Meryline

i respectfully disagree.
the risk of dying during surgery is the same at around 0.5%. making both very safe, "routine" procedures. so your "simpler operation" rings irrelevant to me. i guess it's relevant if your surgeon sucks or if you're doing it on the cheap in a Mexican alleyway, but that's another issue.
risk of short-term complications? slightly higher with RNY, yes, but you have to consider relative risk. no complication goes over 5% (leak, stricture, etc). there's risk of leak with VSG too, it's a bit lower at 3%. now, if that 2% is enough for you to choose a less effective bariatric surgery? that's your choice. i guess i have a different calculus when it comes to those things.
the long-term risks you cite are rare and the patient has to purposely disobey basic rules of common sense to trigger. like going back to eating way way too much. don't want ulcers? don't take NSAIDS. it's quite simple, if you reach for Tylenol instead of Advil, your risk of ulcers is negligible. but the average American is stupid as hell, so even simple directions like that are routinely ignored. Petersen hernia? most studies have this occurrence as low as 1%, and is virtually not an issue with an experienced surgeon who knows where to connect the roux anastomosis.
now, you want to talk about life-altering long term risk? let's talk GERD. which i've seen studies range from 20-40% of VSG patients!!!!! this can range from merely annoying to life-crushing and needing revision to, yes, RNY. this message board is FILLED with these patients and my surgeon says about 20% of his operations are revisions from sleeve to RNY. now THAT is risk.
and perhaps the biggest risk not talked about is that of permanence. to me, it's very RISKY to do the sleeve because your stomach is thrown in the trash bin and it is completely irreversible. the RNY is reversible. ergo, much much less risk.
again, you mention the sleeve "doesn't alter the anatomy". first of all i don't understand this argument. what's wrong with altering anatomy if it makes your body perform better? by that logic, getting glasses to help you see is "altering your anatomy". getting a heart bypass if you have heart disease is "altering your anatomy". is this a God, intelligent design thing? i'm not going there. all i know is that cutting your stomach out (VSG) is very much altering your anatomy. much more than RNY which leaves it there to be a perfectly healthy functioning body part capable of getting back on the playing field if need be.
another risk of the VSG? not reaching your goal weight. and isn't that why we're doing this? the fact is RNY results in 70-75% excess weight loss on average. and that average is brought down a lot by a huge sample population of people who are too dumb to behave after surgery. VSG is, with a smaller and more motivated sample set of patients, at best 60-65%. i guarantee you that as time goes on and more and more VSG patients are tracked, that number will go down even further.

I don't know what I would do without meal prep. I eat 5-6 times a day, and at least 3 of those meals are warm, 2 at work. There is no way I could do what without meal prep or leftovers. I usually eat 2 warm pre made meals at work, and a fresh prepped warm meal at home.
I batch make up to 30 portions at the time and freeze. I have a variety of 5-6 different meals in the freezer and just pick what I would like. It saves me so much time.

I weigh everything that goes into my mouth unless the packaging is less than my max and has the weight on it.
I gained this weight by not controlling what I eat, I'm using this time to build tools to sustain this in the long run.

I don't know what I would do without meal prep. I eat 5-6 times a day, and at least 3 of those meals are warm, 2 at work. There is no way I could do what without meal prep or leftovers. I usually eat 2 warm pre made meals at work, and a fresh prepped warm meal at home.
I batch make up to 30 portions at the time and freeze. I have a variety of 5-6 different meals in the freezer and just pick what I would like. It saves me so much time.

I don't know what I would do without meal prep. I eat 5-6 times a day, and at least 3 of those meals are warm, 2 at work. There is no way I could do what without meal prep or leftovers. I usually eat 2 warm pre made meals at work, and a fresh prepped warm meal at home.
I batch make up to 30 portions at the time and freeze. I have a variety of 5-6 different meals in the freezer and just pick what I would like. It saves me so much time.

Meal prep has been a key to my post-op success. I cook up 5 pounds of chicken breast and then break it into 3 oz portions to use throughout the week. I do cook my daily hamburger steak and salmon fresh. I also cook up a big pot of green Beans to use throughout the week. I do the green beans and chicken for convenience.
When I do eat out (which is mostly when I travel for work), I order whatever meat/salad/green veggie combo I'm going to get, and I do take the leftovers in a box. I usually end up using it somehow, but often times, I throw it out and get new the next time (especially since it is all going on my company AmEx.)

I don't know what I would do without meal prep. I eat 5-6 times a day, and at least 3 of those meals are warm, 2 at work. There is no way I could do what without meal prep or leftovers. I usually eat 2 warm pre made meals at work, and a fresh prepped warm meal at home.
I batch make up to 30 portions at the time and freeze. I have a variety of 5-6 different meals in the freezer and just pick what I would like. It saves me so much time.

I don't know what I would do without meal prep. I eat 5-6 times a day, and at least 3 of those meals are warm, 2 at work. There is no way I could do what without meal prep or leftovers. I usually eat 2 warm pre made meals at work, and a fresh prepped warm meal at home.
I batch make up to 30 portions at the time and freeze. I have a variety of 5-6 different meals in the freezer and just pick what I would like. It saves me so much time.

We are still in the thick of summer and the heat is on. This is an easy time of year to get dehydrated. You’ll break a sweat just standing outside. Water is important because it helps regulate our temperature, carries nutrients and waste products through the body, fills the spaces inside and outside our cells, acts as a lubricant around joints, part of chemical reactions in our bodies, acts as a solvents for a variety of things in our bodies (minerals, water soluble Vitamins, amino acids, glucose), acts as a shock absorber for important parts of our bodies (eyes, spinal cord, amniotic sac in pregnancy) and helps us think better. Water is an essential nutrient. That means we have to consume it because our bodies can’t make it.


Besides sweating, we lose water from talking, exhaling, fever, infection, going to the bathroom, living in a dry climate, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, fatigue or sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, confusion, memory issues, tension, anxiety, lower energy, Constipation, feeling hungry, darker urine, feeling dizzy or lightheaded and muscle cramps. Water can be flavored but needs to be free of caffeine, carbonation and calories. Even though Protein Shakes have calories, most of them are water, so that counts towards your hydration. sugar-free Gelatin and popsicles count as water. Ice chips can be a nice way to get water when it’s sultry outside. Infused waters provide some flavor but no calories. Infused waters can be made by simply slicing citrus fruits or veggies, crushing berries, or adding herbs for steeping in your water. Cucumber and mint make a refreshing flavor combination. You can buy water bottles that have a tube down the middle that you can fill with fruits, veggies and herbs to flavor your water. How much is enough water? We start calculating your hydration goal by dividing by 2 what your weight would be if your BMI is 25. More is added if you are outdoors or workout a lot. Keeping a water bottle with you at all times can help you remember to sip enough fluids. Tracking fluids throughout the day is another way to know whether you’ve had enough fluids for the day. Have you sipped enough today?

Absolutely fun. We'll see where it ends up at the end. Time will tell. Being so close to initial goal, I'm starting to think of every lbs lost from her on out is a bonus. I'm still working hard to drop more, but I'm starting to feel good in my own body.

First, congrats on hitting a new low on the BMI scale. Always a great feeling.
I tried it the way you described, and according to this, I should hit 120 lbs
I was 84 lbs down at 5 months out, but that is including the 2 weeks pre op diet. I adjusted the weight and what I had lost after surgery. Anything below 150 is a bonus, but I highly doubt I'll be anywhere close to 120.

For me, if I use my starting weight, the calculator has my end at 171. If I use my day of surgery weight, my end is 184lbs. So it does make a difference. Either number is fine by me, since both are SOOOOOO much better than 300! LOL!

Absolutely fun. We'll see where it ends up at the end. Time will tell. Being so close to initial goal, I'm starting to think of every lbs lost from her on out is a bonus. I'm still working hard to drop more, but I'm starting to feel good in my own body.

First, congrats on hitting a new low on the BMI scale. Always a great feeling.
I tried it the way you described, and according to this, I should hit 120 lbs
I was 84 lbs down at 5 months out, but that is including the 2 weeks pre op diet. I adjusted the weight and what I had lost after surgery. Anything below 150 is a bonus, but I highly doubt I'll be anywhere close to 120.

Oh, oh, oh..! I just needed to Celebrate for a minute! I jumped onto my hubby's laptop, where I can see my ticker, and as of today, my BMI has dipped down low enough that I would no longer qualify for weight loss surgery through insurance (Even with comorbidities!) Woo Hoo! To start out morbidly obese, then be severely obese.. now I'm just obese (class 1)! So excited!!!

Another surgery buddy here. Awesome job and welcome to onderland. Well deserved. You look great!

I'm 5 months post op, and already at 6 weeks they wanted me to add veggies (my plan has me eating normal food by day 4). I eat 5-6 meals a day, and some are mostly Protein while others are a combination of protein and veggies. I'm getting my protein in, so I'm sticking to it.

liquids goes straight through you. broth is basically flavored water. No need to worry.
Did you do the swallow test after surgery? There we could see that liquids ran straight through.

How in the world do you make 2 oz of tuna last 20 minutes? I think I'd have to lick it! Lol

Working hard daily. Officially 90 lbs from May 24 th to August 21. I think I lost an eclipse lol

Slow and steady. I've lost 80 lbs so far. Highest weight 313 current weight 232.  

After gastric bypass surgery, it can be difficult. It takes time. It wasn't until around the 6 month that all the problems seemed to melt away and I reached a happy state.
The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, Fluid and vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. So focus on the three main items.
Since you said you thought you might be dehydrated. Then focus on solving your problems with fluids.
It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even Water changed. In the hospital it tasted excessively chlorinated and I could not drink it. So I experimented. sugar free popsicles became my best friend. Some individuals find hot or cold can help with fluids. For me, I found that I could tolerate flavored water. So I began using Crystal Light. I also found a new drink Bai which I liked cold. In the winter, I found that I tolerate Hot Drinks such as piping hot cocoa. But you have to use the "No Sugar Added" variety. Also fine English teas were very good.
The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your Vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the Protein Shakes. It is the water component of the Soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and Decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day.
Since you indicated you are having a problem with protein shakes.
Many experience problems drinking Protein shakes. I hated them. But in the beginning I drank them, three 16-ounce protein shakes a day, in order to meet my protein requirements. There are many varieties of protein shakes available today. Experiment until you can find one you can tolerate. You don't have to like it, just tolerate it. I used Muscle Milk Light (Vanilla Creme) powder blended with water and a half a banana. That worked for me. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, you might try premixed Isopure.
If you tried all the various varieties and still are unsuccessfully, then there is the fallback of fortified milk. 32 ounces of 1% milk fortified by adding 1 cup of dried milk provides 56 grams of protein. It also takes a dent out of meeting the fluid requirements. Mix up a pitcher and drink a little throughout the day.
Without sufficient protein, your body will scavenge protein from other areas of your body, such as your muscles. Protein is extremely important after surgery as its job in the body is to build and maintain tissues including your body's major organs and skeletal muscles. Protein deficiency, when continued over a long period of time can cause a disease known as protein caloric malnutrition. Common symptoms are poor healing, fatigue, Hair loss and muscle wasting. Immediate post op, protein promotes healing of the staple line and incisions.

The concept of moderation has been lost to us for so long (preop), that without guidelines and parameters telling what moderation IS... of course we're lost!
Yesterday my 17 year old daughter and I sat down and formulated a 1500 calorie diet for her. (Her BMI is around 31.5).
Breakfast: 7oz sweet potato with a little butter
Lunch: salad with fruit and nuts and 1oz ranch dressing
Snack: 2 eggs and fresh bell pepper
Dinner: 4oz meat, 1 cup black Beans, green beans
She'll have 150 calories to spend on milk and honey for her tea.
If/when she needs more calories, she can add a few grains.
Without creating a plan like this, she eats 4 pieces of pizza or 2 large plates of spaghetti or 2 bowls of Cereal, etc. Same as I did at her age.
Preop, I would have discussions with her, but I really didn't know what the right thing WAS for her to do, and I didn't want to screw up her metabolism or start her on the yo yo dieting path, so I was clear that she shouldn't change anything.
Now, 5 months postop, and I now KNOW what to do.. and it is such a wonderful feeling! She knows that she'll have to watch what she eats forever, same as any of us.

So are you, seriously.
It'll be interesting to see if we keep following each other.
I take nothing for granted though, it can slow down or stop at any moment.

A point I want to make is that when you are obese, your stored fat is holding a lot of things in place. Once your fat is slowly disappearing, you need muscles to do that job. A lot of people who has had wls feel amazing afterwords. Knees are not hurting anymore etc. Then, several months out, things are starting to hurt again. This is often because things are not supported like it used to.
With my program, we got an exercise program before surgery. It was a generic one, but had 10 exercises you could to at home with minimal equipment, and it started easy and it had ways to make it harder. We went through the whole program with physical therapists before the surgery and was encouraged to start before surgery, and start up again at 3 weeks out.
I started walking a little over a week after surgery (I had to have a nerveblock for a herniated disk that got moved during surgery so I couldn't really do anything for the first week or so). I started lifting weights 2 a week at 3-4 weeks (I was in a program for my back, so it was supervised). I walk everywhere, and average between 12 000 and 20 000 steps a day. The program I was in is over, so I'm now lifting 2-3 times a week, but only like 10 min warm-up and 45 min of lifting tops. I also do nordic walking.
I have had a steady weight loss since 2 weeks before surgery (I have had a loss every week except one), I have now lost over 80 lbs. I eat carbs (but I naturally restrict because I can't tolerate to much. I eat them though). I am anywhere from 800-1200 calories at this point. I'll be 5 months out on Sunday. I don't really do Protein Shakes, I get my Protein from food. I eat around 80g a day. If I want more or I have had a day outside of my routine, I'll sometimes do a shake.