amt0890

Hi everyone! My name is Anthony and I'm 31 years old. I've struggled with being overweight all of my adult life. I am just about 5'9" and currently weight 245 lbs. It may not seem like I have to lose as much as some others and a lot of people tell me that I don't look like I weigh that much, but I know that I don't like the way I feel or look. I have back and knee pain, especially when I am standing for too long. It's also difficult for me to exercise at this weight. I've lost weight in the past via diet and/or medications but it always manages to come back on. I'm strongly considering the gastric sleeve. My only worry is that I did have my colon removed when I was 16 due to severe Ulcerative Colitis. I now have what's called a "j-pouch", which is basically when they form a new bowel out of your small intestine so that you don't need an ostomy/colostomy bag (I did have one for 3 months in between the 2 surgeries - first surgery to remove the colon, second to reverse it and make the pouch). I've checked with my doctors and one of the colorectal surgeons said he doesn't recommend the gastric sleeve and a couple of others said their only concern would be having urgent bowel movements due to having less of a digestive tract, but told me to check with the bariatric surgeons to make sure. The bariatric surgeon said he thinks it would probably make me have LESS bowel movements since I would be eating less and the food would be moving slower through my system. Wish me luck, I am having another virtual consultation next month!

Yeah, it is definitely hard to come across people who have had both a partial colectomy and the gastric sleeve. I guess every case is different. Considering I already have several BMs per day, I could probably live with a few more - it just depends on how many more lol. At this weight I find it really difficult to get in sufficient exercise. It's very hard for me to digest vegetables (perhaps with the exception of lettuce) and certain fruits having just a small intestine. I've been thinking of trying the paleo diet. I'm just tired of looking and feeling like this.

I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with sleep apnea and given a CPAP machine that I don't use (I know, not good). Having had my colon removed and now having a j-pouch, I have many bowel movements a day since a pouch does not absorb water like a colon does, nor does it hold as much stool (basically I have chronic diarrhea). I read on another forum that a woman who had both procedures said her life has been hell (this post was from 9+ years ago though) since having the sleeve done and having a j-pouch. She said that food goes right through her, I guess since there is only so much room in the stomach and then the pouch being the way it is? Another woman who I am speaking to who had both procedures done said she had the same issue at first, but it got better. She now takes Lomotil twice in the evening so she doesn't have to go so much during the night, but can handle the extra bowel movements during the day. I'm going to meet with my colorectal surgeon this week (he didn't perform my surgery but is the one who I've been seeing for quite a while now) to go over everything again. It's odd how some doctors say it's fine and others say no way.