MaybeMeow

Carbamazepine (a.k.a Tegretol). It reacts to sooooo many meds so if they do prescribe it to you make sure you look up every medication you take and any new ones you add. It makes you tired if you take a higher dose of it. It's an anticonvulant just like Gabapenten, but while taking it they have to monitor your Tegretol levels because it can cause issues if your levels are too high. If I have a flair I can take up to 900mg a day, anymore than that and my levels get too high. It comes in both chewable and capsule form, but chewable is best because it works faster. I've taken it on and off for almost four years so I know the ins and outs of it lol. When my flairs were at there worst I also used to take it with baclofen and they work soooo well together!

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.

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.

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!

Since I’m doing a self-pay surgery, my pre-op journey is a bit different. I scheduled my surgery in early April and pretty much used the next 5 weeks as a food funeral lol. I ate every favorite food of mine under the sun! pizza, cheesecake, cheesesteaks, fried chicken, mac & cheese etc. I ate everything that I knew I probably couldn’t touch for the next 6 or more months. My “last last” meal was chicken Parmesan w/Spaghetti and some cheesecake. My surgery is in 5 days, so I’ve been on my pre-op diet, which is liquid for 2 meals and one solid food meal-a-day diet for a week and a half now. I’ve definitely struggled with it, but I’m making it.

I’m self pay so the only requirement is the 10 day liver diet.
I think quarantine has hit me hard. I have 3 children home schooling and a full time job working from home. There’s a lot of traffic going around in my head at the moment.

Just posting an update. I had my endoscopy and CT scan, and everything was normal. What I've learned is that I have a severe reaction to the tannin in black tea. When I recently had a cold, I drank strong black tea every day. I became very nauseous during that time.
Apparently, tannin in large amounts can cause nausea, vomiting, and irritation of the stomach lining. I was only having two cups of black tea a day, but apparently my post-WLS stomach could not tolerate it.
My dietitian said she had not seen this reaction before in any of her clients. But I wanted to let people know about this in case you are likewise affected.

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.

Originally was scheduled for March 18th and now rescheduled for May 13th. Start my liquid diet tomorrow. Doctor was pleased with my weight loss of 17 lbs. so allowed me to do one week instead of two on the liquid diet.

I’m just over a year out from bypass surgery and I feel stronger and more alive than I have in years! My BMI is down to 26 from a high of 47. I’ve taken my Vitamins as directed along with following my surgeon’s program and all my recent labs came back great. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner. Before I sound too much like a commercial for bypass, I have to say that there were times when it was HARD but any struggle that I’ve had so far is still definitely worth it to me. Talk to your surgeon and the doctor who takes care of your facial nerve pain about alternatives to using Motrin as that will no longer be an option after bypass. Best of luck to you as you make your decision!

I think you're seeing/hearing a lot of outdated information or reading about very rare complications. Complications aren't much more common than they are with sleeve (in other words, they're not very common) and malabsorption-related issues are really rare as long as you keep on top of your Vitamins. You have to take vitamins with the sleeve, too (my surgeon has both types of patients on the same Vitamin regimen), so there's really no difference there, other than not taking them is more of a problem with bypass patients than it is with sleeve patients.
The ASBMS (American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons) as well as many surgeons now recommend that sleeve patients avoid NSAIDs as well (and there aren't many medications that bypass patients can't take - really just NSAIDs and extended release versions of drugs. There are other drugs that may require an adjustment of dosage, but none that I can think of that are "banned" for us)
Malnutrition issues are pretty rare with bypass unless you're not taking vitamins, as I mentioned above.
just like with sleeve patients, the vast majority of us have had no complications or only minor ones that are easily "fixable". You can read horror stories about both surgeries - and yes, there are people who have had major complications with both surgeries. But you can have major complications after a tonsillectomy - or a wisdom tooth extraction. But how often does that happen? Same with weight loss surgeries.
I've had no issues (I had bypass because I had GERD prior to surgery - and sleeve can make that worse (doesn't happen with everyone, but it IS a risk of the sleeve)). I've been very happy with it and would have it again in a heartbeat. I am 60 years old.

Several of the things that happened for me after bypass - GERD is gone. I had developed Barretts esophagitis with a precancerous Barretts polyp. All that is resolved now. (Polyp was removed of course), but all evidence of Barretts has now vanished. With the GERD gone, my asthma is also gone. I had no idea of the relationship between obesity and asthma. And my sleep apnea is gone - no more Cpap needed.
Prior to surgery I was taking Aleve twice a day for arthritic pain. I already had gotten one knee replacement and the other was in pretty bad shape, as well. I did not know a day without pain. Since bypass, I have not used any NSAIDS and I have NO PAIN. My knees, back, and hips do not hurt. Unbelievable. Adipose tissue releases all kinds of inflammatory cytokines and I was surprised at how quickly the inflammation and pain resolved. I was able to greatly increase my exercise and finished a triathlon just 8 months after surgery and a 50 mile bike race a month later. No NSAIDS needed! I am presently training for a 100 mile bike race, another tri, and a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon. More energy that I know what to do with.
As far as malabsorption goes, I do have fat malabsorption. It just goes right on through. My Vitamin levels are fine except for Vitamin D, so I am on extra doses to keep that up. From what I have read, the lower parts of the small intestine will eventually start taking on a more absorptive role, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out for me in the future.
Complications for me included some blood clots in my legs a week after surgery, even though I was walking within hours of surgery and was doing 10,000 steps by the end of the first week. It's just something that can happen with any surgery, especially in an obese patient. I also developed an ulcer about 6 months out. Both conditions easily treatable and resolved with medication.
I hope this offers some light on your specific concerns. I think the biggest thing is to have a positive mind set and realize that this surgery offers you a whole new life if you are willing to seize it. There will be ups and downs, and you have to focus on the ups and learn from the downs.

Really... hmmm i don't remember saying anything about politics,.... but i could be wrong (please remind me). I really have no memory of that... then again i take Ambien at night and do some crazy stuff. If i did, i'm not afraid of eating crow..... Now maybe i posted something about going hunting....
How can you give something to someone that you don't have? I've checked with a few of my family and friends who are RN's and a Dr..... asked what their thoughts and they all said the same thing.... It's getting blown out of portion. But, like with everything, everyone has an opinion... i have been blessed with a great immune system... Thank you God...

Not worried at all.... my feelings... this is all being over blown due to the Presidental race in Nov. They want the economy to tank so they can have a reason to say.... look how bad Trump is.
why did you stock up on Pasta, rice? why not stock up on fresh veggies and meats.... I use my vacuum sealer to keep things fresh.... I don't eat much, so i'm good.
This is another reason.... i love hunting... i have a freezer full of Deer
There is nothing stopping you from going outside and walking around.... turn on Netflix and do yoga... it cost nothing to walk/run in the neighborhood or at a park. Or you can do some cardio in your own back yard... take in some fresh air.

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.

Just got an email saying to expect delays in my pre op approval and prep program process. Trying not to feel selfishly bummed when I’m so ready to jump into this. Anyone hear of surgeries being postponed due to the growing seriousness of the pandemic? I imagine it’s inevitable.

Just got an email saying to expect delays in my pre op approval and prep program process. Trying not to feel selfishly bummed when I’m so ready to jump into this. Anyone hear of surgeries being postponed due to the growing seriousness of the pandemic? I imagine it’s inevitable.

Just got an email saying to expect delays in my pre op approval and prep program process. Trying not to feel selfishly bummed when I’m so ready to jump into this. Anyone hear of surgeries being postponed due to the growing seriousness of the pandemic? I imagine it’s inevitable.

Just got an email saying to expect delays in my pre op approval and prep program process. Trying not to feel selfishly bummed when I’m so ready to jump into this. Anyone hear of surgeries being postponed due to the growing seriousness of the pandemic? I imagine it’s inevitable.

Just got an email saying to expect delays in my pre op approval and prep program process. Trying not to feel selfishly bummed when I’m so ready to jump into this. Anyone hear of surgeries being postponed due to the growing seriousness of the pandemic? I imagine it’s inevitable.

Omg! HCG diet! I did that and they had us max out at 500 calories a day. And the stupid shots! For me, in a nutshell, I'll never be a lean Protein and one bite of broccoli person. BUT I am now a 1 taco (real taco not taco bell) makes me full and happy for hours. No cravings. No denying food groups. Before, I could eat many tacos before being full and happy. Or deny myself any tacos and think about them until I was ravenous and head hungry and stomach hungry. For me, the surgery gave me my brain back. I'm able to make much better choices. I find I automatically skip the carbs most of the time because I am loving the "guts" of the sandwich much more than the filler (bread) . So a tiny portion of what I love once in awhile re-set my mindset of either being super strict/ super glutinous. I had no in-between before and now I do.

Oh yes, I too did the hcg diet through physicians weight loss program and lost and then gained. That frustration is what made me look into surgery options. I had the sleeve 2 years ago in May . I feel that I East normal portions now. Not what I pre-op but a normal portion. For Breakfast my daughter took us out to eat, I comfortably ate 2 silver dollar sized multigrain pancakes, 2 egg whites and 1 turkey sausage link. I was still full at lunchtime, so didn’t eat. For dinner I had a piece of kielbasa and sauerkraut. I don’t feel deprived. I usually have coffee in the mornings. I drink Water or tea during the day. I am no longer losing weight so I’d probably have to make strict diet and exercise changes to lose more, but I’ve kept off what I’ve lost.

You ask a great question that most of us had to consider when deciding whether or not to have WLS. I did an Optifast program for 8 months that wrecked my metabolism (500 cals/day for 8 months, duh of course it messed me up.) But when I went to the medical literature, it was pretty clear that WLS gives people the best chance of maintaining a healthy weight, and most do. I didn't make this decision lightly, and I knew that I'd be committing to a healthy life from this point forward. Surgery has made that an easier process for me, and these forums have helped me troubleshoot my own personal challenges along the way. Ultimately, I was confident that I could lose weight doing any number of diets, but what I really wanted in the second half of my life was a tool to help me achieve and MAINTAIN a healthier weight. That is why I decided to have the gastric sleeve surgery. Best of luck to you!

I am NEVER hungry. I feel stuffed all the time. I eat a lot of plant based foods which are very filling and very nutritious. I never feel deprived. I would never have "the will to eat so little...forever." You don't have to! It's all about what kind of foods you eat. Honestly, I wake up and get on the scale every morning, just knowing I must have gained weight, since I ate so much the day before, but the gain doesn't happen. For example, today I have already eaten a bowl of cooked grain Cereal, with milk, raisins, gogi berries, and a sliced apple. Then I had at 1 1/2 cup of shepherd's pie for lunch, an orange, a kiwi, grapes, and a cup of cooked greens. Then two cups of raw veggies for munchies in the afternoon. (Red cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, red and greed pepper, radishes). Then a rice cake with Peanut Butter, and some nuts. That is BEFORE dinner. For dinner I will have a plate of General Tso's tofu over rice and stir fry vegetables. Later I will have popcorn and yogurt with berries, seeds, and granola. Does that sound like a little? It sure doesn't feel like it. I am eating better than I have in my entire life, and feeling great with 110 pounds gone.