Zom B

Wow! From what I'm reading from other posts dumping is a nightmare. I'm struggling with food getting caught in my throat. Do you regret getting the surgery? Right now I do. How much weight have you lost?

Hi
I've experienced bad dumping too. Never in a month of sundays did i imagine it to be as bad as it is! Trouble is, you'd think I'd have learned my lesson but one day eating say brown bread I'm ok, the next I'm in agony. There's no stead fast rules or patterns on my journey. To cap it all I've had no input from my dc or specialist nurse to help me along because of COVID.
I had my operation in March 20 and only now do i get a telephone appointment for october.....how can you be assessed or even checked over through a call. Aww well, I'm soldiering along and I've quite a few questions i would like answering.

I had the sleeve but I had it revised to the gastric bypass. I have gone 10 days once without having a bm. I don't have cramps I feel nothing like I don't have to go.

I've been torn replying to this.
First, be assured that every post-op has or will at some point test their surgery. The lucky ones feel like crap after. Are you feeling lucky?
Now, imagine how you'd feel if you DIDN'T feel like crap? This is rather the point.
Even now, 17 years post-op, I can't eat that much in a single sitting. I applaud your sticktoitiveness.
The question now becomes: What will you do with what you've learned?
A friend of mine wrote this back when. It's not directed at anyone, as most of us have gotten frustrated at some point. Leilani was not one to pull punches:
THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!!
By: Leilani
That's the sentiment (scenario) that comes to mind sometimes when I hear some of the comments from people who've already had the surgery. In case you haven't made the connection, that's a line Tom Hanks made famous in the movie "A League Of Their Own." Resorting to tears or just giving up every time the going gets tough. Or your sick of taking Vitamins, getting in Protein is hard, Water doesn't taste good, etc. That kinda' thinking is NOT going to make you successful or keep you healthy. ENOUGH already! It's time to LOVE yourself enough to get "TOUGH" with your aftercare. Your long term health is worth it!!
Success comes with a backbone, NOT a wishbone!
First and foremost, you have to keep it POSITIVE. As with everything in life, if you think you can't - you WON'T! Simple enough?
I have to wonder when "we" (as adults) finally take ownership for our actions, our life and our health? We have been given a gift, a second chance to actually LIVE life again instead of merely existing on the sidelines. It's up to each of us to do that as healthy and productively as possible.
We're ALL statistics waiting to happen and the insurance companies are chomping at the bit. The bean counters are eager to drop Weight Loss Surgery ("WLS") from the policies; some already have. Don't you know that any negative feedback thrown into the mix only strengthens their cause? I may not be able to control every thing that happens to my body after WLS, but most things I can. I CHOOSE to take control and I will be a positive statistic when the numbers get counted.
We live in a spoiled society, expecting everything in life to come with a buncha really cool choices. Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, you're not always going to get a choice. You either DO IT and stay healthy, or you DON'T and your body pays the price.
The way I saw it, I had a 90 day healing and adjusting period after surgery. My 'super morbidly obese' body had more then enough stores to survive the learning curve. In turn, it gave me plenty of time to heal, adjust and learn. For those of you OVER 90 day's Post-Op, the probation period is over - its time to get serious and LIVE what you've learned.
You say you can't get in enough liquids through out the day, don't like the taste of water, or just keep forgetting? -- TOUGH! It's not an option anymore. Find a way to do it, get suggestions and tips from others in support groups, message boards, etc. Read, learn and JUST DO IT!! Why do you think there is a choice here? You say you don't like the big horse pill type vitamins, or the tart chalky chewables? ...it's, just too many to bother with? Or maybe you just can't remember to take them? -- TOUGH! You gave up the option NOT to take vitamins when you agreed to have your insides rerouted. FIND a way to get them in; crushed, minced, chopped, liquified, in a shake, etc. No exceptions, your health depends on it. Protein is a must. So you can't get it all in via foods and you don't like the way the shakes taste? -- TOUGH! Either get it through your meals (and there are a gazillion food choices out there) or supplement it with Protein Shakes and bars. Trust me, I don't drink my Protein Shake every morning because I think it tastes like a chocolate blizzard from Dairy Queen. I've tried many varieties over the last 2 years. I'd even venture to say 25 of the top sellers/flavors have crossed my lips. For the record? I've yet to find one that is as 'delicious' as boasted by the distributor. So what. I still drink one every morning. My HEALTH dictates that I need "X" grams of protein per day. If I'm not getting enough from my meals then I supplement a shake. 'Nuff said.
This surgery is a gift, I owe it to me and everyone else fighting the approval process, to do it right! I will continue to choke down my vitamins, my water and my protein every single day, for the REST OF MY LIFE. Some days will be easier then others, regardless, no days will be missed.
It's all about discipline. Create a routine, set a timer, develop a pattern, tie a string around your finger, glue a note to your forehead, whatever it takes.
You're an adult - take responsibility! If this surgery doesn't slap a back bone into you, not much will.

My heart goes out to you, you WILL be able to find the strength to say no to these cravings. I found that in my pre-op phase practicing mindful eating helped answer questions about why I was craving specific foods, and helped me to figure out what I was actually craving. Most of the time it turned out I was just thirsty, and not hungry at all...

This may or may not be applicable your case, but just a thought: if u are using kidney Beans in your chilli, improperly cooked kidney beans are known to cause nausea/stomach aches/vomiting a couple hours after ingesting....the culprit is some sort of toxin or other that is only destroyed after proper cooking....

It was a one off situation. I was apparently sick, not eating much, so when I drank an overly sweet drink with my meds (that make me thirsty) everything just clobbered me.
As you likely know personally, we still learn new and exciting things to avoid.

“I would think that we all have pushed the limits at some point and lived to regret it. Don't be discouraged by the mistakes you make. You are awesome”

An awesome mindset! 💜🙌🏻

Hello. I am new here. 17 years post-op RNY.
I dump. There are two types of dumping, 'early stage' and 'late stage':
Early Stage I don't remember the effects because I don't do this much. For me, it only involves brow sweating, usually soon enough to cue me to stop eating. For me, not a big deal. Sorry, my memory isn't what it used to be.
Late Stage (for me) takes about an hour to start. I get lethargic, light headed, sleepy, and whole body flop sweaty. Then intestinal distress, then diarrhea. Recently, one of my meds also caused me to pass out and made every effect worse. All in all an exciting time I could and strive to live without.
After all this time I generally know my body's limits and go months and years between episodes. When it get's me is when I feel under the weather or haven't eaten well for days and I don't notice and adjust.
Hope this helps,
Tek

I hope it gets better too. It’s after midnight and I’ve had 5 incidents today. Something is wrong. Either meds or maybe my shakes or something. Purées is supposed to be easy and allow the body to heal.


it is a little like the flu. I get sweaty on my forehead, I can hear and feel stomach gurgles, sometimes gas but not always and then full body chills. The entire experience is like a roller coaster for my senses. It leaves me drained and weak.
I took at anti diarrheal finally and messaged my team. I can’t do this much longer. Day 9 or 10 straight. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I have the same concerns about work im thinking maybe preemptive med every morning

Down 65 pounds at 12 weeks post op

This is the first time posting any pics. I am a couple days shy of 2 mos post op. Down 46lbs.

This is me, 7 months post-op..79lbs lost

I remember being pre-op and my favorite thing to do was look at progress photos and dream
I am 6 months, 10 days post op and I am down 128 pounds total. This isnt a very great pic since I have been sick, but i still took it because anything is better than my before!!

I just had my revision from band to sleeve in July due to band slippage and weight gain over the past few years. I was in the same boat where I assumed that my insurance wouldn't cover it to the point that I initially was going to join the non-surgical weight loss program as I didn't think I could have another bariatric surgery. The PA I met with assured me that was not the case and that revision surgery is common and approval for them is not that hard to get.
The fact that your lapband is in complete failure due to the damage sustained to the port means it should be easy for your doctor to provide all of the documentation needed to your insurance provider that the revision is medically necessary. Most bariatric surgeons are going to know how to "dance" with the insurance companies in order to get the needed result for their patients.

sure...... Well the biggest one was the marriage. I was married for 26 years. I was blinded to what our relationship was really... It was about me being a pleaser and him being a taker. The fatter i got the worse i felt and less confidence i had.... the more control he got. I couldn't even buy underwear without his ok. Never physically abusive... but very mental. The more confidence i got... the less control and he hated it. He NEVER approved of my WLS. Now i know why. He never wanted me to lose weight period... Back then i didn't see, i thought if only i could lose weight he would love me and show me affection... NOPE it got worse. When he saw that he had no control over me losing weight.. he would start saying.... You know, you were prettier when you were fat, you have wrinkles now... or that i looked like a bag of bones... i could go on and on.
Lost my larger friends.... I didn't fit in with them anymore. They didn't want to hear about my weight loss or eating or going to the gym. Lost some of my thinner friends too.... after i lost weight i was no longer the "fat" girl in the group and they hated that people showed me attention.
But.... my true friends supported me when i was Banded. I still choose to keep the sleeve to myself this time. Just easier to not talk about it.

Everyone has already said the same thing I feel. I would like to add that it’s not only your husband and your mom by your side cheering you on. We truly are happy for you, we truly want to see you succeed, we truly are on your side for all the good and (hopefully no) bad and (hopefully no) ugly and wonderful things that are in store for you and will support you as if you were our friend or family. Your surgery is a tool, this forum is like the grease for that tool.. you have 100s of technicians who want to help you keep your tool working for you. Oh.... and your coworkers are a different kind of tool... :)
You got this.