SleeveToBypass2023

Thank you

lol no. If you look at my signature, you can see my weight loss progression. And my username lets you know I had a sleeve and revised it to a bypass

I had the revision to bypass and I wish I had just done the bypass to begin with. I can definitely tell you things are a lot different now than they were 20 years ago. I have no dumping at all (was hoping I would, but nope) but I have virtually no hunger, which I love. There was almost no down time, almost no pain, and there's a HARD STOP when eating. No wiggle room like with the sleeve. The bypass is really the best surgery there is. In my humble opinion.

I'm going to try and keep this from being too long, but there's so much to say!!! First I'll start with my newest NSVs. I'm officially in a size 18 clothes (from my original size 30), size 10 shoes (from my original size 11), size 6 1/2 ring (from my original size 10), 18" chain on a necklace (from my original 24" chain), and 2x jacket (from my original 4-5x). I can now comfortably fit on a massage table without fear of it creaking or breaking. I can now ride a bike because I'm within the weight limit. I now am able to hit my favorite thrift stores and walk out with seriously cute clothes that look nice, sit well on me, and actually fit comfortably!! My asthma is almost completely gone (I only have it when I get super sick now instead of all the time). My blood work came back and my hormone levels are almost in the normal range (I have PCOS) and my cysts that completely COVERED both ovaries are totally gone (without having taken any meds or done any hormone therapies!!) I did a 6 mile hike this past weekend with my son. I am completely pain free and am able to go full on beast mode with my workouts again. I can go up 5 flights of stairs before I need to stop and rest. Now for my new chapter in life and old dreams becoming new again. So years ago, I wanted to become a nurse. I completed all of the academics with a 4.0, aced all the labs, but couldn't do any of the clinicals because I couldn't do all the walking, I was 400 pounds, and my health/joints/back were way too bad. So I gave up on it. Then about 2 years later, I thought "well, maybe I can be a medical assistant. Surely THAT'S not as hard" and once again, I couldn't do the externship because I couldn't do the physical stuff. So I went into other areas for work, ballooned up to 421 pounds, worked remotely, and made good money. I loved what i did, but there was always a part of me that regretted not being able to go into the medical field. That was my heart's desire. So fast forward to now. I'm between jobs and miserable. I had to stop working because of all my complications from my first surgery. Now that I've been cleared, I can't get hired anywhere. So I decided that now is a great time to go back to my dream of working in the medical field. So on Sept 5th, I start school to become a certified pediatric oncology medical assistant. Most of my previous credits transfer over, so I only have about 6 months of academics to do and then the externship. Then I sit for my certification exam and then I get to finally FINALLY do what I've always wanted to do. By my 46th birthday next June, I should be right where I want to be, doing what I want to do, and hopefully at my goal weight. I'm sitting here in tears as I type this, because I thought this was something I would never see happen. I resigned myself to being morbidly obese, extremely unhealthy, and needing a cane to get around. I may not be at my goal weight (the weight comes off a lot slower with a revision, and also as your bmi gets smaller and you get closer to your goal) but I believe eventually I'll get there. But the things this surgery is giving to me, the dreams I can live out, the health and wellness and years of my life I'm getting back..... it was all worth it. The complications, the uncertainty, the pain and healing and stalls.... all completely worth it. We all start this journey wanting the numbers on the scale to go down. But there's SO MUCH MORE this surgery gives you. I will never, ever regret my decision. Never.

I do both. Actually, I log my calories, carbs, protein, and fat. I'm so used to it at this point that it's second nature. One week I'll work out 5 days and rest 2. Then the next week I'll work out 4 days and rest 3. I also stick to my routine, but switch up the actual exercises within the routine so I "confuse" my body and what I'm doing continues to work. Workout days (alternate between heavy cardio, weight training, core/strength training, wall/beginner pilates): Calories: 1200-1300 (depending on what I'm doing that day) Carbs: 35-40 Protein: 90g Fat: 45-50g NON workout days (rest days): Calories: 900-1000 Carbs: 20-25 Protein: 60-70g Fat: 30-35g

They said they weren't super worried because my blood work 2 weeks ago was perfect. But I was told to add more fat to my diet and repeat the blood work at 3 months post op. If it's still a problem, then we'll look into it further. I think, because I had so many complications, they are just being a little more careful.

I have definitely never heard this. I have no choice but to reheat my food because I just can't eat a full portion of much of anything. I haven't had any issues at all.

I'm dealing with this right now. It never happened when I had my sleeve surgery, but since I had my bypass it's been pale and clay colored. It slowly started to get darker as I added more fat to my diet (the nurse practitioner told me it happens because of the fat malabsorption). Just in the last 2 or 3 days it's become completely grey. No pain, no jaundice, no nothing. Just weird, grey poop. So I have a call in to the surgeon's office to see what's going on.

YES girl!!! I was like "damn, when did Saturdays on Bariatric Pal get so lit??" lol And then....watermelon seeds.....

Ok, I'll say it.... I literally spit my water all over my keyboard when I saw the title of this post. I never clicked a post so fast in my life.....

Definitely get a 2nd, and even 3rd, opinion. Maybe this surgeon didn't want to do the extra work. I'm surprised he didn't do the bypass the same time as the hernia repair. I've seen a TON of stories on here from people that had both done at the same time. Even when the hernia was a surprise!!

Yes I had to do the same pre-op prep. And post-op diet was the same, too.

Girrrrl.....you're speaking my love language right now.....

So I had this revision in June, and I can tell you that the weight loss will not be like it was with the sleeve. I had it because I developed GERD, esophagitis, gastritis, and a TON of pre-cancerous polyps all through my stomach. So I also didn't have a choice. I was on 80mg daily of Nexium, Pepcid for breakthrough, Tums, and still had break through GERD anyway. With the sleeve, I lost 30 pounds in the first 2 weeks. With the revision, I lost 14. I also wasn't interested in doing it for weight loss, since I was chugging along and doing well until it all went stupid. My goal was to get back to living my life, get back to my beast mode work outs, get back to feeling good and not having pain. And that's what the surgery is doing for me. I was finally having hair regrowth when I had to have the revision, so I'm fully expecting to see more hair loss. It's started shedding more again, so I'm mentally preparing for it. I can also say, the recovery from the bypass has been SO SO much better than with the sleeve. I honestly wish I had just done the bypass to begin with. So much less pain, I was up and around faster, able to do things better, could handle my pills and supplements (had to crush or completely eliminate them with the sleeve for the first 4-5 weeks), able to handle cold liquids (couldn't with the sleeve), able to get my fluids in so much easier (I drank a 20oz of Water in the hospital the day I had my surgery and could barely handle 3-4oz with the sleeve). So all in all, I'm exceptionally happy I did the revision. No more GERD, no more PPI, no more pain, much easier recovery, and while the weight is still coming off, it's doing so at a slower and more manageable pace. I wish you all the luck, and I promise you'll feel so much better after the revision.

Oh LAWDY this is so me!!!! Trying to fight rosacea, super dry skin, aging skin, fine lines, and now excess skin....ugh..... I stay hydrated, take collagen, use hydrating and anti aging skincare, and I still have dry skin issues. So annoying lol

Man, my boobs are non existent now lol I went from a double D to pancakes. I live in sports bras and just dream about when I have my skin surgery, boob job, and tummy tuck LOL

It's absolutely your choice. But for me, it was a no brainer. I tried everything there was to try, more than once. My health was terrible. I knew I couldn't do it myself, and I knew I wouldn't be here for my kids and granddaughter if I kept going the way I was going. And even though I had some complications with my initial surgery and had to have a revision, I still feel having bariatric surgery was the best decision I have ever made. My only regret is not doing it sooner.

YES!!! I thought it was just me!!! I was like "why is it hurting to sit or do floor exercises???" lol Good to know this is a normal thing.

I use this 32oz cup. I drink 2 of these per day and then usually a Propel water after working out. Depending on what I'm doing, I'll use Arbonne hydration sticks, muscle recovery, pre-workout, etc... I also like the sugar free flavorings that have no calories and carbs that you can find at any store. I can't stand plain water. At night I also drink caffeine free tea to relax me and get extra fluids in. If I need an energy boost, I drink Arbonne energy fizz (no jitters, no crash, natural caffeine, coQ10, b vitamins, etc...). There's lots of drink options that can make it easier to get your fluids in. You'll get there eventually

I did full liquids for 10 days (was supposed to be 2 weeks but I couldn't take it anymore). Then I went to mushy foods like hummus, avocado, etc... I did that for a week. Then I just went to soft foods for about 2 weeks and then went to regular foods. For both surgeries. My nutritionist said as long as I went really slow and listened to my body, it was fine. No 2 plans are the same, and no 2 bodies respond the same.

Yep, me. I had to be on 80mg of Nexium daily, Pepcid as needed for breakthrough, and it still didn't help. I had severe gerd, gastritis, esophagitis, and polyps all through my stomach and duodenum. 4 endoscopies later, I had to have a revision to a bypass. Changing my diet didn't help. Eliminating exercising didn't help. All the antacids didn't help. I never had any gerd or reflux before the sleeve, but it was debilitating after. Revision was the best thing I ever did. The recovery for the bypass was LIGHTYEARS better than for the sleeve. I was able to go home after 1 day instead of 2. I was drinking a 20oz of water with no issues 2 hours after the surgery. I was walking with minimal discomfort. Never took the pain pills prescribes and only needed Tylenol for the first 4 days. Never had to sleep propped up. Never had to worry about temps of liquids because there was no sensitivity to it. Was able to take my pills and supplements without cutting or crushing them. There is a HARD STOP with eating with the bypass that I never had with the sleeve. If you have 1 bite left but you're feeling like you're done eating.... DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT eat that last bite. I promise you you'll regret it. With the sleeve, I could squeeze in that bite and feel really full. With the bypass, it makes you hurt and feel sick. Not worth it. Weight loss is MUCH slower with a revision, so as long as you go into it knowing that, you'll be ok. Getting your life back and being gerd and pain free is so so worth it. My only regret is not just doing the bypass to begin with. I wish I would have skipped the sleeve altogether.

You might be hitting a stall. I always gain a few pounds when that happens, but when it breaks, I lose everything I gained plus an extra 2-3 pounds.

Yep, me. I had to be on 80mg of Nexium daily, Pepcid as needed for breakthrough, and it still didn't help. I had severe gerd, gastritis, esophagitis, and polyps all through my stomach and duodenum. 4 endoscopies later, I had to have a revision to a bypass. Changing my diet didn't help. Eliminating exercising didn't help. All the antacids didn't help. I never had any gerd or reflux before the sleeve, but it was debilitating after. Revision was the best thing I ever did.

9 High-Fat Foods That Offer Great Health Benefits: Avocados Cheese Dark chocolate Whole eggs Fatty fish Nuts Chia seeds Extra virgin olive oil

Do you have any updates on how things have been going?