Missouri-Lee's Summit

@AlteredReality. What a beautiful user pic. You should be a poster patient to inspire those on the fence about the benefits of gastric bypass. I'm still behind you in terms of weight lost, but I am losing. I am so proud of myself.

The Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery estimates that 18 million adults in the U.S. qualify for weight-loss surgery, but only about 1 percent actually do it. The length of recovery and cost concerns are the main reasons more people don't have such procedures. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is a non-surgical weight loss procedure that is commonly referred to as ESG and also known as the incisionless gastric sleeve or the accordion procedure. Instead of incisions, stapling and removing parts of the stomach, a tiny camera and tools go down a patient's throat with a needle and thread. Specialized tools mark out guidelines in the stomach, sutures are placed in triangular patterns and the area is cinched together. Stomach size is reduced by 70 to 80 percent. ESG works by reducing the space inside your stomach and by slowing down the rate at which food empties from your stomach. Unlike the band, sleeve, and bypass, however, which are surgical procedures, the ESG procedure is non-surgical. Access to the stomach is gained not through incisions in the abdomen but endoscopically, i.e. through the mouth. Like the surgical procedures, the ESG is performed under general anesthesia, and it takes about 1 hour to complete. A device called the 'Overstitch' is inserted into the stomach and reduces the stomach capacity from the inside by stitching the stomach together with a series of approximately 6 stitches. https://www.healthierweight.co.uk/non-surgical-gastric-sleeve/esg-or-gastric-sleeve/ https://www.mooremetabolics.com/weight-loss/endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty/ http://bmiclinic.com.au/endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty/

Well, d'oh. I now see that you live in Australia. Do I feel like an idiot! I still suggest you ask a pharmacist, just not one HERE (in the US)!😀

Try asking a PharmD. Pharmacists, like my daughter, study for 5 years in addition to a year of residency. My sons, medical doctors, know very little about meds compared to her. If you have a specific medication to ask about, pharmacists are often able to look up information about absorption. Don't forget to mention your surgery since your surgery may be significant in terms of what parts of your digestive system are affected. Many "Schools of Pharmacy" also run Medication Helplines that you can call for information such as this. Where do you live? I might be able to provide you with a helpline number to call.

I'd have more faith in BP's pouch reset program if it didn't seem so conflated with buying products from their store. It makes me wonder whether it's the person or the products sold that matter more.

See? For all those out there who think they'll have to wait forever for a decision, Harborgurl got an even faster turnaround than 3 days. The weekend messed me up. Paperwork in on Friday, approval granted on Monday. Primary contacted on Tuesday. I, of course, was the last to know!!

Our @Matt Z is, unfortunately, very knowledgeable about this complication. "The Band had become totally encapsulated in scar tissue, it took my surgeon and her team more than 3 times longer to remove the band than what's normal. My 3-4 hour surgery, lasted over 6 hours. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't revise. The band is gone. My insides have been rearranged. And I'm working my way down to my goal. One day at a time. " --https://www.bariatricpal.com/profile/120901-matt-z/

Insurance companies tend to tell people submitting their documentation that it can take weeks for approval (they told me up to six weeks). My approval ended up taking only THREE business days. In fact, I was sitting in my primary's office and she just nonchalantly said, "Oh, did you know UnitedHealthCare approved your surgery?" I guess UHC decided to let my primary before me! So when UHC eventually called, I said, "Oh, that's old news. "

Thank you for the update. It sounds like the changes in your life (moving, bypass) are going well. Things will only get better. I enjoy hearing about people who have passions. Fishing is a good one. My father died when I was 12 years old so I don't have a long list of memories; however, going fishing with my father is one that stands out as special. We had a bare-bones pontoon boat and I remember my daddy reminding my brother and I to make sure that we didn't all stand on the same side of the boat. Sure enough, my brother, who was less serious about fishing than I was, was goofing off throwing orange peels in the water and pacing from one side of the boat to the other. That's when IT happened. The boat tilted and my daddy's tackle box slipped right into the lake. Not the future Eagle Scout's finest hour. Anyway, fishing with my father was a special memory. Sorry for the boring read.

Great! I love when people return to share their good news. Were your hydration issues a problem? I know it was touch-and-go for a while. I'm so glad that you decided to have your surgery. Have you been fishing since? (I notice you live in Florida so you're not encased in an ice cube like some of us in the Mid-West.)

I was thinking of you (my big* bariatric sister) Frust8 when I decided to post this: https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/obesity/74961 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2698683 *big as in older, not heavy

When broken down by surgery type, the most common reason for a revisional surgery among those who had banding was band-associated problems, such as migration stenosis or slippage. Among banding patients, nausea and weight-related indications were also common reasons for revision. As for VBG patients, the most common indication for revisional surgery was staple-related disruptions, accounting for 10% of these patients. Nausea due to stenosis and collar migration were also common indications for revision. The most common indications for revisional surgery for gastric bypass patients were reflux-associated and esophagus-associated complications. https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/obesity/77253 "The dominant reason for corrective revisional surgery was bile reflux (including esophagitis), which occurred only in patients with loop technique GBP," the researchers noted, adding how "this demonstrates the superiority of the Roux-en-Y technique with regard to the need for secondary interventions." Although the small percentage of gastric bypass patients included in the cohort was a limitation, it's still apparent that this surgery accounted for fewer revisionary surgeries. "Among more than 200 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures, only five (2.3%) required any reoperation," he said. "Revisional surgery carries a higher complication rate than the primary procedure, but if needed, it should not be denied..."

There was a time when I was lucky to get 250 calories per day, let alone even a fourth of the required protein or fluid. As bad as that sounds, the main concern for me is -- and continues to be-- ANXIETY. If I'm feeling unduly stressed that is worse for me than missing calories, protein, or fluids. When I'm feeling calm and happy with myself, the rest eventually falls into place. My appetite returns, I'm able to handle drinking more... For me, it all boils down to nurturing my mind and taking care of my emotional needs first. My physical needs are secondary... Understanding that it takes weeks to months to really get in trouble or become malnourished in a significant way also helps me to relax. I'm also not overly regimented when it comes to my supplements. If I miss a dose here or there, I don't beat up myself over it. Of course, it would great if I ate the right combination of everything my body needs at the right time, took my supplements faithfully... but the best lesson I've learned since my surgery, is to be kinder and more forgiving to myself. No more feeling like a failure for dropping the ball on occasion. I know that there are people on this forum who are very dedicated to every daily detail in their lives since their surgeries. I can't live like that. Perhaps if I pushed myself, I could compete with that mindset, but it just doesn't work for me. I don't even like thinking about weight loss anymore, which is why I find myself coming here less and less. My reason for posting my "lazy ways" manifesto is not to call attention to myself for being so "irresponsibly" lax about things, but to let others who may be stressing out their days with what they're eating, what they're not eating, etc. to try taking a page out of my book and slow down. Just let your days unfold without making too many demands on yourself. You'll ultimately be happier, and you'll lose the weight as well. I'm okay with anyone calling me out for filling up the heads of others with my lazy, undisciplined ways.

Perhaps I should have posted a separate thread to share my below 200lbs news. My intent was not to steal any of your thunder, Matt, particularly since you lost 170lbs while I've only lost 100lbs to get to my 199.4. I have another 50-70lbs to lose to reach my goal. Congrats, again, Mr. Handsome.

This is a timely post for me. I also use a CPAP, but I haven't been compliant since my bypass. Now I'm starting to wonder if I should contact my doctor about recalculating my pressure before I try using it again. I'm sorry you had to experience what you did, but your rant possibly helped out someone else from going through something similar. THANK YOU!!!

@Matt Z I can't believe it. I got on the scale this morning (after going to the bathroom, OF COURSE!) and I also weigh 199.4! Is that crazy or what?!

Love your pics, Matt. Are you a good dancer? I couldn't help but to think of Jim Carrey when I saw you in your green suit. "Smokin'"!!!!

Simple, but true. Attribution here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2018/10/22/what-happens-after-bariatric-surgery-makes-a-big-difference/#7fa2c4ec29b1 "What Happens After Bariatric Surgery Makes A Big Difference"

At 200.2lbs I'm almost there. I can almost feel it happening, but I can't quite get my weight to go below that 200lb milestone. Soon, hopefully. Congrats, Matty.

The bypass is working great for me. Lost 100lbs (over 7 stone) in 6 months. I've never experienced dumping and my bowels are more efficient than ever. As for the malnutrition, it would take months to reach any significant levels of malnutrition. I take my vitamins when I remember (no need to stress out about missing a few pills here and there). Do the best you can, and the weight just "comes off". My high blood pressure, slightly rising blood glucose levels, borderline high cholesterol and other conditions disappeared almost immediately after surgery). I honestly don't recognize the person I once was anymore. I fit in "normal" size clothes. Whichever surgery you choose, don't EVER worry that you picked the "wrong one". Both procedures have pros and cons and you'll do great on either choice. I can only speak about my success with the bypass. Good luck to you.

I couldn't resist, countrygirl. It was such a cheap shot to pick on such an easy-to-make typo. Shame on me! I lived most of my life in the city until my widowed mother remarried a bachelor farmer with 1000 acres in SE Kansas. I loved living in the country. My stepfather raised steers and had a lot of land set aside as HIGH GRASS PRAIRIE full of native wildflowers, blackberries, etc. He passed away two years ago, age 92. I loved him dearly. (He still has two older sisters living, btw. How many 92 year olds have older siblings? One is 97, the other 96). Back to your user name. Is it misspelled because someone else signed up as COUNTRYGIRL or was COUNRTYGIRL a typo? I won't be able to sleep ever again until I find out. BTW, my father grew up in Tennessee. We spent every summer there. In Spring City near Chattanooga. I don't know what got into me. I've been writing irrelevant blabber with no rhyme or reason. Being it's 3:30am, perhaps sleep is in order.

Being that's 994 years from now, there's plenty of time to re-consider all your options. (And here I thought I was the master of typos. Thanks for the laugh, counrtygirl. Wait is your user name a typo, too... or was "countrygirl" already taken?)

I'd be worried if you didn't have the jitters. Someone the other day on this forum talked about embarking on a laundry marathon and watching the holy crap out of Netflix. Those are just examples. Is there a hobby or something you like that you'd enjoy focusing on for a few days? You could always spend your time creating a LIST of things you'd do if you could.😀 Journal a bit. Put your jittery words on paper so later you can ask yourself, "Why was I so dang nervous. That was a piece of cake!". One super important thing. Don't forget to take a good BEFORE picture of yourself during this pre-surgery time. You'll be grateful to yourself later. Cheese!

An injection in your belly is absorbed more slowly than if it was injected into a vein. Also, some medications can’t be given by mouth because the acid and enzymes in your stomach would destroy them. The shot you were given was probably an enoxaparin shot to prevent blood clots. The needles are very slender so it was probably just the idea of the shot that bothered you, since it's a very quick and painless injection. I remember giving a few of the shots to myself (once I got home). I even let my youngest son, who was born with neuropathies in both hands, give me a shot. Little things like that can be a confidence booster for someone with serious fine motor skill deficits.

Humor is a good friend to take with you before, during and after your surgery. My surgery ended up being around 5pm. The patient before me had unexpected complications and her surgery lasted 6 hours instead of 2. At least your laundry will be done when you get back home. And Netflix will be waiting too. Isn't it amazing how a good (or even a not so good) movie can help you cope with nervous tension? I don't know you, but I'll be wishing you... and the other poster on this thread... the very best tomorrow. Promise to update us as soon as you feel able. OK?