The Greater Fool

Let's get specific about your dumping. I am one of the lucky ones that dump on both sugars and fats, so I may be able to offer some help. We need to get into specifics because not everyone understands exactly what dumping actually is. How often do you dump? If it's responsible for the majority of your weight loss as you claim then you would be dumping pretty frequently. If it is actually dumping you wouldn't likely be dumping enough to impact weight loss. What actual foods cause you to dump? In what quantities? How soon after you eat do your symptoms appear? What are the symptoms? Good luck, Tek

When I was binge running my resting rate was at 40. The only time this was an issue is after my tummy-tuck (which happened to be the day after my 5th marathon) where a newly discovered (because of this event) bleeding issue caused me to bleed out on the table. They gave me 7 units of blood and revived me, fortunately. Ultimately my low heart rate saved my life. The annoying issue was post-op because the low rate kept causing a code where they rushed in with a crash cart to "rescue" me, which was unnecessary. After about the 5th episode the surgeon just removed the heart monitor.

I have never counted calories. Nor grams of protein, carbs, or whatever. I did weigh my food for the first month or so. After that I just eye-balled everything. Vacations aren't really all that different, though I make a few choices I wouldn't make at home. Even eating out I eat appropriate choices and portions. I don't really care about leaving food on the plate. I didn't have WLS to spend the rest of my life on a diet. Good luck, Tek

A watched pot never boils. Good luck, Tek

I have a few regrets, none of which have anything to do with my Gastric Bypass. Good luck, Tek

No.

Look a bit lower. Good luck, Tek

Skin removal is not always "cosmetic." For me, it was "reconstructive." Certain things make it reconstructive. first, a panus that overhangs the pubic area, back-pain, documented constant or repeating infections under the panus. My "reconstructive" tummy-tuck was totally covered by insurance. My thighs were approve as "reconstructive" for many of the same reasons. Rashes between the legs were additional reasons for "reconstructive." I didn't follow through on this because of a newly discovered clotting issue that killed me during the tummy-tuck. Keep in mind and prove "reconstructive" and insurance coverage is a new game. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations on your success. Yep, the extra energy is a boon! Enjoy it. Good luck, Tek

Your surgeon needs to get out more. Good luck, Tek

I don't really look at the clock when I eat but I'm not eating nearly as quickly as anyone around me. I do sip as necessary during meals. Again, I don't look at the clock when deciding to decide when I drink before or after meals, but I'd say I would generally be rule compliant if someone had a stopwatch running. Good luck, Tek

I still follow my plan but I call it 'normal' now. Most restrictions I have are because of dumping on sugars and fats so I monitor those pretty carefully. If I am in a group eating, either I or my spouse have to be careful of what and how I eat because I forget to pay attention, which is why I don't often eat in groups. But I'm not a big fan of people so not being in groups is always a goal Good luck, Tek

During the first couple years, I weighed at monthly follow-ups. This was less by choice as I couldn't fit on home scales. When I got to where I could weigh on a home scale, I did that every time I saw the scale for a couple weeks because of the novelty, then went back to only at monthly follow-ups. When the monthly follow-ups ended I only weighed at my annual physicals. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations on your successes. I hope the kidney situation goes well. As to the panniculectomy, you gotta do what you gotta do. Good luck, Tek

For the first couple years I only weighed at my follow-up appointments. This was less a choice than it was bowing to reality since I didn't fit on home scales. When I could fit on a home scale I weighed whenever I saw a scale for a couple weeks just for the novelty of being able to. After a couple weeks the novelty wore off. I returned to just weighing at monthly follow-ups. Once I stopped the monthly follow-ups I just weighed at medical appointments which pretty quickly became my annual physicals. I don't weigh at home. Good luck, Tek

To repeat again, only about 30% of Gastric Bypass patients dump to any degree. Back when I had surgery 50% was the quoted rate, but back then the bypasses were a bit more distal which would make dumping more likely. I am one of the few, the proud, the dumpers! I dump on sugar and fats. Less so on fats. Not enough to dump on cheese, thank goodness. I am glad I dump as it takes sugar off my menu when otherwise I would abuse the crap out of it. While dumping sounds horrible, it's not quite as bad as it sounds. I don't often dump these days as I have a good sense of how much sugar I can consume when. When I am fatigued, stressed, sick, or in other ways out of sorts I dump easier, so at such times I try to be extra careful, but still misjudge and it get's me. When I'm in public I don't do sugars at all, though I don't do them much anyhow. I asked my surgeon for a little extra bypass, a little extra restriction, and dumping. 18+ years later I still dump, my restriction is still in place. I have no clue on the extra bypass. I have dumped on fruit but rarely. My first dumping episode, at about 3 months post-op, was orange juice. Good luck, Tek

I'm sorry you are having difficulty. It may take a bit more time to settle into a workable routine. You are still a bit new at this thing. Hang in there. Good luck, Tek

When I'm hungry I eat. I eat to my plan which became my normal way of eating by about 6 months post-op. I eat my meals but rarely until I am full. Full is not comfortable so I try not to get there. The content of my meals are as they were 6 months post-op, but it's not as if I measure anything. I don't count calories or grams. I haven't done so since about 3 months post-op. All my choices and habits were built because of Gastric Bypass 18+ years ago, but it's the habits I pay attention to now, not the surgery then. When I am full it's because I am full. This is how full feels. I eat what and how I eat because it's what and how I eat. Ask a Non-op why they eat the way they do now. Ask them how full feels. Does it hurt? It's the way it is. For me the question was "Does eating ever feel normal again?" Yes. A new normal, but yes. Good luck, Tek

Slider foods are not directly linked to dumping foods. Dumping foods are easy to identify if you dump which I do. Sugars and fats are what can make me dump. Symptoms include palpitations, sweating, chills, fatigue, diarrhea. For me they also don't last that long, perhaps 30 minutes to 2 or 3 hours, usually an hour or two after eating / drinking the offending food. Dumping is not consistent in that I will be more likely to dump when I am fatigued, sick, or stressed. Even a change in medications can throw me off enough to make dumping easier. Dumping helped keep me on the straight and narrow. Candy, cookies, cakes, are just not appealing anymore. I can eat a bite if something does appeal, more than that and I risk dumping which is something not to be experienced eating out. Slider foods are as the name implies, foods that once you chew them just slide through easily making it easier to eat more and more. These types of foods were very much discouraged as they were generally empty nutritionally. Slider foods are dangerous as their nature is eating more and more. It's like the Lay's tag line "You can never eat just one... bag." and eating more and more of anything was contrary to what I was trying to achieve. Since slider foods are easy to eat and eat they can be a trap. I can't say I avoid slider foods completely, but I generally avoid them because I don't need them getting in my head. @Tomo you are indeed dumping on cereal. I also dump on cereal to about the same degree, so I generally avoid it. Good luck, Tek

If you've accepted the risk then you wouldn't be prepared to beat yourself up for making a decision that resulted, completely out of your control, in a less than positive outcome. Accepting the risk means making the best of any result. I don't think you realize it but you are loaded with conflict, the result of which is you can't win: "I have been blessed with good health, despite obesity" except: "I want to get healthier, " and "I want to be able to exercise without getting so winded," and " I had to run to catch a plane a few weeks ago and I just couldn't keep up with my family," and " I want to be able to roll over in bed without it causing earthquake motion", and " I would love to get off of my CPAP." Are you "healthy" or not? pick one. Then there is your selfish desire to "My husband and I go to Disney all the time and I would like to take them [the Grandkids]" You've talked yourself into a fine no-win scenario: You talk about surgical horror stories you've read that lead to death, stroke, being sick forever. Not unsurprisingly these are also major complications of morbid obesity. You can kick yourself for getting surgery and not getting surgery! Which path will you regret more? Trying and failing or not trying at all. My philosophy is that the path I choose will work out for the best. It's this philosophy or living in regret. Good luck, Tek

I researched WLS pretty thoroughly pre-op. I do my vacillating in the research phase of the process. I researched every horror story during the research phase. Once I decided I was going to have Gastric Bypass I never had a doubt after that. I definitely was a higher risk patient. I was 6'4", early 40s, had about 1/4 ton excess weight. This was the best decision I've ever made. Good luck, Tek

The often sited NSAIDs prohibition generally applies only to Gastric Bypass patients. VSG patients still effectively have a normally functioning stomach with a normally functioning pyloric valve, so NSAIDS are no more an issue for VSG patients than non-ops. There is a school of thought that NSAIDs are best avoided by everyone. Cream aspirin generally doesn't contribute to the issues created by swallowing NSAIDS for anyone. Now I had Gastric Bypass and my Doc has no issue with me taking NSAIDs as long as I paid attention to possible side effects, as anyone taking anything should do. Most folks claim Acetaminophen is okeydokey to take while my personal medical issues prevent me from even looking at them. Long and short of it is we should pay attention to what our Docs say about our personal medical situations. Since we're here, Gastric Bypass folks may have issues with certain time-released medications. It depends on the time-release mechanism, where the meds are absorbed, and other things that seems to vary by person. Again, we need to pay attention to how the medications appear to work. Talk to your medical team. I'd wager dollars to doughnuts you are in the clear. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations on your milestone. Good luck, Tek

By 2 months I was almost able to consistently eat to plan, which was 3 meals per day consisting of 3oz protein + 1oz veggies. I have no clue on calories then or now. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations on following through on your rational assessment on what's best for you. If it's not a bother could you link the study, please? Good luck, Tek