S@ssen@ch

I feel for ya. I'm sort of in the same boat. My weight loss has largely flatlined in the last year with a pound or so lost here/there. Then with COVID stay at home orders, I got a little lax. Maybe too much snacking. Maybe too many sweets/bread/etc. Gained 7 lbs. When I saw that on the scale I was shocked and ashamed. So, last week I just went back to basics. Focus on protein, low carb, etc. I started logging my food again. But the biggest thing was that I realized if I didn't start the day out right, I had trouble controlling my cravings. So, instead of my usual breakfast routine, I started doing protein shakes. These seem to keep me satisfied until well after my normal lunchtime and no snacking/cravings! So far, I've lost 2 of those pounds! My advice: go back to basics. Do what you did during your early weight loss phase. I considered a "pouch reset" diet but didn't think I needed to go that drastic. If these 2 lbs hadn't come off in the last week, my next step would have been to buckle down and do that.

The question here is not whether you CAN drink carbonated beverages, it's whether you SHOULD. I am more than 2 years out and over that time, have had maybe 2 sips of soda-fountain rootbeer, which is a little flatter than the canned variety. I could and had no issue with it. However, as someone stated above when re-introducing carbonated beverages into your diet you run the risk of drinking a lot of calories. Even if you drink the sugar-free variety, there are studies that have shown artificial sweeteners, including and especially sugar-free beverages lead to craving more sugar and carbohydrates. I don't drink them and I don't miss them. It's about making good choices for YOU and considering what you put in your body as FUEL, not for pleasure or because you're bored.

In the first few months after surgery, I would get terrible nausea every time I took my vitamins. It didn't seem to matter how or when I took them. I experimented with different brands and different types (fortunately, my doctor sent me home with a bag full of different vitamins. I couldn't do the patches because I developed a sensitivity to the adhesive. I tried whole vitamins, chewables, and soft-chews. The only thing that worked for me was VitaSource gummies taken with the evening meal. Today, I'm back on a standard One-A-Day horse-pill type, but I still take it with my evening meal. No problems. My advice, experiment with different brands, types, and timing of your vitamins. You need to find out what works for you.

I never had to crush my pills. I was taking regular pain pills in the hospital which were about the size of a Tylenol "caplet". I did NOT take my regular "horse-pill-sized" multivitamin or calcium for at least 6 months. Not because my doctor told me not to, but for peace of mind. Instead, I did chewables.

That's great! What an inspiration!

@Rose57 Not only are you going to get 100 different answers, but YOUR tastes may change pre and post-op. For example, I really liked the Premier Protein ready-to-drink shakes before surgery. They tasted good and they were convenient. After surgery, I just couldn't tolerate them. They were too sweet and the texture seemed a little too thick and slimy for me. I was fortunate enough to receive several samples after surgery. I liked the Bariatric Advantage, but my favorite by far is Unjury. I keep several canisters in my pantry as staples and ALWAYS have some unflavored on hand. I also liked that Unjury had savory flavors. Not a fan of the Santa Fe Chili, but the Chicken Soup is very good (high in sodium).

Suzi, I also took a lot of vitamins/supplements before surgery (still do). I find that my ability to tolerate these changed over time, likely part of the stomach healing. For the first 2 or 3 weeks after surgery, I focused solely on getting my fluids and protein in and did NOT take my usual cocktail of vitamins/supplements. There just wasn't much room. BTW: my doctor also told me not to worry about taking vitamins for the first month. After the 2nd week, I started trying out chewable or soft-chew type vitamins. My doctor was kind enough to send home a large sample bag with several types and brands. My vitamin trial/error took me almost 2 months. Not because I couldn't swallow them or choked or they caused pain or anything. I found that I got sick with some of them: nausea, headache, general sick feeling. I experimented with different brands, methods (chewable/swallow whole/gummies), and different times of the day, with or without a meal. I finally settled on VitaFusion gummies, taken with my evening meal. You might need to experiment as I did to find what works for YOU. By the time I figured out my multivitamin situation, I started introducing my usual supplements. Experimenting with chewables/gummies where I could. Long story short, at about 6 months out, I could tolerate all of my usual supplements no matter what size they were. I might not be able to take them all at once but I could take them. Today, I split my supplements to morning and evening doses.

Always consult your doctor. As NovaLuna said above, some medications should not be crushed. I'd also add that every doctor seems to have their own standard on this issue. I was taking whole pills (about the size of an M&M) while still in the hospital. They gave me a prescription for pain medications and the med was a "caplet", an oblong tablet slightly larger than an M&M. I specifically asked if this was safe and they said it was OK. That being said, I did have chewable children's Tylenol on hand, just for peace-of-mind.

My surgery was scheduled about a month after I completed all the insurance requirements and likely BEFORE they actually sent for the insurance approval. I asked them about it because it made me a little nervous to be scheduled before we had approval, but they said they were THAT confident I would be approved. Of course, they made no promises, but since it hadn't been their first rodeo on it, I trusted their judgment. The actual approval came in about a week before my surgery.

I had surgery on a Tuesday and flew home on a Thursday. The bumping/bustling of the plan was a little uncomfortable, but otherwise I had no trouble.

Tastes vary on this and be aware that your tastes may change after surgery. I liked the Premier ready to drink shakes before surgery, but couldn't tolerate them afterwards. They were too sweet for me and the texture of them was just too thick and slimy. My favorite is Unjury. As catwoman7 said above, they're only available through their website, but totally worth the minor inconvenience. They also have ready to drink. I think I got one or 2 in a combo pack or even as a sample and liked them much more than the Premier. Unjury also makes savory flavors, which I really appreciated because I got very tired of the sweetness.

I think the phrase "go away" is a little of a misnomer. Our bodies adjust to whatever circumstances it is presented with. In the case of bypass, the GI tract has been re-routed to intentionally result in malabsorption. After a while, the body adjusts a bit to it and will learn more efficient ways to absorb nutrients. That's not to say you don't have some malabsorption forever and it's not like it re-grows your intestinal tract or anything, it's just become a little more efficient at getting what it needs. The body is amazing at overcoming deficiencies like that. It's not quick at it, but it happens. You've heard of the "honeymoon" period of WLS? That's kind of the theory.

Why would the removal of a part of your stomach (soft tissue) result in fractures or bulging discs? Bulging discs can be caused by a natural degeneration of your spine, which we are all subject to as humans, OR a trauma. Same thing with a fracture. Unless you have pathological bone disease or severe osteoporosis, your bones aren't going to fracture without some sort of force. That being said, sometimes I get a little unexplained pain in the left upper quadrant where my whole stomach used to be. I chalk it up to scar tissue adjusting. It's short-lived and not significant enough for me to even ask my doctor about it. if your pain is severe and/or unrelenting, contact your doctor.

I could SO relate to this post. I originally had the lap band because I didn't want my anatomy permanently altered. After my band slipped in 2009, I lived without it and maintained most of my weight loss. In 2014, I had some major stresses in my life and I reverted back to some really bad habits. As a result, I gained all of my weight back. It took me another 2 years to reconcile with the fact I needed help and I may need to have parts me permanently changed or removed. It's a process. You'll be ready at your own pace. I CAN answer the 3rd question: Most insurance plans allow the surgical removal of a defective implantable device (aka the lap band). I'm not sure what you mean by the "I have 2 more years before the ins will cover." Never heard of such a thing in the case of removing an implant. Talk with your surgeon, they have people in their office who do nothing but handle the insurance claims and they usually know their stuff. Depending on your insurance and your circumstances, you may be able to have the band out and have a conversion to sleeve/bypass in one surgery. It's more cost-effective for the insurance and unless you have medical contraindications that would make the dual surgery unsafe, you should be good. Again, consult your surgeon and the office.

@gerdzilla I haven't been revised sleeve to bypass, but I have the experience of revision lap band to sleeve. I maintained my weight for about 5 years after I had my lap band out due to complications. Then life threw me some curveballs and I returned to some bad behaviors. I gained ALL of my weight back. It took me another 2 years to decide that I needed help and got the sleeve. My weight loss was much slower the 2nd time around, but I have lost as much as I did with the band and am about where I did when I stopped with the band. Could I lose more? Sure, but I'm actually very happy where I am right now and don't stress it too much. My sleeve will still be there when I'm ready to focus on it again. Regarding hair loss, this is not specific to a type of surgery. It is the body's response to a stressful event or change. See: Telogen Effluvium https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/telogen-effluvium-a-to-z

I don't find compression socks hot. They're kind of like knee-high Spanks, so they're not thick like athletic socks. I have several pairs of compression socks designed for runners and nurses. I still wear them regularly because I work at a computer all day and if I don't get up and walk frequently enough my ankles swell.

I had VSG on a Tuesday and flew home on a Thursday. I started out feeling fine, maybe a little sore, but fine. I had a friend with me to handle the bags and we checked our bags. I walked wherever I needed, slowly but I walked. Being jostled on the plane and the change in air pressure were probably the most miserable things. I felt EVERY jolt the plane made and I felt increased pressure in my abdomen. Would I do it again? Probably, but here's what I'd do differently: I'd make sure I had pain medications. My doctor gave me a prescription, but I had no opportunity to fill it from the hospital to the airport. I think Tylenol would have helped, but I had NOTHING. I'd have my own blanket for the plane. I was FREEZING and really just needed something to give me comfort on that plane ride. Things I did and that I wouldn't change: Wear comfy, elastic-waist clothing. These were a godsend since my belly was tender. Also made bathroom breaks a breeze. Wear my compression socks. Not only were these comfy, but they provided me with the peace-of-mind about possibly developing a blood clot. Wear easy to slip on/off shoes. Good for TSA security check. Upgrade to 1st class. The seats are larger and I had more foot room, so I didn't feel cramped in the seat at all. Only downside (and I'm not sure it matters with the COVID restrictions), the flight attendant kept trying to give me drinks and food!

Well, from my experience, developing or worsening GERD after the sleeve is on a case-by-case basis. While there are some studies out there that indicate GERD suffers have a higher incidence of GERD or worsening GERD after the sleeve, there are similar studies showing the risk of developing or worsening GERD is negligible. A good friend and associate of mine had a lap band and got GERD so bad that she developed Barrett's esophagus. Her surgeon did a sleeve on her and her GERD is all but gone and the Barrett's resolved. Me, I also had a lap band and suffered from reflux the entire time (later I found that my band was slipped, but that's a whole other post). I DIDN'T have any signs of chronic reflux when I went to the SAME doctor but was warned that there are risks of GERD. Cutting to the chase, we decided that the risk was minimal and I had the sleeve. About a month or so after surgery, I started getting heartburn. This heartburn was easily remedied by PPIs. However, I still suffer from flare-ups of esophagitis (long term inflammation from GERD) and take Carafate. I also practice A LOT of lifestyle modifications to reduce my symptoms. Currently, my GI doc and I are investigating long term management. He mentioned the LINX system, but I don't want anything implanted in my body (I didn't have a good response to the lap band and its components). SO...there's another procedure that uses radio waves to thicken the lower esophageal sphincter. It's called STRETTA. I'm planning on doing the Stretta procedure. My insurance has denied and I've exhausted my appeals. Right before the COVID-19 crisis started, we were in discussions for cash payment. So, we're on hold right now. My symptoms are actually pretty good right now, so it's not urgent or anything. BUT, I don't want to be on PPIs for the rest of my life and I'm DARN TIRED of sleeping on a 12-inch wedge.

The length of time, consult through surgery, is largely dependent on your insurance carrier. Your doctor's office can affect it, but the insurance plan may require a 6 month (maybe more) monitored diet. They may also have a history of back-logging or slowing down processes for elective procedures. For me, my initial consult was in September 2017 and I had the surgery April 2018.

I've never had much luck with suppositories. They can be a challenge to insert and it's relatively common to accidentally insert it into impacted BM where it certainly won't work at all. Sorry for the graphic description. When I feel I need help, I take either Milk of Magnesia or a Dulcolax tab (depending on how quickly I need relief). MOM can help pretty quickly, whereas Dulcolax takes a few hours. Here's to going!

You say that you're ADDICTED to food and from your post, you're already plotting to be able to eat more than the surgery intends. So, my advice on this would be that you need to consider counseling for your addiction. This will NOT be resolved by mechanically removing a portion of your stomach. The addiction will always be there. So, while surgery will certainly help, especially at first, you need to take control of your addiction or you will not be successful over the long term.

I have all but stopped watching this show. I used to watch it to sort of inspire me and keep me on track, but I realized that I just could not watch these people doing some of the things they did. I'm sure that the show edited for drama, but I just couldn't keep watching them shove their faces full of food. I also had questions about Dr. Now's approach. Why would he wait until AFTER the procedure to get his patients into psychological counseling? It made no sense to me. I also thought he was rather judgemental and harsh, but at the same time, I think if he'd gotten them started in psychological counseling he could have avoided some of these mind games they play with each other. Rather than all these weight loss journey episodes, maybe he should blend in some "where are they now" episodes. I'd really like to know how successful his patients are in the long-term.

I second GreenTealael's advice. Whenever you get sudden, unexplained pain you probably should be checking with your medical team. Just a thought: When I went through lap band surgery, at about the 4-month mark I started having episodes of pain every time I ate. It didn't really matter much what I ate. I constantly had a sort of "sick" or acidic taste in my mouth. Long story short, they finally figured out that it was my gallbladder. I guess that because my pain was not in the typical location, they kept blowing me off and trying to blame it on something I did/something I ate. Either way, definitely contact your doctor and a side bit of advice, BE PERSISTENT.

I had my lap band out in 2009. I was just miserable with it, constant reflux issues. Felt immediately better having had it removed. It was probably one of the easiest surgeries I've ever had and I had no complications. I was a little terrified that I'd gain all my weight back but noticed that my portion sizes were still small. I kept up my general lap band-like practices and my weight held steady UNTIL life handed me a big bag of stress and change. As a result, I started stress eating. Over the course of a year and a half, I gained all of my weight back. Fortunately, those pounds didn't bring too many extra friends to the party. Long story short, I had the sleeve in 2017 and am happy with that decision. Moral of the story: there IS life after the lap band. If you stay the course and do not return to bad habits, you'll keep your weight off. Best of luck to you!

This ^ I have had episodes after I eat something unusually high in sugar. One of two things happens: either I feel TERRIBLE (a little nauseated, maybe a little cold sweats) and need to lie down or me and the become pals! You learn really quickly to go easy on the sugar/sweets. Other than that, I can't say as I have any foods that I cannot eat or that my body rejects.