MaybeMeow

I'm going to choose to trust and not question his decision. I just got a call saying they had a cancellation and my June 29th Surgery could be June 9th if I want it. I said yes without hesitating and now I'm freaking out a little. I know it's important to get my head in the game and I'm all the sudden 20 days short on time. EEEK!!

Ruth! How are you? Any news? Update us. Hope you're ok.

Got my date! June 29th! Doing Bypass after a lot of back and forth. Still room to switch to Sleeve if I change my mind but just spent an hour with my surgeon and he really sold me on the bypass. My BMI is 36 and my EGD looked good so he said it was my choice but he considered Bypass to be the Gold Standard. I worry about dumping and malabsorbtion but I struggle with GERD so... I hope it's the right decision. Now to find a protein drink I can tolerate. Glad to join this group. I'm keep this a secret from everyone except my husband so I look forward to finding the support I need here and to be some support in return. Onward! ~ Meow.

Hi NovaLuna. What is your TN med that helps your headaches? I've tried Gabapenten but it actually made my headaches worse. Would love insight.

I used to see it the same way you did until I spent some time researching how challenging it is to function after WLS. Weight Watchers and the treadmill is NOTHING compared to this. Now I see it as being the hardest thing I will ever do to try and cure my obesity. I hope I'm strong enough.

Hi Gang. I'm trying to decide between two surgeons. Each have pros and cons. One requires me to do 1 week pre-op liquid. The other said no need. I'm trying to decide whether this is a pro or a con. If you DIDN'T do a liquid diet can you describe your pre-op diet for me? Really appreciate it!

I totally get it. I'm with you. In the exact same situation. Self-pay. Eating, gaining, Everlasting food funeral, children+ covid+postponement disappointment. etc. Hoping to be re-scheduled in June. Will have a 1 week Liver diet. Trying desperately to find a protein drink I enjoy. Best of luck to you. Hope I can join this group!

Unfortunately, I'm the opposite. I'm waiting for my date and as a last hurrah I've started eating candy and soda when I use to avoid them. I didn't mean to. I bought a bag of rolos and heath bars thinking my surgery would be in April and I could enjoy them as a last supper. But then I was post poned. And stuck at home. As were my kiddos. Who have been feeling a great deal of loss. And so I purchased another bag and just recently a third. And we have them every day as "treats" for finishing work or cleaning their plate. Also... my family has had several zoom partys lately and instead of drinking wine like the other adults I bought a 6-pack of Sprite which was always a sometimes-treat. Rare. Couple times a year. Same story as the candy. Postponement. More Sprite. I think feeling sorry for myself postponement-wise has put me in this odd place as if I deserve to splurge. I need a surgery date to get it stopped. So... my long answer is my food funeral has been rolos, mini heath bars... and sprite with grape juice. The weight is piling on. I keep thinking maybe I'll be sick of it all by the time my date is set. I don't think I've ever just eaten everything I want. What an odd time to start. ((oof))

Superman84... What was the protein shake you liked?

https://www.maryruthorganics.com/pages/liquid-morning-multi-mary-ruth?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=essentials&fbclid=IwAR2RFMi-q9FoszYLAtpJS21n49cQxGfSsUgCY9rXf7GmI-lPgj6Ut9_JLt0 I thought these sounded fantastic if they are actually absorb-able. Anyone take it and had good blood test results?

Are there many BYPASS success stories? Smooth sailing?? I came to my surgeon-of-choice after 1 year of research (and setting money aside for out of pocket) asking for a SLEEVE. The surgeon agreed this would be the right procedure for me. However, after he performed my EGD, and discovered a Hiatal Hernia, he decided the Bypass was best for me. I left my appt that day saying I just wasn't sure I could move ahead. My extensive research was on the sleeve. I felt ready for that. Of course I've come across a lot of info on the Bypass. But the mal-absorption scares me. At 5' 5" and 215 I'm not morbidly obese. I understand there are risks with both surgeries. I understand, for many, the risks are worth the possible complications. Particularly those with serious co-morbities. I don't have any but I was moving ahead with the SLEEVE to prevent them. But the malnutrition that is common with the BYPASS... it worries me. I know taking vitamins helps. But it isn't the same as the absorption of healthy foods and medications. I've read many stories about people being lethargic, weak, always feeling sick to their stomachs, barely able to eat years later. My job requires me to be at the top of my game. I can take a months off but then I need to be back to full energy and a clear head. And what if you end up with a non-related serious illness that requires medication? What if you can't absorb that medication? Also, I suffer from nerve pain in the left side of my face and take motrin several days a week to relieve the pain. No more every day pain reliever? REALLY? (not sure I've ever used tylenol for pain). It just seems like those with a BYPASS have a much lower chance of long-term health than the sleeve. Thank you for letting me throw up my concerns. I'd love to hear some "had no problem" stories. Are they common?

Hi. I've been reading as many posts as I can for the last two months including this thread and I appreciate all of the insight and opinions. I just popped in to say after a GREAT DEAL of deliberation I have decided on the mini-gastric-bypass over the sleeve. The pros and cons equaled themselves. The final decision was made due to one important distinction. The MGB can be reversed. The Sleeve cannot. You can have surgery to go back to the way you were before WLS. This lightens the weight of "unknown complications causing a lifetime of misery" possibility. Just thought I'd share this.

Why don't you have a reversal? They do them. And if your test results support what you say then your insurance should cover it. I'm so sorry you're suffering. But there is help. I'm reading more and more about the reversals since I am researching Bypass.

PS: I'm still delayed in the Midwest. Was suppose to have an EGD on April 8th. Nurse said "Maybe first week in May". Will get my date after EGD. Was told many whose dates were canceled will go before me.

I noticed your says mini-bypass. My surgeon mentioned the same thing for me if my EGD shows I can't do a sleeve due to a hernia. Can you tell me how a "mini" differs from "standard bypass? Thanks!

In Kansas City... My EGD as part of my pre op testing was scheduled for April 8th and THAT was canceled. And this is at a Bariatric center. Message said "No need to call us back. We'll call you when we can reschedule." I was to receive my date after the EGD results gave the all clear. Oof. Sorry for all of us. Being sequestered would have been a great time to manage the early post op diet struggles.

I'm really struggling with the decision to move ahead with surgery or not. Here's what I don't understand. How are you not destroying your metabolism by only eating 750 calories a day? Will you never be able to eat regularly again for risk of packing on the pounds? I did the HCG diet years ago (it's terrible. Never ever do it) In a nutshell... you gave yourself a shot every day that kept your body from realizing that it was being starved and then ate about 750 calories a day while your body worked hard to function as usual. The weight dropped off. I lost quickly over about 3 months and then stopped the injections and slowly eased back into a regular diet of about 1500-1800 calories a day. AND THE WEIGHT JUMPED BACK ON so fast I was floored. I was eating a healthy, well balanced diet on the low end of daily intake for my height and weight and activity. But I gained a pound a day until I was 20 pounds heavier than I was before the diet. Explain to me how this forced starvation doesn't do the same thing? My stomach will stretch. We know it does because we are told we can slowly eat more over time. Won't my metabolism think I've starving and halt? Am I really expected to only eat 800 calories a day for the rest of my life or expect to gain?? Thank you for sharing facts and experience.

I'm really struggling with the decision to move ahead with surgery or not. Here's what I don't understand. How are you not destroying your metabolism by only eating 750 calories a day? Will you never be able to eat regularly again for risk of packing on the pounds? I did the HCG diet years ago (it's terrible. Never ever do it) In a nutshell... you gave yourself a shot every day that kept your body from realizing that it was being starved and then ate about 750 calories a day while your body worked hard to function as usual. The weight dropped off. I lost quickly over about 3 months and then stopped the injections and slowly eased back into a regular diet of about 1500-1800 calories a day. AND THE WEIGHT JUMPED BACK ON so fast I was floored. I was eating a healthy, well balanced diet on the low end of daily intake for my height and weight and activity. But I gained a pound a day until I was 20 pounds heavier than I was before the diet. Explain to me how this forced starvation doesn't do the same thing? My stomach will stretch. We know it does because we are told we can slowly eat more over time. Won't my metabolism think I've starving and halt? Am I really expected to only eat 800 calories a day for the rest of my life or expect to gain?? Thank you for sharing facts and experience.

Thank you for these responses. Truly. I’m asking myself (and others like you who have been through this) these tough questions because like most, I assume, I have doubts about maintaining. I’m not sure I have the will to eat so little... forever. I absolutely admire those who do. But I find myself wondering if they are simply more disciplined than I am. I’m going to do some more reading about how the surgery “resets” metabolism. Easy to say but what does it really mean and how does this happen? While I understand the removal of the part of the stomach that creates a hunger hormone I’m not sure how it’s all reset for the better since you immediately move forward by eating so little and it seems hunger does eventually return. Yes, I will be talking to my surgeon and dietician. As a matter of fact my husband is an excellent internal medicine doc so I have the “ medical” resources handy. I also know their insight can’t compare to those who have lived it. So thank you so much. incidentally, on the HCG diet forum 10 years ago everyone thought it all worked so well and was a huge gift, reset etc too. Now it’s been recognized as a significant detriment to long term heath. So I’m determined to make sure long term living in the real world is possible. Is anyone here 10 years out and successful? Again, thank you greatly!

I appreciate your response and the link. It says right in this document... “ most post-op bariatric patients need to consume less than 1000 calories a day in order to maintain weight loss.” 1000 calories a day is a starvation diet Not a maintenance diet. This troubles me greatly. How can this be healthy long term? Meaning live to be 90 long term? Thank you for going to bat with me on this. I’m really having trouble with seeing how this is a forever option.

I am considering the sleeve. But it's important to me that my 11 year old does not know. I'm not wanting to debate my reasons on why I'd rather keep it a secret from her but it has me thinking about privacy. Do you keep it a secret? How? Is it possible? Obviously it's no one's business but my own. I will have my husband's support. But for those who have managed to keep it quiet from loved ones... how have you made that work? What might keep me from being able to do so? Thank you!!