Mark1107

Just switched from the sleeve to bypass. I had a hh the first surgeon didn’t fix. Been in constant pain for 5 years with ulcers and major gerd. Now with bypass surgery last weekend already I can drink with out hurting. I’m excited to experience life again after 5 years of misery. The bypass is the way to go.

I had the bypass surgery and already it doesn’t hurt to drink water or protein shakes. I’m in a lot of post op pain but excited for the future when I can simply enjoy food again. 3 months of nasty protein shakes and then normal food. I can’t wait.

After having both the gastric sleeve and now the Rouen y bypass, I regret not doing the bypass first. The sleeve sucks ass and the gerd almost killed me, seriously. I’m glad I lost the weight but for 5 years I hated food after the sleeve before the bypass. I hope I can enjoy food again since I had the bypass last weekend. 3 months of hell nasty protein shakes then hopefully I can enjoy food. I really miss it. Also I developed a bad painkiller regimen I’m trying to get off of. It really sucks.

I have similar experience. I had the sleeve in 2019. Last 5 years have been memorable with a ton of gerd and pain. Tomorrow I’m having the Rouen y bypass and looking forward to it. I’ve been struggling with massive daily cramping for years and lots of dumping. I was 339 6’1 before sleeve. I was 190 until this year when I gained 10 pounds back. I’m doing the bypass because of severe gerd and want my life back. I’ve been on cannabis gummy’s and opioids for the past 5 years and it’s been miserable. I’m hoping it goes well and I can get back to a normal life. I also started liquid diet again and Italian no sugar added frozen ice and Campbells chicken noodle broth only have been my two go tos which I hope my new bypass stomach will tolerate and quality of life will improve and I can stop the cannabis and stop using opioids. Using both for pain mgmt is a blessing and a curse but I’m ready to get off of both become “normal “ I haven’t been able to eat anything less than 2 bites causes pain at a level 10 like I have a kidney stone in my stomach and I’ve had kidney stones before.

Thank you everyone for the kind words .My barium upper gi is in the morning. I have absolutely no energy.

I was 330 lbs in 10/2019 had the sleevectomy. Since day one massive pain in my stomach. Never healed. Kaiser Dr. Edward Zane Southbay medical center. Was in hospital 2 days went home with a bottle of hydromorphone. I’m 56 years old, 6’1 and weigh 195. In 2021 I was as high as 220 but taking daily opioids and now I’m weaning myself off of them switching to cannabis gummies. Even on cannabis with the munchies I can’t eat anything. I never healed and I’ve struggled for 5 years. I was prescribed hydromorphone since 2019 and I need it at every meal or drink. If I drink water I cramp and bowl over in pain. I eat anything cold or hot I bend over in pain. I had ultrasounds endoscopies etc. I have serious GERD and been on proton pump inhibitors for 2 years. I can’t eat protein of any type without massive pain and opioids from a hamburger white fish pork steak chicken turkey it all hurts all of the time. Carbs and minor fat also hurt but not as much as protein. I switched to BCBS the new bariatric Dr says I either have a stricture or I need the bypass surgery now. current weight is 195and I’ve been losing weight this past year and really hate all food. It doesn’t matter if it’s carbs fat or protein it hurts my stomach. I also get nauseous and throw up if I eat too much regardless and have massive cramping 5years later. Also have burning sensation with bowel movements but was tested negative for crohns/ulcerative colitis. after 5 years addicted to opioids I went to BCBS and they said Cedars Sinai surgeons can look at stricture correction surgery or just go for the bypass. They want me to eat nuclear egg salad and barium drink during an mri to see what is wrong. Last endoscopy was 10/24 and my esophageal ulcer was 90% healed. I had an untreated ulcer since 2019 that also contributed. Current medication metoprolol 100 mg x a day lisinopril20 mg 2 x a day, Amlodipine 5mg 2 x a day, omeprazole 2x a day, gummies and Vicodin daily with every meal. I can stop opioids once the pain stops. after 5 years of losing weight and my quality of life has deteriorated I’m leaning towards bypass surgery. please help group. I also have massive starvation and nutrition issues and take vitamins but still can’t get even 2k of calories in my body and have low energy all of the time. sincerely, Mark

I’ve been able to maintain at 203 lbs, after dipping as low as 190. Still to hold off 112 of the pounds, Metformin has been huge. It really stops the cravings and satiates me much faster. Just wanted to check in since it’s been a while. One more thing, I still listen to my sleeve and almost never stretch it, nor drink 30 mins before or after a meal. Cheers everyone. I hope your journeys are wonderful.

115 2 yrs in. Been at goal weight for one year and fluctuate 1 pound +/- every other day.

About a year after surgery my hunger returned with a vengeance. I gained 8lbs and started back on Metformin 2xa day 500mg and my weight stabilized and I lost my appetite. I’ve maintained about 199-204 for a year now. I highly recommend recommend it.

For the first 3 months the cravings are horrible. I hated protein shakes they made me physically sick. I craved pizza every single day. At night I dreamt about pizza and ice cream and hot fudge Sunday’s. You have to let your stomach heal. I just ate a lot of chicken noodle soup, and stuff like that. I’m a big guy built like a linebacker. I love pizza and 1 year later, I can eat 1 slice and I’m overful and stomach hurting. Cramps, but I satisfy my craving. I can’t stress enough let. Your stomach heal. 25 days after my surgery last year was Halloween. I saved every single piece of candy last year in the past year I’ve probably eaten 3-5 pieces of chocolate candy bars etc, but that Halloween I craved and horded every piece of candy we passed out and I couldn’t touch it a year later it’s still in the cabinet. I try to eat healthier too but because I’m a big guy, I just don’t get enough calories going in to gain weight. I work out 4-5 days a week doing cardio. they should have given you pain killers after surgery. If the cravings are going to threaten your life and kill you eating something that is banned, then take a pain killer once. Once only. I did that when I drove to Wendy’s and smelled the fast food. My cravings went away and I drove home before the high kicked in. I almost killed my self considering banned food 30-45 days aft surgery. I still hoard food, over order, take food home I never eat after words, etc. I’m trying to live with the new me. we’re all in this together. After about 6 months the dreams of food went away. The cravings are controllable now. No more painkillers either, only if I have bad cramps eating something sweet. Girlscout cookies almost sent me to the ER the pain is so bad. Same with sugar cereal. I can’t touch it period. remember this too shall pass. Alcoholics Anonymous is a great support group. When I need to stop having a pity party, I go to an AA meeting or I get on my knees and pray. I’m not an alcoholic but AA is unconditional love. They accept and not judge everyone. If you sit and listen to other people fighting addictions and dealing with life, you will get a better perspective on your own healing and issues. ‘’cheers. Mark

I’m basically at my goal weight. 1. I haven’t been under 200lbs since 1993. 2. Food cravings and mood swings the first 60 days are miserable! 3. The pain the first 30 days was morphine in pill form hydromorphine. I lived on it. 4. Drink something before 30 mins after eating a year later and I still get massive pain cramps. 5. Most of my sugar cravings have disappeared. 6. I dreamt about food for 6 months. Lol. 7. I used to have friends who would go to dinner with me and have 4 drinks before my 30 minutes are up. I’m not friends with them anymore. My biggest complaint is why can’t people enjoy one alcoholic drink over 25 minutes while I’m waiting to have my first drink? Jesus, you’d think I’m asking Moses to part the Red Sea? Everyone slugs like 4 drinks down and by the time I hit my first drink they are ready to leave. It’s frustrating as hell. Everyone is like that. Bottom line, I love my new body. The fact I barely eat anything and that I sleep so much better now. My quality of life. Is. Awesome. The social drinking is the only thing different. I went vegas in February and had a blast! My wife didn’t drink at meals but waited until afterwards at clubs and we both drank great.

Yes neck pain is normal. You may also have a hiatal hernia. Google it. Or one was repaired during surgery.

Thanks everyone. Some interesting observations... when I was 298 I started taking Bupropion and Metformin. It was easy to drop 25-30lbs before surgery. After surgery I stayed on both drugs and today I skipped the metformin and my nightly hunger pains and over eating at night went away! Maybe the Metformin was spiking my blood sugar needlessly? I hope to report back tomorrow night that I’m back to losing weight! I only took Metformin and bupropion for weight loss not for diabetes or anything.

THanks guys. I appreciate the perspective! I'm going to the gym now. I will do better!

Hey everyone, 1st of all, the surgery has changed my life! Being 204 lbs at 6’0 tall is life changing! I haven’t been this weight since college in 1992. I have a football players body so broad shoulders big build. Everyone has commented how great I look. I had my surgery on 10/6/19 Heres the problem: For the last 6 weeks I’ve stopped losing weight. I’m stuck at 204. my stomach isn’t happy with pure protein. Right around Thanksgiving, I started noticing that when I ate protein of anytype my stomach would growl and seriously cramp and be upset until I could mix carbs in with the protein -then my stomach would be satisfied. Then I started eating a lot of rice. Sushi 4-5 pieces is satisfying with salmon and yellow tail with rice under it and I’m satisfied. Then I went into my unhealthy eating habits. I eat a lot of candy everyday....realizing I have a disease, I threw out all of the candy today. I threw out all of my trigger foods. I threw out all of the chips I was eating. All of the junk food is gone from my house. Please understand, I have a mental disorder called an eating disorder. My stomach hasn’t stretched. I still throw up eating too much, I have a small pouch, I’m still in the honeymoon phase, and even eating lots of junk each day lots of candy each day 4 months after surgery I haven’t gained any weight but I stopped losing the last 6 weeks since New Year’s Day. Im going back to pure protein light veggies then a little carbs. I will muscle my way roll my sleeves up and start losing the weight. I want to lose 20 lbs and have a BMI of 25 but my wife, co workers, friends, family all say stop losing weight! You look like a cancer victim. At basically 200 lbs and big broad shouldered football looking dude with a shaved head everyone says enough, but I’m worried with my bad habits that I arrested and threw away today, that eventually I will start gaining weight. Ps my Dr. Said that since my body type needs 2500 calories a day to maintain that I would get to my target weight quickly, which I’m close to. I also know when I get my veggies and fruits in, my candy & chip cravings disappear. Any advice? Is it time for therapy? FYI, Kaiser my provider has horrible non existent opportunities for therapy, the wait list is 4-8 months to get in to see one. Maybe a weekly support group would help? Mark -worried