ScoutCR

I initially chose sleeve but after my endoscopy they found I had Barrett’s esophagus and sleeve was no longer an option. I had bypass on 4/27/18. My results have been good but not without problems. I am just now out of the hospital from getting my gallbladder removed last Thursday. I also spent 7 days in the hospital with severe sepsis blood infection early in February because of my gallbladder. My weight loss has been great. 228 lbs on day of surgery to 162 lbs now. No sleep apnea, no diabetes; no high blood pressure, and no kidney disease. I had all-of those before the bypass! Bypass for me has been a blessing. I have relatives who had the sleeve and have regained most of their pre surgery weight back. I know I am not a full year out but my opinion is bypass is the best option. I also considered DS but my surgeon didn’t think I should go that route.

I am writing this from my hospital bed at UPMC. I had a major gall bladder flair up on Superbowl Sunday with extreme pain all night. Toughed it out until Monday morning. Found out today that my gall bladder is weak and letting sludge build up. This has caused blockage and inflammation of my liver and 3 different blood toxins {infections). The plan is IV antibiotics until the infection is gone. Then wait a few weeks for the gall bladder and liver to be less hot and have the gall bladder removed.

I do the same as greentealael and drink as much SF water flavors as I can between meals. This really helps and so far I can say that 9 months out I have not had a real hunger attack. That being said I do rarely have a few Just Cheese brand or Sonoma Creamery Cheese brand crackers and they do not seem to affect my weight.

Hi Matt, I have not been on the board for a week or so and I missed your great date. CONGRATS! it is not the easy road with Gastric Bypass, but it works! I wish for you and Missouri Lee who posted her success all the best and continued success!

Agreed, this is the worst part of the surgery! I had so much pain after surgery that they hooked me up to a EKG machine to monitor my heart, but in the end they said it was trapped gas from the surgery. It took about 14 days to finally let loose and feel no pain between my shoulder blades. I wish you luck and know that it will pass and relief is only a matter of time.

Hi, So I can totally relate to what you are going through but if you are going to have WLS then your only real option is RNY. I also started out to only want the sleeve surgery but during my EGD they found Barrett's. I had suffered with GERD for years and my surgeon wanted me to do the RNY from the start. After they found Barrett's my insurance company would only pay for the RNY. By this point I knew the sleeve was no longer an option. BTW, I have done great with the RNY and I do not have GERD but I do take meds for the GERD. I also have been told to have a EGD every year. My surgeon says that a year after my WLS that he will recommend another surgeon who can repair my esophagitis at UPMC.

At UPMC in Pittsburgh my surgery was covered 100% by UMR

I was told by my NUT that liquids do not stretch your pouch. They pass through. I drink a huge amount of flavored water (72-84 oz) each day. I enjoy the flavor and it keeps me feeling satisfied. That said I think protein drinks would be a little different because of all the calories that would be consumed. More information on this can be found at this link: https://primesurgicare.com/can-drinking-water-stretch-stomach-after-gastric-bypass/

Ever since I started on solid food and eat just a little too much I first have small burps, and then even if I have stopped eating I get a runny nose. It is definitely my sign!

I found them on AMAZON before my surgery in April of this year. They did not really relieve my gas. Only time has made my gas problem better. 7 months out and it is soo much better than the first 3 months. LOL

I thought I was drowning the day after surgery when the nurse gave me a thimble of water. It hurt so bad and came back up instantly. They made me keep trying and eventually I could drink a little bit. Fast forward 7 months and I can drink almost as much as I like as long as it is flavored water. Plain water still makes me gag! My surgeon says it is a texture issue with my pouch. I cannot even take my vitamins or pills without flavored water. I love herbal teas and drink them with SPLENDA when I am on the road traveling, but coffee makes me ill every time I chance it which is about once every 10 days at this stage. My Dr says to keep trying as it may change over time, but I think I am done with coffee for the immediate future. He says I can drink as much flavored sugar free water as I want. My favorite flavored water is Mountain Explosion (mountain dew without carbonation) and AW Root Beer flavors as they are delicious and go down easy.

I still take big drinks of water but hold it in my mouth and release it slowly in my throat. I’m not into small sips as I’ve always chugged liquids. I had to learn this the hard way, but everything I have read says that you can’t stretch your pouch from liquids. Vitamins at 6 months out can be taken in one swallow but again I had to learn this the hard way. It took me over a month after bypass to be able to drink more than a sip at a time.

Try white fish; cod, haddock, pollack,; I’ve found that I can add 4-5 oz and not have any discomfort. Everyone is different but for me white fish has been a blessing as it is high in protein and is satisfying. Try it with a parmesan coating and it is better than any fried fish.

My 6 month A1C was 5.1. My Dr’s are thrilled!

Wonder slim bars are truly wonderful for me. Just ordered my 2nd supply. Check them out!

You and I are on a very similar path. My pouch is also temperamental. I haven’t tried apples yet but I was on the Adkins diet at one time in my life for 16 years. My favorite low carb pie crust with apples was crushed walnuts or pecans with melted butter. You just take the nuts and crush them and add soft butter and press into a pie pan or cookie sheet if making a apple crisp. I’m sure an internet search will come up with various recipes for the low carb nut crust. Enjoy

I also travel nearly weekly. I find myself packing a box of different brands of protein bars and protein snacks. It is easier if its a driving trip but still doable when flying which is about 60% of the time. When on the road sometimes I don’t have the choice of the restaurant that I will be eating. I take customers out often. Most restaurants you can find a good protein and healthy appetizer. I often just get a cup of soup. I also have been the fast food route on the road and I mostly get grilled chicken sandwiches and deconstruct them and only eat only the chicken.

I had my RNY on 4/27/18 and could not drink in the hospital. My first sip almost drowned me, but my nurses said I had to keep trying. I did and it did get better but I think now I can drink too much!

I bought a dozen little glass 3 oz spice dishes from AMAZON and that’s my serving. Works great. No matter what we are having once I eat that serving I’m done.

Goo Steeelerrs! I am a huge Steelers fan, and I hope you are up to going! Like I said at 10 days you may be on top of the world! I was doing crazy things at 6-10 days that my Dr would not have approved of, like scrubbing all of our floors and walls in the house. Hey I was off work and felt great, but alas it did not last much longer as at 15 days I was dragging, but I only have myself to blame.

Same for me George OG. UPMC in Pittsburgh does not even offer them anymore. Not that I was considering it, but they made it clear on my first visit that they no longer offer the lap band

Think of it as 6 months of training for how you will have to live and eat after surgery. That is what I did during my mandated 6 month surgery waiting period. It also helped that the Insurance required that I lost a minimum of 3 lbs a month during that period with no weight regain. LOL, I had to get down to my underwear for my 2nd weigh in to meet the 3 lbs lost requirement. After that scare I got serious about making sure I was on track and no worries about getting rejected by insurance for my surgery.

LOL, I kinda noticed this too. I live on a 3 acre pond and the mosquitoes this year are not biting or going near me. I did not think about it too much until I saw this post.

I traveled at 7 weeks post op for business against my Dr's orders. I was ok but I would say it was not easy. I also think I paid a price for that trip. The weekend after coming home I had no energy. That said, at 10 days I do not think the effects of the surgery have hit you and I would have to say it depends on the stress of the travel you plan to do. You still feel pretty good at 10 days. I wanted to go back to work 5 days after my surgery, but my DR insisted I take 10 days with gastric bypass. It was the end of week 3 or beginning of week 4 before I felt the negative effects and I felt a lack of energy. I am now traveling every other week on business and I started that 10 weeks post op, but it still is not easy to travel and have a good routine and diet. I eat a lot of soup.

My surgeon said no way to vitamin patches. He told me a horror story of a patient who was in for the 6 month check up (gastric bypass) and had to be hospitalized for vitamin deficiency He said it took a year to get the patient back to good health. I had already purchased a 3 month supply, but it scared me into not using them.