The Greater Fool

Everything is better with cheese. Extra cheese. Full fat, since I can't eat much of it anyhow. Also from, well, day 10. I couldn't eat much of anything before that. The dairy industry's stocks went down as a result. All things in moderation, including moderation. Good luck, Tek

As @summerseeker was told, 65% or so weight loss is about the average excess weight loss for Roux-en-Y (RNY). Personally, I find such averages to be next to useless. I'm not average. Heck, it's axiomatic that the average person is not average. At any rate, what to expect. My plan is forever. From day 1 post-op I was intent that I would never be on a weight loss diet ever again. My plan is foods I enjoy that fit my life goals. No crash diets. No counting calories, carbs, or whatever. No weighing myself at home. Working out is one of those things everyone agrees needs to be done which I didn't do. Ever. There is nothing like exercising for it's own sake. No thanks. I did do a lot of walking, what my spouse and I call 'people watching.' When I got down to about 100 pounds overweight I challenged myself to run 5K. I did a plan similar to "Couch to 5K" (C25K). When I got to 5k I realized I enjoyed it, so I kept doing it. I started binge running. Running was a time just for me, that I could contemplate the coming day and listen to audiobooks. A great start or end to a day. Long story short, I ended up running 5 marathons. That is something I never thought I'd do. I got to run across the Golden Gate Bridge. Extra skin for me was inevitable. My deflated stomach hung way down. To a lesser extent all the places one would expect extra skin I had it. I started with an Abdominoplasty, after which a bleeding disorder almost killed me. No more elective surgeries for me. So I've had to get used to things as they are. Not the end of the world. What life is like now. I've been my current weight for about 17 years which is a weight loss of a bit over 500 pounds. I am still happily eating to plan. Some of the things I wanted to do after I lost weight I didn't end up doing. Other things I never thought about I thoroughly enjoy. Mostly, things just got easier. Good luck, Tek

Where are you on your plan? Are you still doing the protein first thing. What does your eating look like? For you, what is dumping? What specific symptoms? What foods cause it? Are you able to connect your other symptoms (nausea, dehydration, diarrhea) with specific foods, drinks or other activities? On the dehydration, is this in spite of getting appropriate levels of fluids? What levels are those for you? Have your doctors done blood work? Was there anything of note? I've had on and off anemia and nausea that I can connect to specific mental issues and resultant behaviors which even though I am aware of the causes they still sometimes get away from me. For me, I Just have to push to do what I need to regardless of how much I don't want to when I'm going through a funk. I'm a big 'ol dumper on sugars and fats but fortunately I don't have much issue keeping those in check. I know for some people fats and sugars are go-to comfort foods that are tough to get control over, though not so much for me. I've reached out to therapy on a couple of occasions when I simply could not figure out the funk, which helped dramatically. Then the advice and coping skills I learned are always within reach. Keep focusing on the important stuff and let the nonsense look after itself. Good luck, Tek

All things are possible. Not all things are probable. Horror stories are least likely of all. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and focus to doing your best either way. I've only had Bypass so I can't address going from Sleeve to Bypass. But I am responding because I do have some of the issues you fear... I dump on both sugars and fats, and it doesn't take exceptionally large quantities to kick in. I actually wanted to dump so that sugars and fats wouldn't be things I could eat with impunity. I hoped dumping would put my body to work for me on this and I have to admit I'm very happy with the result. It took an amazingly few dumping episodes for me to change my habits. Throwing up is an entirely different beast than pre-op. The only time I throw up is when food get's stuck going down. Again, it took an amazingly few episodes of doing it wrong to learn to take my time and do it correctly. I can't recall the last time this was an actual issue. Once the food goes down, it's pretty much impossible for me to throw up. If my body insists on it, I just end up with dry heaving, which is less fun than it sounds. On balance things could be worse. Try not to borrow troubles from tomorrow. Good luck, Tek

One of the google sources said there have been only 4 documented cases of this syndrome. In another reference, doctors did scans and tests and examinations and found nothing, but when someone who knew what they were looking for, problems were discovered. This of course indicates that if your average doctors looked at it they probably wouldn't know if they were seeing it. Get a top of the line Gastroenterologist that is used to looking at rare things to take a look. Good luck, Tek

Then definitely don't get the sleeve. Ask him who would change it to RNY when the GERD get's worse, then go to that surgeon. Good luck, Tek

How is taking the easy way wrong? On almost anything else you would be harassed for NOT taking the easy way. Why is the hard way so much better? Because it will build character? Thanks but we have plenty of character from all the previous hard ways we've tried and failed. Over and over. WLS looks like the easy way because it works, and it works faster than most diets. Having said this, it's a waste of time arguing with people about the easy or hard ways, or whether or not you need surgery. They don't care about how you lose weight, they care that you want to. As I said in another thread recently and as others have pointed out already, you are changing the status quo. You are changing your relationships. Some may change for the better, others for the worse. Everyone is used to you as you are and WLS will change that. Things will change for better and worse. Or not. Everyone is different. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forum. As a tip, I would not put a time frame on your weight loss. It's an easy way to turn a success into a failure. I checked my history and I did not quite make 240 pounds in the first 12 months, though I ultimately lost 500+ eventually. Good luck, Tek

You are threatening the status quo. That can be very scary and can change existing safe relationships dramatically and not always for the best. Generally when people don't want you to improve yourself there is something in it for them for you to stay as you are. Maybe not. It will take some soul searching to discover the truth. Good luck, Tek

Restriction doesn't always wear off. I'm about 20 years post-op and my restriction is about the same as it was at about 6 months post-op. I honestly don't know if it's something my surgeon did, or I did, or just dumb luck. Keep the good habits, don't push your envelope, and continue to bask in your successes. Good luck, Tek

In addition to rashes, back-pain and added Lymphedema problems are additional issues where "reconstructive surgery" will address issues. You've done a bunch of scary things since you decided to start addressing your health issues by having Weight Loss Surgery. You just need to continue putting your health first and bravely continue advocating for your health. Your Doctors work for you and if they aren't doing the job find a new doctor that will. Good luck, Tek

I would advise you to get rid of the scale. I say this a lot and it's difficult to say it in new and interesting ways. Let's see... We don't need the scale to follow our plans. We can follow our plans to the letter and stall or even gain a pound or three, as is very common. In such a case it's easy to start considering "changing things up" to get the scale moving again. in the first several months we could completely abandon our plans and still lose weight. Looking at the scale will give many of us confirmation that we are doing well when in fact we aren't. Again, the scale is a poor guide. We should measure our success on how well we are following our plan. Are we feeling better? How is our mental attitude? Are health issues resolving? How about those clothes? Are you more active? Is it getting easier? There are all sorts of measures of success without a number on a scale. I was too large for a home scale so was only able to weigh in at monthly follow-ups. I'm confident I had stalls or even days where my weight was higher than the day before. I never actually experienced them. Every weigh in was lower than the month before. Never a temptation to "get the scale moving." You are at the beginning of this adventure. Focus on the things you can control. You can't control a number on a scale. Damn it, not new. Let's see if next time I can come up with a Hanzal and Gretel fairy tale where the witch is a scale... Good luck, Tek

Sure... blame the weight loss. Good luck, Tek

When submitting a post the site often goes into a forever nothingness and it's easy to figure it didn't work when in fact it did. One get's used to it. If it happens, just refresh the page and see if your post is there. Tiredness and lack of motivation can be a symptom of depression. It might help to talk to a professional. Or even a therapist. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. Let me try to hit everything in no particular order. Much of this is general stuff that may or may not be helpful to you, but may help others that read. Congratulations on your successes to date. Beer: Be very careful of transfer addiction, which is common when one coping mechanism, such as food, is taken away so we find another mechanism to replace it. Additionally, with a bypass alcohol is harder on the liver than with normies. Again, be careful. Muscle loss: Is very common and expected. Rapid weight loss such as we experience causes loss of fat, muscle, and in many cases organs (which is why rapid weight loss for too long is unhealthy). Additionally, it takes extra muscle to move our pre-op bodies around. As we lose weight we require less muscle to move less weight around. 6 meals: At a year out it's ok to make rational adjustments based on your experience and requirements. As an example, I'll share a personal anecdote: My plan is 3 meals a day of 3-4oz protein 1oz veggies. No protein drinks or snacks. This is my surgeon's hard and fast plan, period. At about 2 years post-op I decided to challenge myself to a 'Couch to 5K [C25K]' program that gets one to running 5K in 30 days. It turns out I enjoyed running so started binge running. As my miles per week increased my surgeon increased my meals to 4 per day. Then 5. Then 6. Then added a protein drink. I very much disliked 6 meals per day as I felt like I was always eating. When I stopped running it was back to 3 meals per day. Point of the story is there are times to make rational changes. In your situation, it may make sense to reduce your meals (and slightly increase meal size. Or if you want to stay close to where you are, 3 meals + 3 snacks. Or whatever works for you. I'd wager that the author of your plan would be on board with rational changes. Compliance: In the first several months patients will lose weight no matter what they eat or drink. Being compliant to your plan builds success with the positive reinforcement of losing weight. It's the new, healthy habits that keep you from regaining weight. Trying to start compliance when the weight loss stops too soon puts us into the same diet and fail cycle we lived pre-op, with the same results. Good luck, Tek

IMHO, you've made a good decision. Let me share a bit of my story to convince you to put the scale away... period. When I had surgery I was too large by far for a home scale. The only time I was weighed for about a year and a half after surgery was at my surgeon's office at monthly follow-ups. Because of this, I never saw a stall in my weight loss. At my follow-ups my weight loss was never the topic of discussion unless I brought it up. The discussion centered on how I was feeling, how my plan was going, life changes, how was I emotionally, any issues or concerns. I learned valuable lessons in these appointments. Eventually I was able to weigh on a home scale. I practically lived on the scale for a couple weeks until the novelty wore off, then I never used it again. I knew how I was doing by how I felt, my plan compliance, how my clothes felt, my health, happiness and a number of other considerations. These are still my measurements. We don't need a scale to follow our plans. The number on a scale does not tell you how well you are following your plan. In some cases, the number on the scale may tempt you to change your successful plan. It's great not being ruled by a number on a scale and simply paying attention to the important stuff. Good luck, Tek

I had my surgery when the internet was young. There were perhaps 2 or 3 main WLS message boards not unlike bariatric-pal, along with several 'blogging' sites where a few folks detailed their experiences, generally in text. I kept a journal form history from the moment I decided to have surgery until about 2 years post-op, which included appointments, milestones, and stuff I found interesting, then the next year was my running journal in much the same form. Though I wrote my entries in a form that was to be read, I never really intended to share them publicly, though eventually I did just that anonymously out there on the internet somewhere. My only caution is to remind you the internet is forever. There may come a day when you'd like to allow your WLS and weight issues to fade into the past. Be sure you don't reveal too much. Good luck, Tek

Pragmatically, I'd say you're about 5 days too late to change anything important. Since you've crossed the Rubicon you should just do your best to make it work. Positive attitude and all that. Good luck, Tek

What did your medical team say when you brought this up? It sounds quite problematic to me, but on hearing of your issues your medical team cleared you for the next phase, so what do I know. And I guess they agreed with you not moving on to your next phase? Good luck, Tek

What are these 'calories' of which you speak? I never counted calories, my plan was much simpler. Simple plan for a simple man. More seriously, I can't see how 400 calories for 3 months is anywhere near healthy. You need to do better. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations on your successes. Good luck, Tek

I'm just going to list things in no particular order: 1. When sharing weight loss numbers many folks count from their highest weight rather than from day of surgery, or whatever starting point yields the biggest number; 2. There are many, many variables that go into how much weight one might be expected lose post-op. Such as highest weight, how much weight was lost pre-op, starting weight, expected total weight loss, how much of your excess weight is fat vs muscle, how active you were pre-op, genetics, and on an on; 3. Most people will lose weight in the first few months no matter if they follow plan or not. This is why following plan now is so important. When you follow plan you get the positive reinforcement of losing weight. Those folks not following plan also get the reinforcement. In a few months when the weight gets harder or stops altogether, who is going to be able to stay on plan? For you who followed plan it's now a habit. For those that didn't follow plan, they are back to going on a new crash diet just like before surgery, with about as much success; 4. We each manage our meals in different ways. Personally, I don't eat until I am full because it's not a comfortable feeling. Early out it was tough to figure out. With time I learned to eat until I feel like the next bite will make me full. Not unlike your method for avoiding being full. Good luck, Tek

When I say nothing changed food-wise I mean nothing changed food-wise. From post-op Day 1 until now my plan has been 3 meals a day of 3-4 oz protein, 1-oz veggies, no snacks. The first 6 weeks it was pureed. I never got to completing a meal anywhere consistently until after about 2 months. Even now I only complete meals perhaps 60-70% of the time. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. I rarely press the 'I'm full' signal, even if it happens after 1 bite. Though sometimes if it happens so quickly, I'll wait a time them try again. Nothing changed food-wise. Good luck, Tek

What did the doctors say it was last time? I'd put my money on a back issue. Loss of weight put different stresses on the back, especially damaged areas. But, sadly, you need to see a doctor or two to get a diagnosis and a fix or other mitigation of the issue. Good luck, Tek

Eating or Drinking too quickly can cause the effect you perceive. So, why are you doing things you know you shouldn't? This may be something to explore in therapy. Good luck, Tek