Jacks133

You will hear all sorts of stories because none of us is exactly the same…. My daughter had her bypass 10 years ago and she can throw up - she also gets things lodged. It’s common to ‘foam’ first before retching. I had my bypass 8 years ago and I don’t get things lodged; I also couldn’t actually throw up for nearly 8 years, but would foam (that would be the first indication something hadn’t agreed with me) and then retch, but not bring anything up. After my first radiotherapy session for cancer (they blasted my whole abdomen) I came home and tried to eat something and threw up and retched for 3 hours until my family got hold of a nurse on the phone and she recommended flat Pepsi or coke…. Must be flat. It worked. It’s been my go-to drink ever since (Pepsi Max Cherry, completely flattened, with ice 😆). Since then I threw up medication also with the treatment, but not since.
The important thing is to know yourself. As I understand it the stomach, when it’s very small, is often not muscular enough to actually throw up, but now I know it can be done! 🙄 - not that I wish cancer treatment on anyone…
I’m sure you’re connected alright - you also know now that you can get clogged and chewing things properly is really important. I used to foam at the mouth and feel I was going to throw up every time I tried peas in the first year - I think because I didn’t chew them properly and they were rattling round like little bullets… 😜 x

Hope you’re starting to feel better now! Whilst I was still in hospital they made me thin Protein rich Soup - in this case Tomato and chorizo - no bits, of course - and that was SO tasty. I too could not tolerate thick shakes and I actually became a bit lactose intolerant after the surgery, which is not unheard of. It’s a long time ago for me and I can tell you that it DOES get better - you’ll get there, even though you fear you won’t. After I got home I used to have tiny bits of Protein Bars and dissolve them in my mouth until there was nothing left but taste and saliva, and then swallow… I really worked at getting protein in. You are a few weeks in to you new world now, and I hope things are better. My step-daughter had surgery YESTERDAY and she has all this to come! X

Only for the first weeks/months. I drink now immediately before eating - I’m Bypass 8 years on. I don’t drink while I’m eating because I don’t want to fill up on liquid. My daughter can, though, eat and drink at the same time. She’s 10 years out. To start with when my stomach was tiny I did the 30 minute before, 45 after thingy - then narrowed it to 15 mins before, and then eventually no delay after drinking. It depends on the size of your stomach…

Only for the first weeks/months. I drink now immediately before eating - I’m Bypass 8 years on. I don’t drink while I’m eating because I don’t want to fill up on liquid. My daughter can, though, eat and drink at the same time. She’s 10 years out. To start with when my stomach was tiny I did the 30 minute before, 45 after thingy - then narrowed it to 15 mins before, and then eventually no delay after drinking. It depends on the size of your stomach…

Lizonaplane,
My daughter may be atypical, but she is bipolar and had a RNY bypass over 10 years ago. She was on three meds; antidepressant, psychotic and anxiety. They tried crushing the tablets which made her throw up, so they changed her to Epilim as it was a liquid. Part of her weight gain had been the bipolar drugs. After her surgery she started to lose a lot of weight. Unknown to me, she weaned herself off the drugs, going cold turkey with the anti anxiety meds, because she started running. She found the endorphins from running made her feel good and moderated her condition. At her peak running she was doing 2 marathons per weekend many weeks. She is highly unusual as a Bypass patient in being able to do this! She injured her hip, and couldn’t run, so now she lifts weights. She was determined to take control of her life in every way. She has been drug free for years and is fit, healthy and active. I wanted to share because her psychiatrist at the time said the Bypass would not help her with her mental health, and refused to sanction the op. We paid a psychiatrist to assess her and they concluded she was sane enough to make her mind up. As a person who had previously attempted suicide on more than one occasion, she is an example of the positive outcome possible from gastric surgery. It saved her life, literally, and has given me my daughter back.
I wish you all the best.

I’m 64 now, and had RNY surgery 8 years ago when I was 56. My surgeon told us that you have a window of about 1 year to 18 months to lose the weight you want - thereafter the ghrelin levels in your stomach and gut (which are disrupted by the surgery) increase. Ghrelin is known as the ‘hunger hormone’ because (amongst other things it does) it triggers hunger. Shortly after RNY surgery you may feel hungry, but this soon passes and you have a ‘honeymoon’ period where you don’t, where you need to build up to a health and sustainable diet. The other thing is that your tiny pouch will stretch in time (the stomach acts as a muscle) and if you consistently eat too much you’ll get a bigger appetite back. It is unusual, but not unknown, for someone to put all the weight back on that they lost from RNY surgery. Of course, why do that to yourself? Probably because you have not sorted out an unhealthy relationship with food.
Another thing I was told was to exercise, to prevent muscle loss and encourage weight loss. To be honest I didn’t do enough of this. However, from BMI of 35.7 and weight of 190lb (at 5’ 1”) I dropped to my lowest weight of 105lb and BMI of 19.7 at 14 months after surgery. That was nearly half my bodyweight lost. I stayed at 112lbs or under until April 2015, when very, very slowly I put on a bit of weight over each year, I guess as my appetite and tolerance grew. By January 2021 I had been just under 140lb for 3 years, but wished I could be less. Then came cancer treatment and radiotherapy to my entire abdominal area. Left with nausea and no appetite at all, I gradually built back up to eating a healthy diet. I lost 16lb in a few weeks with sepsis in March, but after recovery have lost more through cutting back on carbs and walking every day, to get back to my prime 112lb - and this is where I want to stay!
It may be harder to lose weight after the menopause but the equation is still the same - too much food in and not enough energy out = slow inevitable weight gain; keeping to what you need (or slightly less) and more energy expended = slow loss. We have a wonderful tool to help us achieve this - which is very hard for an individual with a normal stomach. Plus we have absorption issues, and potential to suffer if we eat too much fat and sugar (especially at once). We can use this tool to achieve our goal, and use it alongside lifestyle changes to maintain it, whatever our age.
😊

I’m 1 year out and it was the best decision of my life. Give your body time to heal and adjust things will get better. Over time food will be more tolerable and you will feel better. Hang in there you already taken the leap now fly! 🦅

Like everyone has said so far, the "taking a sip every 5-10 minutes" thing only lasts for a few months. I am 5 years out and I can (if I'm really thirsty) chug a half a bottle of Water without getting uncomfortable. Anything more than that though and my stomach will feel overfull and bloated. It took years to be able to do this much but at 6 months out I was drinking pretty much normally.

I’m 64 now, and had RNY surgery 8 years ago when I was 56. My surgeon told us that you have a window of about 1 year to 18 months to lose the weight you want - thereafter the ghrelin levels in your stomach and gut (which are disrupted by the surgery) increase. Ghrelin is known as the ‘hunger hormone’ because (amongst other things it does) it triggers hunger. Shortly after RNY surgery you may feel hungry, but this soon passes and you have a ‘honeymoon’ period where you don’t, where you need to build up to a health and sustainable diet. The other thing is that your tiny pouch will stretch in time (the stomach acts as a muscle) and if you consistently eat too much you’ll get a bigger appetite back. It is unusual, but not unknown, for someone to put all the weight back on that they lost from RNY surgery. Of course, why do that to yourself? Probably because you have not sorted out an unhealthy relationship with food.
Another thing I was told was to exercise, to prevent muscle loss and encourage weight loss. To be honest I didn’t do enough of this. However, from BMI of 35.7 and weight of 190lb (at 5’ 1”) I dropped to my lowest weight of 105lb and BMI of 19.7 at 14 months after surgery. That was nearly half my bodyweight lost. I stayed at 112lbs or under until April 2015, when very, very slowly I put on a bit of weight over each year, I guess as my appetite and tolerance grew. By January 2021 I had been just under 140lb for 3 years, but wished I could be less. Then came cancer treatment and radiotherapy to my entire abdominal area. Left with nausea and no appetite at all, I gradually built back up to eating a healthy diet. I lost 16lb in a few weeks with sepsis in March, but after recovery have lost more through cutting back on carbs and walking every day, to get back to my prime 112lb - and this is where I want to stay!
It may be harder to lose weight after the menopause but the equation is still the same - too much food in and not enough energy out = slow inevitable weight gain; keeping to what you need (or slightly less) and more energy expended = slow loss. We have a wonderful tool to help us achieve this - which is very hard for an individual with a normal stomach. Plus we have absorption issues, and potential to suffer if we eat too much fat and sugar (especially at once). We can use this tool to achieve our goal, and use it alongside lifestyle changes to maintain it, whatever our age.
😊

I’m 64 now, and had RNY surgery 8 years ago when I was 56. My surgeon told us that you have a window of about 1 year to 18 months to lose the weight you want - thereafter the ghrelin levels in your stomach and gut (which are disrupted by the surgery) increase. Ghrelin is known as the ‘hunger hormone’ because (amongst other things it does) it triggers hunger. Shortly after RNY surgery you may feel hungry, but this soon passes and you have a ‘honeymoon’ period where you don’t, where you need to build up to a health and sustainable diet. The other thing is that your tiny pouch will stretch in time (the stomach acts as a muscle) and if you consistently eat too much you’ll get a bigger appetite back. It is unusual, but not unknown, for someone to put all the weight back on that they lost from RNY surgery. Of course, why do that to yourself? Probably because you have not sorted out an unhealthy relationship with food.
Another thing I was told was to exercise, to prevent muscle loss and encourage weight loss. To be honest I didn’t do enough of this. However, from BMI of 35.7 and weight of 190lb (at 5’ 1”) I dropped to my lowest weight of 105lb and BMI of 19.7 at 14 months after surgery. That was nearly half my bodyweight lost. I stayed at 112lbs or under until April 2015, when very, very slowly I put on a bit of weight over each year, I guess as my appetite and tolerance grew. By January 2021 I had been just under 140lb for 3 years, but wished I could be less. Then came cancer treatment and radiotherapy to my entire abdominal area. Left with nausea and no appetite at all, I gradually built back up to eating a healthy diet. I lost 16lb in a few weeks with sepsis in March, but after recovery have lost more through cutting back on carbs and walking every day, to get back to my prime 112lb - and this is where I want to stay!
It may be harder to lose weight after the menopause but the equation is still the same - too much food in and not enough energy out = slow inevitable weight gain; keeping to what you need (or slightly less) and more energy expended = slow loss. We have a wonderful tool to help us achieve this - which is very hard for an individual with a normal stomach. Plus we have absorption issues, and potential to suffer if we eat too much fat and sugar (especially at once). We can use this tool to achieve our goal, and use it alongside lifestyle changes to maintain it, whatever our age.
😊

Thank you for your lovely well wishes. I had ‘no evidence of disease’ in May after finishing treatment in February. My next scans are in November and I’m keeping positive. VERY important to flatten your Pepsi - your stomach cannot cope with carbonated liquid - and get the Max (no sugar) versions as otherwise the sugar will give you dumping syndrome as it will metabolise too quickly…. I have one bottle in the fridge (flattened) and another being flattened on the counter 😂. I keep squeezing and shaking, then letting the gas out. Once the gas lessens I drop a tiny lump of sugar in, and close the top not quite fully… If you do this too soon it will spill over - if you get it right it will de-fizz away nicely. Then when you think it’s flattened pour on ice, and that will finish it off… if you’re not sure stir it with a metal spoon. I keep a glass full in a shelf in the fridge so I’ve always got one ready 😜. I am a determined person.

Thank you so much for your thorough response and flat Pepsi max cherry tip. 😁 And... I am so sorry you had to go through all that. I hope you are healthy now, and will live a long life.

You will hear all sorts of stories because none of us is exactly the same…. My daughter had her bypass 10 years ago and she can throw up - she also gets things lodged. It’s common to ‘foam’ first before retching. I had my bypass 8 years ago and I don’t get things lodged; I also couldn’t actually throw up for nearly 8 years, but would foam (that would be the first indication something hadn’t agreed with me) and then retch, but not bring anything up. After my first radiotherapy session for cancer (they blasted my whole abdomen) I came home and tried to eat something and threw up and retched for 3 hours until my family got hold of a nurse on the phone and she recommended flat Pepsi or coke…. Must be flat. It worked. It’s been my go-to drink ever since (Pepsi Max Cherry, completely flattened, with ice 😆). Since then I threw up medication also with the treatment, but not since.
The important thing is to know yourself. As I understand it the stomach, when it’s very small, is often not muscular enough to actually throw up, but now I know it can be done! 🙄 - not that I wish cancer treatment on anyone…
I’m sure you’re connected alright - you also know now that you can get clogged and chewing things properly is really important. I used to foam at the mouth and feel I was going to throw up every time I tried peas in the first year - I think because I didn’t chew them properly and they were rattling round like little bullets… 😜 x

I lost over 200 lbs and had a TON of excess skin. I've since had it removed. It was easy to hide in clothes so no one knew it was there except for me and my husband, but I didn't like the way I looked naked or the way it slapped up against me when I exercised.
and no - it is NOT worse than weight loss. I would have taken that loose skin any day of the week over weighing almost 400 lbs again. ANY DAY.
here is a picture of me BEFORE I had the skin removed. Do you see it? Nope - easily hidden in the right clothes (long-ish slightly oversized shirt to cover the abdomenal skin, 3/4 length (or longer) sleeves to cover the batwing arms, and a very supportive bra).
and no, you are not too old. I am in my 60s.

Thank you, lizonaplane. I was required to eat a low fibre, high carb diet whilst on radiotherapy because of the affect on my stomach, but such a diet is counter indicative with the bypass and nausea and diarrhoea were my daily companions. But I’m through it, and hopefully for good. 👍🏼