Edge13

Just an update to close this out... It was/still is costochondritis, with a case of bronchitis that never really went away confusing the issue. Bronchitis is hopefully gone. 🤞🏾 Chest is still in pain, but on the mend. To be clear, this was an inflammation of the cartilage between my ribs, and it felt like acid, lung pain, and heart attack all in one. I'd never heard of costochondritis before this. Thanks guys!

Thank you both. It feels like we may be on the right path with an endoscopy.

I, 49 M, am over 2 years post RNY, and it has been a success story for the most part. Everything was going along fine, until just over a month ago, when all of a sudden I had severe reflux (first time since procedure), and it hasn't gone away. There's like a burning pain in my chest at times, feels like gas, right in the center at the point where the breastbone comes together. Had heart and lungs checked, and nothing abnormal was detected. It's not by any means crippling, but it is concerning. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Thank you.

My ideal BMI is 190 lbs. I'm at 240 lbs now. We have to realize regular exercise is part of our life now. I've actually gained about 5 lbs from my minimum, and still lost waist sizes in that time. No medical issues at all; dropped diabetes, apnea, etc. Waist under 40, stronger, more flexible, no more back pain, healed my neck pain, doctor is happy. I guess 190 is always the goal, but if I can stay healthy with no health issues, I'm good.

Imagine you're in an airplane, and it's heading straight towards a mountain. The mountain has many names; Mt. Diabetes, Mt. Depression, Mt. Sleep Apnea, Mt. Early Death, everything you mentioned. Time is running out, and it's getting bigger, and bigger in your windscreen... In a few weeks, it'll be two years post for me, and hindsight is so enlightening. I tried so many things, over so much time, and for so many reasons that mountain still kept getting closer. When it became unavoidable, I took evasive action, and had the procedure. It was like Top Gun man... the nose rotated up, fired the afterburners, and next thing I know, the mountain is below me, and I'm in clear skies, all those conditions gone, or handled. No one knows how it ends, but it feels damn good to be flying, instead of crashing. Bringing it back, right now that mountain might be all you see. It's scary, and it's intimidating, but you can absolutely overcome it. Congrats on starting the process again. Wishing you nothing but the best!

For some reason, and I don't know why, my parents kept my clothes from the early 90s. It's been fun wearing them again.

Walking was my main thing until they cleared me for normal routine. Then stretching. Then rowing. Then stability. Then core and back... LOTS of core and back! Then weights. Set goals, stay hydrated, wear earbuds, have fun. When you're able to, I can't stress the importance of stretching, and getting our core and back in order, enough. It makes every single thing so much easier.

My only advice with phentermine is to check your pulse throughout the day. Mine ran 115bpm when they had me on that. Saxenda, Ozempic, Victoria, all did nothing for me. Like, absolutely nothing. Luckily the bypass worked wonders, along with the mental part the psychiatrist worked with me about, and the yearly followups with their dietician. I hope you find resolution. 🤞🏾

I tell everyone. It is literally my metric now on who to cut out of my life. The folks who are supportive, I appreciate. The folks who are genuinely concerned, I reassure. The folks with nothing good to say, I cut out of my life. WLS wasn't just a procedure for me. It was healing, physically and mentally. The same way I wouldn't hop in a vat of acid, I won't deal with acidic people anymore. It's not good for me. The other reason I talk about it, is because if I can help someone who was in my situation, I should. You see the hesitancy in them just asking about it; that kills me. I try to be as open, and reassuring as possible, because I was there before, and lucky enough to have a friend share his WLS journey.

Insurance never really played into it for me. They covered any medically necessary procedure, and it was necessary. The only instruction I had from the surgeon was not to gain weight. A colleague with the same insurance, same procedure, and same doctor, had to go on a 6 month weight loss program prior, that was pretty strict. The reasoning behind that was based on health going into surgery, as well as psych evals. Again, I don't think insurance required anything there either; it was the surgeon and shrink.

When I went into my surgery 17 months ago, I had an A1C almost at 8, and that was with control. The day after my surgery they took me off all diabetes meds. Just had a very comprehensive set of tests done, and it was 5.4; not even pre-diabetic anymore.

I'm just over 16 months out from bypass, and I still can't eat white meat chicken, or any dryer meats like pork chops, or steak, without hurling. The great thing is I still don't miss them. I can eat bacon though, but it can't be crisp.

People have been mostly supportive, but they definitely do treat me differently since the surgery. A lot of stuff gets said behind your back that doesn't match up to the smiles to your face. It is what it is🤷🏾‍♂️. I did this for my health, not other people's approval. I'm happy. The weight loss shrink they make you see was pretty spot on about this. Just as an aside, I think it's totally different for guys vs. girls. If I fire back at shade thrown my way, it's seen a lot differently than if a woman fired back. Stupid societal norms. The way I see it, it's not normal to let some guy a few years out from losing at beer pong in his fraternity, cut me open and redo my stomach. So, if I can break THAT norm, to heck with the rest of them. I'll just enjoy the new lease on life.

Congrats bro! I still couldn't get into running. For my cardio, I fell in love with the rowing machine. It's my moment of Zen (almost) every day.

Diabetes. Saw how that story ended a few times. Didn't want to live it. Day after surgery they told me to stop all diabetes medication. Been good since. No heartburn, and no CPAP, are great bonuses.