Lannie

I had the same debate. I was nervous about the malabsorption of bypass, so I was leaning towards the sleeve. It seemed like a more "simple" procedure. I had bmi of 47 no comorbidities. My surgeon said for me there was about a 30lb difference in expected loss between the two. He thought bypass would be a good option but also said the best option is the option I'm most comfortable with. He directed me to sleeve- saying I needed to be totally comfortable with the procedure....if I was confident I would be more successful. He said the additional loss with bypass didn't offset the pro of my confidence in he decision. That is a long way of saying talk to you doctor.

I had Dilaudid by IV for the first 4 -6 hours. After I had the leak test and was given the OK to start drinking I was switched to Oxy. They recommended Oxy due to the small size of the pill. It worked for me. If the doctors are reputable, they will make sure you have enough meds for at home care. It was helpful to have the prescription in advance so my husband could have it filled before picking me up. One less stop on the way home.

My doctor told me that after six weeks I should look at weight loss on a monthly basis rather than weekly. The weekly numbers will flucuate so much that the monthly rate is a better measure. The doctor said to expect an average of 10 lbs per month. They strongly stressed that is an average number - my actual rate may be more or less. That being said I'm almost 12 weeks and my total loss is consistent with that level.

I have read about several people saying their tastes change post-op. Has anyone experienced it happening at 3 months post? I used Premier Protein shakes pre & post with no issue. At 6 weeks I stopped shakes when I transitioned to normal food. However the last several weeks I have been low on protein (60g from food instead of recommended 80g), so I've tried adding back a shake to meet my targets. At 10 weeks, the shakes seem to taste different - vanilla tastes like chemicals and the chocolate was chalky. I have some other powders that I'll try, just curious because I assumed if tastes were going to change it would have been sooner.

It depends on the insurance but normally BMI over 40 does not require a comorbid diagnosis. It doesn't make sense to wait until "something is wrong". The weight alone is what is wrong. Unless you lost significant weight during pre-op you should still qualify. Call the insurance carrier to reconfirmed requirements

My doctor has patients use Benefiber daily starting at 8 weeks. Said it was to be taken as a preventative dosage. Then add in Colace or Miralax if more than 3 days goes by. So far the Benefiber has been enough. Hope you can find something that works for you.

My pysch eval lasted about an hour. As basic questions about family and personal history. Didn't delve too far into my trauma history; accepted my explanation that I had previously worked through it. I got the impression that it was more to verify that I understood the lifelong commitment required for surgery. Basically rule out any serious mental health issue that would have precluded me from complying with doctors orders. My history of depression and anxiety was not an issue. The evaluator even stated that she would be surprised if there wasn't some degree of depression with individuals considering bariatric surgery.

The number of visits will depend on the requirements of the surgeon and of your insurance. If you have to do a monitored diet - you may be able to do that with your primary care. That would reduce the amount of travel.

Google Fat Head Pizza. The recipe is a good low carb protein based alternative to the standard crust. Fits well in my post op food plan

I'm 10 weeks post-op and just starting back to running. At this time I can drink normally - normal size drinks, max 4oz at a time. I also use Nuun...I just let it go flat before I drink it, which isn't a problem. So far my distances are short enough, that I haven't had to eat during the run....still rebuilding based on my energy level. I'm planning on a bit of trial and error as I find what works. Right now I'm leaning towards a small pouch of peanut butter...I know my stomach can handle it and sounds better than Gu. (I hated Gu pre-op so I don't expect it to have improved)

In MyFitnessPal - at the bottom of the diary page there is button for "nutrition". That will display a pie chart of your macros (protien, carbs, fats). That will display the % of each macro plus the total grams you recorded.

Wow! If I could have lost 10 pounds per month pre-op, I would not have needed surgery. (Actually I would still have needed it to keep the weight off). My point is that 10 pounds per month may be unrealistic for pre-op. Has your PCP consulted with your bariatric doc? Perhaps a conversation could help reorient to a realistic plan. Does your bariatric doc has a specified amount? My surgeon has a much better understanding of factors impacting weight than my PCP. Can you come up with an alternative plan to ensure you are monitored for 6 months.

What a wonderful support system. Congratulations

For the first time in a very long time I am paying attention to my own needs and my own stress responses. It feels like I'm more sensitive to it than before. For years, I just buried it and keep pushing through. I'm working to find a balance....I can't bury / ignore the stress like I used to b/c I know that was a big contributing factor to my weight gain. I'm glad to hear that others are having similar experiences. Hope your situation improves.

At 6 weeks, my NUT says the not drinking before was not as important as after. The 30 minute waiting after eating is a permanent instruction.

Bariatric advantage soft chews are like a starbursts.

If you are going to do pasta, I would recommend you try it prior to race day. You don't want to do anything new on race day. Try it to see how your system reacts. As for carb loading for a 7 mile race, I'm not sure it is necessary. Pre-op - I didn't need to extra carbs for 7 mile; I haven't done more than 3 miles post-op. My best advice is to just listen to your body.

I was cleared to swim at 3 weeks; I asked at 1 week and was told I needed to wait for the incision to heal. They were also worried about the stress on the system - no lifting, twisting,, etc. As for vitamins I take a multi-vitamin plus 1000 units of B12. I started the vitamins at 2 weeks...I had to try several to find one that didn't upset my system. The multi is chewable adn the B12 is a sublingual melt. At 6 weeks I was told to add in Calcium and Benefiber.

Several people on this board are endurance athletes...triathlons, marathons, etc. the short answer is yes...it may be a lot of trial and error to figure out what works. You can race and have WLS. I'm only 8 weeks out so I'm still learning my new system. I can drink normally. I am just starting back to running...I plan to carry several small snacks and see what works. Pre-op I didn't need to eat unless my run is longer than 3 hours. I'm going much shorter distances right now. Good luck

Yes. Plain water made me sick for the first week to 10 days. Flavored water was OK. It has since gotten better and I can drink plain water again. No explanation why, but it is not uncommon to have issues with water.

Premier is a common one. I also used Isopure ready to drink because they had ones that met the clear liquid requirements. I also liked Snytex (sp?) powders...some of them were more juice like consistency. I ordered a variety pack from this site.

Bariatric advantage has a new chewable for both. It looks and tastes like a starburst. The hard chalk like chewables didn't sit well.

I found that the flavored tuna packets are great for travel. Also an easy way to get my protein in, when I can't control the food prep.

I don't smoke and my doc recommended waiting 6 months or more before I drink. The rationale was that most alcohol is carbs and empty calories. I was also warned that alcohol will impact us more quickly - just take it easy until you know how it will affect you.

By week 2, I could take normal sized drinks instead of sips. At 8 weeks, I can do about 8 oz in a few minutes. Once the swelling goes down, you'll be able to drink more.