minor surgeries so I wouldn't expect it to be offered for bariatric surgery.

Well everyone is different so I can only talk about my own experience. I got sleeved in Dec 2016 and lost about 120 lbs in about 6 months. I had GERD before sleeve and still had it after, felt about the same. I took PPI once every morning. I slowly began to regain for various reasons, until I was almost back to where I started. I got revision to bypass this past November and am down over 75 lbs so far. Also my GERD is gone. My only regrets are not following the program in the first place, and not getting the revision sooner.

Interesting - so it's basically like Liquid Plumber for your stomach?

I went through the same thing as you - In Dec 2016 I got the sleeve and lost about 120 lbs in about 6 months. Then over the next few years for various reasons I stopped following the plan and put almost all of it back on. I had revision surgery to a bypass this past November and am down about 75 lbs so far and still losing, best thing I ever did for myself.

I was sleeved in Dec 2016, lost about 120 lbs in 6 months. Then I slacked off and put it almost all back on. Got revision to bypass in Nov 2021, down over 70 lbs so far and still losing - I feel great and my only two regrets are not sticking with the program the first time, and not getting the revision sooner.

I eat these every single day, they're great, I don't feel like I'm depriving myself but they aren't really that terrible for you.

Depends on what the results are. If they contraindicate surgery that's a good thing, you don't want to go into surgery if there's a problem that could endanger you.

One of the problems people face after surgery, especially early on, is the feeling that you have to deny yourself certain things that you've always enjoyed, when that isn't entirely true. If there was a favorite food you had, you can still have it - just a much smaller portion. Or look for an alternative like the previous poster described. I've loved pizza my whole life. My wife and I would order a large pie and I'd eat half of it. I haven't tried pizza since my revision surgery, but after I was sleeved after a few months I would occasionally have ONE slice of pizza which would fill me up and make me feel like I wasn't depriving myself. Sometimes I'd make cauliflower crust pizza which was pretty good once I got the hang of it. They now sell premade cauliflower crust pizza which can be very tasty if you get the right brand. One of my absolute favorite meals that I made after my sleeve was the Eggface Ricotta Bake, it's super easy to prepare and tastes like lasagna. https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1793517 In fact I think I inspired myself, I'm going to make it this weekend!

I've noticed the weight loss is slower after the revision but still moving at a steady clip. I had my revision to bypass in Nov 2021 so still losing but I'm noticing more plateaus and slowdowns, it eventually starts moving again though so no concerns.

I was able to drive a few days after both surgeries (I had sleeve, then revision to bypass). I'm surprised they're sending you home the same day of the surgery however. Regardless, by Monday you should be OK to sit at a desk and answer the phone, just make sure you schedule some time every two hours to walk around a bit.

I haven't tried their salads but I definitely recommend the prepackaged "Good and Gather" salads at Target, there are a ton of different ones and all relatively low calories and very filling. I'm partial to the Chicken Caesar salad and the Asian Fusion, and my wife likes the Chef salad and the Chicken and Bacon Ranch salad.

I did sleeve to bypass revision. Same number of incisions, except they had to put a drain in for a week after the bypass. Same level of pain/uncomfortable, which was not a lot in my case. I only took the painkillers for two days and stopped because I didn't need them. I think I felt worse immediately after surgery when I had the bypass, but that may be because I was out for a longer period of time so I was more groggy. That was just in the hospital though, it felt about the same when I got home.

The injection to raise your heart rate isn't always necessary, I've had two nuclear stress tests and both times I did the treadmill. They did tell me if I physically couldn't do the treadmill or get my heart rate to a certain level they would switch to the injection.